“These are usually just some thoughts that I would share with myself.”

It’s been a mf year. Period. The blog I’ll drop on New Year’s Eve will share more about that. Stay tuned.

But today, I’m here to share the greatest lesson I learned during 2023 below:

I know what tf I am talking about.

Walk with me. 

For years, I have been talking about international athlete development. For years, I have been loud about the growing relationship between internationalization and athletics. Over the last several months, I have provided practical suggestions and solutions for international athlete recruitment, retention, NIL, and career readiness.

So when my guy Sam tagged me in Jonathan Givony’s tweet, the first thing I said was: IKYFL 

Givony is an NBA Draft Analyst for ESPN. He is also the founder of Draft Express, a private scouting and analytics company contracted out by the NBA, NCAA, and international teams. He has over 200,000 followers and is an important, well-respected voice in the men’s basketball world. His tweet has amassed over 537,000 views. 

But this Black boy from Cincinnati has literally been saying this for at least 8 months.

I’m not hating on Givony – bro is doing his job. But I’m gon keep it a buck with y’all. 

It’s frustrating to see others rewarded and praised for the things I have said first and have continued to reiterate for months and years. We have watched Black creators not receive their credit for viral dances and TikTok challenges. There are inventions and discoveries from Black scientists who have yet to receive their credit. I don’t want a cookie or a participation trophy, I just want my respect.  

I’ve often sat at breweries and pondered how I could become recognized for the value I have added and change I am actively creating in our field.

And every time, God has reminded me that my work is not work, it’s purpose.

Purpose doesn’t live by the applause of the crowd. Purpose doesn’t die because of the silence of the masses. Purpose is walking in my divine assignment from God. PERIOD. 

But I’m not gon lie – it’s HAAAAAARRRRDDD sometimes.

Because over the last three years, I’ve done some cool things:  

2023 

• Hosted the inaugural Internationalization and Athletics Virtual Summit – the only convening in the world exclusively focused on the internationalization practices in sport  
• Endorsed by Biden-Harris Administration – Selected as 1 of 25 Black American entrepreneurs to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s inaugural African Descendant Social Entrepreneurship Workshop 
• Invited to represent the United States as a speaker and trainer at TIBU Africa’s Global Sports Entrepreneurship Week in Morocco 
• Presented at the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Conference on leveraging sport to shape the future of global education 
• Received Diversity Abroad’s Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in International Education (EDIIE) Graduate Student Leadership Award
• Led International Education Week programming for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

2022 

• Served as a sport diplomat on behalf of the U.S. Department of State in a virtual exchange program with the Galácticas Futebol Club in Brazil.
• Coordinated the Big Ten Academic Alliance Summit focused on improving collaboration between college athletics and international education offices to promote international college athlete inclusion and engagement 
• Presented at the Black Student-Athlete Summit focused on Black International Student-Athlete experiences 
• Presented at the N4A Annual Convention about increasing athlete development programming for NCAA international student-athletes 
• Keynote presentation for Fund for Education Abroad, entitled “Eurostepping the Status Quo: Supporting International Opportunities for All College Athletes.”

2021 

• Featured speaker for the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Week at the University of Gloucestershire (U.K.). 
• Selected as 1 of 10 RISE Fellows for NAFSA: Association of International Educators 
• Served on a panel for the NCAA Inclusion Forum dedicated to “Building Bridges: Global Competencies to Support International Student-Athletes” 
• Participated in the inaugural NCAA International Student-Athlete Inclusion Think Tank
• Presented at NC State Drive-In Conference focused on supporting international athlete career development in U.S. Higher Education 

I know am hitting my stride and I also am not on the internet playing. 

Any conversation about NCAA international athlete development or college sport internationalization without me is incomplete and unfinished. 

Because I’m not just talking about it. I’m leading it. 

This is my “I’m That Girl” moment. My GOAT leotard moment.

My “that mf back there is not real” moment.

This moment is an important step in my purpose journey because this is when I elevate again.

This time without comparison to other educators, entrepreneurs, and creators. 

This time without worrying about how many likes, shares, and views my content receives. 

This time without feedback and fear from the peanut gallery. 

This time with just God.

Tim – I love you and I’m proud of you. You’re an educator-entrepreneur doing shit that has quite literally never been done before. Your uniqueness is significant and vital to the world around you. The applause and the confetti will come and go. Purpose is undefeated. This year you reached another mountaintop and you celebrated all the way to the apex. But your assignment is not done yet. Silence the noise, eliminate the distractions, and lock in with God’s voice. You’re called to do this work. Walk With TFB will become the world leading podcast and business situated at the intersection of internationalization and athletics. As you continue to practice your Spanish, remember to take good care of your mental and prioritize rest. Your community has your back. You are enough. You have enough. Stay focused, have fun, and do it your way.

God is good. God is with me. God is for me. 

Keep walking, Tim Tim. 

Timothy F. Bryson