SEKOU Clarke, former Jamaican national athlete and immigration attorney in the United States of America, delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Pocket Rocket Foundation Student-Athlete Development Summit on May 27, where he encouraged student-athletes to pursue excellence in all facets of their lives.

The Pocket Rocket Foundation was founded by Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 2013. Fraser-Pryce also chairs the foundation’s board.

The one-day summit, which was held at the AC Hotel in Kingston, catered to 100 student-athletes across 20 high schools in Jamaica. Held under the theme ‘Be Extraordinary’, Clarke, who delivered his speech virtually from the United States, underscored the importance of mindset, resilience, and having the right support systems in place to help youth achieve their dreams.

“You must remain disciplined and pursue excellence in both your athletic and academic career,” he said.

Clarke, who is also the author of Making America Great: The Immigrant Experience, also shared his mantra with the students, explaining that “I am, I can, and I will” has been a central part of his life that has kept him grounded through some of life’s inevitable challenges.

A past student of Jamaica College and native of Washington Gardens, Clarke shared one of his most significant experiences when he was an athlete competing in Jamaica, sharing what he calls a “pivotal moment”. Clarke spoke of an injury he got during an Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships that left him unable to compete a race at full capacity. Despite the setback, he said he chose to walk the 200m race to support his team — a decision that contributed to a narrow one-point win.

“That experience taught me that mindset is everything,” he said.

Clarke, who was also recently named a Forbes Top Entrepreneur for 2025, also spoke candidly about his academic struggles during law school. He shared how changing his habits and surrounding himself with the right people helped him recover from a difficult first semester.

He left the students with three key takeaways: Your circle matters — surround yourself with people who will positively influence your path; dream big — your vision should not be limited by circumstances; and execute consistently — even the best ideas require action.

“Your biggest goals and dreams die with you if you don’t act on them,” Clarke said in closing. “Remember what comes after ‘I am’ ”, you decide whether you can and will.”