We caught up with the brilliant and insightful DeJuan Strickland a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
DeJuan, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I was inspired by Chadwick Boesman and his role in Black Panther. After seeing him on the big screen I realized there was a lack of positive Black representation in movies, TV shows and books. This inspired me to create my own superhero Tech Boy. I have always had a passion for technology. So it was important to create character who not only looked like me but also increased representation in STEM ( science, technology, engineering and math ).
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m 14 years old. I started by business when I was 12. I started by business at the beginning of the pandemic. My mom used the government stimulus money to self publish my comic book and develop Team Tech Boy, LLC. Since then I have started doing speaking engagements in different cities and states teaching kids about entrepreneurship and financial literacy. My mission is to encourage youth to become tech savvy entrepreneurs . I hope to inspire you to follow their dreams. I use writing as an outlet. I was bullied a lot in schools. I became depressed and had to start therapy. I hope to show kids that despite the hardships you endure in life you can overcome those challenges . I have started “Tech Boy Lunch Heroes” initiative where I raise money to offset students negative lunch balances. Sometimes a students only meal is his/her school lunch and parents cannot afford it. I’m raised by a single mother who has struggled so I understand everyone needs help at times.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say the skills that helped me the most would be time management, organizational skills and perseverance to never give up. I was bullied in school which made me depressed. I stopped writing and almost gave up. But with the help from my mom and my therapist I pushed through and finished my comic book.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
My biggest outlet when I’m feeling overwhelmed is playing chess and video games. In my free time take different coding classes. Color Coded Kids and Creators of Tomorrow are two coding classes that has taught me to develop my own video games. I am currently working on an app for Tech Boy and Science Girl that kids can download in their App Store.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.teamtechboy.com
- Instagram: @teamtechboy
- Facebook: @teamtechboy
- Linkedin: DeJuan Strickland
- Twitter: @teamtechboy
- Youtube: @teamtechboy
