Jaime DeJoseph on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jaime DeJoseph. Check out our conversation below.

Jaime, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
After being the Sports Director at the Prescott YMCA for the last 7 years, I am leaving that position to pursue being a PE Teacher at a local Middle School. It’s a big change and something I never thought I would do, but I am excited and nervous.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Currently I am the Sports Director at the Prescott YMCA. For the past 7 years I have been in charge of all of the Youth & Adult Sports at the YMCA. We run multiple youth leagues and have over 1,200 kids in all of our programs here at the YMCA. Our Youth Basketball League alone has over 950 kids in it. Starting July 21st, I will begin a new chapter in my life as the PE Teacher at a local Middle School.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
I would say my father taught me the most about work. Growing up he was the hardest working person and he still is. That is how I modeled my work ethic when I started working.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve been thinking a lot about what suffering has taught me—things success never could.

Cancer changed everything. It stripped away any illusion of control I thought I had. Suddenly, life wasn’t about long-term plans or achievements—it was about getting through one day, one hour, one breath at a time. I had to find strength in places I didn’t even know existed. Not the loud, visible kind of strength, but the quiet, persistent kind that wakes up every day and chooses to fight—even when it’s exhausted. Cancer taught me that survival isn’t always pretty, but it’s always powerful.

And then there’s the loss of my grandpa.

He was more than family—he was comfort, tradition, and a steady presence in my life. Losing him felt like losing a part of myself. Grief came in waves, unexpected and unforgiving. But somewhere in that sorrow, I found something deeper. I realized how much he gave me—his wisdom, his laughter, his stories. Even though he’s gone, his influence lingers in the way I think, the way I speak, the way I love.

These experiences—cancer and grief—brought pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But they also opened my eyes. I learned what really matters: people, time, presence. I don’t take small things for granted anymore—a good meal, a kind word, a moment of peace.

Success never taught me that. It never made me pause, or feel deeply, or understand how strong the human heart can be. Only suffering did that. And while I wish things had been different, I also know—I wouldn’t be the same person without these scars.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
Faith in Jesus is one of those beliefs that can’t always be measured or proven in the way the world demands, but it’s deeply felt. It’s a kind of trust that goes beyond logic. When everything falls apart—when you’re sick, grieving, lost—faith says: You’re not alone. You’re loved. This isn’t the end of the story.

You don’t need to see it to know it’s real. It’s in the peace that shows up in chaos. In the strength you find when you should have none left. In the way your heart softens even when it’s broken.

It’s also what gives suffering purpose—what turns pain into something redemptive. Without faith, pain is just pain. But with Jesus, there’s a thread of hope woven through it all, even when you can’t feel it in the moment.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe that I am definitely doing what I was born to do. Since I was young I have always loved sports, whether I was watching or playing. It’s been something that brings me joy on a daily basis. The fact that I got to spend the last 7 years bringing that kind of joy to thousands of youth in our community makes all the struggles worthwhile. Now I get to use these tools to teach kids to find their joy in a different way as a PE Teacher.