Former Pitt football player and life coach Tre Tipton shared his story about mental health with members of Fraternity-Sorority Life on April 8 in David Lawrence Hall.
Tipton’s speech was a part of Greek Week — a week-long event for members of the FSL community to give back to good causes. The week also prioritizes mental health, hosting events like Tipton’s.
Tipton may have been a student-athlete on the football team at Pitt, but he related to the audience members on a student level first.
“I was in your seats with a smile on my face, and I wore the best mask you would ever see,” Tipton said. “The one who you see that smiles the most, make sure you check up on them.”
Tipton went through the unthinkable at a young age. He lost friends, mentors, parents and other family members — both suddenly and slowly — from sickness, addiction and violence. To begin his talk, Tipton compared his life story to a glass bottle.
“When things keep pouring, it overflows,” Tipton said. “What if it gets too heavy when you keep stacking it and it drops? It breaks, and it’s not easy to put back together. So, here’s how I shattered.”
Tipton emphasized his anxieties regarding the safety of his family and friends.
“I believed everybody that I loved or got way too close to would die,” Tipton said. “If I told you I loved you, I was scared that I was cursed and you would die on me. There’s no proof behind that, but I felt that way.”
Tipton continued to experience the pain of losing people, and in time began to “flirt” with ideas of danger and death.
“I started to flirt with different things,” Tipton said. “Selling drugs, playing with guns a little bit here and there, to the point where my cousin and closest friend lost his life. That was when I knew I needed to switch my path, because I didn’t want my mom showing up to my funeral.”
Despite hardships growing up, Tipton received a merit scholarship and was invited to play football at Pitt following a successful high school sports career. Things began to look up until reality set in.
“I got here to Pitt as a freshman and realized I’m no longer the big fish in a small pond,” Tipton said. “Now, I’m going to the ocean, and there’s a whole lot of sharks out here.”
As a student-athlete at Pitt, Tipton was introduced to new challenges. Tipton struggled to maintain physical fitness and academics while dealing with mental fatigue from fighting his own battles off the field.
“Coach Narduzzi made us do crazy stuff,” Tipton said. “We had a 5 o’clock wake up everyday, 6 o’clock film, 7 o’clock eat, and if not, punishment. Then I go to class, and I’m chilling and sleeping in the back. So, yes, the two most difficult things in the world for me were going to practice and going to class. Although, I was going through this environment all while dealing with [mental health struggles].”
Throughout his mental health journey from youth to adulthood, Tipton wanted to make an impact by speaking about new ways to find positivity every day and, in turn, became the co-owner and CEO of L.O.V.E. — merchandise designed to remind wearers to love both themselves and others.
“L.O.V.E. stands for Living Out Victoriously Everyday, so I want you to find a small victory in your life someway, somehow,” Tipton said in an interview with The Pitt News. “If it’s something small, take it in. If it’s something big, take it in. If it’s mediocre, take it in, because every day is to be a win. Find a win today, that’s the ultimate goal.”
Tipton wore L.O.V.E. merchandise during his Greek Week speech, including a hat and t-shirt that read “Love.”
Conrad Gargani, a sophomore electrical engineering major and brother of Triangle Fraternity, noticed Tipton’s outfit and wondered if it was intentionally related to the theme of his talk.
“I realized that it relates directly to the central theme of his messaging. Having self compassion for oneself, even when faced with challenges, adversity and failures — it doesn’t reflect poorly on yourself,” Gargani said. “You need to continue to try and reach your goals, not let the failure be a source of self-hatred that you imply onto yourself that stops you from reaching your goals.”
Victoria Earhart, a first-year with an undeclared major and sister of Delta Phi Epsilon, enjoyed Tipton’s talk, as it resonated with her on a personal level.
“His talk felt very personal and felt like anyone could relate, even if they’ve never been through certain things or done what he’s done,” Earhart said.
Tipton finished his talk with an exercise. First, Tipton asked the crowd to close their eyes, picture their biggest dream and realize what is stopping them from achieving it. Then, after saying that thing out loud, the crowd chanted, “You don’t own me.” Finally, Tipton told the audience to picture their younger selves and tell them, “I got your back.”
Tipton encouraged the loudest attendee to join him in the final chant.
The fraternity member roared, “Who’s got my back?” three times as the crowd roared in return, “I got your back!”