Why I Chose to Build Instead of Break | Jason Pedersen

In loving memory of my father. Nothing triggered this decision for me—it’s how I was raised. As a toddler, I was weak and sick. Chronic asthma put me in the hospital more times than I can count. My parents could have coddled me, but they didn’t. They taught me to fight for my life. They made me believe that I am not defined by my illnesses, my past, or even my mistakes. Me—and only me—determines who I am. My life is worth fighting for, no matter the challenges, the hate, or the attacks. And I’ve had plenty of those. Lies, negativity, people trying to pull me down—it happens. But I refuse to let that define me. I refuse to give up. As a sick kid, I learned that strength doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built. That’s why I spent my summers in the backcountry with my dad, riding horses, living among grizzly bears, and sleeping in a tent for three months out of the year. That’s why I became the captain of my high school swim team—not because it was easy, but because I knew swimmin...