TEMPE, AZ — The odds were stacked against Aidan Odom, but that didn't stop the Corona Del Sol High School senior from becoming one of the top wrestlers in the state and earning a college scholarship.
Raised by his grandmother after being abandoned by his parents and navigating dyslexia in the classroom, Odom has overcome significant challenges. Those experiences have fueled his passion for mentoring, and for the past year, he’s been a leader in Youth Impact Mentoring, a nonprofit that provides weekly peer support groups for teens with difficult backgrounds.
“Being able to say, ‘Hey, I’m sad,’ is stronger than pretending everything’s fine when it’s not,” Odom said.
His openness and compassion have earned the trust of the teens he mentors, many of whom see him as both a role model and a friend.
“He’s definitely one of the bigger role models I have—not only as a wrestler but as a person,” one mentee said.
“It helps having him share his story and make himself vulnerable so we can too,” said another.
His grandmother, who has supported him every step of the way, couldn’t be prouder.
“You just stand back in awe and appreciate that his journey is only beginning,” she said.
Cameron Polom saw Odom in action on Tuesday and learned why leaving a legacy beyond his athletic achievements is so important to him. Watch the full story in the video player above.
