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More Than an Athlete: Kevin Charles’s Story of Resilience, Leadership and Purpose
Posted on Dec 10, 2025 at 16:03 PM
Kevin Charles grew up in Orlando, Florida, as the oldest son in a Haitian American household where discipline, faith, and survival shaped everyday life. He describes his neighborhood as “crime-filled,” and himself as a “bad kid” who bounced between daycares and schools. But everything changed in 2019 when his father was deported back to Haiti. At only 17, Charles was forced into adulthood overnight.
“One day, you could have everything, and the next day it feels like half your life has been taken away from you,” he said. Suddenly, he was helping raise his younger brothers, supporting his mother, and learning to navigate complicated immigration documents on his family’s behalf. His father’s deportation also created financial aid barriers that nearly cost him the chance to attend college.
Through it all, Charles leaned on faith, family and a deep internal drive. “Anyone with immigrant parents knows the sacrifices they make so you can have opportunities,” he said. “Me graduating feels like my mom, my dad, and my family in Haiti are graduating too.” Jesus and his mother kept him grounded during the hardest moments. “My brothers are watching me,” he said. “My parents worked too hard. I have to do well.”
Charles’ major, Business Management, reflected his desire to build, lead and create opportunities. Surprisingly, volleyball was not the foundation of his college pursuit. The sport found him in eighth-grade gym class, became more serious in high school and eventually led him to awards and recognition. But when his coach sent him an article announcing that six HBCUs were launching men’s volleyball, it shifted everything.
He had never been to Georgia and couldn’t tour Fort Valley State University due to the pandemic, so he turned to YouTube videos, long phone conversations with Coach Larry and Coach Ed Wrather, and his own belief that taking chances could change his life. He earned an FVSU Foundation Scholarship, and Coach Ed personally helped him navigate the financial aid challenges caused by his father’s immigration status.
Charles arrived at FVSU in 2020, essentially the first men’s volleyball player on campus, and helped his coaches form a program from scratch. Volleyball quickly became only one part of his growing identity.
At FVSU, Charles blossomed academically, professionally and politically. He joined the Political Science Student Association (PSSA) in 2022, which opened his eyes to civic engagement and sparked a passion that would reshape his future. Inspired by leaders such as Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams, he became deeply committed to increasing voter awareness and political participation.
Charles didn’t just attend meetings; he led. He became vice president of PSSA, Mister PSSA, president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, vice president of the NAACP chapter, secretary of Collegiate 100, and an SGA Senator, serving on the Business and Finance Committee, Homecoming Committee, and Election Committee.
His advocacy extended far beyond campus. Charles also traveled with Black Voters Matter, led town halls, assisted legislators with campaigns, advocated in Washington, D.C and was interviewed by 13WMAZ on voting issues.
These experiences strengthened his belief that he could influence change through policy, leadership, and communication.
Although volleyball isn’t the entire story, it remains the foundation of Kevin’s community at FVSU. He calls the team “a family,” a brotherhood forged through adversity. From surviving a bus crash to roster changes and personal losses, the early team stayed bonded.
“We were a SWAT team with a volleyball. Wherever anybody went, we all went together,” he said.
Under the leadership of coaches Larry and Ed, Kevin watched the program elevate from an idea to a national presence. Coach Larry, whom Charles credits with “paving the way for minorities in volleyball,” runs a podcast highlighting minority athletes and has inspired a generation of players. “Imagine a group of minority students dominating volleyball from a place people have never heard of,” Charles said proudly. Their accomplishments even earned recognition from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Coach Ed, “the grandfather,” as Charles says, brought decades of experience from the 70s and 80s, shaping the team on and off the court. Charles speaks of both coaches with deep gratitude.
Winning back-to-back conference championships and competing against powerhouses like UCLA and USC showed Charles that choosing FVSU, choosing volleyball, and choosing to believe in himself were never accidents. They were part of his journey.
If there’s one lesson Kevin is taking from FVSU into the world, it’s the power of communication.
“Volleyball is 10% skill and 90% communication,” he said. “And life is the same way. Speaking up, setting boundaries and expressing how you feel matters.”
After graduation,Charles plans to move to North Carolina and pursue a political career. He hopes to attend North Carolina Central University, inspired by a mentor who graduated from there and by his belief that he can make significant change in the state.
He knows his passion for advocacy, policy, and uplifting underserved communities will carry him far. His journey from Orlando to FVSU, from hardship to leadership, proves that he is more than an athlete. He is a builder, a communicator, a leader, and a young Black man determined to help others see greatness in themselves.
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