GRAND BLANC, MI – Vedant Gupta has labored up fairly the resume at simply 17 years previous.
Not solely has he interviewed a number of the greatest stars in collegiate {and professional} sports activities, however he’s grown his personal media firm and written a non-fiction autobiography all earlier than stepping foot on a university campus.
Gupta graduated from Grand Blanc Excessive Faculty in Might and plans to spend the summer season in his hometown earlier than heading to Michigan State College within the fall.
His mission for this summer season is to extend gross sales of his e-book – A child entrepreneur’s time-traveling journey – and start constructing his profession as a motivational speaker.
Gupta gained the Optimist Membership State Championship for public talking in 2023. He has participated in speech competitions since third or fourth grade.
Talking in entrance of others and being assured helped him when interviewing sports activities stars and celebrities like Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Snoop Dogg, Giannis Antetokounmpo and extra.
Gupta’s first foray into the media house was in the course of the first and second rounds of the 2018 NCAA Males’s Basketball Match in Detroit.
Gupta, who was 11 years previous on the time, had utilized for Sports activities Illustrated for Children, which advised him to interview somebody domestically first.
However Gupta had larger plans.
Michigan State College gave Gupta media entry, and his journey started.
“That made me notice that I can do that by myself,” he mentioned.
Gupta has at all times had a ardour for sports activities. He was a three-sport athlete in highschool and has participated in sports activities from an early age. Interviewing athletes got here naturally to him.
“I feel I used to be so naive that I didn’t notice what sort of highlight it was,” Gupta mentioned. ”I used to be simply speaking to the individual in entrance of me.”
Gupta was supported by his father, Vipul, to journey to giant sporting occasions in hopes of getting interviews with the most important stars.
To take action, Gupta staked out hallways, lodge lobbies and media rooms in hopes for an interview.
In his e-book, Gupta tells tales of Jack Nicklaus rubbing his head, Magic Johnson main him round a press room and Patrick Mahomes’ mom, Randi, insisting to provide him a hug.
He began writing the e-book at 14 years previous, and it took him greater than two years to finish.
“I feel the most important factor to remove from my tales is that … don’t wait. Don’t look forward to something. … Take issues into your personal fingers and see what it takes. It’s okay to fail,” Gupta mentioned.
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