|By Quinell Ming, Journalist

Ideas are great, plans for their achievement are even better but if you don’t start…nothing will matter.

This week’s student feature is based on a youth who has repelled any thoughts of failure and decided to embark on an entrepreneurial journey.

Ruach Byfield also known as “Rue” is a 26-year-old budding media practitioner and fitness fanatic. He hails from 50th and Wynnefield Avenue in the great states and industrial powerhouse of Philadelphia. Anyone with a basic knowledge of Rue’s moral qualities would describe him as someone who is able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions and an individual who displays a friendly, generous, and considerate nature.

During his high school tenure Ruach developed an interest in sports. He first developed a liking for American Football and because of his level of skill Rue landed recruitment opportunities from a few schools. However, after suffering a few injuries and taking into consideration the wishes of his mother, Rue decided to give football a rest. Consequently, his focus shifted to basketball and his love for the sport has grown ever since. Standing at a height of 6 feet and 1 inch accompanied by a 7-foot wingspan, Rue is known to be a force to reckon with on the basketball court.

Additionally, because of his love for fitness, this ambitious youth has embarked on a business venture called 24-7EV. 24-7EV is an athletic clothing brand with focus on fitness training and basketball development. Rue claimed that his business efforts initially began when he was involved in training his friends for free. Aspiring to achieve more than a successful clothing line, Rue hopes to establish his own fitness centre for sports conditioning and rehabilitation.

Though increasing in scope and achieving a measure of success, Rue’s journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing. He recalls that he needed to sell his t-shirts as well as work in the university’s gym to earn money to pay tuition. Nonetheless, he refuses to let negative situations distract him from his goals.

To any young person hoping to start a business or any other project, Ruach is encouraging you to ‘start’. He says, “It doesn’t matter how scary it is…once the ball gets rolling, you’ll start to continue and get ideas.”

Currently, Ruach is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and Communication at the Northern Caribbean University.