The Hibachi Year

Tales of Our 20s

Tales of Our 20s is a Good Fruits series profiling people navigating their twenties – the ones doing the

quiet, unglamorous work of becoming. Each story is a snapshot of someone mid-stride.

I truly believe that certain people are placed in our lives as beacons – guiding lights

pointing the way to where we want to go. Patrick is one of those people for me.  

I officially "met" Patrick in August of 2023, on Discord, and almost instantly, I was drawn to his intentional speech, measured delivery and genuine nature. I had heard his name for years as he mentored my best friend, Olivia, and several younger friends through his nonprofit, the YES (Youth, Education & Sports) Initiative. I knew little about him beyond the reputation that preceded him: an educated Black man determined to make a real impact on the lives of the students he worked with. When the cards finally aligned, we met and it’s been a privilege to get to know him ever since.  

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Patrick's story begins in a lively household, shaped by his Guyanese heritage and a deep-rooted love for creativity. One of five children, all with names starting with "P," he grew up surrounded by the arts. His father, who worked at Polaroid, always kept digital and film cameras on hand to capture everything from family vacations to the daily moments that would later color Patrick’s world. His mother, an educator, instilled a thirst for knowledge and profound curiosity in her children from an early age. Whether it was journaling, playing the piano or sketching, creative expression was a constant thread in his early years, and remains woven into the fabric of Patrick’s life today.

Though he was steeped in creativity from a young age, it wasn’t until his twenties that Patrick truly began to see himself as an artist. His first love was football (soccer), and like many young athletes, the sport had dominated his life. It taught him invaluable lessons in leadership, collaboration and adaptability – lessons that still resonate in his work today. But as his college years passed, the quiet pull of his childhood passions – writing, photography and music – began to resurface.  

With time, Patrick realized that he didn’t have to choose

between being an athlete and being an artist; he could be both.

While football defined his earlier years, it was in the moments of stillness that Patrick started reconnecting with the artist within. Writing, piano and photography weren’t just hobbies; they were windows to a deeper part of himself. With time, Patrick realized that he didn’t have to choose between being an athlete and being an artist; he could be both. This realization sparked a creative renaissance. He started capturing moments in nature with his phone, snapping photos that were vibrant and unique, images so striking that a close friend encouraged him to explore photography more seriously. Though he initially brushed off the compliment, unsure of his own potential – as many budding artists do – Patrick eventually realized his friend was simply illuminating a gift that had always been there. He decided to give it a try. 

In recent years, Patrick’s parents also asked about his journaling and writing practices, prompting him to reconnect with another childhood passion. As he grew older, his vision for these creative outlets expanded. Just as he had learned to adapt on the football field, Patrick brought that same nimbleness to his artistic endeavors. In 2020, he created a vision board filled with his earliest loves: photography, writing and music. From there, he delved deeper into each craft, envisioning new horizons. Photography led to videography, which eventually evolved into Boston More Colorful Than You Think, a documentary about the graffiti and mural artists in Boston. The project, which continues to grow, has become a story bigger than Patrick could have imagined.  

Writing, too, found new forms. From blogs as a co-founder of YES to his private journaling practice, and even combining poems with nature shots on social media, writing provided him both artistic release and grounding. Music, too, evolved from fingers on piano keys to hands spinning records. Patrick now manages other artists as well, including one who has been with him since college. Patrick’s openness to receiving guidance and his malleable creativity lit the path toward his higher purpose in life: "Not just to make it, but to bring people with [him].”

Today, Patrick fully embraces the "artist" title. He’s rediscovered the joy of creation. His friends and family have played a crucial role in helping him reconnect with his gifts, and through his work, he’s built a bridge back to his younger self. The quiet, creative moments of his childhood have found new life in his art, allowing Patrick to move forward while honoring where he’s been.  

Still, despite consistently curating a forward-thinking collective to lean on, Patrick identifies as a self-proclaimed outsider.

As Patrick rediscovered his artistic passions, he also built a creative community that nurtures and sustains him. Still, despite consistently curating a forward-thinking collective to lean on, Patrick identifies as a self-proclaimed outsider. Looking in from the outside, I would have never categorized him that way. He’s a shining beam in both his hometown and mine, embodying the values of inclusion and collaboration more holistically and thoughtfully than most people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. And yet, when Patrick reflects on his own experience, the word "outsider" resonates most deeply with him.  

As the child of immigrants, Patrick grew up navigating the space between his home life and the larger world – a balancing act familiar to many first-generation Americans. These contrasts deepened as Patrick grew older – whether navigating predominantly white schools or moving from his small hometown to the city of Boston. He quickly realized that to fit into the "in-crowd," he would have to follow a certain set of social and cultural rules. But instead of following those rules, Patrick chose to live outside those margins. This choice, though challenging, was also freeing. It gave him the flexibility to explore himself and his art without being confined to predefined roles or assumptions. The tension between power and struggle, inherent in this outsider identity, has shaped him in profound ways.  

Being an outsider from a young age granted Patrick a rare opportunity. While many might associate the term with hardship, he has turned it into a tool for resilience. Because he never fully fit into any one clique, he developed the ability to connect with a wide variety of people, personalities and expressions. This manifested as a "way-finding" ability – a knack for creating the emotional and physical spaces he needed to feel comfort; forging his own path where none existed before. To witness this perseverance in the short time I’ve known Patrick has been an honor. It not only opens doors for those behind him, but also exemplifies how to move forward when a door isn’t visible at all. And in doing so, he’s attracted others who, like him, didn’t fit into society’s conventional mold.  

This manifested as a "way-finding" ability – a knack for

creating the emotional and physical spaces he needed to feel comfort;

forging his own path where none existed before.

This skill is at the heart of Patrick's work. Boston More Colorful Than You Think, his documentary, is a perfect example of this philosophy in action. The artists featured in the project, much like Patrick, are creating beauty in spaces that the mainstream often overlooks or dismisses. Through this work, Patrick has not only crafted a sense of home that is uniquely his own, but also made room for others to do the same. For him, the outsider role isn’t about exclusion – it’s about agency. It’s about creating belonging, redefining what’s possible and using the discomfort of not fitting in as a catalyst for growth.  

At 29, Patrick’s year could be summed up as "amazing, crazy, and difficult as fuck." Drawing inspiration from former NFL player Deion Sanders, Patrick has found pride in the quiet, behind-the-scenes work of "making plays" when no one is watching. Whether it’s building and maintaining relationships with his girlfriend or baby nephew, or staying grounded through daily meditation and nature walks, Patrick has worked tirelessly to stay connected to his joy and well-being. Even during the "difficult as fuck" moments, when the weight of life felt overwhelming, Patrick relied on strategies – positive, neutral and sometimes even negative – to maintain a sense of normalcy through the uncertain waters.  

This year, Patrick’s greatest challenge was continuing to pursue his vision. There were days when everything felt heavy – familial and societal expectations, the pressure to succeed and the self-doubt that inevitably creeps in. On those days, his dreams seemed distant, like shadows flickering just out of reach. But through mindful movement, gratitude and reconnecting with his roots, Patrick realized that growth wasn’t about relentlessly pushing forward. It was about allowing space for the tough moments, understanding that even in the hardest times, something valuable was being nurtured beneath the surface.  

"Nine out of ten positive things happen outside..."

It’s why Patrick takes pride in the silent, unseen work that often goes unnoticed. With such a fine line between genius and madness, he strives to honor his gifts, despite the external pressures – particularly as he approaches 30. While others may have opinions about what his life should look like, Patrick defines success on his own terms. For him, success isn’t measured in accolades or dollars, but in time, patience, community and joy. He’s also learned to parent himself, especially on the days when even getting out of bed feels like a chore. His strategy on those days is simple: take it slow, and get outside. "Nine out of ten positive things happen outside," he says.  

As a daily meditator for the past three years, Patrick has discovered that consistency matters more than perfection. Meditation has helped him tune into his body and emotions more deeply, fostering self-belief and trust in divine timing – two crucial elements for his prosperity as an artist and entrepreneur. In addition to meditation, music, film, marijuana, tea, movement and nature have become essential tools in his arsenal for navigating life’s challenges. The obstacles he’s faced have deepened his gratitude during the good times and reminded him that sometimes, all anyone needs is the affirmation that things are, in fact, hard.  

Reflecting on his journey, Patrick chuckled at what his ten-year-old self would think. "A bit different from professional sports," he mused, "but cool" nonetheless. His 29th year has been one of connection and perseverance – a reminder that growth doesn’t always unfold as we expect, but often proves to be more meaningful than we could have imagined.  

"A bit different from professional sports," he mused, "but cool" nonetheless.

I believe his younger self would be most proud of the community he’s built – the way he’s transformed his identity as an outsider into his greatest strength, creating a sense of belonging not just for himself, but for others as well. What could have been a source of shame has instead become a defining asset.  

At 29, Patrick is just beginning to hit his stride, and I can’t wait to see where his journey takes him next. Things are heating up in Patrick’s story; as former NBA player Gilbert Arenas would say, it’s been his "hibachi" year.

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Listen to the accompanying playlist here: #001: 29

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