Meet Drew Dwelly | Elementary School Special Education Teacher & Professional Boxer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Drew Dwelly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Drew, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from New Bedford, MA. It is a relatively small city but it is diverse in many ways. New Bedford has its historical background dating back to the whaling days but also has its share of crime. Growing up with close friends of various backgrounds gave me a taste of the real world rather than sheltering me from it. The people in my city are tough, gritty and hard working with a “never quit” type of attitude. These are all factors that drive me as well as, in my opinion, give me an advantage in many situations because I have lived through almost everything. Both positive and negative – I have seen friends/family be shot, stabbed and/or killed in front of me but I have also seen people who were given no advantages in life but became very successful. I feel that living through some of these things have put me in a position to be able to handle anything life throws at me and turn it to a positive and make the best out of it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional path is almost like its own fork in the road. Being a School Teacher dealing with students who are physically and mentally handicapped, it is a daily reminder of just how lucky we really are to be able to do the things we can do. We take for granted being able to do things we consider basic like even walking and talking. When you deal with kids on a daily basis who don’t have to ability to do that, let alone everything else it really humbles you and makes you look at life very differently. On the other hand, I am a Professional Boxer. This is where the fork in the road comes I guess. To work with such delicate children in the day time and then having to make a complete switch by the afternoon to get in a boxing ring and prepare to fight. Although they are basically complete opposites, I guess it keeps me balanced.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would love to show my friends some of the things they wouldn’t be able to experience in most other places. Going out to the beach is a definite must. I love the clear, warm water and nice sand bars. It would be great to get out on a boat or jet ski and hit the sand bars out in the ocean, while enjoying the beautiful weather miami has to offer. Areas like south beach are places that every out of towner hears about and wants to visit so I would enjoy showing them that area. Wynwood would be a place see for all of its diversity, culture and art. It is a great place to check out for its daytime scene as well as its night life. The new and improved Hard Rock is also a nice place to check out for all types of entertainment.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I can attribute my success, mental toughness and inner drive to keep pushing forward to my father, Dave Dwelly. He is a major factor in who I am today. He has always been my voice of reason and my guide to help me make the right decisions. My father has always shown me that no matter what happens there is only one way to go and that’s forward. There has been many things in my life that would cause some people to “give up” but because of the guidance he has given me and the role model he has been I have learned that I can make through anything no matter how good or bad it may be.

Instagram: @tomahawk_dwelly

Facebook: Drew Dwelly