Alex Avery is the 16-year old son of Mike and Carin Avery.  Mike was the head men's soccer coach at Valparaiso and Carin is currently the head coach of the women's volleyball program at Valpo. Alex is a junior at Marquette High School and is the older brother of KJ Avery.  KJ was adopted by the Avery family from Africa in 2012 when he was four years. 

Five Questions With Alex Avery

1.  Do you feel you were raised differently then your brother?  

“My parents never talked to me about certain things they have had to talk to KJ about. Things like don’t wear your hood up around downtown, or what to say and how to act if a policeman pulls you over or asks to talk to you. They talk to KJ about where to put his hands if this ever happens. I was never told this by them.”
 
2,  How does it feel to have a brother of a different race?  

“At first, I never really thought about it. I was just excited to have a brother.  Still today, I know it sounds strange, but I only look at him as my brother - not as my black adopted brother. But now I worry about his future and his safety as a person of color. It’s sad what’s going on in the world today and it’s hard for me to really understand it. I’ve always been taught to celebrate everyone’s differences because the world would be boring if we were all the same."  
 
3. Has anyone ever given you a hard time being part of a multi-racial family? 

“Actually, no they have not. I really don’t think young people care about things like that, and I believe my generation will be the generation that finally makes a change. My friends have always thought it was cool that I had a brother from another country that looks nothing like me." 
 
4.  Growing up around your dad’s Valpo men's soccer team that was always so diverse, do you think that had an impact on you?

“Yes, because being around all the different nationalities, races, and religions made it seem natural to me to be in a diverse environment. I was very lucky to have that experience especially growing up in Valparaiso." 
 
5. How do you feel when you hear your dad presenting the "#OneValpo" story almost every day during the last few months?  

“It makes me proud, and it shows me that we should all do what we can to make a difference in the world.”
 
For more on the creation of the #OneValpo campaign (Click Here)