Smith Presents for 'United We Can'

The last United We Can luncheon of the year welcomed former professional basketball player Tyler Smith. Smith spoke about his basketball career that took him all over the world. However, his main goal was to try to share something positive with the young people who were in attendance.

"There is so much negative stuff that we think, we feel and we absorb through our social media and our culture," Smith said. "I want to share with them, things are always going to be hard. Life is hard, but when you fail and things don't go your way, that's not the end of the story. It's just one of your attempts to really give them the hope that you can win anyway even when things don't go your way."

Smith, who grew up outside of Chicago, said that he was not comfortable in his own skin. He really wanted to fit in with everybody else.

He added that none of us are walking around saying, "I am the greatest thing to be created."

"Sometimes, we pull off that persona," Smith said. "Sometimes people act like that, but that is not real deep down inside."

Win anyway! That is Smith's motto. He said that hard work doesn't always equal success.

"Life is not fair and will never be fair, but I am going to find a way to win anyway," Smith said.