Corona Del Sol’s Aidan Odom passionate about teaching after overcoming difficult upbringing
Nov 12, 2024, 5:45 AM | Updated: 7:24 am
Aidan Odom is a Corona Del Sol High School wrestler who overcame a difficult upbringing and will attend Western Colorado University. (Photo courtesy of Traci Murphy)
(Photo courtesy of Traci Murphy)
Corona Del Sol High School senior Aidan Odom overcame a difficult childhood to reach where he is today, a state championship-winning wrestler set to compete for Western Colorado University next fall.
Odom was abandoned by both of his parents as a child, and he was raised by his disabled grandmother. With money being tight, he has persevered through cases of ulcerative colitis and dyslexia to thrive in the classroom, on the mat and in his mentorship of others.
That is why he is a finalist for the Arizona Sports Character Counts scholarship, presented by Parker & Sons.
Teaching others is a passion that he’d like to pursue as a career. Odom wants to become a high school history teacher and wrestling coach one day.
He already has experience mentoring youth as part of Boys to Men Mentoring of Greater Phoenix, which has rebranded to Youth Impact Mentoring. He started as a participant during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and wanted to support young people who come from single-parent households with their education, confidence and communication.
“Boys to Men is a program that helps young men become better men who have unfortunately been displaced or have not had a father in their life,” Odom said. “We give them a father figure or someone that will help support them and help them grow in life. I’ve not only been a participant in Boys to Men, but I am now a mentor in this, helping out kids that have had a similar past to me to grow and become more successful in life.”
He has also developed into a leader in athletics, instructing children in taekwondo and coaching up his teammates in wrestling.
Growing up, Odom participated in taekwondo for 11 years and picked up wrestling in the sixth grade. Sports helped him learn to be disciplined and confident in himself.
“I’m Corona del Sol’s 215-pound state champion last year. I’m also a two-time (Tempe) All-City award winner,” Odom said.
His passion for the sport of wrestling has driven him to pursue coaching.
Character Counts is a registered trademark of the Josephson Institute. 
