Hoffman stated that he had an interest in BMX bike racing and had made it to the top, even was featured on a magazine before his experimentation with drugs took his life into a downward spiral. He stated that marijuana was the introductory drug that he became addicted to before he began selling to support his own habit.
He had planned after graduating high school to work for an entrepreneur who was starting up a computer networking business in San Diego, however that didn’t work out and he found out that his boss was wanted by the FBI for stealing $28 million in a Ponzi scheme.
“Plans sometimes don’t work out and you have to learn to make the right decisions because those decisions will influence the rest of your life,” said Hoffman.
He came back home lost, without direction and later was kicked out of his home when his family discovered he was selling drugs and stealing them. This eventually led him to commit armed robbery in 2004 with another addict and was convicted. At his sentencing, Tony was given probation and the opportunity to achieve sobriety in lieu of prison. Because he was not ready to make changes in his life, he was arrested on a probation violation, and went to prison in 2007.
Hoffman spent two years in the Wasco, Tehachapi, and Avenal state prisons, where he decided to make a change in his life and began planning a way to use both the positives and the negatives of his life to help kids avoid the mistakes he had made himself.
He learned an important lesson from an inscription on his prison cell ceiling.
“Be careful because your thoughts become words. Words become actions. What you do becomes a habit; your habits become your character. Your character becomes your destiny,” recited Hoffman.
He stated that he decided to make small changes that would lead him to a new destiny; but that he daily has to fight his addiction, as do all addicts and that he focused on what he needed to do to become successful.
After his release from prison, Tony immediately re-entered the BMX racing circuit, winning five races as pro and competing at the Olympic level for two years until he faced a career ending injury.
With a goal of helping kids and making a difference in their lives, in 2010 he achieved his goal of starting the Freewheel Project, a non-profit BMX racing organization and began devoting his life to educating youth on the importance of leading drug-free lives. The Freewheel Project directs youth toward outlets, such as BMX racing, as a way to fill their time with positive activities, which improve their wellbeing and boost their self-esteem.
Hoffman encouraged the students present to remember, “The pattern of choices you make today define your destiny.” He warned, “If you make the choice to introduce drugs into your life, you better be prepared.” Hoffman explained that once you try drugs and become an addict you will be haunted by it and will have to fight it every day of your life.
Students from Brownwood and Bangs schools attended the event Friday.
Hoffman is pictured above and below as he spoke to students.
