On October 29, 2025 Damon Parker spoke about mental health to Rose Hill High School.

Parker was first a teacher before becoming a speaker. When presenting to students, he noticed that there is a knowledge gap between kids.

“They could know how to do chemistry but not know how to change a tire,” said Parker.

After seeing this Parker decided to set aside time every Friday to teach a real world skill. This kept going and eventually it turned into Parker being a stage speaking.

“I never really wanted to be a speaker, it was just one of those weird things that happens,” said Parker.

Once speaking Parker started up the Jones Project in honor of Josh Jones who died by suicide. 

That is the reason he speaks on mental health, but he takes a different angle than most speakers.

Parker was once a wrestling coach, who won a state title. He has accomplished everything on a coach’s ‘‘goal-list’ but that didn’t stop depression from hitting him.

This helps many people connect with Parker and listen to what he’s saying.

Parker said the best and worst part of his job is when kids come up and talk to him after his presentation.

“They are the ones having a really hard time with something in their life but connected with something that he said which is amazing that they talk to me,” said Parker.

Although it is amazing those kids have someone to talk to Parker explained the hardest part is walking away when the conversation is done.

Even with these challenges Parker still powers through, because he loves his job.

Parker emphasizes that he will go anywhere, it doesn’t matter if there are nine kids in the audience or 2,000. 

“Every kid matters,” said Parker.