HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WENY) -- A multi-time United States National Boxing Champion who almost made it to the Olympics four times, now travels the country giving motivational talks to students. He is in the Twin Tiers doing just that.

Cam F. Awesome had a decorated career in American boxing. He won the U.S. title in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2014. Awesome also won the Golden Gloves three times in 2009, 2011 and 2013. He almost made it to the Olympics four times, in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. Awesome says with even being that close to the international stage, he does not let the decision to walk away weigh on him that much.

"For more than 16 years of my life, I was chasing one goal, and I fell short multiple times. But the story that I share with audiences is that, I don't see my career as a failure," said Cam. F. Awesome, a former boxer turned motivational speaker. "I see goals as a lighthouse and from a distance you can't tell what a lighthouse looks like but you just have to head towards that direction."

WENY-TV's Good Morning Twin Tiers team asked the speaker to deliver a message folks needed to hear, the lighthearted Awesome had this to say:

"Set alarm clocks," Awesome joked. "Don't set goals based off what other people couldn't accomplish. A lot of parents put their fears on their children because they don't want their child to be hurt. But I believe we're anti-fragile as people. So the more we go through, the stronger we become. How much are you willing to allow yourself to go through?"

This is Awesome's third year returning to the Twin Tiers, he says he is already planning a return trip.

Awesome will be speaking to students Tuesday at Waverly, Elmira, GST BOCES and Corning. He gave talks Monday at Watkins Glen, Horseheads and Thomas Edison in Elmira Heights.