Murrieta Educator, Athletic Director, Publisher Shares His Poet's Soul

MURRIETA, CA —When talking with Murrieta Mesa High School's Athletic Director John Broussard, his spoken word poetry always rises to the surface.

"In life, the mess always comes before the message, and the storm before the triumphant story," he told Patch, quoting one of his poems. As well as athletic director, Broussard is a lifetime athlete, poet, motivational speaker, and publisher—his company, 3030 Publishing, stems from his basketball jersey number, 30, as a high school and collegiate athlete. He set basketball aside for bigger ventures: education and child activism.

Broussard recently celebrated the release of his poetry book "Diary of a Poet" at Rival Coffee in Murrieta, taking the stage to perform spoken word poetry before family and friends.

"Diary of a Poet" shows his personal journey and belief that "struggles are not isolated by race but are entwined in the fabric of our shared humanity." His poem "Human" bluntly demonstrates that idea.

"I, too, understand it’s bigger than cops, it’s bigger than looting, it’s all about us; it’s our fight to fight, our call to love. We're in it together. Stop splitting us up.”

"These words serve as a reminder that the battle for justice and equality transcends individual experiences, uniting us in a common cause that is fundamentally about love, understanding, and the human condition."

Broussard has used his poetry to overcome trials and adversities. He has spoken at schools across the Southland, sharing his story to motivate others.

"I grew up in foster care and survived years of trying to fit in," he said. "Men and athletes are supposed to be tough and strong and not feel anything. The greatest strength is to be transparent and show people what you are going through, not just at your highs, but at your lows."

In his book "Letters From An Educator, the Child You Didn't See," Broussard discusses the importance of empathy education.

"It's letting the reader, whether parents, nonprofits, or young people, see that there is no way to help others until you see yours fully," he said. "It's not just for myself but for the reader to allow them the courage to be transparent and brave, to accept and express the highs and the lows that they're going through."

Amid his growing public speaker presence is his ongoing impact on Murrieta Mesa High School.

There wasn't much legacy there when he first set foot on campus. The school was relatively new, with only a few graduating classes under its belt.

A lifetime athlete, Broussard knew that in order to make great strides, you need to know just how far you've come. Since then, he's developed mentorship programs for athletes, launched "Legacy Hall," a museum dedicated to Mesa's history, and grown a Victory Garden honoring the school's record breakers, among many other accolades. This stems from his desire to teach what it means to be a champion, which doesn't always look like victory from the outside.

Now, he's reaching more with his personal legacy of poetry and advocacy.

"You have to believe and hope that your life has meaning, that there is purpose," he said. "I want to help others get through whatever they're facing that day."

And in his words, from HUMAN:

"Nothing is separate. The definition is false. Either we win together or suffer the loss."

Learn more about Broussard's 3030 Publishing here.