Dwayne Johnson is one of the most famous celebrities in the world but, before he became known as famed wrestler The Rock, he was a kid doing his best to get by. Johnson has always been candid about his rough upbringing but, now, he’s really giving fans a look at his formative years through his new show, Young Rock. Ahead of the show’s premiere, Johnson has been very reflective, and he recently recalled the time his family was evicted and reflected on some of his teenage dreams as well.
Being evicted can’t be a particularly warm memory for Dwayne Johnson but, years later, he definitely doesn’t mind talking about it. And during an interview at his old high school, which he posted on Instagram, he explained just how hard it was for him to leave his home in Hawaii:
We were kicked off the island, we were evicted off this island and, at that time of our eviction, I was so determined not to leave. I wanted to stay here in Hawaii. I fought with my mom at that time, and she was like, ‘Well, we have no choice you have to leave.’ And I said, ‘No, I’ll stay with my uncles, I’ll stay with my aunties. I’ll stay anywhere I can. I’ll stay with my grandmother.’ Because I felt that at that time when I was fourteen years old, getting ready to turn fifteen that I had all the answers, that I knew what was best in my life. Ultimately, of course, I got my ass on a plane, and I did what my mom told me to do.
Most would agree Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was made for the wrestling world, especially since the sport runs so deeply in his family. However, the young athlete actually wanted to be a football player, in the hopes that he could help his family out financially. Though like his desire to stay in Hawaii, that dream also did not come to pass:
When I think back at that time, my dream was to number one, not leave Hawaii. I didn’t want to be broke, that’s for sure. But I also had a dream, at that time, this idea that I could be a professional football player, and my dreams could come true, I could buy my parents a house, we’ll never be evicted again, I could buy my first house, buy my first car, etc. etc.
Things didn’t quite turn out the way a young Dwayne Johnson would have liked, but it seems like he now more than appreciates the way things ultimately progressed for him. You can check out his original post down below:
Johnson makes a great point when saying that life is “widely unpredictable.” We can have all the plans we want, but things more than likely won’t go exactly as we hoped. Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean things won’t work out for the best.
Dwayne Johnson definitely has one of the most extraordinary paths to stardom, which makes it the perfect idea for a television show. And while it’s sure to be entertaining for viewers at home, it’s sure to be quite humbling for Johnson to see his life story play out before the world.
Young Rock premieres tonight, February 16, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
