It has been about eight years since Adam Czuchnicki last ran a competitive cross country race.

Now 25 years old, Czuchnicki is back - as a rookie.

Dusting off those high school spikes, Czuchnicki is the newest member of the George Brown College team - one that is still beaming from last year's sparkling season in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association.

Czuchnicki, in his first year at George Brown, is hoping to benefit from academics and athletics.

The 6-foot native of Kitchener, Ont., a graduate of Bluevale Secondary, Czuchnicki was a regional silver medalist in the 800 metres in his final year of high school. Add on some gold medals with winning cross country teams in Waterloo Region and the Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association.

But after graduation, Czuchnicki moved to Winnipeg and co-owned a bookstore and café. It was in Manitoba that he became interested in - boxing.

His roommate, at the time, was an amateur boxer.

Wasn't long before Czuchnicki decided he wanted to see what it was like in the competitive world. Two years ago, he made it to the Manitoba Novice finals.

But he traded in his competitive boxing gloves to take on a more important role. Describing himself as an "opportunistic guy", Czuchnicki decided his next challenge would be to volunteer his time as a boxing coach.

His focus: working with at-risk children - and, specifically, those who enjoy the sport of boxing and the physical contact to burn off frustrations.

Czuchnicki was hooked on helping others.

It was a direction he knew would require more education - and that's when he headed east and George Brown. He's counting on knowledge and experience in the College's popular Child and Youth Worker Program to help him eventually help others.

"I knew it would be a real change, but to do this kind of work seriously required more education," said Czuchnicki. "George Brown has the program that is best suited for me."

"I really like helping young people who have had to deal with tough times in their lives. There is such a good feeling knowing that you can have an impact on the future of a youngster who may have had a rough start somewhere."

But Czuchnicki will also have his own challenges,

Returning to school after a period away from classroom work, studies and assignments, may be a huge adjustment for him.

Then again, challenges are not new to him.

Source: George Brown College