Tyler McFarland

I am a young entrepreneur going after my dreams. I started Tyler's Computer Services, an electronics repair company, in May 2010 at the young age of 15. The business has experienced rapid growth over the years. We moved locations twice due to exponential growth in less than 18 months! Over the years we have added many services such as smartphone and tablet repairs. We have also began to branch into retail.

I serve on the Board of Directors for the Longview Type One Diabetes Foundation as Vice President. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, at the age of 12. My pancreas no longer produces insulin and I have to take numerous insulin shots throughout the day and check my blood sugar 4-8 times a day. Being diagnosed with this disease has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people and also kind of pushed me to go after my dreams and not let anybody tell me I can't do something. I am so blessed to be a part of Longview Type One Diabetes Foundation. Before our foundation was started there was no type of support group for people with Type 1 diabetes in Longview, TX. We meet monthly at Jason's Deli and each month we have a different speaker come speak about different topics such as 504 plans, dealing with diabetes at school, emotional aspects of Type 1 diabetes, and so on. Being a part of this orginization has really been a blessing to me in so many ways! I have always volunteered since a very young age. Whether it be volunteering for an event, a non-profit orginization, or at a museum. I truly believe that it is better to give than receive and I try to do that each and every day.

I encourage any of you that have a dream to go after it! Sure you might stumble a long the way (I know I did.. many times), but life is too short to not pursue a dream. I could've let diabetes keep me from going after my dreams, but I didn't. I don't let it define me. "If you have a dream in your life, go ahead, it's possible." Lyoto Machida