Student Testimonial Archives

Your presentation was the best! I learned a lot and feel more comfortable around disabled people. Now I know what it feels like to be disabled. I always thought that they had a horrible life, but now I know that when they think positive, they have a life as good as mine or even better.

Steve, 5th grader

I don't know if you remember me, you walked into my Freshman Health Class at Allentown, I was the girl who kept her head down. I remember knowing what you were going to talk about, I remember knowing exactly how you feel. I remember how great it felt, when a boy who used to be one of my closest friends when my cerebral palsy was at the worst, talking to you. Even though he's one of the biggest class clowns. I knew he knew what you meant, and I knew he still cared.

I remember glancing at you afraid, so afraid because I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how. So then I came up to you at the end of class and then I told you, "I also have cerebral palsy." And then you smiled and said, "But it doesn't need to have you." Those words will be in my memory forever because I never thought of it that way. I remember how surprised I was to see you at Cook College during our Agricultural State Convention. I remember how nice it was to actually see you again. I remember seeing you at the basketball game at the Elementary School, where my brother was playing. I wasn't sure if it was you, but then I realized it was when I saw the bright shirt.

I'm doing a report on Heroes for my Sophomore English class. I went to your web site because you are one of my heroes. I want you to know that. Thank you for coming to my class. Thank you for coming to Allentown. Thank you for going down to the Elementary School and talking to them. You were in all my siblings classes, and some of my friends. Thank you for opening their eyes, and for opening mine. I wish you all the best, and hope you come back again, because there are new people and everyone needs to know what it's like.

Maybe someday I'll have the courage to speak as you do, and tell them about me.

Danielle, 10th Grader

Today, I learned a few things from your speaker's visit that I would like to share. The first thing is that when you really want to do something, you have to try over and over until you reach your goals. Another thing is people with disabilities can have very special talents. The last thing is just because someone is in a wheelchair or has any type of disability does not mean they are abnormal, it just means that there aren't exactly like you.

I hope that in the future your speaker continues leading a happy life!

Emily, 3rd Grader

Hello! My name is Stephenie and today, one of your motivational speakers came to my middle school in Delaware. I was having a bad day for no particular reason. I was tired and just didn't feel happy. When I walked into my Social Studies class I did not expect to come out cheerful.

Your speaker spoke of being motivated. He told us to be positive and to look at what we had. His speech and attitude changed my day from bad to great!! I am not sure if it was the anecdotes he told us, or the smile he kept on his face, but he lifted my spirits and made me feel motivated. I still remember some excerpts of his speech. He spoke metaphorically of a wall and nails and how it was like getting teased and teasing others. This metaphor, I thought, was excellent and really touched my heart. He also spoke of looking at all the things you have that others don't. Everything he said has since made and brightened my day.

I had Social Studies, the class he was in, right before lunch. At lunch, I was so happy and positive, I just had to go over and thank him. He is such a great guy and he helped me find the good in all situations. For the rest of the day, I was literally glowing with joy. Every one of my friends, by the end of recess, were smiling as well. I was very happy for the rest of the day, thanks to your speaker and A Vision in Motion.

Your program of having motivational speakers come to schools is the best idea I have heard in a long time. Thank you for giving people a chance to help others open their eyes. I just wanted to tell you my wonderful experience and Thank You!

Stephenie, 8th Grader

Hello! My name is Lindsey and I am a fourth grader at an New Jersey elementary school. You just recently visited and gave your excellent speech. I loved your videotape that you showed us. I also think that it is cool that you went skydiving and painted those amazingly good pictures. I think that it is refreshing that you have learned to accept your own disability because it then gives you the motivation to overcome it.

Thank you for coming to our school, and I enjoyed hearing about your life story. I hope that your dream of being able to walk very well comes true and there is no doubt in my mind that it won’t. You said that we all have role models and you are mine. But, I also like myself just the way I am, just as you taught us. Thanks again and I hope to see you again soon!

Lindsey, 4th Grader

My name is Matthew and you probably don't know me, but I was the only kid who knew you were not teased in school when you asked that question. Your program changed my own view of people with disabilities. I had nothing against them, but I just didn't know that they could skydive and paint magnificent pictures! Your program to our class was excellent, informal, and very interesting.

My father has M.S., or Multiple Sclerosis, but it's only a mild case and he still has problems with his back sometimes. He can still play sports and do activities with me and my brothers! My parents also like Billy Joel. I use these examples to show that you are quite an inspiration to me.

You are one of the best people I have ever met in my life.

Matthew, 5th Grader

From that moment that you were finished with your conference keynote, you totaly changed the way I thought of life and of people. At that retreat for peer leadership, I learned so much, but you were the main person that really have made a difference in my life. From now on, I look up to you and from then on, you are my idol. Thank you so much for being such a great role model and for making a difference in my life and probably for many others.

Kelly, 9th grader
after statewide Elks Peer Leadership Conference

You have made me realize even though you might have a disability, [it is important to] not to take that and use it as an excuse, but to take advantage of what you do have and find success that way.

Don't feel so sorry for yourself if you can't do what others can do, because you can probably do something special that they can't do.

I learned from your speaker to always have a smile on my face.

quotes from high-school students

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