TEEN TRUTH: INSIGHT – RISING UP
August 31st, 2010
With the new school year approaching, I have started preparing to get back out on the road and do what I love to do – empower students to tell their TRUTHS and rise up to overcome the problems that they face every day. As part of this preparation I recently read Drew Brees’ new book Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity. Truthfully, I was expecting to read a book about football, the New Orleans Saints, and Brees’ passion to lead them to their first World Championship. What I got out of this book was so much more.
Brees makes a profound statement in his book about the adversity that he’s faced over his life – from the destruction of his knee as a high school junior, to the blown-out shoulder he suffered during his last game for the Chargers, and even the recent suicide of his mother. He has risen to surmount each challenge to achieve results that made him both stronger and happier.
As I read his book, I couldn’t help but think of the thousands of students that I have met on the road that also face tremendous adversity and have found inspiration and strength in our program – from the boy in Southern California who told me TEEN TRUTH stopped him from killing someone, to the girl in Texas who told me that our stories stopped her from committing suicide, to the boy in Northern California who came up to me, poked me in the chest, and said, “never lose your passion” explaining that my passion helped him believe he would find passion in his life.
What’s ironic is the youth that say TEEN TRUTH helps them actually end up helping me. They inspire me because they wake up every morning, go to school and face overwhelming challenges every day. It is their need to learn and better themselves that helps me confront the adversity that I know lies ahead in my life.
So as the summer winds down, I encourage you to reflect on your own problems. I challenge you to recognize how overcoming these issues will make you stronger and more fulfilled. Ask yourself if you are you willing to RISE UP and accept responsibility for the change. Are you willing to allow adversity to make you stronger than you ever were before?
I believe you are.
- TEEN TRUTH Co-founder/Speaker JC Pohl (pictured at right) travels the United States every year, making a difference in the lives of thousands of teens.