youth motivational speaker
programs
When we label something or someone as good or bad, we will begin to believe it. Jonathan helps students understand the affects that certain labels can have in our day to day lives if we don’t address them. Through sharing his own story of being labeled as a youth, the destructive path it led him down and how he overcame the challenges to become the person he is today.
Jonathan also shares how to DETECT, DISPROVE, and DICARD those labels that don’t serve us, and focus on the potential that we all have inside.
We all find ourselves needing to make a change at one point or another, I know, I sure did. The hardest part of any change is trying to change a lot in a little amount of time, and when we try and fail to make a change, we believe we can’t change. This my friends is just not true.
In this talk your students will learn how the tiniest PIVOTS can produce massive changes. Jonathan encourages students to focus on small wins consistently in order to reach long-term goals, how to set goals, and how to quit wasting time trying to change what it out of their control in order to work on changing the things that can. Its never too late to make a positive pivot in life.
Having been labeled at-risk as a child, Jonathan has a deep understanding of what its like to be treated differently from your peers, and a compassion for the challenge it can be to just be yourself. His story of growing up with an absent father, struggles learning in school, his battle with mental health, and abusing drugs & alcohol at a young age, are things many students today can relate to. Willing to step out from under his labels and failures from his past, Jonathan earned his GED, then he went to college and became the first in his family to receive a bachelor’s degree, and is currently working towards his Master’s degree, always raising the bar and challenging himself to reach higher in life.
Jonathan’s motivational message can get emotional at times as he speaks to the heart of your students about his struggles. More importantly Jonathan lets your students know that no matter what they are going through, it will get better, it’s never too late, and they’re not alone.
tOPICS
Self-worth
Hard work
Self care
Mindset
Making good choices
Character
Respect
Positive attitudes
About
Jonathan’s mission to motivate students is one he is passionate about. Having faced his own struggles growing up, an absent father, failing three different grades, getting in constant trouble at school, diagnosed with mental illnesses and learning disabilities. At 16 he was to told his future would have limitations due to his mental illness, so he gave up on himself and dropped out of high school. It wasn’t until someone entered Jonathan’s life and encouraged him to step out from under the umbrella of labels and take control over his future.
Turning his entire life around with an attitude that nothing would stop him from accomplishing his goals. Jonathan got his GED and enlisted to serve in the U.S. Army for four years. After his Army career he obtained his bachelors degree in social Science and was the first in his family to graduate from college. Jonathan has built a wonderfully fulfilling life with his wife and three children. Now, Jonathan is working on a Master’s degree, volunteers as a court appointed special advocate for youth in foster care, and shares his story with youth encouraging them to step out from under their labels and take control over their lives. He believes every child can be successful and should always believe in themselves, and believe in their dreams.
Contact Jonathan
If you are interested in having me speak to your students, please fill out the form below. I am always happy to jump on a call to see how I can be of service.