The Real Word: Surviving – and thriving – through adversity
Five years ago, I initiated an
important sector of my business
operations that not only opened
doors to a myriad of new opportunities,
but also allowed me to help
others who deal with daily adversity.
College students face obstacles
— a roommate from hell, financial
struggles, poor grades — every day.
But it's important to know that
there is always someone available
to help you in your struggles.
As a disabled person, I never wish to use my physical challenges as excuses for not always being able to give 100 per cent to the task at hand. In business, like in sports, it's all about getting the job done, no matter what.
Five years ago, when a local group asked me to speak to them about my disabilities and how I have overcome adversity, my life changed forever. I hesitated accepting the chance to take the podium, because I knew there would always be someone worse off than me. But just minutes before I grabbed the microphone, it hit me: we all have a unique story to tell.
You can read a condensed version of my story at my corporate website jeffreyreedreporting.com/speaking.htm. Since that speaking engagement five years ago, telling my story to anyone who will listen has seen me make many new friends, help inspire thousands of people and deal with my own physical struggles. In fact, it is important to realize that perfection in life is unattainable: in the classroom and in the business world, as in life, it's how you deal with adversity that makes the difference between success and failure.
During my first year of teaching post-graduate students here at Fanshawe College, I left my home for the first time in a week due to severe neck and back pain and, against doctor's orders (sorry, doc), lectured to my class. I had an obligation to my students to attend class. Later that year, those graduating students asked me to speak at their graduation dinner (I guess they didn't get enough of my PowerPoint presentations during the school year). It wasn't until that dinner that I discovered a group of my students had stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching me struggle to reach the top before walking into the classroom.
As a Fanshawe student, what are you struggling with this semester? Perhaps this is your first time away from home, and you miss Mom's home cooking. Does your roommate resemble Spike from the movie Notting Hill? (Google him if you haven't seen the movie.) I once had a roommate who, I am sure, was the inspiration for that character. He took my car for a joy ride in downtown London — not knowing that the brakes on my '73 Nova were about to give out. Now that would have gone viral bigtime on YouTube.
A University of Northern Iowa survey revealed that nine out of 10 first-year student challenges involve academic adjustments. The lone challenge outside of academia to crack that top 10 was establishing a social life.
StateUniversity.com lists The College Years: Top 10 Problems, and they are: financial issues; jobs; eating and drinking; your parents (minus Thanksgiving and Christmas break dinners); coursework and studying; friends and dating; roommates (named Spike); professors (guilty as charged); lack of sleep; and a busy schedule.
USNews.com, in its Professors' Guide, lists the Five Biggest Mistakes College Students Make: cutting classes; overloading studies; "overmedia-ing" (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube); procrastinating; and "going it alone." I love that last one. According to the Professors' Guide, "Many students shy away from going to see their professor or teaching assistant, either because they're too scared, they think the prof won't want to see them, or they think you should only go when you're in trouble. As a result, they end up blowing a test or paper when a few minutes with the instructor could have easily cleared up the problem."
Before I admitted that I needed to see a team of specialists on a monthly basis, my health — not to mention my business — suffered greatly. Now, despite the fact I am a disabled person, I am able to take on new challenges (and I mean that in a positive sense) every day. Business has never been better, and it continues to grow. My students sometimes don't believe me when I say that teaching is my favourite weekly assignment, but nothing is more rewarding in life than being a mentor.
Speaking about your own personal challenges isn't about pounding your chest like a reality TV celebrity. It's about helping others cope, and about being the best you can be. And if you're lucky, you'll survive the roommate from hell. My car didn't, but I did. Last I heard, "Spike" is now selling real estate. Just don't let him move in with you.
Award-winning journalist Jeffrey Reed is a Fanshawe College professor with the Corporate Communication and Public Relations post-graduate program and an instructor with Fanshawe's Continuing Education department. E-mail him at jreed@fanshawec.ca.
As a disabled person, I never wish to use my physical challenges as excuses for not always being able to give 100 per cent to the task at hand. In business, like in sports, it's all about getting the job done, no matter what.
Five years ago, when a local group asked me to speak to them about my disabilities and how I have overcome adversity, my life changed forever. I hesitated accepting the chance to take the podium, because I knew there would always be someone worse off than me. But just minutes before I grabbed the microphone, it hit me: we all have a unique story to tell.
You can read a condensed version of my story at my corporate website jeffreyreedreporting.com/speaking.htm. Since that speaking engagement five years ago, telling my story to anyone who will listen has seen me make many new friends, help inspire thousands of people and deal with my own physical struggles. In fact, it is important to realize that perfection in life is unattainable: in the classroom and in the business world, as in life, it's how you deal with adversity that makes the difference between success and failure.
During my first year of teaching post-graduate students here at Fanshawe College, I left my home for the first time in a week due to severe neck and back pain and, against doctor's orders (sorry, doc), lectured to my class. I had an obligation to my students to attend class. Later that year, those graduating students asked me to speak at their graduation dinner (I guess they didn't get enough of my PowerPoint presentations during the school year). It wasn't until that dinner that I discovered a group of my students had stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching me struggle to reach the top before walking into the classroom.
As a Fanshawe student, what are you struggling with this semester? Perhaps this is your first time away from home, and you miss Mom's home cooking. Does your roommate resemble Spike from the movie Notting Hill? (Google him if you haven't seen the movie.) I once had a roommate who, I am sure, was the inspiration for that character. He took my car for a joy ride in downtown London — not knowing that the brakes on my '73 Nova were about to give out. Now that would have gone viral bigtime on YouTube.
A University of Northern Iowa survey revealed that nine out of 10 first-year student challenges involve academic adjustments. The lone challenge outside of academia to crack that top 10 was establishing a social life.
StateUniversity.com lists The College Years: Top 10 Problems, and they are: financial issues; jobs; eating and drinking; your parents (minus Thanksgiving and Christmas break dinners); coursework and studying; friends and dating; roommates (named Spike); professors (guilty as charged); lack of sleep; and a busy schedule.
USNews.com, in its Professors' Guide, lists the Five Biggest Mistakes College Students Make: cutting classes; overloading studies; "overmedia-ing" (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube); procrastinating; and "going it alone." I love that last one. According to the Professors' Guide, "Many students shy away from going to see their professor or teaching assistant, either because they're too scared, they think the prof won't want to see them, or they think you should only go when you're in trouble. As a result, they end up blowing a test or paper when a few minutes with the instructor could have easily cleared up the problem."
Before I admitted that I needed to see a team of specialists on a monthly basis, my health — not to mention my business — suffered greatly. Now, despite the fact I am a disabled person, I am able to take on new challenges (and I mean that in a positive sense) every day. Business has never been better, and it continues to grow. My students sometimes don't believe me when I say that teaching is my favourite weekly assignment, but nothing is more rewarding in life than being a mentor.
Speaking about your own personal challenges isn't about pounding your chest like a reality TV celebrity. It's about helping others cope, and about being the best you can be. And if you're lucky, you'll survive the roommate from hell. My car didn't, but I did. Last I heard, "Spike" is now selling real estate. Just don't let him move in with you.
Award-winning journalist Jeffrey Reed is a Fanshawe College professor with the Corporate Communication and Public Relations post-graduate program and an instructor with Fanshawe's Continuing Education department. E-mail him at jreed@fanshawec.ca.
