so I work in the career field of abilities which is really a great field
abilities which is really a great field
abilities which is really a great field to be in before we get to the my job and
to be in before we get to the my job and
to be in before we get to the my job and what I do now I’d like to start off with
what I do now I’d like to start off with
what I do now I’d like to start off with how we got to those abilities and how I
how we got to those abilities and how I
how we got to those abilities and how I got to that career field and important
got to that career field and important
got to that career field and important pieces that I didn’t follow the advice
pieces that I didn’t follow the advice
pieces that I didn’t follow the advice of Robert Frost most people probably
of Robert Frost most people probably
of Robert Frost most people probably assume of taking a road less traveled I
assume of taking a road less traveled I
assume of taking a road less traveled I was more on the path of Yogi Berra when
was more on the path of Yogi Berra when
was more on the path of Yogi Berra when you come to the fork in the road take it
you come to the fork in the road take it
you come to the fork in the road take it so I had a professor who was profoundly
so I had a professor who was profoundly
so I had a professor who was profoundly confident my abilities so confident that
confident my abilities so confident that
confident my abilities so confident that she said Mike you’re going to move to
she said Mike you’re going to move to
she said Mike you’re going to move to Europe after you graduate and you’re
Europe after you graduate and you’re
Europe after you graduate and you’re going to start this program called the
going to start this program called the
going to start this program called the Erasmus Mundus adapted physical activity
Erasmus Mundus adapted physical activity
Erasmus Mundus adapted physical activity program and I didn’t know what words
program and I didn’t know what words
program and I didn’t know what words just came out of her mouth did you
just came out of her mouth did you
just came out of her mouth did you probably don’t know what I just said but
probably don’t know what I just said but
probably don’t know what I just said but essentially it’s the greatest degree in
essentially it’s the greatest degree in
essentially it’s the greatest degree in the world and working with people with
the world and working with people with
the world and working with people with disabilities of helping them participate
disabilities of helping them participate
disabilities of helping them participate in sport and recreation programs and
in sport and recreation programs and
in sport and recreation programs and that’s something I was really passionate
that’s something I was really passionate
that’s something I was really passionate about excited about I didn’t think I was
about excited about I didn’t think I was
about excited about I didn’t think I was capable she was so confident in my
capable she was so confident in my
capable she was so confident in my abilities that I went anyways and not
abilities that I went anyways and not
abilities that I went anyways and not only did I apply but I was accepted and
only did I apply but I was accepted and
only did I apply but I was accepted and then I was offered a full ride
then I was offered a full ride
then I was offered a full ride scholarship so how do you not accept
scholarship so how do you not accept
scholarship so how do you not accept that opportunity and go for it so I
that opportunity and go for it so I
that opportunity and go for it so I spent every dollar I had to get to
spent every dollar I had to get to
spent every dollar I had to get to Belgium they gave us housing for two
Belgium they gave us housing for two
Belgium they gave us housing for two weeks and after about a week and a half
weeks and after about a week and a half
weeks and after about a week and a half I still hadn’t found anywhere to live so
I still hadn’t found anywhere to live so
I still hadn’t found anywhere to live so I was crossing the street still looking
I was crossing the street still looking
I was crossing the street still looking for housing and I got to street much
for housing and I got to street much
for housing and I got to street much like this and I crossed the first Street
like this and I crossed the first Street
like this and I crossed the first Street got to this grassy median when I got to
got to this grassy median when I got to
got to this grassy median when I got to that grassy median I stood there and
that grassy median I stood there and
that grassy median I stood there and there were cars in my way and I just
there were cars in my way and I just
there were cars in my way and I just kept passing and passing and I’m waiting
kept passing and passing and I’m waiting
kept passing and passing and I’m waiting for the traffic
for the traffic
for the traffic I suddenly realized I must be on the
I suddenly realized I must be on the
I suddenly realized I must be on the wrong path this can’t be the place to
wrong path this can’t be the place to
wrong path this can’t be the place to cross the street it’s way too busy I
cross the street it’s way too busy I
cross the street it’s way too busy I need to turn around go back and as I
need to turn around go back and as I
need to turn around go back and as I turn around there were cars coming from
turn around there were cars coming from
turn around there were cars coming from the other direction too and as I stood
the other direction too and as I stood
the other direction too and as I stood there cars were passing me both
there cars were passing me both
there cars were passing me both directions going go I realized something
directions going go I realized something
directions going go I realized something I was living the exact metaphor of my
I was living the exact metaphor of my
I was living the exact metaphor of my life in that moment I couldn’t go
life in that moment I couldn’t go
life in that moment I couldn’t go further to this opportunity in front of
further to this opportunity in front of
further to this opportunity in front of me but I also didn’t have the option to
me but I also didn’t have the option to
me but I also didn’t have the option to retreat and go back and I fell to my
retreat and go back and I fell to my
retreat and go back and I fell to my knees at that moment on that grassy
knees at that moment on that grassy
knees at that moment on that grassy median in the lowest point of my life
median in the lowest point of my life
median in the lowest point of my life and what I realized there then changed
and what I realized there then changed
and what I realized there then changed my whole perspective I realized two
my whole perspective I realized two
my whole perspective I realized two things one I realize I had nothing left
things one I realize I had nothing left
things one I realize I had nothing left to lose
to lose
to lose I had no home I had no money I had no
I had no home I had no money I had no
I had no home I had no money I had no car I no family to support me or help me
car I no family to support me or help me
car I no family to support me or help me but then I realized the second thing
but then I realized the second thing
but then I realized the second thing that was much more important those cars
that was much more important those cars
that was much more important those cars are not obstacles are they they’re not a
are not obstacles are they they’re not a
are not obstacles are they they’re not a stationary object but rather they’re my
stationary object but rather they’re my
stationary object but rather they’re my fears
fears
fears it wasn’t being struck by a vehicle that
it wasn’t being struck by a vehicle that
it wasn’t being struck by a vehicle that was stopping me it was the fear of being
was stopping me it was the fear of being
was stopping me it was the fear of being struck by a vehicle and I’m gonna tell
struck by a vehicle and I’m gonna tell
struck by a vehicle and I’m gonna tell you what I did and before I say that
you what I did and before I say that
you what I did and before I say that please don’t take my advice literally
please don’t take my advice literally
please don’t take my advice literally it’s not a great idea to try this but as
it’s not a great idea to try this but as
it’s not a great idea to try this but as I mentioned I was in despair I stepped
I mentioned I was in despair I stepped
I mentioned I was in despair I stepped into oncoming traffic that day I stepped
into oncoming traffic that day I stepped
into oncoming traffic that day I stepped right out in front of a highway and when
right out in front of a highway and when
right out in front of a highway and when I did that again I don’t recommend this
I did that again I don’t recommend this
I did that again I don’t recommend this when I did that the cars stopped and I
when I did that the cars stopped and I
when I did that the cars stopped and I say that because the metaphor is true in
say that because the metaphor is true in
say that because the metaphor is true in life and I found it time and time again
life and I found it time and time again
life and I found it time and time again if you step out in front of your fears
if you step out in front of your fears
if you step out in front of your fears your fears will stop for you and let you
your fears will stop for you and let you
your fears will stop for you and let you proceed on to amazing opportunities and
proceed on to amazing opportunities and
proceed on to amazing opportunities and abilities you didn’t know that you had
abilities you didn’t know that you had
abilities you didn’t know that you had or could access but if you let those
or could access but if you let those
or could access but if you let those fears continue to drive in front of you
fears continue to drive in front of you
fears continue to drive in front of you they will hold you at that medium so I
they will hold you at that medium so I
they will hold you at that medium so I kept this mentality all through my
kept this mentality all through my
kept this mentality all through my degree travel all over the continent of
degree travel all over the continent of
degree travel all over the continent of Europe came back United States started
Europe came back United States started
Europe came back United States started my career and I started working all
my career and I started working all
my career and I started working all these odd jobs I have a whole nother
these odd jobs I have a whole nother
these odd jobs I have a whole nother speech called the how is none of your
speech called the how is none of your
speech called the how is none of your business but I think Jim Carrey summed
business but I think Jim Carrey summed
business but I think Jim Carrey summed it up the best and that’s what I kept
it up the best and that’s what I kept
it up the best and that’s what I kept telling people when all my friends and
telling people when all my friends and
telling people when all my friends and family was hey why are you working these
family was hey why are you working these
family was hey why are you working these odd jobs you have a master’s degree the
odd jobs you have a master’s degree the
odd jobs you have a master’s degree the best in the world and you’re being a
best in the world and you’re being a
best in the world and you’re being a preschool teacher what are you doing and
preschool teacher what are you doing and
preschool teacher what are you doing and I said as far as I can tell it’s just
I said as far as I can tell it’s just
I said as far as I can tell it’s just about letting the universe know what you
about letting the universe know what you
about letting the universe know what you want then working towards it but letting
want then working towards it but letting
want then working towards it but letting go of how it comes to pass and six years
go of how it comes to pass and six years
go of how it comes to pass and six years later as I kept working and working and
later as I kept working and working and
later as I kept working and working and all these odd jobs my abilities grew and
all these odd jobs my abilities grew and
all these odd jobs my abilities grew and the opportunity came where three
the opportunity came where three
the opportunity came where three non-for-profit agencies got together and
non-for-profit agencies got together and
non-for-profit agencies got together and created this program called Sports Net
created this program called Sports Net
created this program called Sports Net and grew it and they wanted to grow this
and grew it and they wanted to grow this
and grew it and they wanted to grow this program in order to grow they had to
program in order to grow they had to
program in order to grow they had to find someone with all these unique
find someone with all these unique
find someone with all these unique possibilities and abilities and they
possibilities and abilities and they
possibilities and abilities and they came to me not because of my degree and
came to me not because of my degree and
came to me not because of my degree and my background there well because of all
my background there well because of all
my background there well because of all those odd jobs those opportunities and
those odd jobs those opportunities and
those odd jobs those opportunities and now I’ll start stop talking about myself
now I’ll start stop talking about myself
now I’ll start stop talking about myself and talk about some amazing people I get
and talk about some amazing people I get
and talk about some amazing people I get to work with every day in the field of
to work with every day in the field of
to work with every day in the field of adaptive sports and recreation and
adaptive sports and recreation and
adaptive sports and recreation and really push what you think people are
really push what you think people are
really push what you think people are capable of and their own a bill
capable of and their own a bill
capable of and their own a bill my first example is my friend Boston now
my first example is my friend Boston now
my first example is my friend Boston now Boston’s five years old he came to me
Boston’s five years old he came to me
Boston’s five years old he came to me with his family and they wanted to go
with his family and they wanted to go
with his family and they wanted to go skiing as a family I say great we’ve got
skiing as a family I say great we’ve got
skiing as a family I say great we’ve got this device called a sit-ski
this device called a sit-ski
this device called a sit-ski at this program called shared ski
at this program called shared ski
at this program called shared ski adventures where we’re going to get
adventures where we’re going to get
adventures where we’re going to get Boston in the sit ski and we’ll teach
Boston in the sit ski and we’ll teach
Boston in the sit ski and we’ll teach mom and dad how to steer it and you can
mom and dad how to steer it and you can
mom and dad how to steer it and you can all go skiing as a family and after two
all go skiing as a family and after two
all go skiing as a family and after two weeks I’ve got this picture here of mom
weeks I’ve got this picture here of mom
weeks I’ve got this picture here of mom dad brother and sister on a ski lift
dad brother and sister on a ski lift
dad brother and sister on a ski lift smiling faces so I went I’m done right I
smiling faces so I went I’m done right I
smiling faces so I went I’m done right I did my job on to the next case well
did my job on to the next case well
did my job on to the next case well Boston wasn’t done and he told me in a
Boston wasn’t done and he told me in a
Boston wasn’t done and he told me in a full-on five-year-old temper tantrum
full-on five-year-old temper tantrum
full-on five-year-old temper tantrum Mike I want a ski he said to me okay
Mike I want a ski he said to me okay
Mike I want a ski he said to me okay buddy jump in the sit ski let’s go I’ll
buddy jump in the sit ski let’s go I’ll
buddy jump in the sit ski let’s go I’ll take you for a ride those were the wrong
take you for a ride those were the wrong
take you for a ride those were the wrong words for Boston see Boston didn’t want
words for Boston see Boston didn’t want
words for Boston see Boston didn’t want to go for a ride he wanted to ski and he
to go for a ride he wanted to ski and he
to go for a ride he wanted to ski and he clarified it for me when he said I want
clarified it for me when he said I want
clarified it for me when he said I want a ski like my sister now which one of
a ski like my sister now which one of
a ski like my sister now which one of you wants to tell a five-year-old that
you wants to tell a five-year-old that
you wants to tell a five-year-old that because of his disability he can’t ski
because of his disability he can’t ski
because of his disability he can’t ski like his able-bodied sister I didn’t
like his able-bodied sister I didn’t
like his able-bodied sister I didn’t want to give him that news so I didn’t
want to give him that news so I didn’t
want to give him that news so I didn’t what I said to Boston is I’ve got to
what I said to Boston is I’ve got to
what I said to Boston is I’ve got to check with some other resources I got
check with some other resources I got
check with some other resources I got together all the coordinators of the
together all the coordinators of the
together all the coordinators of the program all these volunteers had been
program all these volunteers had been
program all these volunteers had been with the program some over 20 years and
with the program some over 20 years and
with the program some over 20 years and say what do we have how can we make this
say what do we have how can we make this
say what do we have how can we make this possible maybe he can’t walk but can we
possible maybe he can’t walk but can we
possible maybe he can’t walk but can we teach him how to ski can we get him on
teach him how to ski can we get him on
teach him how to ski can we get him on his own two feet and those coordinators
his own two feet and those coordinators
his own two feet and those coordinators put together all different types of
put together all different types of
put together all different types of equipment and ideas bungee cords and
equipment and ideas bungee cords and
equipment and ideas bungee cords and things for liability I shouldn’t mention
things for liability I shouldn’t mention
things for liability I shouldn’t mention but that’s Boston and with the help of
but that’s Boston and with the help of
but that’s Boston and with the help of those volunteers not only can Boston Ski
those volunteers not only can Boston Ski
those volunteers not only can Boston Ski Boston raced at the Holly Mont Phoenix
Boston raced at the Holly Mont Phoenix
Boston raced at the Holly Mont Phoenix Rising adaptive challenge he was the
Rising adaptive challenge he was the
Rising adaptive challenge he was the youngest person to compete at that race
youngest person to compete at that race
youngest person to compete at that race his own two feet
his own two feet
his own two feet you see Boston let fears hold him back
you see Boston let fears hold him back
you see Boston let fears hold him back from his abilities he knew what he was
from his abilities he knew what he was
from his abilities he knew what he was capable of this is my friend Jerry is my
capable of this is my friend Jerry is my
capable of this is my friend Jerry is my second example
second example
second example now this quo is long before I met Jerry
now this quo is long before I met Jerry
now this quo is long before I met Jerry I didn’t prep him with this but Jerry
I didn’t prep him with this but Jerry
I didn’t prep him with this but Jerry looks forward to a world a society where
looks forward to a world a society where
looks forward to a world a society where people stop using words to hurt instead
people stop using words to hurt instead
people stop using words to hurt instead see people for their abilities now Jerry
see people for their abilities now Jerry
see people for their abilities now Jerry lives in a power chair and I choose
lives in a power chair and I choose
lives in a power chair and I choose those words carefully he lives in that
those words carefully he lives in that
those words carefully he lives in that power chair he plays power soccer with
power chair he plays power soccer with
power chair he plays power soccer with his
his
his Frantz he competes on a team that he is
Frantz he competes on a team that he is
Frantz he competes on a team that he is the assistant coach of that team
the assistant coach of that team
the assistant coach of that team he helps coordinate the fundraisers he
he helps coordinate the fundraisers he
he helps coordinate the fundraisers he coordinates outreach events and
coordinates outreach events and
coordinates outreach events and awareness of what people with
awareness of what people with
awareness of what people with disabilities are capable of through
disabilities are capable of through
disabilities are capable of through sport a lot of what we do as Sports Net
sport a lot of what we do as Sports Net
sport a lot of what we do as Sports Net and Jerry’s such a great advocate one
and Jerry’s such a great advocate one
and Jerry’s such a great advocate one day he came to me in my office and he
day he came to me in my office and he
day he came to me in my office and he says I got this new thing I’m working on
says I got this new thing I’m working on
says I got this new thing I’m working on Mike I’m really excited about and I
Mike I’m really excited about and I
Mike I’m really excited about and I thought it was a new play a new soccer
thought it was a new play a new soccer
thought it was a new play a new soccer something because we’re always talking
something because we’re always talking
something because we’re always talking sports Jerry and I he hands me his
sports Jerry and I he hands me his
sports Jerry and I he hands me his business card Jerry now started his own
business card Jerry now started his own
business card Jerry now started his own business and he goes to local Rochester
business and he goes to local Rochester
business and he goes to local Rochester businesses and helps them to be more
businesses and helps them to be more
businesses and helps them to be more inclusive inclusive of people with
inclusive inclusive of people with
inclusive inclusive of people with disabilities and educating as a whole
disabilities and educating as a whole
disabilities and educating as a whole all from a power chair so there’s all
all from a power chair so there’s all
all from a power chair so there’s all kinds of barriers that Jerry must face
kinds of barriers that Jerry must face
kinds of barriers that Jerry must face on a daily basis that we take for
on a daily basis that we take for
on a daily basis that we take for granted but he doesn’t let that stop him
granted but he doesn’t let that stop him
granted but he doesn’t let that stop him he steps out in front of those fears of
he steps out in front of those fears of
he steps out in front of those fears of rejection those fears of not being able
rejection those fears of not being able
rejection those fears of not being able to and succeeds so I want to end with
to and succeeds so I want to end with
to and succeeds so I want to end with this point when this visual because we
this point when this visual because we
this point when this visual because we live in a positive world I travel as my
live in a positive world I travel as my
live in a positive world I travel as my experiences have proven this time and
experiences have proven this time and
experiences have proven this time and time again but we also live in a world
time again but we also live in a world
time again but we also live in a world with a lot of negative people and those
with a lot of negative people and those
with a lot of negative people and those aren’t bad people those people could be
aren’t bad people those people could be
aren’t bad people those people could be your friends your family they’ll even be
your friends your family they’ll even be
your friends your family they’ll even be your loved ones and they’re telling you
your loved ones and they’re telling you
your loved ones and they’re telling you things that you can’t do and putting
things that you can’t do and putting
things that you can’t do and putting fears in front of you because they’re
fears in front of you because they’re
fears in front of you because they’re facing fears and they’re afraid for you
facing fears and they’re afraid for you
facing fears and they’re afraid for you and for themselves and if you listen to
and for themselves and if you listen to
and for themselves and if you listen to them and you listen to your own fears
them and you listen to your own fears
them and you listen to your own fears you’ll be trapped on that grass media
you’ll be trapped on that grass media
you’ll be trapped on that grass media but if you can step out in front of your
but if you can step out in front of your
but if you can step out in front of your fears and much like my professor can
fears and much like my professor can
fears and much like my professor can encourage others to step out in front of
encourage others to step out in front of
encourage others to step out in front of theirs that’s where we find our true
theirs that’s where we find our true
theirs that’s where we find our true capabilities our possibilities and how
capabilities our possibilities and how
capabilities our possibilities and how we make a better world thank you
we make a better world thank you
we make a better world thank you you
”
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