Please contact a GDA agent for information.
Topics
- Children and Youth Health
- Disability Rights
- Education
- Inspiration / Achievement
- Leadership
- Overcoming Adversity
Click on the topic name to see other speakers tagged with this topic.
Photos
Click on the image to view a high res version.
Jordan Toma Just a Kid with An IEP; Author; #1 Motivational Speaker for all ages
My name is Jordan Toma and I am 33 years old. I have achieved several types of success in my life, even though I always felt I would amount to very little. From a young student dealing with learning disabilities, and feeling helpless, to parents and a system that I thought didn’t understand me, and could not help me. I never felt I was good enough for anything, good enough to become something. I have made it my life’s goal to share everything I did to change my life from what I thought it would be, to what I have made it
I am the #1 Youth Motivational Speaker Also Speaking at Corporate events, corporate conferences, Leadership summits in the United States and Internationally. I promise you, it was not easy. I have a story just like yours because we are the same. I know and understand your struggle, I have lived it my entire life. It took me this long to understand My Struggle is My Strength
I went through the first 18 years of my life thinking my learning disabilities would prevent me from simply being normal. Being successful wasn’t even a thought, I was too busy focusing on how much different I thought I was from everyone. Over time, I learned My Struggle was My Strength. I wear that like a badge of honor, I want everyone to know just how hard it was, and how I became the person I am today because of it. You and I are the same, and I want everyone to wear this badge of honor right alongside me
My life has been a roller-coaster with learning disabilities. That term dominated my life throughout school in a very bad way, it devastated my confidence, my self-esteem, my self-worth, my awareness. Back then, I did not know My Struggle was My Strength. I constantly compared myself to everyone around me, friends, family, my parents, even people I didn’t know. I felt I would never amount to anything in life, that they were all better than me, smarter than me, more normal than me, could do more than me. I let that define me, my mood, my attitude, my feelings. In my mind the term ‘Learning Disability’ became a label plastered on my shirt for everyone to see, laugh at and know I was different. I always felt I was not as good as everyone else, and I never would be
I always felt lost and helpless in class. I struggled with listening, reading, paying attention, being present and of course trying to understand why I couldn’t pick things up like everyone else did. I remember sitting in class and telling myself I am going to really try hard to understand everything and be a normal student, but I just couldn’t grasp the material. The struggle was real, and it led to required Special Lessons. The Special Lessons led to other students and so-called friends calling me dumb. I also allowed this to control me throughout High School
After graduating High School in 2008, Centenary University accepted me into a life changing program called ‘Step Ahead’. I remember when I moved into the Centenary University dorm that summer, filled with fear and anxiety. I went into the bathroom, looked at myself in the mirror and promised I was going to change, I was going to change my life and that name tag that had dominated me up to this point. Form that day forward, I stopped being who I thought I was, and started becoming who I am. I started working harder and harder until I did have an understanding, building a foundation of confidence and belief. Brick by brick, It brought me to where I am today, here with you
A new journey has begun for me, a journey where I show everyone how to start theirs. Young people, young students, parents, teachers, corporate events and anyone that can relate to struggle and we all can, because your struggle is my strength. I will help you create a foundation of belief, confidence, work ethic and everything in between to become the best you can be, and never, ever allow anything to stop you from becoming more in life. I know sharing my story, my struggle and how I became who I am, will inspire everyone, and help them understand they can do it too. Book an event today, and lets start our journey together!!!
Jordan Toma - I'm Just A Kid With An IEP