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 and Youth Advocate in the United States. 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 and anyone that can relate to my struggle, because your struggle is my struggle. 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