2008 Woodie Awards
Brown addresses self-image issues
Motivational speaker Keith L. Brown speaks at USA
Kem Preston
STAFF WRITER
klp403@jaguar1.usouthal.edu
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: Lifestyles
On Feb. 27, students left the University of South Alabama Student Center Ballroom with an extremely positive way of thinking and motivated to go and create change in the world around them after listening to internationally known motivational speaker Keith L. Brown.
Speaking with a subtle confidence, Brown delivered a powerful message in a way that was easily related to the youth that was present.
Before brining out the guest speaker, members of the Mobile Kappa League entertained the audience with inspirational words and musical selections to remind those present just how much struggle and turmoil African-Americans have overcome.
The topic of Brown's speech was "Making the Impossible I'm Possible", and he focused a great deal on the power a single individual has when they do not doubt their potential.
Brown began the show with a hands-on experiment, where the audience formed a circle around the ballroom, with everyone standing next to the opposite sex. Brown then went on to have each person sit in the person's lap that was behind them for 20 seconds in order to prove that it is okay to trust our neighbors.
His speech covered three main points: Stay away from negative people, the way that we dress, is the way you will be addressed and stop looking at life through other people's eyes.
Brown provided the audience with the acronym "O.Q.P.", which stands for "Only Quality People", and said it was a thought and way of life that each person should carry with themselves for the rest of their lives. Brown said to always remember that the people an individual chooses to associate with on a regular basis influences them daily. He asked the question, "Do we really want those who aren't going anywhere in life around us to bring us down?"
"I don't know exactly what I need to do, but I know that I need to start making changes to be successful in life right now," said Siara Smith, an African-American Student Association member.
Speaking with a subtle confidence, Brown delivered a powerful message in a way that was easily related to the youth that was present.
Before brining out the guest speaker, members of the Mobile Kappa League entertained the audience with inspirational words and musical selections to remind those present just how much struggle and turmoil African-Americans have overcome.
The topic of Brown's speech was "Making the Impossible I'm Possible", and he focused a great deal on the power a single individual has when they do not doubt their potential.
Brown began the show with a hands-on experiment, where the audience formed a circle around the ballroom, with everyone standing next to the opposite sex. Brown then went on to have each person sit in the person's lap that was behind them for 20 seconds in order to prove that it is okay to trust our neighbors.
His speech covered three main points: Stay away from negative people, the way that we dress, is the way you will be addressed and stop looking at life through other people's eyes.
Brown provided the audience with the acronym "O.Q.P.", which stands for "Only Quality People", and said it was a thought and way of life that each person should carry with themselves for the rest of their lives. Brown said to always remember that the people an individual chooses to associate with on a regular basis influences them daily. He asked the question, "Do we really want those who aren't going anywhere in life around us to bring us down?"
"I don't know exactly what I need to do, but I know that I need to start making changes to be successful in life right now," said Siara Smith, an African-American Student Association member.
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