NIU Student

Unbeknownst to me prior to this course, it not only proved to be
informative but also impacted me as a person. The speaker who
resonated most with me was NIU alum and key note speaker, Dale
Spencer. I am so glad I went to see him speak because although we had
no conversations personally (I left right afterwards because it was getting
late and I despise NIU bus system), I could relate and connect with a lot of
what he was saying. I was in a horrific accident during the end of a spring
semester in 2012- right before my finals. And in that accident I lost a best
friend and broken all of the largest bones in my body on my left side. So when I
heard him speak about how his accident occurred so unexpectedly and how he
felt about it afterwards, I could relate; and his success since then gave me
hope to someday have my own. If he refused to not let live conquer him over
his permanent disability, surely I cannot allow myself to let life conquer me. I
was inspired by his story and how far he has come and intrigued by his outlook
on life and where he is headed. It is in my strongest opinion that more students
should have gone to hear him speak because they missed out on an impactful
person and story of refusing to let emotions, handicaps, and social stigmas
about abilities to hold him back in life. I could write a whole paper alone on my
thoughts of Dale Spencer’s presentation and the importance of his message to
me; definitely my favorite opportunity of the course of this semester that was
offered in this class.