Perhaps one of the most highly anticipated sessions offered on Diversity Day at Regis Jesuit this year was Ian Humphrey’s speech, “It’s Not About the Knockdown, It’s About the Get Up.”

Students of all grades crowded into the Z Theater in the Performing Arts Center for the first or second session of the speech. Not only did Mr. Humphrey engage the audience and keep everyone interested, his talk also inspired everyone who attended.

Audience members leaned forward with engaged ears and admiration when he told the story of his life from his early childhood through adulthood. The challenges that he overcame, and the ways he overcame them, had a positive and wholly intentional effect on the young students. In order to keep people interested and show that his message applied to them, Mr. Humphrey had multiple activities to include the audience and get them involved.

He started his speech with an attention grabbing boom, literally. In addition to this introduction, he established the analogy of Muhammad Ali and Sonny Banks. This continued throughout the presentation, representing the “knock downs” of life, and overcoming them. Mr. Humphrey pointed out that the great boxer Muhammad Ali had a select few powerful quotes, and he picked two students from the audience to recite these quotes, which included things like “I am the greatest,” and “If you dream about beating me, you better wake up and apologize.”

Although the audience was able to participate, the majority of the presentation was the story of Mr. Humphrey’s life.

“Never did I picture myself standing in front of hundreds and in some venues, thousands of people speaking. However, after speaking to a small classroom years ago and reading the emails afterwards, I knew it was something I needed to continue doing,” Humphrey said.

He was very open about his experiences, both the good and bad, that have shaped his life and made him who he is today. Perhaps some of the most heartfelt words from Humphrey regarded his motivation. “Without my four beautiful children and supportive wife, I would not be who I am.”

When the young high school students heard what he had to say, they were intrigued. This was not another boring story time, or a cliché speech from an adult with a tag line of “When I was your age..,” instead it was a relatable conversation in which the audience was pulled into the life of the presenter.

“I speak freely about what happened to me as a kid. I made it through those things and today I am successful.  It is my hope that I touched someones heart, and they walked away believing that life is tough, but there’s nothing too difficult to overcome,” Humphrey said regarding his hopes for the listeners.

“It’s Not About the Knockdown, It’s About the Get Up” was one of the most influential classes offered during Regis Jesuit’s 2015 Diversity Day. Not only did this session expose kids to new stories, but it inspired them to make a change in their life and emerge from their comfort zones to take steps toward success. “To expect adversity, embrace it, and overcome it,” is what Mr. Ian Humphrey says he wants every student to take away from the class. And they sure did.

You can contact Mr. Humphrey on Twitter @beianspired, Instagram @beianspiredtv, or his website www.beianspired.com.

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