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Overcoming Obstacles
Bonnie St. John was raised by a single mother in San Diego. They were very poor, and what's worse is that Bonnie had to have one of her legs amputated at age five. Without any snow or money, her crazy dream was to be a skier. Her mother was always supportive of her and never tried to compensate for the disability.
Bonnie has always been motivated to succeed by her desire to see others motivated by her. She grew up hearing the same lies we all hear: blacks don't ski; blacks don't swim; blacks don't play golf. All black people can do is play basketball or football. These stereotypes are simply not true at all. Today, Bonnie joins over ten thousand African-American ski club members every other year for a convention.
As a child, a friend named Barbara Warmath invited Bonnie St. John on a ski trip with her family over Christmas. This wasn't just any old invitation. Keep in mind that Bonnie was the girl who was exempt from PE classes, rode a special bus, and was teased by the other kids. This trip was the chance of a lifetime from someone who was a true friend.
To say that Bonnie was excited about the trip is quite an understatement, but she had several obstacles to overcome before she could go. How would she be able to ski gracefully when she had only one good leg? How would she get the equipment she needed without any money? Without the luxury of the internet, she turned to the Yellow Pages and the Salvation Army.
Skiing proved harder than even Bonnie St. John could have imagined. She was constantly falling down as she fought with the prosthetic leg. She didn't know what equipment to buy, so her knit mittens left her fingers cold and met. None of it mattered, though. Bonnie was having the time of her life!
Later, Bonnie St. John joined the Ski Club so that she could obtain the appropriate ski gear and take skiing lessons. She was able to meet and race with many other amputees as well. The more she raced, the more she realized how much she enjoyed the challenge. She decided to train for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team.
Everyone can be successful, but each of us must face our own obstacles head-on. Some challenges are tougher than others, of course, but with a little creativity and a lot of determination, anything can be overcome. Don't give up on your dreams. Pick yourself up when you fall, and try again.
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About the Author
Do you possess the motivation to succeed? Bonnie St. John conquered immense problems to realize her passions. Visit Bonnie St. John to see how you can learn from her experiences.
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