OBSTACLES and OBSTACLES and ADVERSITYADVERSITY

How Do We Deal With ThemHow Do We Deal With Them

First –Who Am I and Why Am I First –Who Am I and Why Am I Here?Here?

Charlie Endicott-Associate Director of Career ServicesCharlie Endicott-Associate Director of Career ServicesGreat Athlete-2Great Athlete-2ndnd Team All County High School Football Team All County High School Football Linebacker in WVLinebacker in WVPlayed in first high school state b-ball championship in the Played in first high school state b-ball championship in the WV ColiseumWV ColiseumShow the Trophy-(I know you won’t believe me)Show the Trophy-(I know you won’t believe me)Ask to walk-on at Fairmont State College in WVAsk to walk-on at Fairmont State College in WVWatched two of the practices and decided my skills would Watched two of the practices and decided my skills would best be used elsewhere-nice way of saying-”they hit way best be used elsewhere-nice way of saying-”they hit way too hard”too hard”I work in the Career Center and teach a class here on-I work in the Career Center and teach a class here on-campuscampusWhy am I here-Coach ask me to speak to you because he Why am I here-Coach ask me to speak to you because he knows I truly love SU footballknows I truly love SU football

Some More Stuff About Me and Some More Stuff About Me and YouYou

I always look forward to watching SU football on a I always look forward to watching SU football on a Saturday Saturday Being part of the campus community and the Being part of the campus community and the Salisbury community in general I can honestly Salisbury community in general I can honestly say that SU football is part of the communitysay that SU football is part of the communitySalisbury (I have only been here 9 years) has Salisbury (I have only been here 9 years) has made this football program part of them and the made this football program part of them and the reason for that is you and your coaching staff-you reason for that is you and your coaching staff-you truly represent SU in such a positive waytruly represent SU in such a positive wayThe games are fun to watch and always excitingThe games are fun to watch and always excitingOne thing is for sure, I will be in the stands on as One thing is for sure, I will be in the stands on as many Saturdays as possiblemany Saturdays as possible

What I Respect About SU FootballWhat I Respect About SU Football

Never give upNever give up

Always fightingAlways fighting

Always emotional (some words I had never Always emotional (some words I had never heard before!)heard before!)

Always looking for a way to winAlways looking for a way to win

Never blaming one anotherNever blaming one another

Always leaning on each other for supportAlways leaning on each other for support

When something unexpected happens the When something unexpected happens the team always responds in a positive wayteam always responds in a positive way

Many Times It Is Hard to Respond to Things Many Times It Is Hard to Respond to Things That Have Went Bad In a Positive That Have Went Bad In a Positive WayWay-This -This

is called dealing with adversityis called dealing with adversity

What is adversity?-(a state, condition, or What is adversity?-(a state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty-instance of serious or continued difficulty-things just don’t go right)things just don’t go right)Personal problemsPersonal problemsSocial problemsSocial problemsLoss of a friendLoss of a friendIllnessIllnessAcademic ProblemsAcademic ProblemsAthletic ProblemsAthletic ProblemsInjuryInjury

Adversity Happens On a Football Adversity Happens On a Football Field-correct-examples?Field-correct-examples?

FumblesFumblesMissed TacklesMissed TacklesInterceptionsInterceptionsPenaltiesPenaltiesInjuriesInjuriesLossesLossesSacksSacksLet me go on to say as a poor ex-Let me go on to say as a poor ex-quarterback none of these are his faultquarterback none of these are his fault

My Adversity and My ObstaclesMy Adversity and My ObstaclesI encountered a situation that changed my I encountered a situation that changed my life on July 20, 2003life on July 20, 2003That was the date I broke my neck and That was the date I broke my neck and bruised my spinal cordbruised my spinal cordThe breaking of the neck was not so bad-it The breaking of the neck was not so bad-it was that darn bruise that made things so was that darn bruise that made things so tough!tough!It was a surfing accident (should have It was a surfing accident (should have know better at my age) wave flipped my know better at my age) wave flipped my body over my head and I was immediately body over my head and I was immediately paralyzed from the neck downparalyzed from the neck down

Before July 20, 2003Before July 20, 2003I was a 48 year old male who could almost keep I was a 48 year old male who could almost keep up with Coach Wood in basketball!up with Coach Wood in basketball!I could bench press 320 lbs. This was me before.I could bench press 320 lbs. This was me before.I played basketball almost every dayI played basketball almost every dayI had applied to the PhD program at UMESI had applied to the PhD program at UMESI was ready to take my licensure for CounselingI was ready to take my licensure for CounselingMy twin sons were 15 years old and I was active My twin sons were 15 years old and I was active helping them play sportshelping them play sportsMy wife and I were able to travel frequentlyMy wife and I were able to travel frequentlyLife was good!!Life was good!!

After July 20, 2003After July 20, 2003I can no longer chase Coach up and down the I can no longer chase Coach up and down the basketball court!basketball court!My bench press now is a whopping 120 lbs! This My bench press now is a whopping 120 lbs! This is me now.is me now.I can now drive a golf ball about 60 yards (that is I can now drive a golf ball about 60 yards (that is not that much off from before!)not that much off from before!)My vertical leap for basketball is about the height My vertical leap for basketball is about the height of a dimeof a dimeNo energy to do the PhD program at UMES-YET!No energy to do the PhD program at UMES-YET!Can’t travel long distances due to medications Can’t travel long distances due to medications and pumpand pumpNow my sons walk me to my car and help me up Now my sons walk me to my car and help me up the stepsthe steps

Obstacles/AdversitiesObstacles/AdversitiesWondering if I were going to live or dieWondering if I were going to live or dieNot being able to move anything for six weeksNot being able to move anything for six weeksHearing the neurosurgeon tell his team that here Hearing the neurosurgeon tell his team that here was a 48 year old quad who would never work was a 48 year old quad who would never work again and be in a nursing home the rest of his lifeagain and be in a nursing home the rest of his lifePlacing me on a motion tablePlacing me on a motion tableBeing in a rehab hospital for 6 straight months Being in a rehab hospital for 6 straight months and away from my familyand away from my familyEating hospital foodEating hospital foodBeing bathed by a team of nursesBeing bathed by a team of nursesTaking 5 people to move me from my hospital Taking 5 people to move me from my hospital bed to my wheelchairbed to my wheelchairHaving to take two shots per day in my stomachHaving to take two shots per day in my stomach

More ObstaclesMore ObstaclesNot being able to flip a fly off my faceNot being able to flip a fly off my faceNot being able to get my food up to my mouthNot being able to get my food up to my mouthHaving a steel plate inserted in my neck to Having a steel plate inserted in my neck to stabilize my spinal cordstabilize my spinal cordTaking so much medication that I could not read Taking so much medication that I could not read one paragraph without falling asleepone paragraph without falling asleepHaving leg cramps so bad it makes you cryHaving leg cramps so bad it makes you cryEncountering a blood clot that I was told must not Encountering a blood clot that I was told must not progress to my heart or it could kill meprogress to my heart or it could kill me

What Made Me Overcome This What Made Me Overcome This Adversity?Adversity?

I don’t know-I am not someone special-I don’t I don’t know-I am not someone special-I don’t have a magic wandhave a magic wandI do think my athletic background helps-it taught I do think my athletic background helps-it taught me to never give up, fight and lean on others for me to never give up, fight and lean on others for support.support.All I knew was I wasn’t quittingAll I knew was I wasn’t quittingI knew I would:I knew I would:Work again-Teach againWork again-Teach againDrive againDrive againDress myself-Eat by myselfDress myself-Eat by myselfAnd go watch a great SU football game again!!And go watch a great SU football game again!!

Dealing With Adversity DailyDealing With Adversity DailyI simply take one day at a I simply take one day at a timetimeTry to find something Try to find something positive in that daypositive in that dayNever get caught up in Never get caught up in blaming othersblaming othersMany times I have said Many times I have said “Why Me” but this attitude “Why Me” but this attitude is not productive and has is not productive and has no outcomes-that is not to no outcomes-that is not to say I still don’t think it from say I still don’t think it from time to timetime to timeWe all have so much to We all have so much to offerofferGood luck tomorrow!!!Good luck tomorrow!!!