Jonathan D. Parks Presents:
REAL TALK for REAL PEOPLE during REAL TIMES
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Detroit, MI — Empowering today’s youth is his passion. Creating a better tomorrow for young men and women is his goal. Called a “true inspiration” by audiences of all ages, Jonathan D. Parks brings a charismatic message of hope with his life story of triumph and determination.

When Parks was 18 months old, he suffered a stroke and was left paralyzed on his left side. Doctors said he would never walk or communicate clearly. Today, at the age of 27, Parks holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Public Administration. A standout athlete in track and cross country, Parks chose to use his disability as a stepping stone to achieve unthinkable dreams.

“I honestly believe that everyone has a story,” Parks says. “I think mine is so significant because I beat the odds. I had to buy into the fact that I wasn’t different from anyone else. Instead of trying to be different like a lot of our youth today, I had to convince myself that I can do anything anyone else can do.”

Parks admits there were times he wanted to use having a stroke as an excuse when it came to excelling in sports. However, his insecurities pushed him to compete with other students.

Becoming competitive was Parks self-proclaimed “anti-drug.” When taunted by students for walking with a limp, he would respond: “If I beat you in basketball, then will you stop teasing me?” As Parks grew older, he turned his “can’t do attitude” into a “can-do attitude.”

“I made myself believe I can do anything I put my mind to,” he says. “It may sound cliché, but it works. Growing up, kids can be harsh. Having already experienced those things, I think it’s my job to uplift young people and help them realize they can do anything, regardless of what they’ve been through or where they come from.”

When Parks speaks to struggling college students, one of his main points is to dispel the belief that “successful people have always been perfect.”

“I believe failure is the best teacher,” he says. “When you make mistakes, that’s when you learn the most because you learn to do things differently. But for some reason, society tells kids they have to be perfect to succeed.”

During his lectures, Parks often asks the crowd to finish this phrase: “Practice makes what…?” The crowd responds: “Perfect. Practice makes perfect.” But Parks says that shouldn’t be the answer. “No one is perfect. Instead, practice makes you better. That’s what we’re all trying to achieve: Simply getting better.”