Motivational Speaker Visits Seymour School

By Brooke Stevenson
brooke@seymourherald.com
   Students at Seymour High School attended an assembly featuring a motivational speaker on Monday.
   Motivational speaker Dane Bradshaw spoke to the students as part of the SmartBank speaker series.
   Bradshaw was a four year Varsity basketball member of White Station High School, a three time AAA state champion, a member of All-State Team in his junior and senior seasons, the MVP of state tournament as a senior, the 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2003 Mr. Basketball finalist.
   He was also a four year letterman at University of Tennessee, advanced to the second round of NCAA tourney in his junior season, was named SportsIllustrated.com’s captain of “All-Glue” team as a senior and he advanced to the Sweet 16 as a senior.
   Bradshaw graduated in three years in Communications and completed a Masters in Sport Management. He played basketball professionally for a year in Holland and was named to UT’s All-Century team.
   On Monday he spoke to the high school students about making smart choices.
   He covered success, motivation, adversity, respect and team during his speech in the packed high school gym.
   Success, according the Bradshaw, does not come easy, “It can be achieved with discipline, determination, and dedication.
   “It all begins and ends with the habits you choose for yourself. ‘Deserve Victory’.”
    He told students there would be people to help motivate them along the way, but they need to “start their own engine.”
   “When others start giving into short cuts and taking days off, show your mental toughness by making this an opportunity to gain and edge on the competition,” he said.
   Bradshaw added that anyone who has attained a high level of success has experienced some level of disappointment along the way.
   “There will be times when you fail,” he told students, “but failure will not be your final destination.
   “Continue to set high goals and remember – only the mediocre have a good day every day.”
   Respect was the next topic he talked about during his speech. He told students to show respect to everyone regardless of how high or love of importance they may appear to be.
   “Do this because it is the right thing to do and also because you never know whose help you will rely on in the future,” he said.
   Bradshaw ended his speaking engagement by talking about team, and how individuals benefit from a team’s success.
   “No one is a ‘self made’ person,” he said, “everyone has received help from others at some point.
    “Reach your full potential by taking advantage of the valuable people and resources around you.”