Motivational speaker and Harlem Globetrotter Melvin Adams visited Success High School to share his message of hope and positivity to students from Success, Early College High School, and Hopewell Middle School.

“Sometimes life can be overwhelming and the idea of goal-setting can be intimidating,” Success Principal Thomasine Stewart said. “We are grateful to Melvin for bringing his brand of enthusiasm and inspiration to our students. His story demonstrates that setting goals are meaningful and achievable.”

Adams uses stories from his childhood afflicted with poverty and instability to connect with students. At 13, he saw a way to make a change in his life by dedicating himself to basketball. His practice created opportunities that led to a college scholarship and professional success, including being named Mr.Globetrotter.

“We have to be willing to change and stretch,” Adams said. “Every day is a new day to press re-start. Don’t settle for anything less than the best in yourself.”

In addition to learning a few basketball tricks, the student takeaways from the session with Adams included, using each day as an opportunity to re-start, overcoming negativity by believing in themselves, finding a goal and working to achieve it.

“Students face new challenges each day. With or without a support system at home, that challenge can appear so big student’s feel swallowed by it,” said Rodney Page, Success consultant and life coach. “Providing students the opportunity to hear how individuals not so different from themselves have overcome these situations and change the course of their life is invaluable.”