Lectures for success earns one student cash

ARIEL WHITE | STAFF WRITER

“Free Campus Tours” provided RCC with educational seminars in the RCC promenade and a $500 scholarship On Oct. 8 from 8:30-11 a.m.

“We bring educational speakers to college campuses paid for by a corporate sponsor,” said Melissa Podany, free campus tours vice president.

The corporate sponsors included Livewire Energy, 405 Media and Aural stimulation radio.

Three speakers presented informative lectures and at noon a $500 cash scholarship was given away to one lucky raffle contestant.

Students simply wrote down their name and email address and as long as they were present for the first seminar they had a chance to be chosen for the scholarship drawing.

The first discussion was given by Ja Marr Brown, a “Horatio Alger” hero who gave an inspiring and motivational speech.

Brown is the author of two books that tell the story of how he reached his full potential.

He gave a few away during his presentation.

“My drive is really helping young students become who they were put on this earth to become,” said Brown.

He talked about his journey into success and the struggle along the way where hard work eventually led to his great success in business and sales.

“Every job I’ve ever got, every promotion I’ve ever got was because I started doing the job, before I got the job,” said Brown. “Get involved, dive in and learn it!”

After his lecture, students were encouraged to openly ask Brown questions.

“How do you get a negative person out of your life,” one student asked.

“Understand that their negativity is how they see the world, not how you see the world,” answered Brown. “Just laugh it off.”

The second discussion was an educational and eye-opening lecture presented by Stephen Schurr that focused on drug and alcohol dependence.

Schurr explained the history of pharmaceuticals and the real reason why central nervous system depressants are being abused.

He talked about capitalism in the health care industry and why some doctors are pressured to prescribe.

Orange County has more rehab centers than any other city in America and has a drug abuse epidemic of one overdose every two days.

“It’s an important topic,” said Schurr. “Drugs and Alcohol are going to be in our society forever. This is something you can take home with you.”

Davina Kotulski gave the third lecture on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender issues.

“Out of the closet, into power” was the title of her lecture. Kotulski is an author and psychologist and talked about confidence and how to be comfortable with your sexuality.

She taught listeners how to “come out” and feel great about themselves.