Motivational and mental health speaker Jordan Toma recently spoke to students at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, sharing a personal story about overcoming learning challenges and building confidence. He often sums up his message with a phrase that has become central to his story: “My Struggle Is My Strength.”
Toma, 36, told students he grew up struggling in school due to learning disabilities. He said those challenges affected his confidence, self-esteem, and belief in what he could accomplish. Throughout school, he often felt different from his classmates and believed he would never achieve success.
He described how difficulties with reading, paying attention, and understanding classroom material often made school frustrating. At times, those struggles led to self-doubt and negative labels that followed him throughout his education.
After graduating from high school in 2008, Toma decided to change how he viewed himself and his future. He began focusing on building confidence, developing a strong work ethic, and believing he was capable of more than he once thought.
That mindset shift eventually led him to motivational speaking. Today, Toma travels across the country speaking to students, educators, and parents about perseverance, mental health, and overcoming obstacles. His presentations focus on building confidence, promoting kindness and empathy, and encouraging students to believe in their abilities.
A small portion of his message is in the video below:
Toma has also gained a large online audience, with more than one million followers across his social media platforms, where he continues sharing motivational messages and advice for young people facing challenges. He has also written and self-published a book titled “I’m Just a Kid With an IEP” all about his story and how he overcame his adversity in and out of the classroom.
During his visit to Ohio Hi-Point, Toma encouraged students to support one another and recognize that everyone faces struggles in different ways. He said learning to overcome those challenges can help shape a person’s character and future success.
Toma gives some insight into his ultimate mission and what he hopes to inspire in people:
His mission is to help students understand that struggles and setbacks do not define who they are or what they can achieve. Instead, he encourages them to use those experiences as motivation to grow stronger and more confident.
Toma closed his message by reminding students that their circumstances do not determine their future. With belief in themselves, hard work, and perseverance, he said, anyone can turn challenges into opportunities and build the life they want.
