More Perspectives on Blake Fly:

by Dalimar Font

While I was sitting down and listening to Mr. Fly speak regarding his college experience, I was bewildered on how just three objects (a teddy bear, a backpack, and a guitar case) could represent something meaningful. I was completely taken aback when Mr. Fly took out the teddy bear, but I really enjoyed how he took his three objects and put a lesson to them. 

The passions, the studying, and your friends, that is what college is about. It is up to us, the students, in making the right choices but also knowing how to make time for ourselves. I know sometimes it is hard to ask for help, and I am guilty of it myself. I am stubborn to the core, and I don’t ask for help. Not only did Mr. Fly remind us to ask for help, but to also make sure to say “thank you” to the people that impact your life. He told us to make sure that we are appreciative of their actions that have helped us! 

Mr. Fly  spoke on so many things to which I, myself, and many of the other students that were in that theater, can relate! I can say I really enjoyed my time there, and I do not regret going. I believe that as individuals, as human beings, we tend to be harder on ourselves. Listening to Mr. Fly speak on his personal experiences and having him just talk to us, telling us solutions and what we can do to make life better, is a reality check. I loved how it was educational, fun, and real. I really loved the music and how everyone was clapping at the end (I even have it recorded and thinking back to it, I would not mind reliving that same moment), Mr. Fly is awesome! 

by Racheal Alagbra
Blake Fly, a motivational speaker who has presented to college students across the country, joined us on Wednesday to talk to us about succeeding and making the most of our time in college. He spoke about programs, partying, and our passions. He explained that only focusing on our program, partying, and passion we will burn out, flunk out or even miss out. 

I totally agree with him. When we all focus on one thing in college either our program or passion we tend to lack something else which causes us to fail one or the other. We must balance the two or three to succeed. He also spoke about how to use our school resources. When we attend college, our lecturers give us the opportunity to ask questions which we do not take advantages of. We should always ask question when we do not understand. That’s why we have them to help us. I agree with everything that he said on that day. He made us understand how to use our time wisely and to communicate with our teachers if we need help with anything. 

by Heidi Carron

I thoroughly enjoyed Blake Fly's performance! He, not only, brought a smile to my face but made me think about everyday life and the lives of people around me. 

He talked about his first year of college. He arrived with a backpack, a teddy bear and a guitar. The back pack represents Program. The teddy bear  People, and the guitar  Passions. The Program is your college learning and academics. The teddy bear is the people in your life, old and new. The guitar is for your passions, all the things you’re interested in, the things that you enjoy most.  You need all these things to succeed and for your well being, but trying to balance all of them at once can be a daunting challenge. Here’s where he made me stop to think. He said, “As a child we were never afraid to ask for help, but as we got older, asking for help got harder.” He’s right. Asking for help seems to make us look vulnerable, weak and incapable. I thought of how many times I needed help but never asked. Why? I also realized that no matter our age differences, I am as new to college life as my classmates. They are as vulnerable to awkwardness, stress and anxiety as I am. We all need help at some point in our lives. Will I be less hesitant to ask?

He had a student call someone, her Grandma, just to say, “Thank you”. She told her that she loved her and hoped she was feeling better (her Grandma was sick). She thanked her for taking them in and loving them all. Her Grandma was so sweet. She told her she loved her very much and thanked her for thinking of her. We were all in tears. I’m sure her Grandma felt so much better after that call. His point was that just one person can change the whole attitude and tone of the day. Thank you. Two simple words. But he pointed out how they feel weird to say to the people who are important to you.

Passions make people who they are, art, music, running, acting or writing. Whatever makes you, you. Blake encouraged students to look for people with similar interests, to share your passions. Put yourself out there and get involved. Show up. Ask for help. Say “Hello”, introduce yourself. Say something nice to change someone’s day! I took away a different perspective that day. I smiled, I introduced myself. I made a mental commitment to ask for help. I realized that we can all get bogged down in everyday life, but we are not alone in this. I may be older than my classmates, but we all share feelings of depression, being overwhelmed and anxious. There are resources available to us; we just need to ask for help. Thank you, Blake Fly.

 

Blake Fly Motivates CF

by Emily Wilson

Life is difficult to navigate, but there are three major elements that should be better understood and noted for a smoother passage. On Wednesday, Blake Fly went into humorous detail to explain them to the group assembled in the lecture hall. His was no ordinary motivational speech, but an interactive session in which the crowd became involved. The three points laid out were:

1. Program; your course of study or work (represented by a backpack)

2. People (represented by a teddy bear)

3. Passions (represented by a guitar case) 

He related a story about his first year in college on a big campus. Able only to play a 4-chord song on his guitar, he was convinced that it would bring him many good friends. Up and down the dormitory hallway he paced, guitar in hand, playing that cliché tune. There was a party going on in one of the rooms, so he stood there and played outside the door, hoping against all odds that he would be invited in. Suddenly, he realized what a ridiculous idea it all was. He turned to go down the hall, but just as he hesitated, a small voice could be heard from within the room, “Hey, you with the guitar, come in here and play for us.” Now was his moment, but somehow, he felt scared. The strums rolled from his fingers, only to be interrupted by someone telling him to stand on the bed so he could be heard better. The room was packed with people with barely enough space for his guitar. Once more, he began to play; then he began to sing. He was no singer and instantly regretted it. However, an arm went up and soon everyone was waving back and forth to his music. He stopped singing but kept on playing as the group picked up the lyrics. Yes, he had made friends at last. 

After the hilarity over a naive freshman’s story had died down, Blake applied his story to life. He encouraged the audience not to overlook any one of these three points to the exclusion of the others, to find the balance and do all of them. He explained what would happen without the balance:

• If you focus too much on your work or study too hard, you will burn out
• If all you do is party, you will flunk out (on life or school)
• If you ignore your passions and interests, you will miss out

 

He also gave advice on connecting with others. When dealing with new people or strange faces say a friendly “hello.” This somehow hard-to-say word could open a whole new world; it is simple, but often overlooked. He went on to say that when you need help, don’t hesitate to ask. At your job or in school, always seek advice; don’t fall back on the “I was going to fail anyway” attitude. Sometimes, you may find that people really want to help solve whatever the situation or problem may be.

And he encouraged us to never forget to say a simple, “thank you,” to those people who step up and lend a helping hand.

Lastly, he asked the gathering to send a quick text to one very close person who meant a lot to them. I quickly texted my best friend and waited for one of the four responses he said we would get. Those being: confusion, concern, “you’re welcome,” or no response at all.

Me: “Hey, I’m in a presentation. I just wanted to say thanks!”

Friend: “Lol. Okay… you’re welcome?” 

There is no such thing as a formula for life, and no one can ever guarantee your success in any one thing. However, by taking advantage of the opportunities that life brings you and accepting help and guidance from the people around you, the journey that we call life can be made into an enjoyable (though sometimes rough) learning experience.