No arms, no legs, no worries. HSS 405 : Art and Craft of Autobiography Under the guidance of: Dr. Krishna Baruah Prof. HSS Department Udit Singh Adhikaar Marwaha Sanakini Srikar Suhas Aggarwal Ganesh Kumar Madhusudhan M - 04010144 - 04010103 - 06010145 - 04010139 - 06010118 - 06010130 Attitude is Altitude • “I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” • “No matter how you begin, what matters is how you finish.” • Imagine being born without arms ? No arms to wrap around someone, no hand s to experience touch , or to hold another with. • Or what about being born without legs? Having no ability to walk or to run, or even stand on two feet. What would you do? How would that effect your everyday life? Meet Nick Vujicic…. • Born in 1982 , Melbourne, Aus. • Preacher, a motivational speaker and the director of “Life Without Limbs”. Early life • First-born child in his family. • Have “Tetra-amelia” disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and legless but with two small feet, one of which has two toes. • Initially, his parents were devastated. Growing up • His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. • Struggled with depression and loneliness. • He questioned why he was different to all the other kids surrounding him. • He wondered what was the purpose behind his life. • As Nick grew up he learnt to deal with his disability and started to be able to do more and more things on his own. • He began to embrace his situation and achieve greater things : in grade seven Nick was elected captain of his school. • Worked with students’ council in fund-raising events for local charities and disability campaigns. Teenage • Not Yet in his teens, Nick prayed that God would give him arms and legs. “It said in the Bible, Ask and You shall Receive ”. • He had Faith. • But did not understand it and thought that probably he was not good enough and so was not replied. • God did not give him those Physical limbs but Yes he received incredible Message of Hope and Purpose. • Nick shows the world that the Greatest Joy we will ever experience is the Joy of Knowing CHRIST. Schooling • Like every other 5 year old child his age, Nick too started school. Among other things, you might wonder how a person without arms or legs could actually get around. Well, Nick had help from his specially fitted motorized chair • His mum invented a special plastic device that meant he could hold a pen and pencil. Despite the risk of bullying, his parents insisted Nick attended mainstream school. • • He enjoyed school and wanted to fit in and be like all of the other kids, but how does one do that when it is so glaringly obvious that you are so different. As we all know, people, even children can be cruel and unkind. And Nick had to endure all kinds of struggles and mistreatments, from being gawked at to being bullied. Nick tried to keep a positive outlook and he tried to make friends but at times the pressure was just too much. He would often stay home from school just to avoid the pain and suffering for awhile Epiphany : an intuitive grasp of reality through something • Being bullied at his school, Vujicic grew extremely depressed, and by the age of 8, started contemplating suicide. • Eventually began to realize that his accomplishments were inspirational to many, and began to thank God for being alive. • A key turning point in his life was when his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with a severe disability. • This led him to realize he wasn't the only one with major struggles. • When he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group, and eventually started his non-profit organization, “Life Without Limbs”. About Personal Life • Due to his faith as an Evangelical Christian, Nick has chosen to remain a virgin until marriage although he has had long-term girlfriends in the past. 'He's very modest but he gets marriage proposals from women all the time,' said Nick's friend and publicist Steve Appel, from Los Angeles. • 'He would love to get married and start a family but he's waiting for the right girl to come along.' Career • Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning • Began his travels as a motivational speaker, focusing on the topics that today's teenagers face. • In 2005 Nick was nominated for the "Young Australian of the Year" Award given for excellence and service to local community and the nation, as well as own personal accomplishments • Now at age 25, Nick is also a successful stock market and real estate investor, and he is the CEO of his own company . Recent Activities • Recently made the massive move from Australia to California, USA, where he is the President of an international non-profit organization, and also has his own motivational speaking company; Attitude Is Altitude. • Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions of people, speaking to a range of different groups. • This year alone Nick is set to speak in over 20 countries. • He also speaks in the corporate sector, although his aim is to become an international inspirational speaker, in both Christian and non-Christian venues. He has spoken to over two million people so far, in twelve countries on four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America). • Promote his words through television shows such as the The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as by writing books. • His first book, planned for completion by the end of 2009, is to be called No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!. • His motivational DVD, Life's Greater Purpose, is available on the Life Without Limbs website. One of Nick’s favorite scriptures from the Bible is Psalm 139:17-18 that says, "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand." Nick wholeheartedly believes that there is a purpose in each of the struggles we encounter in our lives and that our attitude towards those struggles that can be the single most effective factor in overcoming them. FOR US FROM HIM: • He was standing on faith alone. • If you don’t have a miracle, then you are a miracle. • He said ,“No matter what you are, no matter what you are going through, GOD knows it”. He is with you. He is going to pull you through.” Mission His mission is to cross boundaries and break down barriers to build bridges that bring people to the love and hope found in Jesus Christ. FAITH IS, “TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU DO NOT SEE”, THE REWARD OF WHICH IS, “YOU SEE WHAT YOU BELIEVED” THANKS!! Some References • • • • http://www.attitudeisaltitude.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Vujicic http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/NickVujicic/81132983044 • http://www.youtube.com/results?search_que ry=nick%20vujicic&search=Search&sa=X&oi=s pell&resnum=0&spell=1