The impact
in their words.

“John is very engaging and discusses relevant topics and scenarios to motivate and inspire. His passion for seeing personal growth is evident in the energy with which he delivers his testimony.”

Student

“It was a moving display of perseverance and grit, advocating for faith in yourself even when the world is against you.”

Student

“Very detailed, easy to listen to and watch. It spoke to me very much.”

Student

“High energy, kept my attention, and was well thought out. Bravo!”

Student

“Great talk about overcoming adversity and changing your life from a rough path to a great path. Excellent for a high-school audience.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“Amazing! Keep doing what you are doing. You are making a difference. I could have listened to you all day!”

Student

“John has a lot of energy. His speech was extremely engaging and relatable.”

Student

“Very inspiring—great for leaders and people looking to lead.”

Student

“Inspirational, impactful, and authentic.”

Student

“Excellent.”

StudentCahokia

“Everyone experiences failure, but that does not mean you are one. No matter what you go through, you can find better ways to find yourself and take failure as a pathway to success.”

Student

“You have to be an active listener. Be prepared to laugh, engage, and talk about your passion.”

Student

“I thought it was going to be boring, but it wasn’t. I loved hearing John speak.”

Student

“Very motivational and inspiring. Everyone should listen to at least one session if they need a drive in life.”

Student

“This session was very inspiring—to keep going no matter what gets in the way.”

Student

“Very inspiring, especially for people trying to find themselves or who need a reminder.”

Student

“An inspirational speech for anyone who wants to change for the better.”

Student

“You did amazing, and so many people are proud of you.”

StudentBelleville West High School

“You are amazing, and your stories inspire me.”

StudentBelleville West High School

“Really good, with great details. I look forward to hearing about him and from him later on.”

Student

“It was inspirational and helped me take a deeper look into myself.”

Student

“It taught me that you can take the first steps.”

Student

“He was very involved and kept me interested.”

StudentBelleville West High School

“Exciting, moving, and a great storyteller.”

Student

“Really inspiring and engaging.”

Student

“Fun, engaging, and very heartfelt.”

Student

“Engaging and motivational.”

StudentBelleville East High School

“Try to be better, continue to grow, and do better in life.”

Student

“I believe this session will inspire you to keep pushing forward without ever giving up. Delayed does not mean denied—keep trying.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“John’s past helped push him toward success. His story shows how someone can turn things around.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“The things we go through in life, good or bad, help in the long run. They build you up.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“It was very motivational, and I appreciated the amount of passion and dedication he had. He is fun, lighthearted, and genuine.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“Every story builds toward his future and how he got there. No matter how hard a time you are going through, you can take steps to make yourself better.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“John’s story about resilience deeply moved me. It inspired me to put more effort into myself and finally pursue passions I thought were out of reach.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“The story was relatable, especially the lack of confidence. John was the perfect person to speak at the event.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“I almost cried while listening to his story. Keep up the great work.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“John is awesome and relatable. He has great energy and enthusiasm.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“As a student with bad grades in high school, it was good to see someone with a similar story.”

StudentRobert W. Groves High School

“It was very inspiring and put into perspective how much you can change your life. Failing does not mean being a failure.”

Student

“I loved his story and his resilience throughout his life.”

Student

“It is okay to fail. We learn from our failures.”

Student

“It was insightful and enlightening. It helps you realize what you are doing in life and makes you want to do better.”

Student

“John’s session reminded me to always choose the best life for myself by being proactive, not reactive.”

Student

“An inspiring and heartfelt story about a lost young man finding his way and becoming the best person he could be.”

Student

“Very inspirational. I loved the visuals, comparisons, and the steps he gave for self-esteem and success.”

Student

“John Petrelli is very inspirational, and when he speaks you can tell he really cares.”

Student

“A very powerful and motivational speech. It was something I could personally relate to and was very moving.”

Student

“He speaks with so much energy, passion, and relatability. I enjoyed it.”

Student

“Very motivational, informative, and inspiring. His story opened my eyes.”

Student

“An inspiring lesson about being a leader and persevering through life’s toughest moments.”

Student

“Today I learned that even when life throws you challenges, keep going no matter what happens.”

Student

“A very powerful message: failing at something does not equal being a failure.”

Student

“Engaging—I did not feel the need to close my eyes and pretend to sleep during any of it. 10/10.”

Student

“He was very inspirational and helped us have more confidence in ourselves.”

Student

“It was low-key really inspiring. I deal with feeling like a failure, so it was good to hear.”

Student

“A detailed, heartfelt session showing times of toughness and weakness.”

Student

“The session was very informative, and the pictures added great context to his words.”

Student

“Very raw—he does not sugarcoat anything and gives great advice.”

Student

“A personal yet powerful speech that made me truly think about my life.”

Student

“Amazing story. Never give up, and remember that your past does not dictate your future.”

Student

“Excellent speaker. He engages the audience with real-world experiences.”

Student

“It inspired me and helped me learn how to evolve as a person.”

Student

“Incredibly inspiring to people who are having self-identity issues.”

Student

“This talk was on another level. It was real and very inspiring.”

Student

“This session was meaningful and inspiring for the future.”

Student

“The world needs to hear this story. People who fail still have many open doors. This is the story I needed.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“John’s stories are inspiring because he is passionate about sharing his mistakes and how failure helped him get where he is today.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“Inspirational, and proof that if you fail you can try again. Your mindset changes everything—good or bad.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“He had a life full of hidden blessings, recognized them, and kept working toward the next blessing.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“It changed my perspective and helped me look at the bigger picture so I can improve myself and my mentality.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“It was motivational, interesting, and inspiring to learn John’s backstory. I would recommend him 10/10.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“This was an inspiring talk full of emotion and experiences that high schoolers can relate to.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“The passion and connection you feel are even more powerful than the stories themselves.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“Passionate and emotionally charged, with relevant information for young adults.”

StudentAppleton North High School

“It made me feel seen and gave me motivation.”

StudentAppleton North High School