I’m Just a Kid with an IEP

Jordan Toma is A Motivational Speaker, Financial Advisor and a real estate investor ＂But it hasn’t always been this easy＂ My life has been a roller-coaster with this ＂Learning Disability＂ and I let it control my confidence and outlook on life for the first 18 years. I let it define me - it became a permanent label stuck to my shirt every day. I will give you an idea of what I mean. You know when you are attending a
conference and they give you a name tag to pin to your shirt? As far as I was concerned I had a permanent name tag. But mine said ＂You’re not as smart as everyone else. You can’t do this＂. This happened to me because of my experience in school and it grew roots into everything I did. I would feel helpless in class. I struggled to understand why I couldn’t just pick up information
like everyone else. I remember sitting in class telling myself I am going to try really hard to
understand everything in class today just like everyone else and be a normal student, but I just
couldn’t grasp it! I was made fun of because sometimes I had to have special lessons. Other
students, even so called ＂friends＂ called me dumb. I let this problem control me until I graduated
in 2008. I was accepted into a life changing program called The Step Ahead.
I remember moving in filled with fear and anxiety. I went into the bathroom looked at myself in
the mirror and promised myself I was going to change. I knew I couldn’t let this label last
forever. After that I started building a foundation of confidence and belief in myself brick by
brick. It has brought me to where I am today. This journey has just started for me but now I
believe it’s time to help young students that can relate to my story. My objective is to create the
foundations of the belief, the confidence, the work ethic and everything that you need to become
the best you can be now and not let anything ever get in your way. Now it’s time to make up for lost time.

My name is Jordan Toma, I have a strong and inspiring message for young students with learning disabilities. My story is geared towards elementary school through high school students, their parents and teachers. I am currently A Motivational Speaker, Financial Advisor and a real estate investor But it hasn’t always been this easy My life has
been a roller-coaster with this Learning Disability and I let it control my confidence and outlook on life for the first 18 years. I let it define me - it became a permanent label stuck to my shirt every day. I will give you an idea of what I mean. You know when you are attending a
conference and they give you a name tag to pin to your shirt? As far as I was concerned I had a permanent name tag. But mine said You’re not as smart as everyone else. You can’t do this.
This happened to me because of my experience in school and it grew roots into everything I did.
I would feel helpless in class. I struggled to understand why I couldn’t just pick up information
like everyone else. I remember sitting in class telling myself I am going to try really hard to
understand everything in class today just like everyone else and be a normal student, but I just
couldn’t grasp it! I was made fun of because sometimes I had to have special lessons. Other
students, even so called friends called me dumb. I let this problem control me until I graduated
in 2008. I was accepted into a life changing program called Step Ahead at Centenary University.
I remember moving in filled with fear and anxiety. I went into the bathroom looked at myself in
the mirror and promised myself I was going to change. I knew I couldn’t let this label last
forever. After that I started building a foundation of confidence and belief in myself brick by
brick. It has brought me to where I am today. This journey has just started for me but now I
believe it’s time to help young students that can relate to my story. My objective is to create the
foundations of the belief, the confidence, the work ethic and everything that you need to become
the best you can be now and not let anything ever get in your way.