Page 63 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

In Their Own Words

Speech of Introduction

In the 35 short years of his life, Jonathan Studebaker had an
impressive list of accomplishments: honorary football coach
for the East-West Shrine game (pictured here), kicking coach
for the Chico State Wildcat football team, college gradu-
ate, television sports commentator, member of the Chico
city planning commission, writer, motivational speaker, and
founder of “Project Speak Out.” Speaking was Jonathan’s
passion. When we interviewed him for the fi rst edition of this
book, he put it this way: “Speaking isn’t broccoli; it’s fun!” In
the speech transcribed here, Jonathan introduces himself
and explains that he is far more than a person with a dis-
ability. Compare the experience of reading this speech with
that of viewing it on our Online Learning Center Web site
(www.mhhe.com/brydon6); click on the Speech Coach link
and go to Segment 2.1.
WHO AM I?
by Jonathan Studebaker
Good morning!
Who am I? Why am I here? Seems like I’ve heard that
before. For myself, I’ve been asked these and other ques-
tions. Two of them I’d like to answer for you today.
I’ve been asked: “Are you a midget?” “What do you have?”
“What’s your disability?” “Why are you small?” But I’d really
like people to ask me: “What do you like to do?” “What’s
your favorite color?” So what I’ll try to do is answer both of
these today.
I’m a nice guy. Don’t worry, I won’t bite. I like to do many
things, except water ski. I’ve gone to school. I’ve gone to
elementary school, high school, and I graduated from Cal
State Chico.
Our former student, Jonathan Studebaker, is pictured here as honor-
A lot of people ask, “So why are you here?” Well, I’m ary coach at the Shrine East-West game.
here because I want to educate others. I’ve coached football
at Chico State University. I was the kicking coach for three
years. And out of those three years I had two kickers make fi rst team all-conference. So how
do you coach football? You do it by simply telling people what to do. Well, how do you do that?
You do it by doing a lot of the things that we all do—by studying, by reading, by listening to oth-
ers. And that’s what I’ve done throughout my life, and that is what made me who I am.
Like I said, I’m a nice person. I’m cheerful, I’m energetic. Okay, so I have a disability. I was
born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease which causes my bones to be fragile. Have you ever
accidentally dropped a glass on the fl oor? What happens? It breaks. Well, my bones kind of
break like glass, which is why I tell people, when you carry me, treat me like your best crystal.
I’m happy about being who I am. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve done a lot of things in my
life. Like I said, I’ve coached football, I graduated from college, things that people wouldn’t
think a person with my condition would do.
So who am I? Well, I’m Jonathan Studebaker, Jonathan Peter Charles Studebaker. Why
such a long name? Well, my middle name is Charles, which came later. And Charles is kind of
a symbol of a lot of things. My dad used to call me chicken when I was younger. And then it
evolved to chicken Charles, and now Charles. Now, some of you might be offended by being
called chicken. But, you know what, it doesn’t matter to me. I like being who I am. I’ve been
put here to educate others, not by teaching others, but by just being myself.
Thank you. 30