A former NFL player will be speaking at a free event Tuesday at Cañon City High School Tiger Dome.
Shawn Harper, who is now a motivational speaker, said everyone has the potential to be great.
“Unfortunately, a lot of times, we get caught up in names, like I’m not good enough, I’m not strong enough, I’m not fast enough.” Harper said. “I (will be) talking about breaking chains, breaking destructive cycles and manifesting greatness within you.”
He said one or two small events, including a speech, can impact a person’s life greatly.
“It happens negatively, and it can happen positively,” Harper said. “I believe I can be a catalyst or I can be that focal point to change a person’s life for the positive, give them what our world is lacking today, which is hope. They need a voice of truth, a voice of reason and a voice of encouragement.”
Harper has been speaking at events since the 90s.
“I would speak during the off-season to schools when I was playing professional football,” He said. “When I retired from football, the opportunity just kept coming and I kept moving with it.”
St. Thomas More Health Foundation is sponsoring the event, which is called “Culture of Honor,” said event organizer Michelle Pearson, co-owner of Shorinkan Family Karate.
She said the occasion will be completely run by student leaders from Washington Elementary School and Cañon Exploratory School.
Pearson said the event topics, which are a focus of the Cañon City School District, will help people become successful.
“Instilling leadership and instilling honor in kids will affect them for the rest of their lives, in their jobs, their family life, everything,” she said.
Pearson, who teaches positive traits to students throughout the school year, said she and the health and wellness group at the school district thought having an event such as this would be inspiring for the students.
“We thought about having someone who was a celebrity, or professional athlete or something,” she said.
She said she heard Harper speak at an event earlier this year.
“He was really, really good and had a passion to help kids succeed in life,” Pearson said. “He’s overcome tremendous odds in his life to become successful. He is the perfect person to come and help us here.”
She said other activities will also happen during the event. There will be a magician and a variety of door prizes.
“Everybody can attend,” Pearson said. “We want it to be a whole community, family event. Don’t miss it. It’ll be the event of the year.”
Harper will speak at 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday at CCHS. For more information on Harper, visit www.shawnharper.org.
Sarah Rose: 719-276-7648, roses@canoncitydailyrecord.com
