Education

According to a survey conducted by the University of the Pacific, 88.3% of California public high school principals reported that students in their schools are interested or enthusiastic about school assemblies.

To stay engaged, many students desire some level of interactivity. Terry brings a blend of storytelling and learnings with a degree of interaction that helps students take away key lessons and employ them in their everyday lives.

Terry helps students and student-athletes boost self-esteem and confidence and learn why they should never lose hope. In his presentations, Terry covers ways to decrease anxiety, address insecurities, overcome adversity, learn resilience and renewal, and develop a mindset for success.

“I selected Terry to present to our entire school due to his compelling life story. He was able to share and connect with the students as he told us about his immense challenges and fears. Sharing the struggle and the strategies and life tools he used to overcome it all and grow was powerful. His message about how students can learn the resilience they need and for them to challenge themselves to grow was impactful. I recommend Terry and the messages he can share with any school.”

—Martin Nichols, Dean of Students, Sequoia Middle School, Newbury Park, CA, February 20, 2025

Speaking Topics and Workshops Include

Navigating Life’s Roadblocks: Attitude, Focus and Teamwork

Based on his book with the same title, author Terry Healey takes you through his harrowing personal ordeal and what enabled him to focus on the positive aspects of his life that weren’t only lessons he learned, but gifts that he could impart to others struggling with their own challenges.

Turning Points and Survivor Kits

Through some personal storytelling, Terry conveys the importance of taking note of ‘potential’ turning points in life and how to ensure that you create your own personal survival kit that will help you with career challenges, personal discovery, or physical challenges that may change the way you interact with others.

Dealing With Adversity and Taking Control of Your Life

Based on Terry’s extreme experience with adversity in his own life, Terry shares with us the lessons he learned about how to deal with adversity and how being focused and taking control of your life are the keys to making those difficulties not only tolerable but also valuable in our personal growth and development. Terry encourages the audience to confront things head on and to embrace, rather than fear our world that is constantly changing.

Embracing Our Differences

Terry focuses this interactive presentation on how truly different each and every one of us is, and demonstrates how we frequently make judgments of people that are oftentimes incorrect. Participants will walk away with a better appreciation for why we need to embrace diversity and strive to be more tolerant.

testimonials

Reviews from Educators

The response from students and faculty was enormously positive.

Thank you so much for providing our students with the opportunity to hear your encouraging presentation. The response from students and faculty was enormously positive. Your struggles in the face of such overwhelming adversity are an encouragement to all students. Students today are facing unbelievable challenges, and your personal story inspires them to look deeper within as they develop self-esteem and confidence to triumph over any obstacle. I would highly recommend your inspirational presentation to all high school students!

Linda Gullick Health Teacher, Foothill High School, Pleasanton Unified School District.

Terry Healey brought a huge “Wow” factor

Terry Healey brought a huge “Wow” factor to the Diverse Abilities Awareness assemblies and evening parent presentation yesterday. If you missed his talk, you have to ask your kids about it. He spoke with such warmth and conviction. You can take his inspirational words and apply them to overcoming any challenges you face.

Jennifer Lavis & Janet Riley Co-Presidents, Orinda Intermediate School Parent’s Club

The extraordinary difficulties you faced was impressive to them.

From the way some of the students responded, it was clear that they had been challenged to reconsider both how they view and judge other people and how they may be called upon to face the unexpected, perhaps even a crisis, in their own lives at some future time. You established a good rapport with the classes, because you spoke so honestly about yourself and your experiences. Students of this age are curious about what the future holds for them, and so your own directness, even acceptance of the extraordinary difficulties you faced was impressive to them.

Charlie Noland Department of Religious Studies, De La Salle High School, Concord, California.

Your story was dead on!

You really added great value to the event for everyone in the room. Your story was dead on with what we were looking for.

Maha Osman Community Relations Manager, Ventura County Star High School Scholarship Awards

Thank you so much for your amazing presentation.

You really moved the audience and touched every individual in the room. Terry will impress you and leave you touched and inspired.

Lindsay Florin Stanford University, Camp Kesem Coordinator

Terry provided great inspiration for the entire team

Terry Healey presented a powerful message to our entire football family during our 2007 Fall Football Camp. Even after another long day of training in preparations for the 2007 season, I’ve never seen our players so riveted during a presentation. Terry’s messages about taking control and building trust really hit home for the players and staff. Terry provided great inspiration for the entire team that will carry with us throughout the 2007 season and beyond. Thanks again for all that you do.

Mike McHugh Director of Football Operations, University of California, Berkeley, Football

Far surpassed my expectations

What impressed me most about Terry was the way he was able to connect with the audience. Although introducing very serious subjects, Terry’s relaxed delivery and use of humor made everyone comfortable with the topic. By relating his life to all of ours and demonstrating the importance of having a strong network of people behind you, Terry really delivered a powerful message and far surpassed my expectations for making an impact on the women.

Elizabeth Simas VP, Programming, Santa Clara University Panhellenic Organization.

His story as a whole serves in itself as an eye-opening wonder

While Terry came highly recommended, I was not sure exactly what to expect. Having had significant experience with “motivational” speakers in the past, I was concerned that he may not have the intended impact. Admittedly, my previous fears were unfounded: not only did Terry manage to provide the audience with the proper balance of personal and professional detail, but his story as a whole serves in itself as an eye-opening wonder, seeping with valuable inspiration. But Terry does not only bring a story, but a delivery style that captures attention and instructs, so that we may all share in his life experience and apply his wisdom to our lives.

Maurice Ducoing Chairman, Membership Education, Zeta Psi Educational Foundation

Terry will leave you touched and inspired.

Thank you so much for your amazing presentation. You really moved the audience and touched every individual in the room. Terry will impress you and leave you touched and inspired.