The driving spirit of a person will determine their success. It’s not something that comes from a privileged background. Bonnie St. John can testify to this fact. Bonnie has seen success beyond most people’s wildest dreams through the Olympic Games, but it’s hard to imagine that success if you believe the stereotypes all around you.
Bonnie St. John grew up a poor black girl from a broken home in San Diego. To make matters worse, she only had one leg. The other was amputated when she was only five years old. She had no money and no snow, but she wanted to be a skier. To her advantage, her mother encouraged this crazy dream.
People will tell you that black people never ski, swim, or play golf, but this is 100% untrue. Sure there are a few big names out there like Tiger Woods, but in reality, there are a lot of black people involved in these sports. One of Bonnie’s motivations from a very early age was to do her best so that others could be motivated by her.
A friend from school invited Bonnie to go skiing when they were both just children, and it changed her life forever. Bonnie St. John was the kid nobody liked. She was exempt from PE class, she rode a special bus, and she was teased at recess. Barbara Warmath was different, though. She didn’t tease. She encouraged.
Bonnie St. John’s friend invited her in early November to accompany the family on the Christmas ski trip. That gave her only a few short weeks to come up with the money and ski gear to be able to go. With the help of odd jobs, the Yellow Pages, and the Salvation Army, she was ready!
Skiing isn’t easy for someone with two good legs, so it’s no surprise that Bonnie had a horrible time getting started. Her prosthetic leg was a much bigger challenge than she could have imagined, and since she knew nothing about skiing when she acquired her gear, she was left cold and wet by her knit mittens. Bonnie wouldn’t trade this experience for the world, though.
Later, Bonnie St. John joined the Ski Club so that she could obtain the appropriate ski gear and take skiing lessons. She was able to meet and race with many other amputees as well. The more she raced, the more she realized how much she enjoyed the challenge. She decided to train for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team.
Everyone can be successful, but each of us must face our own obstacles head-on. Some challenges are tougher than others, of course, but with a little creativity and a lot of determination, anything can be overcome. Don’t give up on your dreams. Pick yourself up when you fall, and try again.