Putting Out the Fire

Authors

Yolanda Flournah-Perkins, Nova Southeastern University

Date

3-18-2017

Author Bio(s)

Yolanda Flournah-Perkins, M.S., is completing a doctorate in education with a concentration in organizational leadership at NSU. She is also an author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and empowerment coach who has presented talks at public schools, churches, and community events for women and children. But her life was not always inspirational. The semester she was scheduled to graduate from college, 23-year-old Flournah-Perkins was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison because of her poor decisions. During her imprisonment, she realized that she, and many other incarcerated women, had low self-esteem. She used this time to better herself, improve her confidence, and rebuild her own self-worth by participating in self-help groups. Flournah-Perkins faced many obstacles to finding employment after her release. After having submitted over 200 job applications, she was given a second chance by Goodwill Industries of SWFL. Today, she uses her story to inspire others.

Talk Description

Nothing can inspire us to act and react quite like a fire. If you have been near an uncontrolled fire, your nerves are undoubtedly familiar with the fear and sensations associated with this sudden and growing danger. The truth is, if there’s fire, someone has likely made a poor decision. When we encounter danger in our lives—whether life-threatening or life-altering—we are forced to make split-second decisions. But even in the middle of our most frantic moments, if we can remember to follow simple rules like “stop, drop, and roll,” we can limit and eliminate the damage in our lives from making bad decisions. This talk will acknowledge that bad decisions can have detrimental and even disastrous impacts on our lives, while exploring ways to respond in troublesome situations, avoid or overcome the ramifications of such decisions, and deliver us from danger. Life is full of daily choices and new chances. So, when the world around you catches fire, react with tact.

Files

Recommended Citation

Flournah-Perkins, Yolanda, "Putting Out the Fire" (2017). TEDxNSU. 31.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tedxnsu/31

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