We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David Figueroa a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
David, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents always taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to despite living with Cerebral Palsy my entire life, their faith and belief in seeing my potential was limitless. They also taught me to keep on fighting on not to ever give up despite the struggles faced with my disability, the school systems and doctors early on in life. I “can’t” was never a word accepted in their vocabulary. For example, as I was growing up I would always struggle fitting in because I looked different than my peers. My stepmom(now mom) would share this with me: each year as you go through school take the time to share with your classmates a bit about yourself and your disability how it makes you different and unique and that it’s ok to be different by doing that you show others that they too can embrace their flaws.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I started my podcast “Cerebral Palsy and Fitness” to share their stories of triumph and success in the hopes that others find the strength and confidence to speak and further spread positivity within the disability community in 2019. While at the same time, I began my journey as a motivational speaker back in 2017, sharing my journey of living with Cerebral Palsy with many all over the world. One of the things I’m most proud of is I have gotten the opportunity to teach others that it’s ok to be different; it’s what makes you unique and special to those you meet.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Never giving up and always believing in yourself were always the two things I struggled most with growing up because I would always let my disability define me based on some of the negativity and challenges I faced early on in life. Thankfully, I had a family that would always show me tremendous support in anything I would be involved in. I had doctor’s tell me at a very young age that I would never read, write or walk much less live a normal life, I also lost my mother when I was 8 years old around the same time I began walking. I was born 4 months premature and was the size of a water bottle battling for survival the first three months of my life. I was told I was too slow my some teachers growing up while going through school even though I excelled well academically but I never gave up. I got my high school diploma and eventually my Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Central Florida. Then I went on to work as an Academic Assistant for AmeriCorps and a Youth Advocate for My Brother’s Keeper helping change the lives of at risk children.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
If I could go back I would’ve definitely chosen to do Social Work because advocacy has always been a passion of mine. Seeing the difference and the impact I have been able to make to not just those with disabilities but to everyone that needs a voice through my passion has been worth the time and the effort. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I want everyone to see that just because you struggle with something in life doesn’t mean you have to give up, but that there is always a way to reach your goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/davidscpfitness65
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidscpfitness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CerebralPalsySpeaker/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-f-0bb197128/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidscpfitness
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbBwDx9ba9wHPfnNCobD9XA?app=desktop&view_as=subscriber
- Other: Email: [email protected]