Damon West presents program to Hallettsville, SHCS students
Hallettsville and Sacred Heart Catholic School 7-12 grade students were presented a program at an assembly held at the Hallettsville HS gymnasium last Tuesday, March 5.
Presented by well-known speaker and author of the book Be A Coffee Bean, Damon West provided the students ways to overcome adversity in any situation they may face.
Damon told his story of how he overcame a life of crime, drug addiction, imprisonment before he entered a program of recovery.
His message included being positive and persistent in life’s struggles and provided solutions to the challenges students and adults face.
According to Damon’s website, at 20 years of age he was a Division I starting quarterback at North Texas State University in Denton before a career injury led him to hardcore drugs in helping him cope with his disappointments.
Although he hadn’t developed any drug addiction, the website says after graduation Damon worked in the United States Congress as a national fundraiser on a U.S. Presidential campaign.
The website reports his training eventually led him to be a stockbroker for the United Bank of Switzerland (UBS).
At UBS, he was introduced to methamphetamines and became instantly hooked and the lives of so many innocent people would forever be changed by the choices he made in order to feed his insatiable meth habit.
His habit eventually led him to imprisonment and was sentenced to 65 years in a Texas prison.
During his incarceration, he had a discussion with a seasoned convict that led him to a spiritual awakening with a program of recovery, renewed faith and a second chance in life.
After seven years, Damon emerged from prison a changed man and his story of redemption, grit and determination continues to inspire audiences today
A primary message included in his presentations stems from his book and he called it The Coffee Bean Message.
The message states:
Just like the coffee bean changes a pot of boiling water into a pot of coffee, each of us has the ability to transform our worlds.
By looking for the opportunities in adversity, we become resilient and show others how to overcome their obstacles in life.
Being resilient is a mind set.
The secret to life is servant leadership.
Servant leadership is helping other people reach their goals in life; helping to raise others up.
Positivity, selflessness and love are a few of the core values of servant leadership.
The program was hosted by Hallettsville ISD and the Region III Service Center.