The keys to success from a ‘Front Row’ experience

Michelle Hennessy – News Writer

Every study shows students who sit in the front row get more out of lessons than those at the back, according to author, businessman, and award-winning speaker, Jon Vroman.

“Proximity is power,” said Vroman. “If you sit in the front row of the class, you simply cannot be disengaged.”

Vroman said his “Front Row On Campus” lecture works in conjunction with his charity. The Front Row Foundation helps people with terminal illnesses experience “life in the front row” by organizing anything from back stage meetings with Kelly Clarkson to front row tickets to see One Direction.

Speaking at Southern in late November, Vroman said there are five key ideas to success: connections, creativity, change, commitment and contribution.

“I remember it by using my hand,” said Vroman. “My thumb represents hitchhiking, making connections, getting places. My index finger is pointing, it’s creating. The best students, the best leaders — they understand the need to create. You can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you use it. Middle finger is the hump. It’s change, it’s new possibilities. The more time you spend in confusion usually means the more you are learning. Your fourth finger is your wedding finger. It represents commitment and your little finger, that’s how little things can contribute and mean something. Never underestimate the power of little things.”

The number one thing that holds people back from success though is the fear of being judged by others, according to Vroman.

“We all make a choice in life, so what are we going to stand for?” asked Vroman. “The biggest reason people fail is because they are scared of what they look like to other people but life is different in the front row, you see a whole new perspective.”

Vroman asked his audience to think of a dream and then imagine someone would give either a billion dollars or kill them if that dream did or did not become a reality.

“That’s the level of motivation you should have for following your dreams,” said Vroman. “You won’t always have a money incentive or a threat or fear, you should just do it because that’s what you want out of life.”

Though the free food was a big reason students initially attended the lecture, there was a lot to be learned, according to freshman pre-nursing major McKenzie Katz.  Her dream is to become a pediatric oncology nurse in a hospital.

“My friends dragged me here. They said there’s pizza, henna tattoos and a guy giving a speech that’s supposed to be cool but I’m so glad I came, it was hysterical,” said Katz. “I think people worry all the time about doing things that others think are different or think they’re weird so they won’t do it. It’s a shame.”

Though everyone fears being judged by others, freshman athletic training major Caitlin Chaput, who dreams of one day working for Cirque du Soleil, said people need to learn to do what they want without the fear of being judged.

“We all have the power to be different and it’s a good thing to stand up for yourselves. But everybody is worried about being judged — whether they like to admit it or not,” said Chaput.

But Vroman said this shouldn’t stand in the way of personal happiness.

“Why have level-two fun when you can be having level ten fun, because you’re scared?” said Vroman. “When you step up to shine someone is always going to hate you and try and put you down but play the game; live life in the front row.”