The motivational speaker Pat J. Schulz gave a presentation in the Union using her book “Making Sweet Lemonade” as the basis for her speech last Wednesday. Schulz graduated in 1982 from UNC Greensboro with a business degree and went to UNC Charlotte for her postgraduate degree.
Despite a difficult upbringing, which was her motivation behind writing the book, she excelled, becoming an entrepreneur, a poet and business owner of a publishing firm that offers opportunities she never had.
Dr. Jeffrey B. Leak, an English professor at UNC Charlotte, read the book in its manuscript form and called it “a moving and timeless memoir that promises to transform lives”. One premise of the somewhat autobiographical book is that within chaos lies opportunity. In spite of her harsh childhood, she had to take advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves.
As she began to chronicle her life, she shared with the audience that she was given away as an infant. A tense pause filled the room as tears swell in Schulz’s eyes, and her pain becomes almost palpable. She continued to explain other pivotal points in her life, such as the death of her mother at the age of 12, the lack of a father figure, and siblings that she has never met.
Schulz made it clear that growing up was a difficult task, referring to herself as “a living, breathing, walking miracle,” and credited a “brush with death,” as her motivation to inspire others. The speech mostly addressed the importance of perseverance and the necessity to look beyond the surface. “I was never one to settle for mediocrity,” Schulz said. “I will not allow circumstances to dictate my future.” The motivational speech was inspirational to say the least, and the sweet lemonade and sandwiches were a nice addition.
The motto that Schulz lives by and said is her fail-safe plan, is that “when things go wrong, think of a time when things went right.” Through her life story, she expressed to the audience that when life hands them lemons, don’t just make lemonade; make sweet lemonade.
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