Special ParentEd. Session “Excelling in the Midst of Adversity”
On Tuesday, March 1, 2022, Mount Paran Christian School will host an exclusive ParentEd. session with special guest Inky Johnson, corporate inspirational speaker and former University of Tennessee football player. Johnson’s Ted-style talk “Excelling in the Midst of Adversity” will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Black Box Theater of the Murray Arts Center on the MPCS campus.
For University of Tennessee cornerback Inky Johnson, September 9, 2006, started like any other game in Neyland Stadium. But, for Johnson, it was a game that changed everything. During his upcoming ParentEd. session, “Excelling in the Midst of Adversity,” Johnson will share how a routine tackle turned into a life-threatening injury. In an instant, Johnson’s dream to play professional football in the NFL was shattered, but his injury did not destroy his motivation or crush his spirit. Johnson will share how, through faith and divine intervention, he overcame an underprivileged past, poverty, violence, and defeat to learn that God has purposes and plans far beyond our own. Attendees will leave this session inspired by a message of relentless determination and will find themselves asking, “Am I really failing, or is God prevailing?”
Johnson earned his Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology from The University of Tennessee, where he played cornerback and was a three-year letterman and two-year captain of the football team. During his junior year, Johnson was projected as a top-thirty draft pick, until circumstances changed when he sustained a life-threatening, career-ending injury that paralyzed his right arm and hand. From then until now, Johnson has found a calling to use his situation to add value to people’s lives. He says, “The one thing we all have in common is that we will encounter adversity, but we have to decide how we respond to it. My arm and my hand are paralyzed, but my heart isn’t, my mind isn’t, my dedication isn’t, my work ethic isn’t, my commitment isn’t.”
On a mission to serve, Johnson now speaks to companies and organizations across the country, sharing his message of hope and faith through adversity. His corporate clients include Chick-fil-A, Dell Technologies, Aflac Insurance, State Farm, AT&T, Comcast, Coca Cola, and Bank of America. He has also shared his message with collegiate and professional sports teams, including the University of Tennessee, the University of Alabama, the University of Texas, the University of Oregon, UCLA, Clemson University, the Orlando Magic, the New York Knicks, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New England Patriots, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Baltimore Ravens, the Chicago Cubs, and the Atlanta Braves.
The ParentEd. session is open to the community. Admission and parking are complimentary. MPCS is located at 1275 Stanley Road in Kennesaw. For more information or to RSVP online, visit info.mtparanschool.com/parent-ed.
ABOUT INKY JOHNSON
Husband, father, collegiate athlete, entrepreneur, and author, Inky Johnson is one of the most sought-after speakers in the world. For more than a decade, executives, professional sports teams, and business owners have benefited from the raw energy of Inky’s thought-provoking and inspirational presentations. Whether the topic is leadership, teamwork, excelling in the midst of adversity, embracing change, mental agility, or perseverance, Inky’s message is effective and profound.
Inky is the host of Serendipity with Inky Johnson Podcast. He devotes time to mentoring athletes and underprivileged youth and is one of the founders of The Inky and Allison Johnson Foundation.
ABOUT MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Mount Paran Christian School, the largest private Christian school in Cobb County, is a non-denominational, college-preparatory school for students in preschool age three through grade 12. MPCS is committed to excellence in academics, award-winning arts, and championship athletics, all within a Christian environment with small class sizes. Founded in 1976, MPCS is fully accredited (SAIS/Cognia) and located near Kennesaw Mountain on a 68-acre collegiate-like campus. Providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment, MPCS unites with home and church to prepare servant-leaders to honor God, love others, and walk in truth.
