After a year of hard work, communications student Haley Lapkin introduced motivational speaker and personal friend Sean Stephenson to inspire other students and spread his word.

Stephenson spoke in the Rogue River room on Wednesday for his keynote speech. He also spoke to athletes in McNeal Pavilion, and to Residential Life members earlier that morning.

Lapkin and Stephenson share the same disease, Osteogenesis Imperfecta; however, they both agree their disability does not define who they are. They met 14 years ago at a convention for O.I. and kept in touch. O.I. is a brittle bone disorder, which left both Lapkin and Stephenson confined to a wheelchair and just three feet tall.

"I’ve seen a lot of great things in my life. I am very fortunate to be where I am," Stephenson said.

Lapkin is a media studies major and knew right away that she wanted to plan an event that featured Stephenson and his story for her capstone project. Stephenson has worked in the Whitehouse for Cabinet Affairs, has spoken around the country to motivate others, is a personal therapist, started his own company and has written several books.

Stephenson’s list of accomplishments isn’t the only reason why he is a qualified motivational speaker. His philosophy is "time to stand" by getting "off your but." The "but" stands for excuses that people use instead of taking action in their lives.

When Stephenson came on stage before his keynote speech, he personally thanked Lapkin for bringing him to SOU.

"Very rare that I come on campus because a student has her passion to make sure my message gets heard," Stephenson said.

Stephenson speaks to all types of people, of all ages, but he expressed that he loved talking to students. He said the big thing was to "make sure they love themselves."

"I thought he was excellent. I thought he was very motivational, and I think he spoke to the crowd really well. He had just the right tone, and I think at the end of the year we all need a little bit of positive reinforcement," said Susan Walsh, communications professor and Lapkin’s capstone advisor.

Stephenson hopes that in speaking to college students, they will get a lot out of his talks.

"They [students] are capable of doing more than they thought. Sometimes we get caught in the trap of mediocrity, thinking ‘this is all I can have,’ but that’s not true. You can always have more," Stephenson said.

Lapkin’s mother, Deborah, also met Stephenson 14 years ago and traveled up from Lake Tahoe to see the presentation.

"They make you comfortable and make you look beyond the wheelchair," Deborah Lapkin said.

"For me, I never looked at my daughter as being disabled. To me she is just a regular person with a huge spirit, and she’s definitely enriched my life, and Sean has enriched my life today. He has a lot to offer and a lot to give; he has a lot of people to meet on this Earth," she said.

"This [motivational speaking] is a way to reach clients in masses. I just love knowing I did more today than I did yesterday," Stephenson said.

Lapkin was satisfied when Stephenson gave his speeches and felt proud that the whole day worked out. She hopes that his talks will help fellow students.

"I hope that if you’re a student who doesn’t get a lot of support from your friends or family, being here and hearing that you can do it, just strive for what you believe in, helps. A lot of kids don’t get that direction from their family," Lapkin said. "If Sean is able to provide that for one person, it will make all of the difference, that it’s possible, you just have to believe that."

For more information, Stephenson’s Web site is www.TimeToStand.com .