Jordan Toma was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and a reading comprehension learning disability, causing him to struggle from elementary school through high school. Despite his learning difficulties, a 1.7 GPA, and a low SAT score, Jordan was accepted at Centenary University but was required to take a STEP Ahead program. He finished summer school with a 4.0 GPA and recognition as Most Improved.
Jordan graduated Centenary University in 2012 with a 3.3 GPA and a degree in psychology. Over time, he learned, “My struggle is my strength. Today, I wear that like a badge of honor.”
Jordan’s first job was selling windows door-to-door, becoming the number-one window salesman in the country. Why? “Everyone else was walking; I was running,” he says. Jordan became a financial advisor and now has his own insurance company and is a real-estate investor.
In 2015, Jordan spoke with students in the same pre-college program he attended after 12th grade. Since then, he has motivated thousands of students, parents, and faculty at speaking engagements in 25 states and counting. He has been featured on NBC’s Today Show and has over 3.3 million social media followers.
Interviewed by Winn Claybaugh, Jordan candidly shares his struggle with learning “disabilities,” the weight of those labels, and how that affected his high school and college experience: being sent to the resource room with the other “dumb” kids, crying in a college bathroom for his inability to pass any tests, and being rejected by every college he applied to attend. Although Jordan typically shares his story with middle and high school audiences, there is not an adult on the planet who would not jump up and down to cheer his message. This conversation will keep you on the edge of your seat, not only because of Jordan’s energy but also because of his powerful message.
RELATED LINKS
Website: https://www.jordantoma.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jordan-toma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imjustakidwithaniep
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imjustakidwithaniep/
Jordan on NBC Today Show: https://youtu.be/Uk3DZjgb2OU?si=YqnGl_XAnTqQNDyY