Invincibility to Aspire

By Rose Schriber

Invincibility to Aspire shares the true stories about people who have pursued a career or started an organization due to - or in spite of- a particular challenge. Read about well-known activists’s personal lives. Find out about how they utilized their challenges to find meaning in their own lives and by bringing meaning into the lives of those around them. The goal of this book is to inspire readers to aspire high and to support others despite whatever they may be facing. Relax. Read. Aspire!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Jan 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781982242046

Rose Schriber

Rose Schriber currently works part-time with adult patients in a hospital setting and part-time with a home health care agency. Additionally, She works as a school nurse supervisor for a private school. Currently, she is working on obtaining her MSN-FNP degree and hopes to become a family nurse practionor. She enjoys spending time with her husband and children and writing in her spare time.

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Copyright © 2020 Rose Schriber.

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-9822-4205-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-4204-6 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 01/24/2020

Contents

Introduction: Invincibility to Aspire

Foreword by the Author

Dr. Andrew Hoffman

Annette Rhodes

Dean

Barnes Family

Cathy Moore

Coleen Potts

Deena Israeli

Dor Yeshorim

Dr. Vadim Leybovich

Dr. N

Dr. Patricia Sharpnack

Elyn Saks

Hayley Dubin

Dr. Hill Krishnan

Lana (a first-hand narration)

Laurie Kowalski

Leah

Lynne Daus

Michele Kaminsky

Mike Shaw

Nicki Salfer

Nicole Born-Crow

Sarah

Shari Goldberg

Bibliography

Introduction: Invincibility to Aspire

Some people are - so to speak - born on mountaintops of success. They are born with just the right genes, talents, intelligence, emotional or physical health, financial security, family circumstance or opportunity to guarantee success in whatever field they choose. Others are born with limitations or challenges that seem to thwart success. These people need to work much harder to achieve success. Their success can be seen on a much deeper level of success than those who had smooth sailing. The effort, emotional stamina and perseverance of these individuals mold them into stronger, more secure human beings who are not daunted when challenges occur.

Many of the characters in these authentic stories were faced with major challenges or obstacles that seemed to impede success. Many never thought they would be able to deal with their challenges; yet deal with them, they did. These individuals used their challenges to aspire to greater heights, influence more people, and impact society at large. It was not easy for them. They had to fight internal and external battles, but they emerged as successful, highly sensitive and tougher people.

While, many of us may not face the challenges portrayed in this book, we all are subject to some sort of challenge in life. The lesson we can learn from the participants in these interviews is that challenges do not define us; rather, the ways in which we deal with our unique challenges define who we are as people. So, take a deep breath and become inspired by real narrators; and realize that you too, can become one of them. Relax….you too can aspire to greatness when faced with challenges large and small.

Foreword by the Author

This book is the product of people who were gracious with their time and willing to share and relive their personal journeys with us. They have shared painful and challenging experiences in order to inspire the readers. While many of the names in this book are authentic, upon request, some names have been changed to maintain privacy. Names with an asterisk before them are pseudonyms. Each of these stories has been told to me first-hand by the person who experienced the narrative.

I proudly dedicate this book to every single one of the narrators in these chapters for providing me with the opportunity to share their stories with others. This book is about the invincible spirit of the men and women who overcame many hurdles and obstacles, chose to aspire high, and succeeded. These people have all been a tremendous inspiration to me; and it is my fervent hope and prayer that all the readers will become inspired too.

This book would not have come about without the meticulous editing of Mrs. Selma Hellman. The countless hours, reading, correcting and re-reading really paid off. Your insights, comments and attention to detail are truly appreciated.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to my wonderful family, mentors and friends for enabling me to pursue my dream of writing this book. Thank you to my husband, Refoel for providing encouragement along the way and for all that you do for our family.

Dr. Andrew Hoffman

E verett, Dr. Andrew Hoffman’s oldest son, was preparing for an interview at Skidmore College. Everett, do you have any ideas of what you will say at the interview? Dr. Hoffman asked his son.

Dad, I am going to play the blind card, and I’m sure the interview will go well, he jokingly replied.

Nonetheless, Dr. Hoffman decided to accompany Everett to Skidmore for the interview. Dr. Hoffman waited outside the office until Everett returned. How did you play the blind card? Dr. Hoffman asked.

I told the interviewer that one defines who one is in life by how one deals with one’s life challenges, he replied, And, I told her that I had learned this lesson from my own father who rose above the challenge of blindness and became a successful psychologist. The interviewer was duly impressed and accepted Everett into Skidmore College.

Dr. Andrew Hoffman was raised in Long Island, New York in a very supportive and loving family. He was an eager student who enjoyed the academics of school immensely. Andrew’s childhood was filled with memories of summer camps, family get-togethers and friendships. At the age of fourteen, Andrew developed detached retinas which may have resulted from his severe nearsightedness. Following two years of unsuccessful ophthalmologic surgeries, Andrew lost his vision completely.

Shortly after becoming blind, the new school year began. Understandably, Andrew was distressed about losing his sight and refused to get out of bed to prepare for school. Suddenly, he heard a sound that he had never heard before. His father was kneeling at his bedside and crying. Andrew patted his father’s bald head. He could not endure his father’s suffering so Andrew got up and went to school. From that point on, Andrew was determined to succeed and live a meaningful life.

Andrew acquired Liebe, his first Seeing Eye dog when he was twenty-one. He was told that he must remain home for a month for the adjustment period with his new dog. This was during the 1960’s when the hippie movement was very popular and attracted many youth. Andrew wasn’t about to be left out of the fun. He was determined to get from New York to San Francisco, California, a major hub that vibrated with the hippie movement and music. Andrew gives a lot of credit to his parents who purchased his ticket even though they were concerned about their son travelling alone to California with a new guide dog. The trip signified something beyond the glamour and glitter of San Francisco; it boosted Andrew’s confidence with an exhilarating sense of freedom and independence.

Andrew initially entered the University of Rochester as a science major. However, in his sophomore year, Andrew participated in a college study where university students without degrees would lead psychotherapy groups for young adults. Despite his lack of training, Andrew realized he had a knack for dealing with human psychology and enjoyed this field immensely. By the time his junior year rolled around, Andrew was certain that he wanted to become a psychologist.

Back in the 1960’s, while he was in college, Andrew relied on the support of other students who would read the material to him. He also recorded the lectures and then typed them up, listened again, and rewrote them. The technology that we have nowadays to assist the visually impaired students was not present back then. The extra effort that Andrew used did not deter him from his goal; it only strengthened his motivation.

During his first semester in graduate school at Case Western University, Andrew felt as though the academic material didn’t seem relevant to the actual counseling work that he would do. He believed that a person could get counseling jobs even without being an actual psychologist. With that thought in mind, Andrew took a leave of absence from school and started job hunting.

Finding a job wasn’t as easy as he imagined it would be. He was turned down multiple times on the basis of his blindness. Until then, Andrew had not let himself be subjected to depression, but as the rejection letters kept piling up, Andrew felt himself falling into despair.

One afternoon, while all this was going on, Andrew picked up the phone and called one of his professors at Case Western University and told him about his situation. The professor who was at that time part of the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War, suggested he contact the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU took the case and sued the Ohio Youth Commission for discriminating against the blind. The case eventually reached federal court six years later.

One of the witnesses during this case was a social worker from California who was blind. The ACLU had flown him in just for the case. He was currently performing all his tasks as a counselor that Andrew was told he would be unable to perform. The day that Judge Thomas Lambrose ruled in favor of Andrew’s case was a memorable one.

By the time he won the case, Andrew was already a licensed clinical psychologist. He had returned to Case Western University to complete his degree and received his Ph.D. in psychology. Andrew’s court case was used as a precedent six months later involving a case in Pennsylvania with a teacher who was blind. Thanks, to the outcome of Andrew’s case, this teacher was hired. As part of his clinical training, Dr. Hoffman completed a two year internship at University Hospitals of Cleveland under the supervision of talented psychologists.

Ten years after graduating, Dr. Hoffman studied under a philosopher of language, Dr. Fernando Flores. Dr. Hoffman incorporated what he now learned into his practice. Dr. Hoffman explains that he now understands that there are three vital components when working with moods: body, language and biochemistry. When working with adults, Dr. Hoffman helps them see how the language they use to interpret themselves, other people, or situations affects their mindset and subsequent behaviors. Dr. Hoffman explains, "If your posture is all slumped over, it can make you feel depressed, but if you straighten your shoulders and stand upright, your mood can lighten." Dr. Hoffman continues, "I am also able to teach my patients how to use language to create empowering new realities and practices which positively impact their