ADVERSITY • • •

"Through my life I have endured, sacrificed, and prevailed, I have succeeded in everything I have wanted out of life to-date. I know that things have happened to me for a reason, that reason being that I tell you my story. I will motivate and inspire you, and show you that you can overcome anything that life throws your way, and believe me; life has a fantastic throwing arm."

-Jeffrey Lawrence Croonen

Along his path Jeffrey has encountered much adversity and setback, each time growing and discovering an inner strength that enabled him to continue to push forward and rise above.

While in high school, Jeffrey turned to his guidance Counsellor for help with his dream of attaining a football scholarship. His guidance counsellor laughed and said that Jeffrey didn't have the ability to play professional football in Canada or the USA. Four years later, his determination and focus left him with offers for 2 full athleticfootball scholarships to NCAA Division 1 "A" schools, each worth over $100,000.00 US. He chose Eastern Michigan University.

During Jeffrey's enrolment at EMU

• Jeffrey was rear-ended by a drunk driver who was doing 80km an hour. Jeffrey was at a complete stop at the time. He suffered a bone chip in his neck, severe back spasms and whip lash. He was advised by medical professionals to retire from playing football, to walk away from the sport he's loved forever. He did not.
• Jeffrey contracted Spinal Meningitis and Physicians explained to his parents that their son only had a couple days to live. Out of nine other teenagers who were also diagnosed with Spinal Meningitis, Jeffrey was the sole survivor.
• Playing his first NCAA College football game months later, and on his first play, he was hit hard by the opposition. The "hit" tore his left shoulder muscle and put him out for the entire season.
• During his rehabilitation he played a game of recreational hockey, and was hit in his left eye with the end of an opponent's wayward hockey stick. He was blind out of his left eye for four months. Due to a partially detached retina. The surgeons that had worked on Jeffrey told him and his family that he should never play professional football or any other professional sport again.

These alone are simply just an introduction to the adversity Jeffrey’s path has led him to endure. Words alone could never compare to the impact his sessions have on the individual. As you participate one can’t help but become drawn to his story through his magnetism, humor and honesty. Touching on family, love, and life’s hurdles he lights a spark in even those who have felt chronically uninspired.