What does life have planned for you?
by Darcy L. Keith
Overcoming life's challenges, whatever they may be, is not easy. One never knows when a challenge may arise. For me, I never thought that something I would experience as a result of a car crash would change my world forever. I never thought that a single incident would force a twenty-two year-old college senior to start over as a small child in every aspect imaginable. The mental, physical, and emotional injuries were indescribable. But, when I was down in the quicksand of pain, anguish, and despair, I decided that I was going to climb to solid ground through fortitude, perseverance, and determination.
There are many common challenges which we all face in life at one time or another. Some are expected while others are not. They may include financial concerns, family issues, loss of a loved one, injury, illness, abuse, and the like. Its how we cope with these challenges that helps determine the outcome and our attitude. My five step plan will help you learn how to survive challenges...and come out on top!
My multi-media presentation includes a Power Point presentation, a video, other props, a demonstration and audience participation. The speech can be tailored to the audience to whom it is being presented.
It's the obligation of the cured to help others. My motivation to speak and assist others came from wanting to help other brain injury survivors and their families. I then realized that the message of overcoming life's challenges applies to everyone at some point. This is why I want to share my secrets of success and achieving the unimaginable in life.
Honors and Awards
- Selected and recognized in a special on-court presentation as an Indiana Hero by the Indiana Pacers basketball organization during the Pacer game v. Atlanta Hawks on January 4, 2008. Pacer player Travis Diener presented her with the medal.
- Darcy's story of how the knowledge and experience with speaking in Toastmasters has helped her regain the speaker she used to be was published in the November 2007 The Toastmaster magazine, which reaches each of Toastmasters' 225,000 members in 90 countries.
- Appeared on ABC: Darcy's question on traumatic brain injury and how the presidential candidates were going to address this injury was selected and asked of presidential hopeful Rep. Duncan Hunter (California) LIVE on ABC cable channel. Her video question was voted as the 3rd highest ranking and viewed the 2nd highest in the USA on ABC's website prior to the Republican presidential debates on August 5, 2007.
- Appeared on ABC News Now "Be Seen Be Heard" with Bob Woodruff on March 2, 2007 (Darcy appears around 10 minutes in the program)
- Narrated and wrote portions of the 2007 ThinkFirstVIP Speaker Training Video, which was funded by the Christopher Reeve Foundation
- Selected as the 2006 Global ThinkFirst VIP Speaker of the Year
- Featured by WXIN Fox 59 TV as an "Unsung Hero" on February 27, 2005
- Selected as #3 in the Top 10 Fascinating People of Rush County in 2006
- Inducted into the Global Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals, 2006-07 edition
- 2006 Insurance Institute of Indiana Grassroots Award of Merit
- Competent Communicator (CC) designation, Toastmasters International
- Featured under the "Christ in the Marketplace" section of The Baptist Bulletin magazine, July 2004 issue
- Was highlighted by Rick Rogala, of Rogala and Associates, LLC, as a FUEL Champion in his FUEL for Living an Extraordiary Life radio message broadcast for 93.9 The Song on June 1, 2005, and is listed on his website blog for the same date - click here for blog
- One of two featured speakers in the international magazine, Prevention Pages, Summer edition 2002
- 2000 Ball State University Graduate of the Last Decade award winner
- Appointed to the Ohio Valley Center Advisory Council, which is a council that advises Ohio State University on their brain injury research in 1999
- Brain Injury Association of Indiana’s Board of Directors
Partial list of past speaking engagements include:
Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Toastmasters International Convention
MADD Kentucky
OSRAM Sylvania
Indiana Statewide Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Member Services Fall Conference
Indiana Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Spring Conference
Central Ohio Insurance Education Day Conference
Think First International Conference- San Francisco, CA (2006), New Orleans, LA (2005), and Chicago, IL (2002)
Brain Injury Association of Indiana and Missouri Educational Conferences
State Auto Insurance Company
Missouri Centers for Independent Living
Columbus Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) Society - Columbus, OH
National Organization of Women in Business - Indianapolis, IN
Business Professional Exchange, Consultant's Special Interest Group - Indianapolis, IN
Rush County Chamber of Commerce
Fishers Rotary Club, Fishers, IN
Kokomo Rotary Club, Kokomo, IN
Sertoma Club, Fishers, IN
Indiana Statehouse
Ball State University
Ohio State University
Delta Delta Delta sorority - Purdue University
Purdue University
Butler University
University of Indianapolis
Indiana University School of Nursing at IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN
Brownsburg High School
Carmel High School
Franklin Central High School
North Central High School
Southport High School
Ben Davis High School
Hamilton Southeastern Junior High School
Hamilton County 4-H Junior Leaders
East 91st Christian Church - Indianapolis, IN
Bible Baptist Church - Kokomo, IN
Cumberland Road Christian Church - Fishers, IN
First Baptist Church - Rushville, IN
Yeddo Baptist Church - Kingman, IN
Hamilton Hills Baptist Church - Fishers, IN
Lighthouse Tabernacle Church -Indianapolis, IN
Aglow - Christian women's organization - Carmel, IN
Several radio and television programs
Darcy@DarcyKeith.com, 317-446-2698
