How will you make a difference?
26-year old Katie Spotz, from Mentor, Ohio, describes herself as having been the “benchwarmer” throughout her life. However, there came a time when she made a discovery: you don’t have to be extraordinary to achieve incredible things.
Last week, Katie visited 10 schools, speaking to over 7,000 students in the Twin Cities and surrounding area (MN) at the invitation of H2O for Life as part of an exciting new partnership. This was the first stop on a national tour to inspire US students to make a difference! Katie speaks about overcoming adversity and achieving your goals, no matter how steep the odds. She inspires all audiences to realize that extraordinary achievements are within everyone’s grasp. Katie ended each speech by saying: “I was a 22 year old girl, I put my oars in the water and I rowed. What are you going to do?
On March 14, 2010, at age 22, Katie set the world record as the youngest person to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Katie is a living example of determination and the power of believing in yourself. Her 70-day journey from West Africa to South American was made in a self-contained rowboat the size of a closet. Throughout her row, Katie wasn’t looking to make history. She was raising money to support schools around the world that need clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. She has also run across 2 deserts, and swam the length of the Alleghany River, all to support clean water.
Katie’s story has been featured on numerous national news shows and in 2010 she was honored by Glamour Magazine as one of their “Women of the Year”. Katie is a brand ambassador for H2O for Life, Axel Johnson Inc. and Aveda. She is an accomplished motivational speaker with an inspiring message.
Our question to you – How will you make a difference?
