Ask Brad: What motivated you to keep going rejection after rejection when you were trying to find a teaching position?

Don't Give Up!

What made me never give up?

You did! Everybody did! Tourette Syndrome did! As you heard in the movie, I didn’t want Tourette Syndrome to win!  If I allowed it to win, then TS would always win.  For me it was about no excuses!  The first time you start making excuses for yourself, it is very difficult to stop.

There were too many people waiting for me to say I can’t do it because of Tourette Syndrome.  The more times I got rejected and denied a teaching opportunity, the more it made me what to get that job.  I knew I could do it, I just needed to find one person that believed in me too.  By my 25th interview, I had the confidence with my interview skills.  I knew what the principals were going to ask before they even asked it.  My answers were ready to go and I wanted that job.

Many people have obstacles that are placed in front of them throughout their life.  This was a pivotal moment for me.  My mom kept saying “Come back to St. Louis because you know people here.”  My dad said “To go be a substitute teacher and then I would eventually get the job.”  But that’s not what I wanted.  I couldn’t give in.  By my 25th interview I wanted that teaching position so bad. And then it happened where I was finally hired as a 2nd grade teacher.

So, what can I tell others who are looking for a job and have some sort of disability or weakness in life:

  1. Don’t give up!
  2. Don’t make excuses!
  3. Be motivated to prove others wrong when they doubt you!
  4. Set high expectations and get to that mark!
  5. Keep that positive attitude.  Once it becomes negative, it is hard to go back!
  6. If you want something bad enough, sometimes you really have to work hard at getting it!
  7. Don’t look for self pity and for other to feel sorry for you.  It won’t get you your job or the goal you have set out for any faster.  Stay strong.
  8. Read my book, Front of the Class, or see the movie! (Of course I’m adding this.  My success story is now in book and movie form so I can share my story with others so they can see that if Brad Cohen can do it, then so can they!)

What advice can you give others to help them achieve their goals? Have you struggled to achieve something that took you a while to get?

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7 Responses to “Ask Brad: What motivated you to keep going rejection after rejection when you were trying to find a teaching position?”

  1. DINA BUNO Says:

    BRAD, HI I JUST READ THIS NEW ENTRY! YOU DID YOU IT . CONGRATS!! ANYTHING S POSSIABLE YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU WON TOURETTS DID N’T GREAT JOB ! YOUR A WINNER MY HERO MY ROLE MODEL, CHEERS! DINASKOLNCK BUNO

  2. DINA BUNO Says:

    HAPPY NEW YEAR BRAD, YOU ARE A SUCCESS STORY, AND NOW I WANT TO BE POSITIVE ALL THE TIME!!!! I WILL NOW RETURN TO SCHOOL AND FINISH MY TEACHING DEGREE THANK YOU !! POSITIVE THOUGHTS GET POSITIVE RESULTS!! I HOPE SOMEDAY YOU CAN SPEAK AT OUR ACTION CLUB FOR DISABILITIES MEETINGS. WE NEED A GOOD GEUSS SPEAKER, AND YOUR A PERFECT CANIDADATE. I HOPE YOUR ABLE TO CHEERS! DINA S. BUNO

  3. Clarence Nelson Says:

    Brad, I jus wanted to say thank you for helping me understand your situation alot clearer for my seinor project. You helped me alot and I’m sure i will get an A on it!

  4. marie Says:

    you did ka great job but iam wondering did kyou have any problems with discipline and how did you handle it ? is it different in each cse or one type of attitiude?

  5. William Samuels Says:

    Hello Brad. I am a social worker; and often come in contact with “labeled” kids. Since I don’t work well with labels, can you please share some “team strategies” that can help me, and the rest of the “support team,” to be more effective players when going to bat for these guys? Thanks.

    You’re an inspiration, Brad. I’ve been a big fan of yours for many years!

  6. DINA BUNO Says:

    BRAD , HELLO AND HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN, I HAVE AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ASK YOU,THIS IS INVOLVING YOUR MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU PREPARE FOR THE EVENT IN WHICH YOU ARE SPEAKING AT? THE REASON FOR MY QUESTION IS THAT I TOLD MY MENTOR AND SPECAL FRIEND ABOUT YOUR STORY. HE TAUGHT ME IN SCHOOL . HE WAS A SPECIAL EDUCATOR AND CHANGED MY LIFE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD POSSIABLY COME TO PHILDELPHIA , PA .AND SPEAK TO OUR ACTION CLUB ITS THE ONLY CLUB IN THE AREA SUPPORTING THE DISABLED AND DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE . WE ARE A GROUP OF PEOPLE W/ DISABILITIES AND WE HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND DO CHARITY WORK, AND MANY OTHER VOLENTEER PROGECTS . I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING TO THE GROUP ABOUT YOUR WONDERFUL SUCCESS STORY OF NOT GIVING UP. WE COULD ALL BENNIFIT FROM HEARING YOUR SPEECH. PLEASE E- MAIL ME. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON. CHEERS! DINA BUNO

  7. Rita Busman Says:

    Your mother and father-in-law showed your Hallmark movie at our Hazak Senior lunch today in our Synagogue. It brought tears to our eyes. What a wonderful, positive story. So happy you pursued your career and got your story across..
    I wish you the best. You deserve it.
    Rita Busman
    Charleston, SC

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Testimonials
"Brad Cohen is a walking billboard for the idea of living positively. He is like a cold drink on a hot day--refreshing, energizing, and likely to put a smile on your face."
Tim Shriver - Chairman of Special Olympics

"I have observed the magic of Brad Cohen in the classroom. He has turned Tourette Syndrome into an asset, and his life into inspiration."
Senator Johnny Isakson, Georgia

"Brad Cohen's story is a triumph of hope, determination, will and relentless good humor."
Peter J. Hollenbeck, Ph.D., Professor and
Associate Head of Biological Sciences,
Purdue University


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