Accomplished distance runner turned motivational speaker Eddie Slowikowski visited DGS in an assembly during Red Ribbon Week on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019.

Slowikowski opened his speech by going in depth, describing a defining moment in his life — breaking the four minute mile barrier. He connected this milestone to a seven-step, “four minute formula” to aid others in living life to the fullest. Although this was not expanded upon at a later time in the presentation, I do think the simplicity of just stating the formula allowed for everyone to make their own interpretations as to how it can apply to their own lives.

The talk continued with Slowikowski acknowledging that he has never used drugs, alcohol or other substances. To some people, this fact may have caused the entire speech to seem disconnected from the meaning of Red Ribbon Week, which encourages students to live lives free from the usage of harmful substances. However, I believe that Slowikowski’s personal choices served as proof that you can overcome obstacles in life through healthy methods of coping.

Things began to progress as Slowikowski shared some personal anecdotes, starting with how he witnessed his mother’s crippling anxiety at a very young age. He explained that this was his very first memory and a challenging time in his life that played a role in his formation as a person. This was a way for the audience to catch a glimpse of Slowikowski’s early years and respect his willingness to be so open. 

Another story displaying Slowikowski’s vulnerability pertained to his divorce. Sharing his perspective was yet another way to connect with his audience while giving an example of a time in his life where he dealt with his grief  without the use of drugs or alcohol. While I understand that this is a sensitive topic for many people, I believe he handled it in a mature manner.

Afterwards, Slowikowski shared the story of how he met his current wife. To some people, this was not a relevant topic in the presentation, but it ultimately showed how Slowikowski endured a difficult time in his life and eventually moved on.

Transitioning into an interactive point in the assembly, Slowikowski told the story of a boy who was tragically killed during the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. Even though he left the earth at a very young age, this boy had a lasting impact on people through his confident and caring personality. He did not care what others thought of him because he knew that he carried so much potential.

Slowikowski then had his audience take a moment to realize that they hold the capability to not only believe in themselves, but also touch the lives of others. He asked all of us to close our eyes and stand up if we could visualize ourselves helping a family member, friend or other acquaintance facing some kind of obstacle in their life. This served as a powerful image when every member of the audience opened their eyes to see the entire student body standing, everyone felt capable of making a positive impact.

The assembly came to a close after Slowikowski shared some of his favorite dance moves on the stage. I think that was meant to show us that we should be confident in ourselves, no matter what we are doing. After all, dancing in front of a few thousand judgemental high schoolers takes a large amount of courage.

Although Slowikowski’s address to the students of Downers Grove South High School may not have directly related to Red Ribbon Week, I believe it offered some valuable messages to which most students could connect. He encouraged everyone to have the utmost confidence in themselves, and to turn to others when personally in need of support. Slowikowski essentially provided optimism that may prevent some students from coping with their difficulties in an unhealthy manner.