WATCH OUR VIDEO SPECIAL!
Ten years ago, on April 2, 2014, a tragic mass shooting claimed the lives of four individuals and left sixteen others injured. With this special event, we mark the 10th anniversary of that solemn event.
John Arroyo defied the odds as a survivor of the shooting, enduring a near point-blank shot to his throat that severed his jugular vein.
Join us for "Ten Years of Transformation" and be inspired by John Arroyo's remarkable journey.
As the individual and I drew closer to each other on the wide sidewalk, something warned me about his demeanor, and I thought, “He’s walking very calmly but looking around frantically.
Then I realized it was the shooter! Ten feet directly in front of me...
JOHN'S STORY
JOHN'S STORY
On April 2, 2014, 2nd Lt. John M. Arroyo, Jr.. was shot in the throat and neck by another soldier who then went on to kill four soldiers, including himself, and wounding sixteen others.
John's journey includes a childhood in Southern California as a tattooed member of a violent street gang and that of a hopeless teenage drug addict. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and ultimately became a Special Forces Green Beret and highly decorated officer after serving two tours of duty in Afghanistan and one in Iraq.
John's story of the journey to the very edge of overwhelming darkness includes the story of his brave, supportive wife, Angel.
Often overlooked, military spouses have a unique and powerful role in the lives of the U.S fighting forces.
Thousands are inspired by John who protected himself and his fellow Special Forces "Operators" while deployed to the Middle-East and later has the resiliency to recover from the massive wounds he sustained after being shot at Fort Hood, Texas
His gripping story tells of how John's wife, Angel, was impacted by him being shot and how she endured and was able to persevere during their harrowing ordeal.
John's story in now available in his book "Attacked at Home"!
A Life Transformed
YOU CAN EITHER DIG FOR THE DIRT OR DIG FOR
THE GOLD IN PEOPLE.
- Dr. Kerry Wood
CHALLENGE
Chasing “Likes” means seeking unhealthy affirmation. I craved approval after my father passed away because I never got it from him. For years I acted out and tried standing out, hoping for affirmation.
In other words, I was Chasing “Likes.”
Social media has become a false source of affirmation. Millions of people create social media posts hoping to receive affirmation by people clicking “Like.” We do not have to chase likes any longer because we are loved. It is time people hear, “I love you. I am proud of you.”
Chasing "Likes"
We're all on a journey. But how we navigate the path laid out for us is often determined by how we respond to the obstacles that we are sure to encounter along the way. Are YOU ready for what lies ahead?
John provides resources for leaders, students, and organizations that are
looking for proven solutions.
Speaking Topics
Hover over topics below to see a summary of each presentation
"Resilience means being able to adapt to life's misfortunes and setbacks.
When you have resilience, you harness the inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback or challenge, such as a job loss, an illness, a disaster or a loved one's death. If you lack resilience, you might dwell on problems, feel victimized, become overwhelmed or turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse, eating disorders or risky behaviors.
Resilience won't make your problems go away — but resilience can give you the ability to see past them."
Mayo Clinic
Resiliance
Chasing “Likes” means seeking unhealthy affirmation. I craved approval after my father passed away because I never got it from him. For years I acted out and tried standing out, hoping for affirmation.
In other words, I was Chasing “Likes.”
Social media has become a false source of affirmation. Millions of people create social media posts hoping to receive affirmation by people clicking “Like.” We do not have to chase likes any longer because we are loved. It is time people hear, “I love you. I am proud of you.”
Chasing "Likes"
Edited Version is the ability to create a make-believe scene or image that is a false truth of reality. Social Media allows us to stage scenes that appear to be our real life. Viewers become enamored by what they see. They want that life.
Sadly, the person creating the scene also hopes for a different life. When the cameras and lights are gone, and the views and likes fade they are left lonely and still hurting.
What they made was nothing more than an Edited Version of the truth.
Edited Version
Answering unasked questions means sharing intimate details about your life that no one would know unless you open up. This topic became a major victory in my mental and emotional healing after the shooting.
In my counseling sessions, I began to share painful details that I held in my heart but never dealt with, such as my father dying when I was young. My counselors focused on helping me deal with the shooting. What surfaced was everything I had never emotionally dealt with. For me to heal, not just recover, I had to give them answers to questions they were not asking.
Answering Unasked Questions
Mental and emotional healing means facing your fears and pain rather than avoiding them.
Our culture teaches us to block out anything that hurts or is intrusive. The only way to truly heal is to do the hard work, dig up the root, and not simply put a band-aide on symptoms.
Mental & Emotional Health
Get Up means, regardless of what life throws at you, arise and face the challenges of that day. After the shooting, everything was out of order.
My career and everything I worked hard for was on the verge of collapse. I was in a hospital bed and had no control over anything except choosing to fight for my life and the challenges of that day.
Getting up and choosing to live and face each day got me to the finish line. Tomorrow has enough challenges of its own; get up and overcome today!
Get Up!
Don't see a topic that interests you? No problem! John will gladly create
a variation or new presentation
that's geared to your group
or meeting theme.
