by Jeff Fox
What begins as a creative childhood activity for many youngsters has grown into a lifelong profession for Richard Hight. As part of the Founder’s Week activities, Hight visited WVU Parkersburg to share his original artistic renderings. Hight has had the opportunity to present his creative message to everyone from major television network executives to schoolchildren gathered in a small gymnasium.
But Richard Hight is more than just a talented professional artist; he is also a talented inspirational speaker. Before an attentive audience gathered in the WVU Parkersburg main campus student lounge on Tuesday evening, Hight opened his heart to bare the fears, the challenges and the priceless simple rewards that he and his family have experienced over the years. He built a strong rapport with the audience, as he proudly explained the special relationship between himself and his young daughter, who is “made special” by Down’s syndrome.
As the audience allowed the imagery of his story to settle into their hearts and minds, Hight went to work on his latest artistic creation. With the rhythm of his background music filling the room, Hight attacked his large blank canvas with multicolored chalk, a unique medium for his creativity. With large swaths of brown and white, intricate strokes of yellow and blue, and the strategic placement of several other hues the canvas began to come alive. What was once just a large black rectangle was now becoming a key, a key to be used to unlock the distinctive personal abilities, which reside in all of us.
As one may expect, the means for any successful motivational speaker lies in his ability to communicate. For Richard Hight, communication is not only verbal, but also overwhelmingly visual. After applying the finishing touches to his artwork, Hight explained the humorous beginning of his artistic career. The story didn’t necessarily offer Hight an easy path to success, but it did provide the young man growing up in small town Oklahoma with several mantras for life.
“The decisions that you make today, have an effect on you tomorrow, in so many ways,” Hight said. As he continued to weave the story of his artistic beginnings, Hight spoke of a late junior high math teacher, who realized that while she may not be able to unlock the mysteries of algebra in the young man’s mind, that she had the ability to unlock the desire for creativity in a young man’s heart. As Hight was covering the classroom chalkboard and the evening’s homework assignment to the delight of his fellow classmates, little did he know that his math teacher had purposely left the classroom. She had also left an array of specially requisitioned multi-colored chalk in the chalkboard tray. She had given Hight the tools to create, excel and more importantly touch people’s lives.
“I learned to focus on my strengths, instead of trying to fix my weaknesses,” Hight said. Hight explained that we all have those unique strengths inside of us. “That’s why we have the gifts that we have, to serve other people,” Hight said. He explained that these personal gifts, sometimes locked inside of us, transcend any socioeconomic boundaries that may exist between ourselves and our fellow humans.
“What makes you different can make you great,” Hight said. Then as he gazed quietly into the distance, Hight reflected back to his courageous daughter, and something she has taught him over the years. “Being normal is nothing special,” Hight quietly said.
As for the artwork that was created? Hight donated it for the university’s use and hopes it will be prominently displayed for all to enjoy, but more importantly it serves as a daily key to his inspirational message. Even though it may take a leap of courage, we all must celebrate and share our unique abilities and use them to serve and inspire others as we spend our time together on Earth. Don’t strive to be normal today, share your uniqueness instead!
What begins as a creative childhood activity for many youngsters has grown into a lifelong profession for Richard Hight. As part of the Founder’s Week activities, Hight visited WVU Parkersburg to share his original artistic renderings. Hight has had the opportunity to present his creative message to everyone from major television network executives to schoolchildren gathered in a small gymnasium.
But Richard Hight is more than just a talented professional artist; he is also a talented inspirational speaker. Before an attentive audience gathered in the WVU Parkersburg main campus student lounge on Tuesday evening, Hight opened his heart to bare the fears, the challenges and the priceless simple rewards that he and his family have experienced over the years. He built a strong rapport with the audience, as he proudly explained the special relationship between himself and his young daughter, who is “made special” by Down’s syndrome.
As the audience allowed the imagery of his story to settle into their hearts and minds, Hight went to work on his latest artistic creation. With the rhythm of his background music filling the room, Hight attacked his large blank canvas with multicolored chalk, a unique medium for his creativity. With large swaths of brown and white, intricate strokes of yellow and blue, and the strategic placement of several other hues the canvas began to come alive. What was once just a large black rectangle was now becoming a key, a key to be used to unlock the distinctive personal abilities, which reside in all of us.
As one may expect, the means for any successful motivational speaker lies in his ability to communicate. For Richard Hight, communication is not only verbal, but also overwhelmingly visual. After applying the finishing touches to his artwork, Hight explained the humorous beginning of his artistic career. The story didn’t necessarily offer Hight an easy path to success, but it did provide the young man growing up in small town Oklahoma with several mantras for life.
“The decisions that you make today, have an effect on you tomorrow, in so many ways,” Hight said. As he continued to weave the story of his artistic beginnings, Hight spoke of a late junior high math teacher, who realized that while she may not be able to unlock the mysteries of algebra in the young man’s mind, that she had the ability to unlock the desire for creativity in a young man’s heart. As Hight was covering the classroom chalkboard and the evening’s homework assignment to the delight of his fellow classmates, little did he know that his math teacher had purposely left the classroom. She had also left an array of specially requisitioned multi-colored chalk in the chalkboard tray. She had given Hight the tools to create, excel and more importantly touch people’s lives.
“I learned to focus on my strengths, instead of trying to fix my weaknesses,” Hight said. Hight explained that we all have those unique strengths inside of us. “That’s why we have the gifts that we have, to serve other people,” Hight said. He explained that these personal gifts, sometimes locked inside of us, transcend any socioeconomic boundaries that may exist between ourselves and our fellow humans.
“What makes you different can make you great,” Hight said. Then as he gazed quietly into the distance, Hight reflected back to his courageous daughter, and something she has taught him over the years. “Being normal is nothing special,” Hight quietly said.
As for the artwork that was created? Hight donated it for the university’s use and hopes it will be prominently displayed for all to enjoy, but more importantly it serves as a daily key to his inspirational message. Even though it may take a leap of courage, we all must celebrate and share our unique abilities and use them to serve and inspire others as we spend our time together on Earth. Don’t strive to be normal today, share your uniqueness instead!