Detroit Catholic Central High School welcomed Inspirational Speaker Jacob Brown on March 8 to speak to students about the importance of embracing failure and using it as a stepping stone to success. Brown spoke to the students about the benefits of taking risks, learning from mistakes, and never giving up.

Brown encouraged students to be bold, take chances, and embrace failure as a necessary part of the learning process. "When you fall, fall forward," Brown told the students. “How do you score a touchdown? By falling forward.”

Recognizing the importance of helping students cultivate a positive growth mindset amidst the many pressures of high school, Mr. Kevin Glenn, Director of Diversity & Equity, and Mr. Mitch Hancock, Dean of Students, worked to bring Brown to campus.

“We chose Jacob as a speaker because we believe that his message of resilience, perseverance, and self-belief can help our students build the confidence and courage they need to succeed in today's rapidly changing world, " said Glenn. “He is an inspiring speaker whose unique blend of athletic prowess, entrepreneurial ingenuity, and motivational insights make him an ideal role model for our students. His message of #FailForward, rooted in his own personal experiences of overcoming obstacles and turning failures into opportunities for growth, resonates deeply with our community.”

From failing out of college, living homeless, to being cut by the Oakland Raiders,  Brown explained how he learned to pick himself back up time and time again. Brown’s speaking engagements have brought him to prominent audiences, including TEDx, Meta, and UPS.

Brown's message of #FailForward is a reminder that failure is not the end, but rather a necessary step on the path to success. Detroit Catholic Central High School hopes to continue to promote this philosophy and encourage its students to take risks, learn from their mistakes, and never give up on their dreams.