Spring Break
The Daily OrangeAlum tells students to be proactive
By Rebecca Kheel
Posted: 10/26/09, 3:26 AM EST Section: News
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"If you would get off your knees, this line would move faster," she shouted.
Robinson, a congenital amputee who stands at 3 feet 8 inches, was not on his knees. He was born without arms past his elbows or legs past his knees. While his friends laughed at the girl the whole way home, Robinson had an epiphany.
"The truth is, I did have to get off my knees," Robinson said. "That was the moment where I realized it's time to stop asking for things and time to start going and getting them. Getting off my knees means to me hard work, it means be well-educated, it means be a good career person, and most importantly be a good family person for my wife and my children."
Robinson spoke to about 70 people Friday at 4 p.m. in room 434 of Newhouse III. Afterward he answered audience questions and signed copies of his book, "Get Off Your Knees." A television documentary of the same name telling Robinson's story aired Sunday on Syracuse television station WCNY.
The book, published by SU Press, is the fall season's best seller and has already sold 820 copies in its first week, three times more than an average SU Press book sells in its first week, said Alice Pfeiffer, director of SU Press.
The goal of Robinson's speech was to shatter the audience's first impression of him by showing them that he is comfortable with his appearance, he said. He said he wanted to show that he is more than his appearance and that he did not allow his disability to be an obstacle.
"Recently, I've had people that have said 'John, you have a story. You should share it.' People want to know. I think people are craving positive stories. It isn't what I naturally wanted to do, but I do hope that you take from this or if you see the documentary or, most importantly, if you read the book, you take that those obstacles are only there if you allow them to be. They do present opportunities in the future."
Robinson has faced many obstacles being a congenital amputee. He did not learn how to dress himself until he was 17 years old and about to leave home for college. It took four years and hundreds of job applications before he was hired for his first job out of college. Even after he got his first job, his physical appearance hindered his ability to move up the career ladder, he said.
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