On July 11, Oliver delivered a powerful keynote for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, “The Strength in Our Stars”: Southern Region Student Wellness Conference in Palm Desert, CA. As the universe would have it, the stars aligned, and Oliver was asked to deliver the keynote to kick off the conference with three days' notice. This inspired one of Oliver’s most powerful keynotes to date, titled ‘The New Face of Education Reform,”. So powerful it birthed “The Strength in Our Stars” series. The following few blogs will discuss elements of that powerful Keynote, including:
“Even Stars, Have a Name,” where we focus on Oliver first addressing his name change (Oliver Petty to Oliver North).
“Should We Reach for the Stars or Walk Alongside Them” - where we unpack Oliver’s belief that we should walk alongside students, not attempt to reach them.
“The Strength in Our Stars is the Strength in Us” discusses the breakout session Oliver led on the conference's final day, where he provided a framework for educators and admin to create their own action strategy to become the new face of education reform.
Today we are going to focus on the strength of alignment. In hearing Oliver’s Keynote, you listen to him talk about the evolution of his journey. From him discussing his parents' drug addiction, him being in six foster homes before the age of five, and the homelessness he experienced once reunited with his family. Next, he explained how he turned down significant money at his executive job right out of graduate school when he realized the paycheck wasn’t his fuel; his true passion birthed the phrase “Passion Over Paycheck.” That passion inspired future generations' minds while letting them know the American dream they are selling is false. A true dream is living in your purpose - an entrepreneurial mindset and ownership are significant parts of creating what you desire to see in the world. He then takes you on the journey of his sacrifices, including renting a room for five years, car repossession, and the many “no’s” he received from schools to share his message. He was taking educators through that journey so they could see his conviction and how aligned he was with his purpose over the last decade.
Life is the alignment of experiences and purpose. The stars align to fuel the star in you - Oliver distinguishes how experiences happen for you, not to you. Experiences are part of the birthing process of what you can create.
When Oliver left his job nine years ago, others could not foresee what he saw. The aligning of stars. Now, as an owner of three businesses with full-time staff, Oliver can see how the stars aligned for him to be on that stage at that very moment. In July 2021, while attending the CABSE conference in Palm Desert, CA, he and his Project Director Tahirih Vinson watched the keynote speaker when Oliver leaned over and stated: “I’m going to be the Keynote Speaker next year.” This year he planned on attending both the Student Wellness Conference and the CABSE on the same weekend. Then, with three days' notice, the selection committee asked Oliver to be the opening keynote speaker for the Regional Wellness Conference; with three days' notice held in the same city, he made that statement. Sometimes we have to look back, not just to see how far we have come but to see how the stars align.
Oliver is an example of alignment personified. He can show you where his experiences align, and he can point to every one of his constellations. He does this so that every administrator, educator, and student can do the same.
Oliver’s keynote moved many, inspiring one Star to leave their job after 15 years during the conference to pursue the purpose they had lost sight of. Another Star thanked Oliver and called their son to apologize for not seeing his entrepreneurial vision and purpose. One Star wrote Oliver a letter expressing their gratitude for helping them tap into emotions that had been suppressed. Oliver sees the alignment of every moment. Foster care. Homelessness. His parents are former addicts. He was quitting his job to follow his dream, having three days' notice to prepare his keynote speech. All of these moments aligned for him to be on that stage for those Stars to connect to a purpose.
So to conclude today’s blog, we will ask you what Oliver has asked many: Can you see how your stars align? What are you the new face of? Each of us and those who attended the conference are the new faces of education reform. As for you? The universe is waiting on your constellation.
Oliver and OTO would like to thank Paul Durham and Brenda Dowdy for bringing back the Student Wellness Conference this year and not only highlighting Oliver but partnering with us to bring our mentor program BVO/YOU to the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. We would also like to send a special thank you to Keith Hosea, Terrance Stone, Alicia Lambert, Stacy Diemert, Charles Brown, Gwen Rodgers, and forever a pillar for San Bernardino’s youth Dr. Margaret Hill. For their belief in Oliver’s mission and purpose early in his fight for Education Reform.