Jason Mernick: One Productive Stutterer

I always like to see people with speech impediments overcome their problem and become successful in life. For those who do not know him, I would like to introduce a person I've met recently by the name Jason Mernick, a successful artist. Instead of using paint on canvas, this man wields a torch to produce eccentric pieces of fine metal art. From wall hangings, and small designs to large outdoor sculptures, from flat creations to pop outs, Jason transforms plain sheets of metal into intriguing patterns and forms--while risking injury. His art resembles, things in nature, geometric shapes, and fluid forms. Jason himself states, “My art is like improvisational jazz in that you can’t really predict the next note.” His art is also interactive in the sense that you can bend it in numerous ways. You can find his works on just about every Bed Bath & Beyond store and more.

When I spoke to Jason, he had a pretty bad stutter at times. However, the stutter that he had didn't seem to bother him nor the people he was speaking to. He spoke in such a way that it made us all just brush his stuttering aside and give more importance to the actual content of his conversation. This is a hard working honest man who had gone through some hard times especially after losing both his parents at a young age. Admirably, he has learned to move on with his life despite his stutter and now has almost everything he wants. Jason Mernick is a supporter of the the National Stuttering Foundation and The California Speech Language Association,--just 2 of the many organizations he contributes to.

Jason Mernick has become a superb contemporary role model for all stutterers in showing us that one must not let his or her defects get in the way of success. Life isn't fair, and never will be, so we must all be ready to adapt to any situation that fate presents to us.

Learn more about Jason and his art at jasonmernick.com

Advice Video for Adults

Although stuttering can affect kids more emotionally and psychology, it can affect adults in other ways that are just as bad if not worse. Adults need to do many things in order to function in society. They need to do jobs, interviews, make phone calls, attend meetings, the list goes on. Under all this, I imagine stuttering can be quite a nuisance or worse. Therefore, it would be nice to get some help and see how others are dealing with it as well. That is why I have posted this video:

Third Place!

If you've read my previous posts, you know that I'm in the Speech and Debate team and a member of the National Forensic League (NFL).

I attended a recent debate tournament with at least 15 different high schools in which I performed Parliamentary Debate with a partner. It was a whole day of talking and convincing, twisting definitions, bringing out ideas, arguing your brains out, and of course, SPEAKING!
Despite me being a stutterer, a problem which I managed to control quite well that day, the event turned out to be a great success. Victory after victory brought me and my lovely partner 3rd place.
And I've got a nice trophy to prove it!

I never wanted to use my stuttering as an excuse for not being successful in life. Sure, it is a problem, and I will admit that, but one must learn how to control it rather that let it control you. That is what therapy is good for. It is to teach you how to control your speech impediment and live life better. I will say this so no one will be disappointed. It is extremely rare that therapy actually cures stuttering, so don't expect that. There is a good chance that it will reduce your stuttering, but as I mentioned in some older posts, there is no known cure for stuttering, so the best you can do is to take control of your own life instead of allowing your problems consume you. Make the best use of your talents and suck the marrow out of the bones of life!