Ryan Evans carefully shared his story of struggles and eventual success at the Young Professionals Conference, leaving a strong impression on the audience.
Ryan Evans, 31, from Kingston, was the main speaker at the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber’s Young Professionals Conference at Wilkes-Barre’s THINK Center, 7 S. Main St.
Evans told the group that life can be very tough, taking away many things, but he also emphasized that despite the difficulties, the experience can still be beautiful.
Evans spoke for about 20 minutes and captivated the audience, receiving a rousing applause at the end.
Evans expressed how therapeutic it was for him to share his story and encouraged others to do the same, emphasizing the importance of moving past negative experiences.
Evans mentioned that having the opportunity to fail is valuable and can lead to positive outcomes.
Evans stressed that failure provides important lessons and should be seen as a catalyst for improvement.
Evans acknowledged that he doesn't fit the traditional image of a professional.
Evans humbly referred to himself as "a doofus" and "a jackass" but demonstrated why he was chosen as the keynote speaker.
Evans aimed to inspire the audience by sharing his life experiences and the lessons he learned along the way.
Evans recounted his hardships and how he turned them into something positive and empowering.
Evans emphasized the importance of self-reflection and personal growth.
Evans hopes to redefine the concept of 'Young Professional' and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Evans then talked about some serious things, saying that he did not have a life of great privilege or opportunity.
He expressed that his life has been full of heartache, hard work, and repeatedly getting back up after facing challenges. He mentioned wanting to give up and stop feeling pain, and struggling with depression, drug addiction, and the difficulty of understanding his past and finding his place in the world.
Evans mentioned that he never wanted to grow up in an abusive household or go through difficult experiences for over twenty years. He also mentioned not wanting to witness his mother being abused during his early years.
He voiced that he didn't choose to experience traumatic events such as guns going off in his childhood bedroom, losing his innocence and childhood, becoming addicted to painkillers, and dealing with thoughts of suicide at a young age. He expressed that he never asked for constant fear of failure, feeling inadequate, and struggling with depression, anxiety, and impostor syndrome.
However, Evans endured these challenges.
In front of an astonished crowd, Evans openly shared brutally honest details of his struggles.
He revealed that despite excelling in school with high grades, involvement in honor societies, leadership, and sports, and a high IQ, he was living a double life.
He admitted that despite his accomplishments in school, the impact of his troubled home life led him to drug and alcohol abuse from a young age, affecting his outlook on the future.
After enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he admitted to still struggling with self-hatred and reliance on alcohol to cope, despite his military success.
In the military, he excelled with several promotions, recognition, and awards.
After discharge, he returned home, enrolled in LCCC, and quickly stood out.
He acknowledged that despite his outward achievements, he still felt like a scared, damaged child.
He left school with the intention of personal improvement during the summer.
He emphasized that we are in control of our environments, not defined by them.
Evans completed high school in 2011, pursued further education, and graduated in 2021 with an associate degree and later a bachelor's degree, while also working as a reporter.
Before completing his bachelor's degree, Evans got into Northwestern University’s Graduate School of Communication and is currently working on his master’s degree there. His research focuses on ethical issues related to automation and artificial intelligence in strategic communications.
