Motivational comedian Stan Pearson returns to campus
Campus Programming and Relations organizes event featuring comedian and author who previously performed at UW-Platteville as part of the 2014 United We Stand lecture series and 2014 Ebony Weekend.
Stan Pearson’s motivational comedy style features audience participation.
Although this was the first time many University of Wisconsin-Platteville students have heard Stan Pearson speak, it was not the first time he has been to campus. Pearson was also a speaker during the October 2014 Ebony Weekend, Samantha Way, Campus Programming and Relations event producer and senior media studies major said.
According to his website, Pearson is a bilingual speaker, author and host as well as motivational speaker. He performed in Velzy Commons on Sunday, Feb. 28.
Pearson said the comedic part of motivational comedy is about “giving people a chance” to feel comfortable. He said that at the beginning audiences tend to be tense and are not sure what to expect. Comedy gives people the opportunity to relax and truly digest the message while having fun, he said. Helping the audience feel comfortable is a crucial part of motivational speaking, as it allows people to open themselves up to not only the experience, but the messages that are delivered through it.
Senior biology major Kolten Kline said that during the motivational part of the event, Pearson emphasized that everyone should be themselves and not be afraid. He repeated Pearson’s saying, that “if you don’t think you’re sexy, why should anyone else think you’re sexy?”
Motivating others is something that Pearson said he enjoys a great deal. He has faced difficulties in the past, he said, but “realized [he] wasn’t the only one.” Because of this, Pearson said he combined his gift for communication with life experience and comedy, and decided to spend his time helping diverse groups of people embrace themselves.
Part of Pearson’s routine included teaching students how to salsa dance. Kline said Pearson’s salsa-dancing comedy got people out of their chairs. Kline said he felt energized dancing with strangers, despite the fact that he usually dislikes dancing in public. He said it was “exhilarating to go out of [his] comfort zone,” and that he left the event with a mild adrenaline rush.
“I speak because everyone needs someone to guide them in the right direction when they are on top of the world and when they feel like they want to crawl under a rock,” Pearson wrote on his website.
Way said Pearson brought a “great energy…that students love” to campus.
