Feats of strength used to inspire

"I'm still reaching for my goals. If I can do it, imagine what you can do. We're all capable of great things."

Breaking a wooden bat, bending a steel rod, tearing a thick phone book in half and crushing full soft drink cans, J.D. Anderson captured the attention of Pea Ridge students Wednesay.

"Know the difference," Anderson told students. "Some people work a little harder than others. Some people make better choices. You really can do anything you want to do, be anything you want to be. You have to believe in yourself.... I want you to know you do have potential to do great things."

Telling students that they have a choice, he told them to remember the three Es -- effort, excellence and education. He said put forth effort, do everything with excellence and get an education.

"When people told me I couldn't do it," Anderson, said of his childhood dream to be on TV, "they said you'll never leave this town, it's too small. I believed in myself. Just watch me, I told them."

Anderson, 27, the son of Jim and Michelle Anderson of Noel, Mo., graduated from McDonald County, Mo., High School in 2007. He is a full-time motivational speaker and said he uses "feats of strength" to capture attention and share his message.

James Darren Anderson Jr., 6'1", 301 pounds, holds the Guinness world record for breaking through 13 blocks of ice. He has achieved that childhood dream and more. He is slated to be on the Ellen DeGeneres show this spring and has appeared on Americas Got Talent, Jay Leno, Guinness World Records as well and many other TV shows around the world. In the last year alone, he has been a featured performer seen on ESPN, Ellen and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He has performed for American Greetings, the Cleveland Indians and legendary venues such as The House of Blues, he said. He said he's performed in Los Angeles, Tokoyo, Milan, Italy, and South Korea.

"First it's a tool, that you can use," he said. "I wanted to get on TV shows. Now that I've been on a lot, I want on more. The more you get on, the more credibility you get and it helps me get in schools to share the message with children that it doesn't matter where you come from, you can accomplish your goals.

"I want kids to know that ... it doesn't matter where you come from. It doesn't mean you can't do big things. Don't be product of your environment. No one determines your environment but you... one bad choice can change life forever... having goals and dreams are important," Anderson said, adding that there are second chances, even if someone makes a bad choice. "I've had a great life."

Remembering a fellow student from his growing up, Anderson said that because of bad choices, the man is in prison. "Drugs and alcohol can take people farther than they thought it would lead them."

He said there are people who spend half their life making money to buy drugs and alcohol.

"It starts off that they control the problem, but in the end, the problem controls them," he said. "You never know, some people just try it once and people are hurt for the rest of their life.

"Life is short. While you're here, do something great.

"The biggest thing you do in life is make a difference," he said.

"I actually really looked up to Arnold Schwarzenegger when I was growing up," Anderson said, explaining that the fact that Schwarzenegger is not from this country, but has accomplished many things including being a body builder, movie star and governor. "Anybody would be happy with one of those things. He's a good motivator. He worked his butt off."

Anderson said he started working out when he was 18 and has worked out for nine years straight without taking off more than two weeks at a time. During high school, he played basketball. He said he played a little football, but not much.

Anderson attended Crowder College and is working on a degree in kinesiology at the University of Arkansas. He has one sister, Lauren Anderson, who teaches at Noel Junior High School.

"I love performing; I love helping people," he concluded. "I want to make sure I'm always doing more stuff, always wanting to do TV shows, because want to tell these kids, 'Have big goals, have big dreams, have something to shoot for.'

"I don't want to be telling them and to not be doing it myself, so I put my words into action for myself."

Editorial on 11/04/2015