In his daily life, Jan is still confronted with this trauma, but it hasn\u2019t turned him into a victim. \u201cIn my TEDx talk \u2018Eye to Eye,\u2019 I want to motivate and inspire people.\u201d <\/p>\n
The arrow struck him right in the pupil. \u201cThey tried to save my eye, but it was too late. I was definitely lucky. I could have died if the string had been tighter.\u201d After a few months, Jan received an eye prosthesis. This trauma had a major impact on his childhood. \u201cAs a child, I was confronted with the fact that I could no longer do everything. Think of pouring a glass of lemonade or opening a door.\u201d On top of that, he couldn\u2019t talk to almost anyone about it. \u201cMy teachers kept it a secret, just like my parents. On top of losing my eye, I couldn\u2019t share my story. That was tough. My mother was also very overprotective. I got a lot of attention. This came at the expense of the attention my sisters received. It\u2019s not good when, as a parent, you focus solely on the child with a disability. I became rebellious. I wanted to break free from the constraints. I went in search of openness.\u201d <\/p>\n
Despite this setback, Jan has remained incredibly positive all these years. \u201cThis is because of my cheerful nature. Jan focused on what he could do rather than what he couldn\u2019t.\u201d \u201cAt one point, I started doing competitive gymnastics at a high level. My coach treated me just like all the other students. That gave me a lot of strength.\u201d This taught him to push his limits. \u201cI was a victim, but not for long. I wanted to make something of my life.\u201d <\/p>\n
Jan sees all positive events as a gift from life. \u201cFor example, I\u2019ve gone horseback riding, acted on television, and even got my driver\u2019s license. On top of that, I\u2019m a teacher and a career counselor. Life doesn\u2019t stop after a traumatic experience, and that\u2019s what I want to show.\u201d That\u2019s why Jan created this TEDx talk. \u201cFor this, I took a special training course with Peter Perceval and An Nelissen. Before you can give a presentation like this about trauma, it\u2019s important that you\u2019ve processed it\u2014that you\u2019ve worked through the pain.\u201d <\/p>\n
He performed in Antwerp alongside four Belgian speakers. All four spoke about how they dealt with a setback in life. \u201cI was the first to take the stage. It was pretty nerve-wracking. But it was comforting to know that my friends and family were in the audience. People told me afterward that they were moved by my story. My TEDx talk included a good dose of reflection and self-deprecating humor. Everyone took something away from it for themselves. After all, insight offers a new perspective.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to my TEDx talk, I\u2019m also working on a book titled \u2018The Arrow in My Eye.\u2019 Once the book is finished next year, I\u2019ll give a presentation at the association\u2019s National Contact Day. The message of my presentation will therefore be: \u2018This accident has made me the person I am today, and it has enriched my life.\u2019 Box<\/p>\n