Patch Adams

Patch Adams

UVU welcomed Dr. Patch Adams on Feb. 15 in the Grand Ballroom where students were privileged to interact and hear from an influential giant of our time.  

The Grand Ball Room was filled on Tuesday morning with students, UVUSA leaders and other members of the community waiting to hear from the famous Dr. Patch Adams.

Patch Adams gave an engaging speech titled, "Living a Life of Joy- Keeping Your Spirits Up in Down Times." He spoke to students about what life is really about. He encouraged students to be happy no matter what life throws at you.

 “Don’t insult the gift of life by being miserable,” said Adams.

 During his speech Patch Adams shared bits of his very interesting life with the students here at UVU.

Adams has never spent more than two weeks in one place for the last 27 years. He is constantly traveling around the world educating others and teaching them how to be happy and how to live a full life.

He captivated his audience with his words and with his enthusiastic personality. He had people laughing the whole time and hanging on his words.

Adams constantly emphasized the important of having friends and being a friend, during his presentation. Students were asked to branch out and talk to people that they usually wouldn’t talk to.  

“Uplifting,” was the word that UVU student Matt Meranda used to describe the presentation by Dr. Adams.

Another point that was constantly addressed was that of the importance of getting along with one another. He emphasized this point by explaining that it is hard to fight when you are laughing. He said that during his life he stopped many fighting by just simply making people laugh.

“He is a smart guy that knows how to think outside the box. He definitely said a lot of things that were good for students to hear,” said John Brimley, a student at UVU.