He's much like you and me. But, let's dig a little deeper into Johanes' life.

He was born in war-torn Sudan in northeast Africa. Life there was very dangerous. In a brutal civil war, youth in Sudan are often drafted into rebel army as young as eleven.

Johanes and his family wanted more for him. He, along with his little brother and younger niece, walked many hundreds of miles to a refugee camp in Kenya. He assumed responsibility for his brother and niece.

They were among fortunate who were allowed to come to US to start anew.

Arrangements were made for them to travel to NYC and there meet an uncle. When they arrived-- no uncle. Johanes, with very little money, and with responsibility of his two charges, lived on streets of NY for weeks until connection could be made with his uncle.

They came to Omaha, knowing almost no English. Yet Johanes went to school, found work and an apartment for himself and his brother and niece.

Well, what's up with Johanes? He graduated from Benson High with honors. He received two prestigious scholarships-Coca Cola and Peter Kiewit, and entered University of Nebraska – Omaha this fall.

Ordinary? yes Determined? yes Courageous? yes Persistent? yes Adaptable? yes Disciplined? yes Unstoppable? absolutely

If you could have anything in your life, and you knew you would succeed, what dream would you chase? • Becoming debt free • Reach your ideal weight • Reconcile with a loved one • Own your own business

What are you doing about it? Do you want it as bad as Johanes wanted a new life?

You need a defining moment. Most extraordinary accomplishments begin with firm resolve that comes when we finally say, "Enough!"

While thinking positively, knowing that we can accomplish more than we currently achieve, can be an important tool of personal development, it goes much farther.

We all have freedom to dream big dreams—but when we change our thinking beyond dreaming, and move to taking control of our dreams, planning accomplishment of them, and changing ourselves in necessary areas to move ourselves toward our dreams, then we are developing personally.

Say you dream of becoming debt free. Will dreaming it make it happen? Of course not, you must realize that there are reasons you have debt. You must firmly decide to do what it takes to reduce and ultimately eliminate your debt. You must make a plan. This plan must include reducing spending and/or increasing income. You may need to find help, get some training or counseling.

By changing ourselves, we can change things in our lives. By taking responsibility for our current situation, we find out that we can really make our situation change.

Where does optimism come in? Pessimists look at their situation and feel helpless. Either they feel that they aren't responsible for situation, or that they have no power to change themselves. They look at an issue as something that always happens—something pervasive. Pessimists look at their past failures as proof that they will fail again. Because of this way of thinking, pessimists see no way out of their problem so they do nothing to improve.

Optimists take responsibility, own problem, and take active steps to change. They know they can overcome. They don't feel that they themselves are problem, but they feel responsible to find solution.