Bishop Chatard graduate Ryan Moran empowers teenagers

Youth motivational speaker Ryan Moran of Indianapolis, a 2000 graduate of Bishop Chatard High School, stands in front of the North Deanery interparochial high school. He presents motivational and leadership programs to students at junior and senior high schools and youth organizations throughout the country. He is a member of Christ the King Parish in Indianapolis. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

How do you define success?

Youth motivational speaker Ryan Moran of Indianapolis describes it as character development.

The 2000 graduate of Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis teaches teenagers at school assemblies and leadership conferences throughout the United States how to have a positive attitude in daily life situations as well as ways to be open to new experiences, people and places.

He encourages students to develop their gifts and talents, be honest and sincere, demonstrate school and community spirit, and affirm others whenever possible.

Those characteristics, Moran explains to young people, are the keys to living a happy and successful life.

Students learn a lot of important life lessons in junior and senior high school, he said during an interview, but unfortunately not all of them are positive.

But if teenagers make the right choices early in life, Moran said, those decisions will guarantee their success today, tomorrow and in the future.

He enjoys helping teens learn how to make healthy choices in the midst of so many inappropriate media messages and so much negative peer pressure inherent in contemporary society.

“Every day is a choice,” Moran said. “Your attitude decides your day, and nobody can decide your attitude but you. If you choose to have a positive attitude, you’re going to be a lot happier. If you’re miserable now, look at the choices you’ve made in life. Look at someone that is happy. Then look at the kinds of choices that he or she has made.”

Young people need affirmation and encouragement more than ever, he said, in order to develop their unique gifts and talents, which will lead them to happiness.

“Pope John Paul II was a great motivational speaker,” Moran said. “He really encouraged the youth. He empowered young people with the message of ‘God loves you. He’s given you these gifts. Go for it. Put out your net. Do what you do best—and do it well. Help others.’ He showed them how happy they can be. I thought that was such a great message.”

During his junior year at Bishop Chatard High School, Moran covered the pope’s visit to St. Louis in January 1999 as a teenage reporter for WRTV Channel 6, the ABC affiliate in Indianapolis.

A year later, he served his school as the senior class president and student body president, and even led pep rallies.

At the time, he wanted to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. But as a student at the University of Missouri in Columbia, he felt called to change his major study area from journalism to communications and theater.

His friendship with Chris Bowers, a youth motivational speaker based in Indianapolis, led to a summer internship with him in 2004 and a new career choice.

“The second time I spoke on a stage, I realized that this is what I’m supposed to do,” Moran said. “I’m supposed to help make a difference in the lives of others in a positive way.”

By practicing his message of character development then teaching those skills to teenagers in humorous and entertaining ways, he has done just that as the owner of Moran Success Development.

His eyes sparkle, he smiles easily and laughter accents his stories as he shares funny anecdotes about his secular style of youth ministry.

When he speaks to Catholic and Protestant students, Moran can talk about ways to develop “their God-given gifts and talents.”

And when he presents motivational programs for teens at public schools and secular organizations, he simply refers to “their gifts and talents” then leaves it to the students to make a faith connection if they choose to do so.

“I tell young people that the legacy they leave behind is what they are going to be judged on,” Moran said. “Did they leave behind people that were happy? Were others better for knowing them?”

During the past six years, Moran said, he has spoken at youth gatherings in “20-plus states—as far west as California, as far east as New York, as far north as Michigan and as far south as Florida.”

In Indianapolis, he has presented his motivational and leadership programs at St. Jude School and Holy Spirit School.

“Being a role model for teenagers is a big responsibility,” Moran said. “It’s not one that I take lightly. I really do try to be the best person that I can be, and answer the students’ questions as honestly as I can. … I’m so lucky and so blessed to have the job that I have.”

Demonstrating leadership is simply “being the best person you can be, treating other people respectfully the way you want to be treated, including others, developing your skills and working together as a team,” he said. “These are the things that make life more enjoyable, and make people want to spend time with you. … People don’t listen to everything you say. They listen to everything you do. You can talk all day, but it’s your actions that will be remembered.”

Society places a high value on success, Moran said, but learning to appreciate the intangible things in life leads to happiness regardless of income.

“I encourage students to set positive goals that are attainable then move on to the next ones,” he said. “I try to inspire them to work hard for those goals, but to be happy and decide that they’re good with what they have right now.”

He said his parents, St. Luke the Evangelist parishioners Pat and Donna Moran of Indianapolis, have been his biggest cheerleaders and most supportive fans.

“They’ve been great mentors and role models,” he said. “They’ve encouraged me in everything that I’ve set out to do.”

Moran, who is a member of Christ the King Parish in Indianapolis, believes that God called him to his motivational and leadership career.

“Right before I go out on a stage to speak,” Moran said, “I always say a quick prayer that it will go well, that the students will enjoy my presentation, and that I will be able to make a positive difference in the life of at least one student.”

(For more information about Ryan Moran’s presentations, log on to www.heavypenguins.com, his website name inspired by a funny story that he likes to tell teenagers.) †