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Arel Moodie
Arel Moodie
01:17

Arel Moodie

Founder of the College Success Program

Brooklyn, NY USA

"You control your life, your life doesn't control you. And you control your thoughts, your thoughts do not control you."

Career Roadmap

Arel's work combines: Entrepreneurship, Writing, and Communicating / Sharing Stories

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Day In The Life

Author/Speaker

I speak and create books, curriculums and other trainings to help students succeed in school and in life.

My Day to Day

As a professional speaker, I have spoken to over 500,000 people in 48 states and 5 countries. I often give TEDx talks and other speeches on topics such as likability and innovation. I also host one of the top career podcasts on iTunes, The Art of Likability, which is listened to in over 135 countries worldwide. I work with hundreds of schools and teach students how to succeed in the college environment by becoming a student leader that actually learns real-world skills.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

I went through a dark time in my teen years where the violence I had grown up around really got to me and I just wanted to end it all. The thought, "Not yet", immediately hit me and I eventually realized that what I was experiencing can't be forever and that there is more out there. I dedicated myself to not letting negative thoughts take control of me. I control my thoughts.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Philosophy

    SUNY at Binghamton

  • Bachelor's Degree

    American Government and Politics (United States)

    SUNY at Binghamton

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Law

    SUNY at Binghamton

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Poets, Lyricists & Creative Writers:

High School

Bachelor's Degree: Marketing/Marketing Management, General

Bachelor's Degree: Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    Grew up on welfare in the projects of Brooklyn, New York.

  • 2.

    He noticed that every family and community had that one person that had "made it out" and done something great.

  • 3.

    Made it his personal goal to be that person who would do something great so that his family and community would look up to him.

  • 4.

    When he was 16, the violence and darkness around him became too much; he went up on to a rooftop and considered suicide.

  • 5.

    He was suddenly struck by one thought: "Not yet."

  • 6.

    Says that your negative thoughts are much like lions behind glass at the zoo; they're there, but they won't hurt you unless you let them.

  • 7.

    His "secret to life" is: "Negative thoughts never go away, and it's not your job to make them go away-your job is to believe them less."

  • 8.

    Says that when life starts getting you down, finding positivity is as simple as watching a motivational YouTube video or reading a good book.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Myself:

    It would be so much easier to feel nothing than to wake up and face the reality of my life again.

  • How I responded:

    I went through a dark time in my teen years where the violence I had grown up around really got to me and I just wanted to end it all. The thought, "Not yet", immediately hit me and I eventually realized that what I was experiencing can't be forever and that there is more out there. I dedicated myself to not letting negative thoughts take control of me. I control my thoughts.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

  • I grew up on welfare for the first 17 years of my life.

  • I grew up in the projects experiencing gun violence and gangs. I've been robbed, beaten up, jumped, I've seen people get killed. At 16, I had a really low point and considered suicide.