A teacher recently approached me and asked if I believe in the benefits of a motivational speaker who looks, speaks, and comes from the same back ground as the students she serves. Although many youth motivational speakers have the ability to crossover into various audiences, my experience has demonstrated that if a student sees someone who understands their cultural reference, the impact is that much more significant, particularly if the student already feels isolated and alone. My answer was simple, “Yes, I do believe in the benefits of a motivational speaker who comes from the same back ground as the students she serves.