RaShad D. Bristo
Motivational Speaker, Noted Author
LA, USRaShad's childhood dream, despite having one arm was to become a police officer. He decided to pursue that dream after graduating from Grambling State University with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Hired and deputized by DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office in Mansfield, LA, RaShad was sent to the police academy.
After going through weeks of vigorous training, he was denied certification to become a Peace Officer just days before graduation. Opposition and discrimination met RaShad head on. Having one arm had all of a sudden become a crime in itself.
Emotionally wounded and with a dream almost shattered, RaShad recalled the words that his grandfather told him as a boy, "Son, your disability does not define you, your determination does." God moved and blessed RaShad to become a certified Peace Officer.
After several years, RaShad is the only person in the State of Louisiana and the first person in the country with one arm to successfully graduate from a police academy and work in law-enforcement in the capacities of deputy sherriff, D.A.R.E. officer, juvenile probation officer and correctional officer.
Since then RaShad's experience and training in professional development, disability awareness, personal empowerment, self-esteem and bullying has helped his audiences improve their perscpective on life with his "Bitter or Better" message.
He is the author of "Bitter or Better: Doing More With Less." RaShad's personal story of excelling beyond the bitterness and frustration of his physical disability to pursue his dreams and live a fulfilling life.
RaShad's childhood dream, despite having one arm was to become a police officer. He decided to pursue that dream after graduating from Grambling State University with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Hired and deputized by DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office in Mansfield, LA, RaShad was sent to the police academy.
After going through weeks of vigorous training, he was denied certification to become a Peace Officer just days before graduation. Opposition and discrimination met RaShad head on. Having one arm had all of a sudden become a crime in itself.
Emotionally wounded and with a dream almost shattered, RaShad recalled the words that his grandfather told him as a boy, "Son, your disability does not define you, your determination does." God moved and blessed RaShad to become a certified Peace Officer.
After several years, RaShad is the only person in the State of Louisiana and the first person in the country with one arm to successfully graduate from a police academy and work in law-enforcement in the capacities of deputy sherriff, D.A.R.E. officer, juvenile probation officer and correctional officer.
Since then RaShad's experience and training in professional development, disability awareness, personal empowerment, self-esteem and bullying has helped his audiences improve their perscpective on life with his "Bitter or Better" message.
He is the author of "Bitter or Better: Doing More With Less." RaShad's personal story of excelling beyond the bitterness and frustration of his physical disability to pursue his dreams and live a fulfilling life.
Bitter or Better
Helping individuals to recognize that lifes experiences will make an individual one of two ways - "Bitter or Better." "Bitter" because of past experiences and setbacks or "Better" recognizing that past experiences were not really stumbling blocks, but stepping stones to elevate you into a greater future
