LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Some Kentucky students got the chance to hear from a New York Times Best Selling author on Tuesday about facing adversity while reaching for success.

“When you want to succeed as badly as you want to breathe, then you will be successful," Eric Thomas told JCPS students.

Also known as the hip-hop preacher, Thomas has over 1.4 million YouTube subscribers.  

“It doesn’t matter what hand you have; it matters the way you play the hand you have,” Thomas said to the crowd.  

Thomas said he practices what he preaches. He grew up without a biological father, became homeless in his teens and struggled academically. 

Now, he has a Ph.D. and is a consultant for numerous Fortune 500 companies and professional sports franchises. 

“God’s going to take care of you, don’t worry about that. But the question is, are you going to have the character to sustain that blessing?” he said.

Thomas hopes to influence the next generation of leaders and innovators. One if his philosophies is that “every kid has the promise of greatness within them — every single one.” 

Thomas said if teachers can figure out each child’s unique approach to learning, they can discover their own “superpower within.” 

Seventh, eighth and ninth graders from the Academy@Shawnee, Central High School, Grace James Academy, and W.E.B DuBois Academy heard him speak. 

“I want to be a bodybuilder and an artist, and he motivated me to do both those things at the same time,” Samuel Johnson, a ninth grader at W.E.B DuBois Academy said. 

Johnson, whose favorite forms of visual art are realistic drawings and cartoons, said there are ways he can use Thomas’ message to pursue his dreams. 

“The people I’m hanging around with, like when I’m talking to my friends, like what should I say, what should I do, like is this going to help me,” Johnson said.