Service Is a Stepping Stone for Greatness

By Dr. Patricia Adelekan, DTM, Founder’s District Journalism Chair

After LACE Training at Biola University in January 2012, Stephen Kozowyk and I met.

“You might like to interview a LACE attendee named Stephen Kozowyk,” simply suggested Neel Sirosh, the Founder’s District PRO Chair.  

Nothing else was said about Stephen. Immediately, I emailed Stephen to set up an interview. Then, he called me on the phone to confirm the Sunday January 15, interview date. During our phone conversation, he asked, "Can you speak slower, my computer is  transcribing your voice (to writing) so that I can read what you are saying?”

“What?” I thought. “He’s hearing impaired? Nobody told me.” I slowed down and gave him the address to the Golden Seniors Toastmasters meeting where he agreed to attend the next day, Sunday, for the interview. 

What a great and pleasant surprise! Stephen arrived two hours ahead of time. He won the best Table Topics Award.  He intrigued and pleased us all with his optimism, charisma and self-introduction.

“I went to LACE,” he explained, “in order to improve my speaking and leadership skills to motivate and influence others with a hearing impairment-- and their parents. Parents and kids must have hope, faith and believe that this condition (hearing impairment) is ‘a stepping stone for greatness’.  It is an opportunity to develop the special gifts inside the person.”

During the interview, Stephen further explained that he wanted to reach schools, nonprofits, counselors, Toastmasters and all humanity to help serve the needs of the hearing impaired, too. They could provide assistance and grants to help buy hearing aids  and other equipment needed to to help “kids” with hearing impairment succeed in life and to attain their greatest potential. Parents, he maintained, are the “special chosen ones” to help develop the child’s greatness—(and, their own  greatness) by serving, being patient, understanding and supportive.

Stephen was born deaf in Boston, Massachusettes in 1972 to parents who have now been married for over 43 years. “They were my first encouragers to be a success,” he says. They were always there for me and encouraged me to develop skills and talents. His older sister, Stephanie, with whom he lives, today, in Laguna Beach, California, has always been supportive and encouraging and still is. “We are a close family,” he delightfully declared.

Through the help of his family – especially his father and many other people, Stephen is a graduate of Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts and has developed many talents and skills: photography, athletics, road and mountain biking, swimming, stand-up paddle-boarding, snowboarding, hiking, cooking—and now Toastmasters. Today he operates his own company-- Stephen’s Photography, and serves as a volunteer in his community—Laguna Beach.

As for Toastmasters, he feels that the TM experience can help him formulate his message in a supportive and positive environment. “I can bring my authentic self to Toastmasters and share my experiences and also be an example and inspiration that Toastmasters is for anyone,” he exclaimed.

Stephen, tall, slender, charming, handsome, and pleasant, exudes a “possibility thinking” mindset and the expression: “Can You Hear Me Now?” He believes that effective communication is absolutely necessary to convey his message and to advocate for kids who are hearing impaired. “Service in this manner is indeed the stepping stone to greatness—where he sees himself going.”

Stephen plans to reach his goals by speaking, writing, video productions and the use of social media.  He says he has some tools and other suggestions to help other deaf children develop and use the “gifts that God has given them.”   

He mentioned Helen Keller who was both blind and deaf and who accomplished much and became great, leaving an impressive legacy.   Because of her blindness and deafness, Helen Keller had to “dig” a little deeper to gain the substance of a thing.”  In her case, she, too, utilized self-help and the help of Ann Sullivan, her nanny and many others to accomplish much in her life.

All attendees at the Golden Seniors on-the-Move Toastmasters club that day felt they received an special treat: the speech and sharing by Stephen Kozowky.

Stephen is a member of the New Port Beach Toastmasters Club No 231 in Founder’s District, and can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .