Pursue Your Passion
     Todd Herriott '87 return to the Mount to giving something back, not only a presentation to the student body but…a library book he had checked out as a student on wholesome dietary nutrition that he has had since he graduated in 1987. Fr. Richard who introduced the guest speaker also took this time to comment that if in-school suspensions were in effect in Todd’s days, Herriott would have become very accustomed to the desk in Mr. Ridders’ office.
     Todd Herriott himself took center stage in the chapel, which was where the presentation was held. Herriott reflected back on the past twenty years of his life, starting with how he was only 4’10” and 90 pounds as a freshman. For this reason, Herriott says, he decided to take up cycling. He developed a great liking for the sport, which eventual became his main passion in life. Next, Herriott moved on to his college days. Herriott went to Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, where he first majored in dance, then switched to film, and then to literature. Harriott eventually graduated with a degree in communications. He then moved back to Nebraska to try to figure out what he was going to do with his life. Herriott ended up scooping ice cream at the local Goodrich and competing in local cycling races. Herriott then decided to pursue his racing career even more and moved to Tucson, Arizona. After three years of mediocre cycling and sleeping on floors Herriott decided to quit cycling all together. At the time there was no motivation, everyone was telling him he couldn’t do it. Next, Herriott moved back to Boston where he became a bike messenger. After he got tired of doing this he decided to get back into film production where he spent two years making music videos. Still, Herriott knew that the film industry was not his passion so he moved to New York were at the time, being a personal trainer was the new fad, so Herriott recalled the story of how he walked into a club and immediately received the job as a personal trainer, despite his lack of experience in the field. Todd worked hard to excel at his job and three weeks later he was taking classes and educating himself on how to become a great personal trainer.
       Next came Todd’s life changing momoent, he went to London and watched a professional bike race, which inspired him to take up his passion once again. He moved back to New York City and despite the disapproval of friends and family he committed himself to training full time for a year straight. Everyone told him he'd never succeed. After a couple of years he started to win many of the local races. Next came the win that put him on the map, he became the first American to win the "Tour of Cuba" and immediately became a Cuban cyclist celebrity. Eventually an old friend from Tucson called him and asked him if he wanted to join a new team. The catch was he would not receive a salary for his work. Todd took a big risk, accepting the offer. This risk paid off and he eventually got better throughout the year. He then switched teams a couple of times and ended up being the captain of a team in 2004. Todd stressed that he was now able to do what he loved while making enough money to live.
      Todd Herriott was not a quitter; he just needed some time to figure out what his real passion was. Once he realized that cycling would be his key to success, lack of support and even the lack of a salary couldn’t stop him from doing what he loved. - Article by Colten Venteicher