BLAKE Cochrane knows more than anyone that being different can bring adversity.

He also knows how to overcome that adversity.

On Friday , the Australian Paralympic swimmer explained to Biggenden State School students that he was born without fingers or toes.

"Some of you may find that a little bit weird or a little bit different but I can tell you now I can do everything that you can do, and I can probably actually do it better,” Cochrane said.

"We're all a little bit different and I was born like this.

"The best way to describe what I do, is that I have never known any different.”

Cochrane overcame multiple congenital limb deficiencies affecting his hands and his feet to represent Australia at three Paralympic Games.

On Friday he described his experiences growing up of being bullied by other children, and even adults who he described as "dream-takers”.

"The dream-takers for me are anybody who tells me I can't achieve my dreams or I can't achieve my goals,” he said.

Cochrane also gave students a crash-course on the importance of a healthy diet.

The aim of his visit was to empower students to strive through adversity and believe in their dreams, ignoring any "dream-takers”.

Cochrane kept engaged his audience for an hour through thought-provoking stories and the students took the opportunity to ask him their burning questions at the end of the session.