My Last Lecture

You were placed on this earth for a reason, take advantage of the opportunities that surround you and make the most of what you have. For a long time I never realized the true beauty in life. I had a supportive family, caring friends and I was continuously absorbing unnecessary elements I never thought I’d loose. I lived the “normal" life of a teenager. I participated in school activities, volunteered in my community and liked to have fun on the weekends. But, as I arrived at high school, I was drowned in drama and scattered to find myself. I had a rough go, and relied on my friends for encouragement. My second period class taught me what I need for life. “Keep smiling, life will soon get tired of upsetting you”. I simply decided to change my perspective on life one day. I was not ready to give up, I found courage to keep going. I needed change. I viewed my sports teams differently, took on opportunities that could be risky and never settled for less than my best. If my life ended today, Im glad I was granted with the opportunity to be apart of such an inspiring class full of life lessons and memorable friends. I have decided my future will be working with others and helping them with their life. I appreciated the support I got when I couldn't solve my problems and struggled to find hope. I want to be the change in someone else's life. I want to change someones perspective on life. I want to be a role model for my friends, family, neighbours, even strangers.

I hope this speech made you recall different events in your life and made you think of all the possibilities you could alter to change your life into a more beneficial one. I challenge you to be the change. Stand up and take on the role of a leader.

You only live life once... But if you live if right, once is enough

The Last One

     I can’t believe Leadership class has came to an end! I will never forget the memories we have made. It makes me sad that this class will never be united in the same way again... but I have continue to remind myself of all the great accomplishments and skills I have taken away from this course. I’ve truly been inspired to create change in my life and in the outside world. I hope to stay involved with clubs and activities throughout the rest of my high school years. I am forever grateful for a supportive, caring, funny and motivating teacher who has pushed me to be my best this semester. I instantly recognized how he made everyone feel wanted and welcome, ever since the first day. Mr. Tompkins could always bring a smile to my face. You are truly a role model to me and I really enjoyed your teaching style. I hope to have you as a teacher again. Thank you for everything! I appreciate it. I will always remember second period, semester one, of my grade eleven year.
 I will miss you guys! Keep smiling, stay positive and continue to BE A LEADER!

Nick Vujicic

I definitely consider Nick to be a leader and role model. One of the things that struck me was how he was embracing his challenges rather than making excuses. He never said it was easy, but he made a point of saying that when things don't work out, or problems arise, you can't just lay there and expect things to get better. He was willing to take risks, he set goals for himself, he looked to the future and found time to do the things that made him happy. I think he was a leader because he instilled in me to understand others and their story before you judge. He wasn't looking for sympathy, but he was asking for understanding. He made me feel that many of my problems are not really problems at all. It's interesting that the people that have the most to overcome, sometimes complain the least. They're grateful for what they still have rather than what they may have lost. I hope Mr. Vujicic continues to motivate others!

#17 Society

This video shows how people handle problems and what they do about them. It also shows that we view problems differently when we are in the middle of them as opposed to being an onlooker and seeing the problem from a different perspective. It also shows that even small problems that can be fixed quickly, can sometimes be seen as a big problem with no solution in sight. When working in groups it is important to realize that we see problems in different ways. Some see them as challenges and some see them as obstacles. When we give up on a problem, and fail to see a way out, we become stuck. This is where working as a group can be helpful because what one person can't see, another person sometimes can. I think this is more than a case of being unmotivated and more a case or being ignorant perhaps. Sometimes when we're looking for answers, the best answer lies right infront of us. It's just the obvious, is not always obvious when were right in the middle of the problem.

The Violinist

This is a real story and reality for most of us. In a common place at an inappropriate hour, many of us stick to our priorities and continue on with our busy day. Although I tend to fall into the same category as most, I dont believe we appreciate the small things or those things that seem out of place. As the people walked by the lonely violinist, Joshua Bell, they missed exceptional talent that was actually worth millions. Even though this was a social experimenti, it shows that when things are taken out of context, we hardly recognize them. We continue to miss opportunities and take advantage of the things that can bring us joy. I was most impressed with the little boy who seemed most consumed by this great violinist. Although his mom dragged him away, he was certianly enjoying the music to the fullest. This child like manner is what we lose when we become adults. The child was not concerned with how much this performance cost or didn't cost, he just knew it was beautiful. I think we all need to be a little more child like in our on lives.

Hamper Helpers

     I really appreciated the opportunity I experienced from volunteering. It made me aware of several things in a relatively small amount of time. I wasn’t fully aware that Ingersoll had programs like this. It was amazing to see everyone working together for a common good and supporting a local organization and our community. I was completely shocked by the amount of cars that had lined up, even before the doors were open! Although I was upset, it made me notice just how many people struggle during the Christmas season. I was very grateful that our leadership class showed Bomber pride by dedicating time to help those in need. This experience also made me feel very thankful for how I celebrate Christmas. Not just with respect to food, but the family traditions we hold onto that are more about people than things. Sometimes I forget about all the preparations and work that’s involved and just think about the yummy prepared dishes I get to indulge in! Now that I’m getting older, I do realize its not all about the gifts and I’m thankful I have plentiful food. I genuinely enjoy spending time with family and having a good time. Since I have a part time job and money in my account, I am also happy to buy presents for friends and family. I enjoy their expressions and gratitude. Overall, this Christmas has made me truly thankful for all that I have and what I am able to give in return....my time....my gifts....my help and my gratitude. I would be excited to help out again next year!

Assignment

     For my assignment, I decided to Volunteer on a Saturday at the "Christmas Store" in Woodstock. I was very interested in devoting my time to help young children have the opportunity to buy Christmas gifts for their families. A church provided a large area full of tables to display gifts that were donated throughout the entire year. As helpers, we were known as the elves, who helped the kids pick out gifts for each person on their “list” which consisted of all their family members, some of their ages and also grandparents. Similar to a store, there was a check out aisle. This is where an older gentlemen sat and put all their items into a box. At the end he would ask for a small amount such as, "Your total comes to $5 today", and would give them a sticker to show they had paid. I thought the idea of “paying” was really a good idea. The kids took pride in getting out their money to “pay” for their purchases. Afterwards,myself and the child I was helping, both headed downstairs to the workshop! The walls were covered in decorations to boost the Christmas spirit. Several helpers, (including my mom!) were ready and willing to help wrap all of their presents!!! This is where everything really started to hit me. As I walked a particular child back to her mom, she looked back at me and asked for a hug. Although I was a stranger to her, for the short time I had met her, she felt loved and accepted. She carried her “paid for” and “carefully selected” presents with pride. Her mom gave me $2 and told me to get myself a hot chocolate! I wished them a Merry Christmas and went back to help the next child standing in line. All day I remembered this little girl and how much of an impact she had on me! I truly believe an event like this could be set up in even more towns and cities. It would help those in need of “meaningful experiences” like me as much as those in need of “presents” for their families. I was also proud of the young kids who wanted to show their love to family members by giving gifts at Christmas time. I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the Christmas Store and would be happy to return next year! Thanks for the challenge!