‘Impossible things happen’: Thousands of students hear stories of inspiration on EmpoWErment Day
April 15, 2016
FERGUS, Ontario – Impossible things happen, not by chance, but through tons of hard work. That was one message thousands of Upper Grand students heard Friday – and it came from Col. Chris Hadfield himself.
Friday was the second annual EmpoWErment Day, where 3,000 students in grades 4 to 8 came together to hear stories of overcoming challenges, the importance of hard work, and of making the impossible possible.
In addition to Hadfield, students heard from local musician Sarah Smith, Free the Children’s Molly Burke, and Olympic champion Brian Price.
Burke told students about her struggles with losing her vision and experiences with bullying growing up. The message through her powerful talk was not to let your struggles define you – let what you do with those struggles define you.
Three-time Olympian Price has been the coxswain of Team Canada’s Men’s Eight rowing team since 2001. They won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver in 2012 at the London Games. Price is also a survivor of childhood cancer, battling leukemia at the age of seven. During EmpoWErment Day, Price brought teachers and students on the stage, getting them to simulate being on the water with a team, working together. The key to success, he said, it practice. Practice is what makes us better – whether it’s athletics, math, reading…everything takes practice, he told the crowd.
Hadfield told the packed arena that they can absolutely expect for things to go wrong at some point in their lives – but it’s how you deal with those challenges that matters. He closed the day with an inspiring message for students – “You turn yourself into who you are going to be,” he said. “Don’t wait for someone to do it for you.” Hadfield was also joined on stage by Drayton Heights Public School student Willy, performing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” together.
The event was organized by the Drayton Heights PS Student Council and was held at the Centre Wellington Sports Complex in Fergus. It’s a day to support, celebrate and encourage student leadership within the board.
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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
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