Four Fabulous Public Speaking Engagements at St. Hilary’s Elementary School This Morning!
Four fabulous public speaking engagements at St. Hilary’s Elementary School this morning. Ms. Calvert, the Principal, graciously greeted me and kindly escorted me to Ms. Ricardo’s grade four and five class, while showing me Ms. Paniconi, Ms. Fernando and Mr. Tremblay’s class rooms for my other scheduled presentations.
At nine o’clock, as the students arrived into their classroom, they were all delightfully curious and naturally intrigued with my presence in their class. Ms. Calvert beautifully introduced me to the students and enlightened them to some of the challenges, those with disabilities, regularly face.
After morning announcements, I commenced my public speaking presentation to a fascinated and engaged audience. There was a very short question period, as Ms. Paniconi’s grade five and six class was expecting me soon. Before leaving this wonderful and amazing audience, Ms. Ricardo wholeheartedly thanked me for my inspirational presentation. She even asked to have a group picture taken. I loved that!
Below are excerpts from some of the Exit Tickets from this class:
Today I heard/saw … “That you can do anything with help.”
This made me think … “how can I help.”
Now, I wonder … “can I go through that?”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw all the beautiful messages.”
This made me think … “How hard it is to control disability?”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder what its like to have disabilities, but I’m thankful I’m not.”
Today I heard/saw … “A presentation by a public speaker.”
This made me think … “How lucky I am to have an abled body”
Now, I wonder … “How it would be like to be a public speaker.”
Today I heard/saw … “Many challenges.”
This made me think … “That you can do any challenge if you try.”
Now, I wonder … “How hard was it for Giselle.”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle standing up for herself and telling people what she thinks”
This made me think … “Why this happened Why she has to go through it”
Now, I wonder … “What is it like to be disabled What caused her to be disabled – Love – have a good day”
Today I heard/saw … “How Giselle worked her way through obstacles”
This made me think … “about how she made her way through”
Now, I wonder … “if she enjoyed what she did at school”
Today I heard/saw … “She graduated in 2011 she inspires people to follow their dreams and never give up”
This made me think … “you should be thankful to be alive and don’t let others bring you down”
Now, I wonder … “Is this common for people to have what she has?”
Today I heard/saw … “That Giselle had a hard time. I saw that she is now happy.”
This made me think … “to help disabled people and everyone”
Now, I wonder … “how people can talk, and I wonder what would happen if I put me in their shoes”
Today I heard/saw … “A presentation about a person with disabilities”
This made me think … “I feel bad”
Now, I wonder … “I hope she can inspire more people.”
Today I heard/saw … “How people face many challenges”
This made me think … “that people can do anything”
Now, I wonder … “How it would be if that was me. How old is Giselle right now?”
Today I heard/saw … “that you should help others”
This made me think … “People should be nice to sick people”
Now, I wonder … “that if people be nice to sick people, they are being nice to God.”
Today I heard/saw … “How somebody overcame their problems.”
This made me think … “What I have had to overcome if I had a mental disability.”
Now, I wonder … “If people didn’t care about each other, everybody then, all people, would have an island.”
Today I heard/saw … “To be proud of who you are.”
This made me think … “That people need to respect each other more”
Three of the grade four and five students from Ms. Ricardo’s class escorted me to Ms. Paniconi’s class. Upon arriving there, the class was having their French lessons by Ms. Fantin, the French teacher. Before long, I commenced my second presentation to a very kind and conscientious grade five and six class. Again, there was a very short question period as recess was about to get underway.
Below are excerpts from some of the Exit Tickets from this class:
Today I heard/saw … “something deep down it was very nice.”
This made me think … “motivational speakers matter”
Now, I wonder … “That she got a lot of talent to be a motivation talker”
Today I heard/saw … “Something kind and special”
This made me think … “Happy that she never gives up.”
Today I heard/saw … “That God doesn’t make mistakes”
This made me think … “why do we take many things for granted?”
Now, I wonder … “how can I help others in the world?”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard Giselle’s story and how she overcame her challenges & how she deals with negativity.”
This made me think …” About how we should help each other out.”
Now, I wonder … “What are some of the hardest challenges she faced.”
Today I heard/saw … “A great story”
This made me think … “that anything is possible”
Now, I wonder … “how long have you been a public speaker”
Today I heard/saw …” that your more powerful together than all alone”
This made me think … “about how easy it is to help someone but not as easy to help them back when you are facing problems.”
Now, I wonder … “Why I don’t help my mom more doing the chores and helping people around me.”
Today I heard/saw … “-everyone is different, but we need to treat everyone the same.”
This made me think … “how blessed we are”
Now, I wonder … “-how we go through challenges.”
Today I heard/saw … “how no matter how your life can be seeing her smile makes us feel better”
This made me think … “How hard life can be and how many obstacles she goes through”
Now, I wonder … “how I can help?”
Today I heard/saw … “that each smile makes someone days better”
This made me think … “how important I am that I am healthy”
Now, I wonder … “how other people make a smile back to me and also back to them.”
Today I heard/saw … “-everyone goes through obstacles -you can get help from your family”
This made me think … “-I can do anything”
Now, I wonder … “-how do people handle their tough times”
Today I heard/saw … “a person with cerebral palsy”
This made me think … “It’s cool how she decided to be a public speaker”
Now, I wonder … “what inspired you to become a public speaker?”
Today I heard/saw … “-everyone goes through a challenge -you can ask people for help -everyone is equal”
This made me think … “-how blessed I am -how I can help others”
Now, I wonder … “how people go through their challenges”
Today I heard/saw … “How some people need more help than others -I can smile to others make a difference”
This made me think … “How can I help others? Who can I seek to get help?”
Now, I wonder … “How come doing small things can make such a big impact?
Today I heard/saw … “Jesus He Helps you”
Today I heard/saw … “How Giselle stands up to her challenges”
This made me think … “If all of my problems can go away”
Now, I wonder … “If all the negativity can change to positivity”
Today I heard/saw … “That Giselle has many talents.”
This made me think … “Giselle has a lot of strong thoughts that doesn’t bring her down.”
Now, I wonder … “How does Giselle do all this. Does she have a twin? Because I seen her brother.”
Today I heard/saw … “a girl named Giselle who was facing challenges through her life.”
This made me think … “that I can achieve anything -Looking at the video of Giselle’s life and the challenges she faced -I know I can do anything”
Now, I wonder … “What I can do if I put my mind to it.”
After recess, I was welcomed into Ms. Fernando’s grade seven and eight class. During my public speaking presentation there, the mindful and thoughtful students, were very attentive and made me feel so welcomed. Ms. Fernando thanked me so much for my presentation.
Below are excerpts from some of the Exit Tickets from this class:
Today I heard/saw … “Today I heard that everyone should be inclusive and feel good about themselves.”
This made me think … “how some people think bad about themselves.”
Now, I wonder … “of all the wonderful blessings God has given us.”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw and heard a very inspirational young lady who would never give up and would persevere her dreams”
This made me think … “This made me think that you should be thankful for who you are and that we are all equal”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder how it would be if I was in her shoes and I could see the many challenges she faces using her positivity and courage to overcome them.”
Today I heard/saw … “Today I heard the story of Giselle it was very nice and amazing to see all her challenges and to hear how she overcame them and is now treated better”
This made me think … “that all of our little problems don’t add up to hers and that we should be more thankful for what we have”
Now, I wonder … “What life would be like if I was in her position and that I should be more thankful for what we have.”
Today I heard/saw … “I saw a regular human being whose need more attention than me and you and heard her story”
This made me think … “about how no disability is strong enough to stop living life”
Now, I wonder … “What she and others like her had to go through”
Today I heard/saw … “A girl named Giselle Gaylie and the challenges she faces in her everyday life.”
This made me think … “How can I (and others) help people like this. And why do we push them away.”
Now, I wonder … “What can I do to help them or to try to make a change in the way others see them.”
Today I heard/saw … “How people that have special needs are just like us.”
This made me think … “Why would some people make them feel worse and unwanted”
Now, I wonder … “We are all the same and are unique in different ways. We should all treat everyone equally because we are all made by God.”
Today I heard/saw … “Something that is inspirational, and I heard a very important message”
This made me think … “That we have to think good about ourselves because we are all unique in our own ways”
Now, I wonder … “How would it be if I thought better about myself and if I had more confidence”
Today I heard/saw … “about how people may look different, but they are the same”
This made me think … “About how they can overcome challenges”
Now, I wonder … “if people can be more inclusive.
Today I heard/saw … “a person who can face her problems with the proper help.”
This made me think … “that we can all get help when we need it.”
Now, I wonder … “How I can help people like her.”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard a very inspirational story”
This made me think … “to try and treat more disable people better.”
Now, I wonder … “that the girl is a great role model.”
Today I heard/saw … “Someone who doesn’t let life’s challenges bring her down and get in her way.”
This made me think … “that anything is possible no matter what and that you should always be open to ask people for help.”
Now, I wonder … “If there is anything I can do to help those around me and if there is anything, I can do to make others feel more included.”
Today I heard/saw … “how everyone can get over their challenges and that we also need help with our challenges”
This made me think … “that maybe I should start asking for help sometimes”
Now, I wonder … “how my life will change with me asking for help”
Today I heard/saw … “I heard about the girl who was talking to us.”
This made me think … “I’m lucky to be who I am.”
Now, I wonder … “that the girl is a great person and I’m lucky that I got to see her today.”
Today I heard/saw … “Today I saw and heard how everyone should be included, no matter how different they are and how we shouldn’t isolate ourselves.”
This made me think … “This made me think how many people are or have gone through these problems, and if they had people around them who were inclusive.”
Now, I wonder … “how I could help people in these types of situations.”
Today I heard/saw … “That everyone is different, and we all have different challenges. And that we must be inclusive and help.”
This made me think … “About how nobody is alone. If we need help, ask for it.”
Now, I wonder … “How I can help people like her. How can I make them feel more included?”
My last stop this morning was Mr. Tremblay’s grade seven and eight students. As I arrived, he happily greeted me into his class, while the respectful and courteous students watched on. This class, like the three previous ones, had a smart board. As a result, it took no time to set up, as the computer was already on and the audio was a breeze to connect. Ms. Calvert joined this class to watch my public speaking presentation too. Everyone was observant and alert. A short question period ensued, and Mr. Tremblay thanked me for my visit and my insight. He, too, invited me to a class picture. I was both flattered and delighted to be amongst such a friendly and wonderful class.
Below are excerpts from some of the Exit Tickets from this class:
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle and how positive she was”
This made me think … “that I should be positive and thankful”
Now, I wonder … “How everyone should be positive and hear what Giselle has to say”
Today I heard/saw … “a wonderful lady who has a disability but has come to accept it and turned it into a way to show others her experiences”
This made me think … “that people with disabilities are so strong and that we can’t complain about our problems when they go through so much more”
Now, I wonder … “if the world could change after meeting people with disabilities”
Today I heard/saw … “A former student that is incredibly proud for who she is no matter how different she is to others”
This made me think … “That I should be grateful for the gifts and opportunities that God has given me every day.
Now, I wonder … “if it is reasonable for me to complain so often for my faults when others are dealing with much harsher lives”
Today I heard/saw … “the gifts that God gave Giselle and how she feels.”
This made me think … “that I should be thankful for the life God gave me.”
Now, I wonder … “How this can change the world.”
Today I heard/saw … “A public speaker, who told us her story because she is disabled.”
This made me think … “about how much harder people must have it.”
Now, I wonder … “If it really makes sense for me to complain about my ability to do things…”
Today I heard/saw … “That we all matter, and we should treat others the way we want to be treated. Also include others and God made us”
This made me think … “That me and my friends should include more people and don’t leave people out.”
Now, I wonder … “Will it ever change, and will we ever change our attitude towards others. Will we lift each other up?
Today I heard/saw … “That everyone was created differently, and we should always accept everyone.”
This made me think … “That God made us, and God does not make mistakes”
Now, I wonder … “What I can do to help others who need it?
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie speak to our class”
This made me think … “that people with disabilities aren’t far from being regular people.”
Now, I wonder … “How this could change the world.”
Today I heard/saw … “That people can be great, and we can change the world”
This made me think … “That we can’t take things for granted. We should also be nice to people.”
Now, I wonder … “That people can be positive, but we see all the negative. It is a rare thing when people see the positive”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie’s life story. She has gone through some challenges in her life, but she never gave up and is living her life to the fullest”
This made me think … “of how we take advantage of our lives and what God has given us. Even though others are going through greater troubles.”
Now, I wonder … “Why do we take advantage of our lives knowing that it is a gift to be able to do what we do on a daily basis.”
Today I heard/saw … “everybody has challenges, but you can’t face them alone. *Power to control”
This made me think … “how important our relationships are because they help us grow and get through challenges”
Now, I wonder … “How can I help others? How can I be a positive difference?
Today I heard/saw … “That even though Giselle is disabled she still overcame every difficulty in her life”
This made me think … “Even though she is different she is still very smart & speaks wise words.”
Now, I wonder … “How does she control her speaking computer to talk to people?”
Today I heard/saw … “that we can change the world”
This made me think … “We are all unique in our own ways”
Now, I wonder … “What can I do to help others and change the world.”
Today I heard/saw …” A story about a girl with many challenges”
This made me think … “About how I thought my life was hard”
Now, I wonder … “If I’m doing my best”
Today I heard/saw … “A presentation about: how Giselle over came her disabilities and challenges.”
This made me think … “How many people in the world have challenges to over come and how can I help”
Now, I wonder … “What can I do to help make everyone feel included”
Today I heard/saw … “Giselle Gaylie a public speaker with disabilities.
This made me think … “How can I change how I act.”
Now, I wonder … “What can I do to help others and make them feel special.”
Today I heard/saw … “A public speaker with disabilities”
This made me think … “that I should be thankful for my gifts”
Now, I wonder … “Why this happens”
Today I heard/saw … “an amazing person”
This made me think … “I want to do more.”
Now, I wonder … “What can I do to help others be happy?”
Today I heard/saw … “That we all are a family to God.”
This made me think … “That we all can be friends no matter what they look like.”
Now, I wonder … “if I can be friends with Gaylie”
Today I heard/saw … “There was this person called Giselle Gaylie, Public speaker. How she faced these challenges and overcame them. Through God all things are possible.”
This made me think … “How we can make a difference. How we can face challenges. How we can deal with problems.
Now, I wonder … “How I should be dealing with things. How I could change.”
Without question, I was very happy to have been invited by Ms. Calvert as a guest speaker today. Before leaving the class, she kindly even asked whether, I could come back to present to the grade three and four class. What a pleasing compliment to be asked to return. Absolutely, I happily obliged.
Before leaving the school, and upon arriving at the school foyer, I saw Mr. Pilling, the custodian, who was also a Loyola Secondary school custodian when I was a student there. I was very happy to see him again.
It was a joy to present in each class today and to be appreciated for the work I lovingly do. The dedicated teachers and kind students made it a marvellously memorable morning and I look forward to my next visit here.
