Marvelous Morning Public Speaking at Divine Mercy Elementary School on Health and Wellness Day
When we arrived at Divine Mercy Elementary School this morning, we signed in, and asked for Mr. Braunstein, the grade five and six teacher, who kindly invited me to his school as a Guest Speaker for Health and Wellness Day. While I was in the foyer, the principal, Ms. Wilson, approached me and welcomed me to her school. She advised me she had heard good things about my presentation and due to a previous commitment, she could not stay for my public speaking presentation this morning. Right after Ms. Wilson left the school, Mr. Braunstein walked into the foyer, his students in queue, holding the most heartwarming personalized welcome signs: “Welcome to Divine Mercy Giselle.” I felt like a celebrity!
Mr. Braunstein and his students escorted us to the gymnasium, where he already had everything professionally set up for me. Ms. Langley, the Head of the Volunteer Parent School Council, came into the gymnasium shortly thereafter, to further assist. She helped to acquire a school desk for the laptop; she safely secured all the cords from both the laptop and projector to the gymnasium floor, and jointly with Mr. Braunstein, tweaked the sound system. Her warm smile, friendliness and exceptional helpfulness was greatly appreciated.
Once the other grade five and six class came into the gymnasium, acquired their Exit Tickets and pen, just like all the other students present, Mr. Braunstein warmly welcomed everyone and eloquently introduced me.
Students were excited about their Health and Wellness day. I was honoured to be their first Guest Speaker today, amongst a distinguished line-up of scheduled professionals for the day. Once I finished my presentation, Philip C. kindly and happily volunteered to wear my Rogers FM microphone and hold the wireless microphone, so everyone could hear each other’s questions. As students asked questions, Philip approached students. I was happy to answer questions, share my experiences and inspire them to recognize their inner greatness, so they, too, can be proud of who they are. On behalf of all the students, Cassie beautifully thanked me for presenting to them. I was gratefully touched by her lovely gesture.
Before the students left the gymnasium to return to their classes, students returned their completed Exit Tickets. Some of these, are recognized below:
Today I heard/saw… “Giselle talk about the challenges she overcame”
This made me think… “that I can do anything I want to do.”
Now, I wonder… “What Giselle will do in the future.”
Today I heard/saw… “I saw/heard a woman that never give up.”
This made me think… “I can probably help people and make them have hope”
Now, I wonder… “If people can have hope, yourself and people can be nice to everyone.”
Today I heard/saw… “we all matter”
This made me think… “I have a purpose”
Now, I wonder… “what is my purpose”
Today I heard/saw… “inspirational words”
This made me think… “Anyone can do anything”
Now, I wonder… “How do I be more positive”
Today I heard/saw… “Giselle speak about her life and how she managed to do everyday things.”
This made me think… “how many people care and have disability”
Now, I wonder… “how can I help the world, and be more positive”
Today I heard/saw… “Giselle talk about the obstacles she faced in life”
This made me think… “How everyone is different, and you have to accept that”
Now, I wonder… “the problems people have and overcome”
Today I heard/saw… “That you need to do your best.”
This made me think… “About pushing my goals.”
Now, I wonder… “If I sometimes try my best.”
Today I heard/saw… “Don’t give up”
This made me think… “This made me think no one is perfect.”
Now, I wonder… “How I can help other people, and how we can change the world.”
Today I heard/saw… “That even if we have to face problems always stay positive and happy.”
This made me think… “It is okay to ask for a little help”
Now, I wonder… “If I am not as helpful as think”
Today I heard/saw… “With God all things are possible”
This made me think… “You can’t do anything without God”
Today I heard/saw… “We all matter, we can change the world”
This made me think… “how can we change the world”
Now, I wonder… “What is my purpose in changing the world”
Today I heard/saw… “? ? ? ? that Giselle is always smiling”
This made me think… “Wow, I admire her bravery”
Now, I wonder… “Is it hard to communicate with others? Thank you for sharing with us ? You’re amazing Giselle”
Today I heard/saw… “Giselle speaking”
This made me think… “How do I confront tough decisions”
Now, I wonder… “What do other people do to confront tough decisions.”
Today I heard/saw… “I heard we are not isolated islands”
This made me think… “Did she ever get bullied for her appearance?”
Now, I wonder… “Why do disabled people get bullied”
Today I heard/saw… “Face challenges in a good way.”
This made me think… “there is nothing you cannot overcome”
Now, I wonder… “why do disabled people get bullied?”
Today I heard/saw… “A motivational speech”
This made me think… “I’m perfect the way I am.”
Now, I wonder… “Did anyone bully her. Not really a question but … I wanna be your friend! Have a nice day! ?”
Today I heard/saw… “That she is always positive”
This made me think… “That even with a problem nothing changes you”
Today I heard/saw… “With God all things are possible”
This made me think… “Giselle is nice for sharing with us”
Now, I wonder… “How hard was it to get in front and share with us?”
Today I heard/saw… “That even if you can’t do it, you can’t give up.”
This made me think… “That we can’t just give up. You have to move on.”
Now, I wonder… “how much I have, and I have to be grateful. Happier”
Today I heard/saw… “That you have to face your challenges”
This made me think… “How it must feel like to have disabilities”
Now, I wonder… “What it’s like to be like her”
Today I heard/saw… “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think… “she has gone through a lot of challenges”
Now, I wonder… “she is really happy because she has gone through a lot of things”
Today I heard/saw… “We all matter”
This made me think… “That I can do anything”
Today I heard/saw… “The importance of respect.”
This made me think… “How did she go through school”
Now, I wonder… “How it feels to have a disability”
Today I heard/saw… “Inspirational”
This made me think… “about good things”
Now, I wonder… “if I was good”
Today I heard/saw… “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think… “is it challenging?”
Now, I wonder… “How is being different?”
Today I heard/saw… “Her speak on her life journey”
This made me think… “Of the possible challenges she’s faced like bullies”
Now, I wonder… “what makes her so positive?”
Today I heard/saw… “I heard that don’t care about what others think.”
This made me think… “Never feel judged in anyway.”
Today I heard/saw… “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think… “don’t give up when the going gets tough”
Now, I wonder… “just how hard life is with a wheelchair”
Today I heard/saw… “I learned that you should never give up, even if it is hard. Today I saw her life story.”
This made me think… “What does it feel like?”
Now, I wonder… “How hard was it growing up?”
Today I heard/saw… “how God will help us when times are hard”
This made me think… “what can I do to help?”
Now, I wonder… “What is it like to not be able to talk or walk?”
Today I heard/saw… “The story of a disabled girl but she didn’t give up.”
This made me think… “God loves us no matter what”
Now, I wonder… “how could I make a difference in the world”
Today I heard/saw… “inspirational words”
This made me think… “to be more kind”
Today I heard/saw… “I heard a speech”
This made me think… “This made me think about including other people”
Now, I wonder… “how I may include other people”
Today I heard/saw… “face challenges in a positive manner.”
This made me think… “nothing is impossible”
Now, I wonder… “I want to be more helpful”
Before leaving the gymnasium with his class, Mr. Braunstein wholeheartedly thanked me. He really enjoyed my presentation for all the grade five and six students this morning. Moments later, while in the school foyer, Mr. Braunstein cordially came by, said good-bye to us, and he hurried along, as he was off to patrol the yard during recess.
Before leaving we signed out at the office. In the foyer, just outside the school’s office hangs its’ name sake: St. Faustina’s Blessed Divine Mercy image of Jesus, the captions, although in Italian, translated is: “Jesus, I trust in you”, an inspirational reminder of the ineffable value of us all.
