Beautifully Blessed Morning as a Guest Speaker at Camp Brébeuf
As heavy precipitation accompanied us on the drive to Camp Brébeuf in
Rockwood, Ontario, I set my sights on inspiring the campers, I would speak to
this morning. I was very excited by the wonderful opportunity bestowed upon me
by the Camp Director, Ms. Moncrieffe. As we got closer to our destination, the
rain seemed to dissipate. By the time, my team and I arrived, the rain had
virtually stopped.
Shortly upon entering the foyer of the main Hall at Camp Brébeuf, Ms.
Moncrieffe warmly welcomed me and so did Kaitlyn, a Camp Counselor. Due to the
rain, many campers were inside in the dining area, and I enjoyed seeing their
joyful faces, as they conversed amongst themselves at separate tables.
Upon entering the room, warm kind friendly glances, by Camp Counselors, and
Campers alike made me feel very comfortable. I have enjoyed the pleasure of
being here at Camp Brébeuf once before, back on July 1, 2019. I loved being
back this morning!
As I was settling into the area from where I would be presenting this
morning, my longtime kind childhood friend, Luc Dupuy, who went to the same
elementary and high school as I did, gallantly walked into the dining hall to
happily greet me. I was overjoyed to see him.
He helped to set up the technology for my presentation. I really appreciated
all his help.
Before starting my motivational Public Speaking presentation, a couple of
Camp Counselors did a very short skit to all the Campers. Once completed, Luc
Dupuy, Camp Counselor, introduced me to all the Campers and Camp Counselors in
attendance.
Throughout my presentation, the Campers, twelve to sixteen years of age,
listened attentively to me. Following my presentation some questions were asked
by them, to which I happily replied. Before the Campers left the dining hall,
they each completed an Exit Ticket, in which they reflected on my
presentation. They were all very friendly and kind, as some greeted me
afterwards too, and thanked me for my presentation. Many said, ‘Bye’ before
leaving the dining hall.
Here are excerpts from some of these Exit Tickets:
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard a very special speech and I saw a very happy person”
This made me think … “everyone is special in their own way”
Now, I wonder … “When will people accept that.”
Today, I heard / saw … “an inspiring speech about how God doesn’t make mistakes”
This made me think … “of how much I can do”
Now, I wonder … “my future”
Today, I heard / saw … “When someone is non-verbal it doesn’t mean they can’t speak.”
This made me think … “everything is possible if you are determined to make it happen.”
Now, I wonder … “how many people aren’t able to be included because of who they are.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Someone who prevailed in life even with many challenges”
This made me think … “anyone can succeed in life”
Now, I wonder … “Can even better methods be made to help people succeed further”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard all about Giselle’s life story and how she overcame all her challenges.”
This made me think … “I can overcome all of my challenges if I put my mind to it”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder how she got the motivation”
Today, I heard / saw … “Someone who’s nonverbal can speak with purpose.”
This made me think … “How can I improve my self love?”
Now, I wonder … “How did she grow to inspire?”
Today, I heard / saw … “When someone is nonverbal it doesn’t mean they can’t speak.”
This made me think … “how can I further improve my sense of self?”
Now, I wonder … “What inspired her passion of public speaking”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “Disabilities and the hardships they cause.”
Now, I wonder … “What it would be like to be in Giselle’s shoes.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A lot more about being yourself and not caring about those who think badly”
This made me think … “no matter what you should always be yourself and to be kind to everyone else.”
Now, I wonder … “what else I can do and other people can”
Today, I heard / saw … “lots of ways to love myself and show my sense of self”
This made me think … “of ways to love myself and others”
Now, I wonder … “How many people have found their “self””
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “She is brave and confident”
Now, I wonder … “How the machine works”
Today, I heard / saw … “a new perspective on someone who faces challenges”
This made me think … “how anyone can try their hardest”
Now, I wonder … “If people try as hard as she does”
Today, I heard / saw … “Rain”
This made me think … “Calm”
Now, I wonder … “how much better she can get”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s life story”
This made me think … “We are all God’s children”
Now, I wonder … “How she is so strong”
Today, I heard / saw … “A strong person.”
This made me think … “About how much of an impact I have.”
Now, I wonder … “How much she will affect others”
Today, I heard / saw … “I hear Giselle’s story”
This made me think … “How amazing her story is”
Now, I wonder … “How her communication works”
Today, I heard / saw … “How she was able to overcome her challenges”
This made me think … “How to achieve our goals”
Now, I wonder … “Now I wonder how she can have fun”
Today, I heard / saw … “Her speak about love and what the real meaning is.”
This made me think … “When the whole world could just be nice to each other.”
Now, I wonder … “If I can ever find love.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie speaking / communication”
This made me think … “About how to never stop working on yourself. She is very inspiring.”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder how her technology will improve for her and where life will take her”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak about relationships”
This made me think … “anything is possible!!”
Now, I wonder … “What I can do”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard Giselle speaking about her life”
This made me think … “that she is a strong woman that can overcome challenges”
Now, I wonder … “What challenges she will have to overcome in the future”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle talking about her life”
This made me think … “that you can do anything”
Now, I wonder … “What I can do”
Today, I heard / saw … “an automatic voice”
This made me think … “Science is cool’
Now, I wonder … “What else can we make to help disabled people?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw / heard a beautiful presentation!”
This made me think … “how strong you were throughout your life!”
Now, I wonder … “Whats your favourite colour?!”
Today, I heard / saw … “A different perspective on the topic Love”
Now, I wonder … “What I can do to be better.”
Now, I wonder … “If I can become more and be better”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s achievements and confidence.”
This made me think … “I want to love myself and be confident like her.”
Now, I wonder … “If I can love myself more like her”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak about her life and how she has become a Public Speaker / Why she does this”
This made me think … “About how I can overcome my personal challenges”
Now, I wonder … “If I was in the same place as Giselle if I would become a Public Speaker like her”
Today, I heard / saw … ”” The Skys the limit” “
This made me think … “Anyone can do anything”
Now, I wonder … “How I can ask for help more”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak about her life and relationships with others”
This made me think … “About how the devices for her were invented and work.”
Now, I wonder … “How my life would have been effected if I were in a similar situation.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “She is a public speaker”
Now, I wonder … “how the voice thing works”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s presentation”
This made me think … “About inclusivity”
Now, I wonder … “How many other people are needing special aid like her.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A new perspective on how someone who has had challenges.”
This made me think … “On how many people have looked down on her.”
Now, I wonder … “how she could write or if she could.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speaking”
This made me think … “that she is very strong”
Now, I wonder … “where she’ll go next”
Today, I heard / saw … “her life story”
This made me think … “about the troubles other people face”
Now, I wonder … “how she stays motivated”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard someone talk about how their disabilities won’t affect their successes”
This made me think … “That nothing is impossible”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “I am very fortunate”
Now, I wonder … “What she thinks about”
Today, I heard / saw … “A public speech from someone with cerebral palsy”
This made me think … “She is good at overcoming challenges”
Now, I wonder … “how long until she can walk”
Today, I heard / saw … “an inspiring story of how people can overcome struggles”
This made me think … “of how much I can do”
Now, I wonder … “how much we can achieve”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard the story of Giselle’s life”
This made me think … “its cool that she completed so much”
Now, I wonder … “how does this happen to someone?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Someone who has been through a lot but is still happy.”
This made me think … “of how many people go through what she did on a daily basis.”
Now, I wonder … “how I can help others and myself learn more self love.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a public speech from someone who overcame many challenges.”
This made me think … “that she is a very strong person mentally.”
Now, I wonder … “how long until she is able to walk”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s life story”
This made me think … “We are all God’s children”
Now, I wonder … “How she is so strong”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle’s empowering life story and challenges.”
This made me think … “this made me think that anything is possible.”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder if Giselle likes ice cream”
Today, I heard / saw … “The Speaker talk about how she overcame negativity”
This made me think … “Of how I shouldn’t let negativity weigh me down”
Now, I wonder … “How I can overcome negativity”
Today, I heard / saw … “how Giselle uses the technology to communicate”
This made me think … “how many others live like her”
Now, I wonder … “how long it took her to get to where she is now”
Today, I heard / saw … “A miracle”
This made me think … “how the world can be cruel and that shouldn’t stop us”
Now, I wonder … “how difficult it was”
I am very pleased to have inspired this wonderful group of campers.
Once the Campers left, I had my picture taken with the Camp Counselors, Luc,
Meghan and Rob. They made me feel very welcomed too. On behalf of Camp Brébeuf,
I received a gift, a headband headlight, which I will use this summer at the
cottage for sure.
Once all the technology was put away, I walked out with assistance to my
vehicle. Luc kindly escorted us out too. Before leaving, Ms. Moncrieffe came
out from her office to thank me for coming. She was delighted by my visit this
morning. I couldn’t be happier for it. Luc, my friend, also said, ‘Bye’ to us,
and we were off.
It was truly a beautiful, blessed morning as a Guest Speaker at C.Y.O. Camp
Brébeuf!
