Inspirational Morning at St. Sofia Speaking to All the Students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade Eight
Upon arriving at St. Sophia Byzantine Catholic Elementary School, this bright glorious morning, I was warmly welcomed by Ms. Donaghue, the Principal, and Ms. Consentino, the Vice-Principal. Once we signed in, Ms. Donaghue kindly escorted us to the gymnasium. Before entering the gymnasium, I met many wonderful teachers.
Once in the gymnasium, I met Clinton, the custodian. He helped with some of the set up in the gymnasium. I also had the pleasure to meet Ms. Medyk, teacher, and Zachary, a wonderful grade eight student. They helped with the projector, speaker, and microphones.
When it was time to populate the gymnasium with students, teachers did a fabulous job organizing over six hundred wonderful students, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade Eight. Before long, Ms. Donaghue gave beautiful opening remarks to welcome me as the Guest Speaker.
It was a glorious group of students, and I enjoyed presenting to them very much!
Following my motivational public speaking presentation, there was a short Question and Answer period, wonderfully facilitated by the admirable Ms. Donaghue. Great questions were asked by students. I gladly replied to each.
Once the question period ended, one of the younger students came in front of the whole school too, to share a heartfelt thanks to me. Ms. Donaghue was very thankful and appreciative of my presentation too.
With Ms. Donaghue’s blessing, pictures were taken of me with this vibrant beautiful audience.
As student left the gymnasium, one teacher approached me with her inquisitive and delightful group of students, who had some questions for me. Some other students joined us as well to ask me questions. I answered them. We even took a nice group picture with the students who remained, while the others went out for recess.
While still in the gymnasium, I had many teachers approach me and thank me for my presentation. They felt it was truly inspirational. I am wholeheartedley thankful to each one for their kind encouraging words.
After recess many students completed their Exit Tickets. Here are excerpts from many of the ones received:
Today, I heard / saw … “it takes a lot of courage for someone like Giselle”
This made me think … “How others feel living life”
Now, I wonder … “was it challenging going to school everyday”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard about Giselle’s disabilities.”
This made me think … “This made me think how lucky I am.”
Now, I wonder … “How her friends treat her?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle and her presentation”
This made me think … “How do they feel”
Now, I wonder … “How did you feel when you get bullied”
Today, I heard / saw … “Courage and respect”
This made me think … “How do they feel”
Now, I wonder … “What did you remember when you were born”
Today, I heard / saw … “How she spend her life”
This made me think … “How does the computer work”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s voice”
This made me think … “How hard some peoples lives are”
Now, I wonder … “About the disease Giselle has”
Today, I heard / saw … “How Giselle lived her life”
This made me think … “How fortunate I am”
Now, I wonder … “How smart is she.”
Today, I heard / saw … “People and Giselle’s story.”
This made me think … “I’m lucky to be healthy”
Now, I wonder … “Does Giselle type into the machine or does it read her mind.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard about Giselle’s disabilities”
This made me think … “About how hard it would be”
Now, I wonder … “How hard she tried to make her way up”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard that Giselle has loving parents”
This made me think … “That I can do anything”
Now, I wonder … “How do the computers work”
Today, I heard / saw … “someone with cerebral palsy in real life”
This made me think … “of how hard her life must have been”
Now, I wonder … “How does cerebral palsy work?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I saw Giselle talk about her very hard experience?”
This made me think … “About how lucky I was to be very healthy.”
Now, I wonder … “How many people suffer from similar conditions?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Beautiful girl who talked about her self.”
This made me think … “how did she can handle it, she is so strong!”
Today, I heard / saw … “Nothing is impossible with love”
This made me think … “are my friends nice to me”
Now, I wonder … “what made here give up”
Today, I heard / saw … “today I heard her voice”
This made me think … “about how I am very healthy”
Now, I wonder … “Now I wonder about how it would feel to be like her..”
Today, I heard / saw … “About Giselle story.”
This made me think … “How she feels.”
Now, I wonder … “is it easy to use the computer.”
Today, I heard / saw … “someone on a wheelchair”
This made me think … “that they are disabled”
Now, I wonder … “If I can help them”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard Giselle talk to everyone”
This made me think … “having a disability can’t stop you”
Now, I wonder … “How would people talk with this condition before technology?”
Today, I heard / saw … “People”
This made me think … “of mean words”
Now, I wonder … “Do people ever yell out mean words to you that offend you”
Today, I heard / saw … “An interesting presentation”
This made me think … “Lots of people are like this”
Now, I wonder … “why is Giselle disabled”
Today, I heard / saw … “That Giselle said that I matter”
This made me think … “about what Giselle said”
Now, I wonder … “what her life was like”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “How does the computer know what Giselle is gonna say”
Now, I wonder … “I don’t wonder anything”
Today, I heard / saw … “a presentation about Giselle”
This made me think … “how does this affect her life!”
Today, I heard / saw … “a presentation of that everyone matters.”
This made me think … “that everyone in the entire world matters no matter what.”
Now, I wonder … “If everyone liked this presentation because it was awesome!”
Today, I heard / saw … “of her, family fun time she had I like the pictures”
Now, I wonder … “public speaking does she get nervous”
Now, I wonder … “What is her favourite hobby”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle and how she talks on the computer”
This made me think … “What would I do if that happened to me”
Now, I wonder … “How did the … happen?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle would not give up to walk”
This made me think … “to never give up on your dream”
Now, I wonder … “how much hard work she did”
Today, I heard / saw … “a presentation about the girl’s life and her disabilities”
This made me think … “is it hard to have this disability, hard for her”
Now, I wonder … “What is it like to have it”
Today, I heard / saw … “how Giselle lives and how she’s unique.”
This made me think … “how people feel or how people are unique.”
Now, I wonder … “How does Giselle talk on the computer / machine?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard how her life was and saw how it was.”
This made me think … “It made me think by the problems in life that make you struggle.”
Now, I wonder … “Now, I wonder how hard it can be with problems.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw what she had to deal with.”
This made me think … “How hard it was for her”
Now, I wonder … “how bullies treated her”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle talk about her life.”
This made me think … “About other people with disabilities.”
Now, I wonder … “How much people have been struggling around world! I enjoyed it, a lot. I hope she can visit St. Sofia again.”
Today, I heard / saw … “presentation about Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “how important people are.”
Now, I wonder … “if she is capable of doing more things than she could when she was younger.”
Today, I heard / saw … “that computers and technology can help us do many things”
This made me think … “of being kind and helping others”
Now, I wonder … “how future technology will help others”
Today, I heard / saw … “she had to go in an ambulance to another hospital.”
This made me think … “She needed to be taken care of.”
Now, I wonder … “does she still need to go.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle And I heard about her life.”
This made me think … “How she is living her life right now.”
Now, I wonder … “How she developed her life.”
Today, I heard / saw … “That anything is possible”
This made me think … “can I learn Spanish”
Now, I wonder … “I could if I try”
Today, I heard / saw … “today I herd Giselle talking”
This made me think … “that everyone needs someone”
Now, I wonder … “How does she play with her brother”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw an adults life in the past”
This made me think … “It made me think that she got lots of help in her life”
Now, I wonder … “Now I wonder if she ever got bullied because of her disabilities”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “How the technology knows what she is saying”
Now, I wonder … “How her everyday life is.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A woman speaking about being disabled”
This made me think … “Disabled people have a harder life than I think”
Now, I wonder … “how do they deal with it their entire life”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle taught me to always be kind to others.”
This made me think … “Giselle made me think about how I can be a little more positive.”
Now, I wonder … “How did she get through school and through the bullying?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “that we are all perfect”
Now, I wonder … “What her future will be?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “that you can do small steps everyday”
Now, I wonder … “how will her future look like?”
Today, I heard / saw … “a person Giselle that is a Public Speaker”
This made me think … “How life is hard with disabilities”
Now, I wonder … “How much it costs for the tech!”
Today, I heard / saw … “A person with a disability”
This made me think … “She told us that when times are tough, never give up.”
Now, I wonder … “I don’t wonder anything.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A beautiful life story”
This made me think … “Everyone has a story, no matter who they are.”
Now, I wonder … “Is everyone’s story nice”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie, A Public Speaker”
This made me think … “That everything is possible, and that whether you have a disability you are perfect.”
Now, I wonder … “If Giselle has any sibling(s) and how she got along with others.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Public Speaking”
Now, I wonder … “are we better”
Now, I wonder … “are we good people”
Today, I heard / saw … “A disabled person”
This made me think … “Can God never make mistakes?”
Now, I wonder … “Is everything possible”
Today, I heard / saw … “A girl with disabilities”
This made me think … “Did she get bullied in school?”
Now, I wonder … “How hard is it to be disabled”
Today, I heard / saw … “a public speaker”
This made me think … “It was hard in her life.”
Now, I wonder … “If she had a hard time”
Today, I heard / saw … “not to give up.”
This made me think … “do not bully Giselle.”
Now, I wonder … “me and you are special.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “Alone”
Now, I wonder … “How Giselle is still alive”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “What are her disabilities again?”
Now, I wonder … “Why am I thinking of her disabilities.”
Today, I heard / saw … “That a girl named Giselle had many disabilities but she still is happy.”
This made me think … “Does she get bullied a lot?”
Now, I wonder … “How does she speak without the computer”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard to not give up”
This made me think … “How people still don’t give up.”
Now, I wonder … “Should I be like them?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard to never give up!”
This made me think … “That people can not always be nice.”
Now, I wonder … “If Giselle was bullied a lot.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard about Giselle”
This made me think … “this made think”
Now, I wonder … “how can we help God”
Today, I heard / saw … “About Giselle’s life.”
This made me think … “How many people are like this.”
Now, I wonder … “How many friends Giselle has.”
Today, I heard / saw … “that her name was Giselle and that she had disabilities”
This made me think … “that she might have problems”
Now, I wonder … “is the computer voice her real voice?”
Today, I heard / saw … “that Giselle is 26 years old”
This made me think … “how many people are like Giselle”
Now, I wonder … “what has Giselle been through”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle said never give up no matter what”
This made me think … “to ignore bullies”
Now, I wonder … “how does she go to the washroom”
Today, I heard / saw … “A lady with special needs”
This made me think … “How can I be a better person”
This made me think … “What other things can I do to help”
Today, I heard / saw … “about Giselle”
This made me think … “very sick people”
Now, I wonder … “Why she has this problem”
Today, I heard / saw … “that Giselle never gave up”
This made me think … “do never give up”
Now, I wonder … “how did she do all this?”
Today, I heard / saw … “about Giselle a girl that has needs.”
This made me think … “how does she talk”
Now, I wonder … “how did this happen”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “of kids with disabilities”
Now, I wonder … “If I was in your place.”
Today, I heard / saw … “you can be anyone and have a long life”
This made me think … “If your life is not good think about her”
Now, I wonder … “don’t cry if you don’t get something”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle had to talk with a computer”
This made me think … “How does the computer work”
Now, I wonder … “Did she try food like pizza.”
Today, I heard / saw … “That she went through a lot of challenges”
This made me think … “She made me think about others and to be there for anyone.”
Now, I wonder … “How old is she and How difficult is it for her?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “Everyone is perfect”
Now, I wonder … “how computer works”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw her moving her head, mouth, and fingers.”
This made me think … “Does she have a condition?”
Now, I wonder … “She can’t control her muscles?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “how she talks”
Now, I wonder … “When she got diagnosed.”
Today, I heard / saw … “that little things can be big things for people”
This made me think … “how strong she is!”
Now, I wonder … “how is it to be like that”
Today, I heard / saw … “not to let negative comments bother you and your appearance doesn’t matter.”
This made me think … “We should act like this strong.”
Now, I wonder … “What was included in her life”
Today, I heard / saw … “That technology can actually let you communicate”
This made me think … “everybody can actually achieve what they want”
Now, I wonder … “how does the technology”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a girl named Giselle”
This made me think … “It made me think about other kids”
Now, I wonder … “How does her computer work and the technology??”
Today, I heard / saw … “a woman that couldn’t talk and used a computer.”
This made me think … “how much she suffered with no voice.”
Now, I wonder … “how would I live without a voice, and how does the technology work?”
Today, I heard / saw … “that you can ask for help”
This made me think … “of the ways people can help”
Now, I wonder … “If I can help people in need”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “how does she get over challenges”
Now, I wonder … “I still do not get the technology”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I learned about Giselle Gaylie’s life.”
This made me think … “That its really cool for those machines to work for her”
Now, I wonder … “Has it been tough growing up.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “Happy and how much help she need”
Now, I wonder … “How can she get inside a car”
Today, I heard / saw … “to help people who can’t do stuff”
This made me think … “Help people”
Now, I wonder … “if a lot of people need help”
Today, I heard / saw … “A woman named Giselle Gaylie”
This made me think … “how does she use her computer?”
Now, I wonder … “Has it been hard growing up?”
Today, I heard / saw … “A nice story”
This made me think … “how cool is that computer”
Now, I wonder … “how long to create that computer”
Today, I heard / saw … “a cool story”
This made me think … “about ai”
Now, I wonder … “- Will ai be able to help people”
Today, I heard / saw … “That she couldn’t talk”
This made me think … “about how she can’t talk”
Now, I wonder … “How the computer works”
Today, I heard / saw … “a powerful person.”
This made me think … “how confident she is.”
Now, I wonder … “how she gets the confidence to public speak.”
Today, I heard / saw … “How she graduated and how she does things”
This made me think … “That I should never judge a book by it’s cover”
Now, I wonder … “is she happy”
Today, I heard / saw … “how someone lived with a disability”
This made me think … “how hard it is”
Now, I wonder … “how the computer gets her thoughts so fast”
Today, I heard / saw … “about how people cope with their disabilities.”
This made me think … “about other things we can invent and make better for people like Giselle with disabilities.”
Now, I wonder … “Can Giselle can form words and communicate with other people without technology?”
Today, I heard / saw … “her computer”
This made me think … “how hard it is for her. She is different”
Now, I wonder … “what she real sounds like”
Today, I heard / saw … “A person who is different but still is very encouraged and determined.”
This made me think … “of how lucky I am and how somebody can put an affect on their life”
Now, I wonder … “How Giselle feels about what she is doing? (public speaking)”
Today, I heard / saw … “A person with disabilities talk with a computer”
This made me think … “to be grateful”
Now, I wonder … “How the computer knows what she wants to say”
Today, I heard / saw … “a presentation”
This made me think … “about how grateful we should be for what we have”
Now, I wonder … “how does it feel to have a disability”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle Gaylie presenting about herself and her hard life.”
This made me think … “about all the people with disabilities and their hardships.”
Now, I wonder … “How does she type if she can’t really control her body”
Today, I heard / saw … “how hard it is to live”
This made me think … “how much I take for granted”
Now, I wonder … “is it hard for her to sleep”
Today, I heard / saw … “a person with a horrible disability”
This made me think … “how much everyone takes for granted”
Now, I wonder … “how does she sleep”
Today, I heard / saw … “a disabled person.”
This made me think … “of how lucky I am.”
Now, I wonder … “if a disabled person can feel something if this … it.”
Today, I heard / saw … “person with a disability”
This made me think … “how hard it is to have a disability”
Now, I wonder … “how hard and what challenges there are to having disabilities”
Today, I heard / saw … “a person with a disability”
This made me think … “How grateful I am for who I am”
Now, I wonder … “Why God makes people like this.”
Today, I heard / saw … “a unique person with a big heart”
This made me think … “about how grateful I am for ….”
Now, I wonder … “What it would be like”
Today, I heard / saw … “How she adapted to her disability”
This made me think … “of how much harder it is for her to do daily tasks”
Now, I wonder … “How she participates in certain activities”
Today, I heard / saw … “A disabled woman”
This made me think … “I felt bad for her”
Now, I wonder … “How life is like for her”
Today, I heard / saw … “Girl who can’t control her body”
This made me think … “How I am lucky and my parents”
Now, I wonder … “How she feels about her self”
Today, I heard / saw … “a presentation”
This made me think … “of how grateful that I was born with no disability”
Now, I wonder … “if she can feel her hands.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s amazing life story.”
This made me think … “That we should love who we are no matter.”
Now, I wonder … “How is Giselle more positive than most people I know?”
Today, I heard / saw … ” A disabled public speaker”
This made me think … “how it feels to be disabled”
Now, I wonder … “how she made the presentation”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard Giselle’s life story. I saw how Giselle got help.”
This made me think … “This made me think of a girl named … who has a disability.”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder what it feels like to have a disability.”
Today, I heard / saw … “-Giselle speaking -Giselle”
This made me think … “about Giselle’s disabilities.”
Now, I wonder … “if she can walk without help sometimes.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I see a girl that can’t walk.”
This made me think … “how she’s standing”
Now, I wonder … “if she can walk now”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a lot of wires were assisting Giselle in speaking.”
This made me think … “about how it was for her in college.”
Now, I wonder … “how many places Giselle has spoken at.”
Today, I heard / saw … “-Giselle – her chair – a robot – teachers”
This made me think … “how does she survive with a disability? How much does she have to pay for the chair?”
Now, I wonder … “what disability were called”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw some pictures of her”
This made me think … “*That a disability is not bad”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder how does she understand what we are saying”
Today, I heard / saw … “about Giselle’s life how she lived it.”
This made me think … ” Happy because she did lots of amazing things in her life”
Now, I wonder … “how she can think even more positive.”
Today, I heard / saw … “How Giselle’s technology works and how she discovered her voice”
This made me think … “How bad did Giselle get bullied at school and what made her keep going.”
Now, I wonder … “Who was Giselle’s here? Who made her keep going and pushing threw?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle that are sitting on the special chair, that she can move”
This made me think … “I think Giselle can do all things that she wants”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder she can walk, talk, eat, and be normal human”
Today, I heard / saw … “She is a kind person”
Now, I wonder … “she can think more positive”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle how she was in school”
This made me think … “why can she not walk”
Now, I wonder … “can she talk by herself”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard and saw Giselle. She is really special. She has taught us that being different is someone you are.”
This made me think … “how do people with disabilities live on a daily basis.”
Now, I wonder … “how much does her tech cost?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw how Giselle communicates.”
This made me think … “she is a loving human.”
Now, I wonder … “how will be her life.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “Is it hard not being able to walk properly”
Now, I wonder … “Does Giselle understand English?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw her wheelchair”
This made me think … “Does she have a lot of wheelchairs?”
Now, I wonder … “How does the wheelchair work.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard that Giselle went to Loyola elementary school.”
This made me think … “How did Giselle participate in fun activities?”
Now, I wonder … “Could Giselle go on airplane rides?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle has a wheelchair.”
This made me think … “that family is always with you.”
Now, I wonder … “If she got bullied at school.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw that she could not walk.”
This made me think … “family is always with you.”
Now, I wonder … “if she got bullied at school.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle in the gym.”
This made me think … “How she does stuff.”
Now, I wonder … “How Giselle feels about herself.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw a nice girl on wheelchair.”
This made me think … “if she was bullied at school.”
Now, I wonder … “If she enjoy our school.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw her in her standing chair.”
This made me think … “She’s cute!”
Now, I wonder … “Can she walk by herself?”
Today, I heard / saw … “She has a wheelchair.”
This made me think … “I like her!”
Now, I wonder … “why she’s in a wheelchair”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle is starting to walk.”
This made me think … “How long it will take Giselle to walk by her self.”
Now, I wonder … “How did this happen.”
Today, I heard / saw … “that she has technology.”
This made me think … “was it hard to get technology.”
Now, I wonder … “is the technology going to get better.”
Today, I heard / saw … “today I heard that Giselle needs a standing chair.”
This made me think … “this made me think why does she need a standing chair”
Now, I wonder … “if she didn’t have a standing chair how will she stand”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle in her wheelchair.”
This made me think … “why she was bullied so much”
Now, I wonder … “what happened to her.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I herd and saw that Giselle had a wheelchair and I saw that Giselle needed help”
This made me think … “that Giselle has special abilities. But Giselle is the same as us.”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder why Giselle has a special wheelchair. We love you Giselle.”
Today, I heard / saw … ” Giselle speak to our school”
This made me think … ” How she live”
Now, I wonder … “How she run”
Today, I heard / saw … ” Giselle speak to our school”
This made me think … “How lucky she is to be alive.”
Now, I wonder … ” What is her favourite sport.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school”
This made me think … “To be nice to her and not bullying”
Now, I wonder … “that she is so cute how lucky is she”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school.”
This made me think … “Be treated to everyone and she does not give up.”
Now, I wonder … “What does she like to do with her friends?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school”
This made me think … “be treated equally”
Now, I wonder … “does she have …?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school.”
This made me think … “of helping kids.”
Now, I wonder … “about Giselle”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school.”
This made me think … “of everyone deserves to be nice.”
Now, I wonder … “Does she have use the ….”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school”
This made me think … “How lucky to be invited to lots of schools.”
Now, I wonder … “What is her favourite type of shoes.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school.”
This made me think … “everyone to be treated equally.”
Now, I wonder … “how lucky she is to have strength to do things that other people can do,”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “How everyone should be treated”
Now, I wonder … “When will she be able to walk”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school”
This made me think … “that she has a normal life”
Now, I wonder … “how beautiful her life was”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle speak to our school”
This made me think … “That she could walk by herself”
Now, I wonder … “that she could walk”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw she was different.”
This made me think … “How would she look like if the girl wasn’t disabled”
Now, I wonder … “Is it comfortable.”
Today, I heard / saw … “she had legs like the Terry fox leg”
This made me think … “she had to learn to walk for a long time”
Now, I wonder … “Was she born without leg or did she lose them” Reply: I have legs. I just need a special brace on my legs to help me use them to walk with help.
Today, I heard / saw … “her legs were flexible”
This made me think … “happy”
Now, I wonder … “When she was born”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw her as a baby”
This made me think … “of kind’s”
Now, I wonder … “was she born with the disease”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw how difficult it is to live with some problems.”
This made me think … “that because of some small problem, a lot can happen.”
Now, I wonder … “What if I would … with same thing.”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard of new way of communication”
This made me think … “How does the software connected to her”
Today, I heard / saw … “a wonderful motivational speech about Giselle’s life”
This made me think … “is this kind of technology affordable, for other non verbal people.”
Now, I wonder … “if she was typing her thoughts or thinking those things and they go through the machine”
Today, I heard / saw … “That even though people can’t talk there is always a way to communicate with them with the help of technology.”
This made me think … “about how she is able to write / think of 3 sentences within 10 seconds.”
Now, I wonder … “Do people with certain disabilities have access to the same job opportunities we have?”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard about Giselle’s story and pictures of her growing up”
This made me think … “How grateful I am”
Now, I wonder … “I wonder how she talks on the computer so fast”
Today, I heard / saw … “That someone’s life is harder than others.”
This made me think … “Some people can’t do things others can”
Now, I wonder … “Why do people make fun of other people that are different”
Today, I heard / saw … “an inspirational story of Giselle about her disabilities.”
This made me think … “how it would feel like if I was in her place.”
Now, I wonder … “how she stayed positive during her journey.”
Today, I heard / saw … “about story of a person of special needs”
This made me think … “how hard is it to live like that”
Now, I wonder … “how can we help people in special needs”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “About the technology Giselle uses is made? And is it expensive?”
Now, I wonder … “What is Giselle’s daily life like?”
Today, I heard / saw … “a person named Giselle who told a story about herself”
This made me think … “about how it would feel to be her”
Now, I wonder … “how she is always happy”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle”
This made me think … “About my grandma”
Now, I wonder … “How it would feel to have cerebral palsy”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle’s public speaking device”
This made me think … “about my 12 year old cousin …. “
Now, I wonder … “who will take care of her when her parents are gone?”
Today, I heard / saw … “We aren’t islands we need others help”
This made me think … “How priviledged I am that I don’t have challenges”
Now, I wonder … “How she will work in a job?”
Today, I heard / saw … “A motivational disabled person”
This made me think … “How I take things for granted and how lucky I am.”
Now, I wonder … “What if I was disabled?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Giselle talk about motivation and positive thinking.”
This made me think … “that I should be more grateful for life.”
Now, I wonder … “how her computer speaks out loud that fast.”
Today, I heard / saw … “the story, accomplishments, challenges of someone who has a disability.”
This made me think … “how does the computer pick her thoughts?”
Now, I wonder … “how many expenses were all those therapists and technology.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard and saw Giselle and all about her life.”
This made me think … “About how her daily life is way different than mine.”
Now, I wonder … “How many people suffer from disabilities like Giselle but have no help and people that support them.”
Today, I heard / saw … “I heard a new way people can communicate”
This made me think … “How other people live their daily lives other than the way I live mine.”
Now, I wonder … “How would she able to communicate without a computer.”
Today, I heard / saw … “A presentation from a woman with disabilities.”
This made me think … “about people with disabilities are the same as us.”
Now, I wonder … “How people are able to speak with technology”
Today, I heard / saw … “I saw Giselle, her talk about her life with her disability.”
This made me think … “How difficult was her life when it came to education?”
Now, I wonder … “How do other people feel about Giselle’s disability?”
Today, I heard / saw … “Today I heard / saw a motivational disabled person”
This made me think … “how I take things for granted and how lucky I am”
Now, I wonder … “how hard it must be being disabled”
Although there are truly many thoughtful inspired reflections here, these are but some of them.
While students were at recess, I had the opportunity to explore the school by walking down the hall, facilitated by my father. As I saw students in the hall, many shared how much they enjoyed my presentation. I also saw many teachers, who shared many kind words with me too.
Before leaving, I was introduced to Ms. D. Belchior, the Superintendent of Mississauga East Schools. I was happy to make her acquaintance. I also saw the helpful Ms. Medyk again, and I was delighted to have my picture taken with her.
There were so many wonderful, kind, thoughtful teachers, and staff, that I met at this glorious school this morning. Although it did rain for part of the morning, the smiles, and warm hearts from everyone here, made it feel like a sun shiny day inside the school, despite the weather outside.
Before leaving, we shared our sincere thanks; and we shared good-byes with Ms. Donaghue, and Ms. Consentino. They made us feel so welcomed at their school.
It was a blessed, joyous, inspirational morning at St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic Elementary School. I truly enjoyed speaking to all students from Junior Kindergarten to grade Eight as a Motivational Guest Speaker.
