There is an ancient Indian Buddhist proverb that says:“When the student is ready - the teacher appears.”This Youth Leadership Programme held at the Thornhill Police Station taught me the real significance of this proverb.Eight weeks ago Kathie and I appeared before you to accept you as our teachers!! We watched you learn and we watched you grow. In your growth and remarkable improvement - both of us learned so much from you but three things stand out the most:First - you are never too young or too old to learn something new and become good at it as long as you have fun and persevere. All the graduates today have given up your free time to come here every Saturday for eight weeks to experience a different kind of play - the game of leadership and communication. Parents and participants - Kathie and I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the opportunity to conduct this session with you. We were very fortunate and privileged to have such enthusiastic, intelligent and lively individuals who persevered.

Second - attending a leadership course focused on public speaking could be one of the most important things you could have done in your lives. When Warren Buffet and Bill Gates went back to their the college they studied at - one of the students asked them - if there was one bit of advice you had to give us as the most important step to take what would that be - and Warren Buffet said that one of the most important things he did was to join a public speaking course.

And finally - know that a seed has been planted in you that will lead each and every one of you to greatness. As a symbol of the seeds of greatness - Kathie and I had the honour to present you with your youth leadership graduation awards.

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