Don't Thank Me!
Wow, it’s over! I am so honoured to be able to be part of something bigger than me. Something more important than me. The 41st edition of the Ontario Student Leadership Conference (OSLC) was a STU-pendous success. Erin Marshall, Ash Baer, Ian Tyson, Christine Fry, Jenna Anger, Kara Gunnarson, Shelby Clairmont, Sydney Shepherd, and of course Mikey McMurran (the man with the camera) came together to pull off an exceptional 3 days.
There are hundreds of people to thank, from our hard working volunteer team, Spirit Leaders, dedicated teachers, amazing student leaders, inspiring speakers, conference centre staff and dozens of sponsors and partners.
I think it was the smoothest one in 21 years. Considering we already have 2,000 spots pre-registered for next year, is a testament to the quality of... EVERYTHING!
I said to our crew on the final day, I wish Don Wilson could be there to see what OSLC has become. When he started the event in 1979 as a class project at Sheridan College there were about 100 people there. To think that now we have 2300+ attending and involved would blow him away.
I am always interested in watching people (who tell the world) they are trying to better themselves, to make more money, to be more successful, to make sure that they are a success. To shout out to the world through social media, "Look at me, look what I am doing to make ME a success."
I wonder if the creator of OSLC, Don Wilson had that attitude when he started this conference, of doing it for himself, if it would have succeeded? Everyone has their own needs and desires. Some people NEED to be applauded, need to fit in, to feel popular. Others need to figure out how to change the world for the better, to do it for the BIGGER cause.
I think there is a need for both. We need the Barack Obamas of the world who can rally the masses, who will be the spokespeople for the better. But, when I think about Barack, it's not about him, it's about US.
I decided a couple of years ago to stop speaking at schools and start focusing on reaching more humans with a vision of hope and being better. My goal is 1 million a year. I don't need to be onstage, I need to be in the mud. It's stressful and tiring and I am not sure I am really all that good at it, but I know I have a passion for it.
WE need to be better as a human race (together). We are, at the end of the day, one species on ONE planet. We need to care about each other, the environment and our collective (animals and humans) survival. Our arrogance of being financially driven, self-absorbed and self-promoting will at the end of the day be the end of us.
I hear too many adults who say, "Our generation screwed this planet up, it's up to your generation to fix it!"
Why?!?!?!??
Are you already dead? Are you checking out next week? Why can't you clean up your own mess like we tell 6 year olds to do??
At the end of the day, I struggle watching people shout out, "Look at me!" or "Here's a quick, get rich, be successful, build a business plan/group/system...". Maybe we should be as excited as that about doing it for the planet.
Thanks to all who support what YLCC does everyday and really support my (maybe silly) idea of doing what's right.
I don't need to be a figure head and be told I am great. That's not what I need. I hope that when I disappear, fade away, finally retire, that OSLC keeps going and changing lives and I am the guy that someone refers to as I did, Don Wilson, "I wonder what Stu would think of OSLC today and how much it has grown from it's humble days of just 2000 student leaders in Niagara Falls...... "
See you in 2020... If you haven't registered... maybe you should ;)
In leadership and gratitude,
