On Monday, the 4th of March, we, the student leaders of 2024 at Artarmon Public School took part in the Young Leaders Convention. The prestigious event was held at the grand International Convention Centre of Sydney. Over 5000 future leaders from primary schools across NSW, were present at the convention, and each one of us got a chance to gain new perspectives and meet new people. Over the course of the event, we listened to five speakers, who shared their personal growth story and journey to success. The Young Leaders Excursion was a great learning experience and it inspired all of us to cherish our mistakes and dream big.

The first speaker we met was Anastasia Woolmer, the Australian Memory Champion. Known for her incredible memory and intellect, she talked to us about her journey full of unexpected hardships and how intense hard work earned her title.

A brief hip hop dance break with the Dance Curriculum team gave us a chance to digest all the invaluable information we had learnt.

Next, we listened to Eva Amores and Matt Cosgrove, the co-creators of a popular book series named ‘The Worst Week Ever’. They focused on the value of perseverance, the reason the duo thrived through the pandemic. This is when they created their comedic masterpiece.

The next speaker was Stephen O’Keefe, a retired cricketer who played for the Sydney Sixers. He emphasised the importance of sacrificing and loving what you do for a living. His speech inspired me to appreciate my hobbies while still keeping my focus on the main goals of life.

The final speaker was Bryson Klein, a renowned Australian Ninja Warrior who discussed the importance of failure. In his words, “The difference between a master and a novice is that the master has failed more times than a novice has even tried.” Bryson’s speech taught me to cherish my mishaps and get back up again.

In a nutshell, the Young Leaders Excursion was an exhilarating event that we learnt many valuable things from. By listening to all the inspirational speeches, the APS student leader’s confidence and knowledge has grown. The Young Leaders Convention was a wonderful experience and is sure to inspire future leaders for generations to come.

Written by Jeevika Bulsari