In the weekend I was a guest speaker at a super awesome conference that targeted Pacific youth in South Auckland. Organized by Accelerating Aotearoa, their aim is to help connect young people with potential careers and training opportunities and other really useful stuff like that. I was honored to be invited and put a lot of time and thought into what I would say, keeping in mind that teenagers are the toughest audiences. Right after pre-schoolers. Because if you’re boring, adults are good at pretending to be interested whereas teenagers – will roll their eyes, start texting, do their nails and basically tell you to get lost.
I had learned my lesson from the Wellington Wardrobe Fiasco though – and dressed for comfort. I had a moment of panic when my GHD fried itself, leaving my hair in a shocking state of untamedness. But I whipped it into Pocohantas braids and was ready to go.
I went. I listened. I learned heaps. I was inspired. And then it was my turn to speak. And I don’t think I sucked. Nobody snored. Or threw stuff at me. Or puked in the aisles. I was hopeful that my scintillating words of wisdom would be useful for the young minds of our nation.
And then the next speaker walked to the podium. He looked like this:
And all the teenage girls in the room sighed. And sat up straighter. And there was whispering and muffled giggles. And then absolute INTENSELY RAPT AVID CONCENTRATION as he started to speak.
Why? Because they were all seeing this…
Joseph Naufahu acting in Spartacus.
And this,
Joseph Naufahu acting in Go-Girls.
And he talked about working hard to pursue your dreams. (Even in the face of challenges like busting up your knee and ending your sparkling rugby career.) And he challenged everyone to ‘unleash your inner Gladiator’ because he owns a gym with a gladiator theme. And all the teenager boys were going, ‘damn, I wanna be like him…‘ (and of course the teenager girls were sighing some more.)
And even I was inspired by the ‘unleash your gladiator’ message. I wanted to run out and do some push-ups right away. And I wished that I had brought my teenagers with me to listen to his message ( and the other speakers as well.)
BUT, do you think ANYBODY is going to remember a single scintillating word I said after seeing and listening to all of that?!
No. I must glumly concede that a boring writer cannot hope to be scintillating next to a rugbyplayer-turned actor-turned Gladiator.
What do we learn from this?
1. For all future speaking engagements, I must respectfully request, that NO gladiator actors are allowed to speak before me, after me, or anywhere near me. Not if I want to have a hope in hell that anyone will remember anything I say.
2. I must take some attention-grabbing props with me. Like a flame thrower. So I can turn it on for a fiery pyro show and invite the audience to ‘Unleash your creative fire! Just like in Telesa…’
3. I really need to do some push-ups. And stop eating Doritos and donuts at midnight. (Hmm…but then we already knew that one, didn’t we?)
Lani Wendt Young 
LOL! Totally digging this.
I think the flame thrower idea is fantastic! Why didn't you think of that before the speech. Promise me it'll be in the works for your next one. No gladiator can compete with fire!
I always get my greatest ideas AFTER the fact…sigh.
Lol. Too funny. Yes! The flame thrower Idea is a go! (just make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand in case things get messy)
Oh how exciting! I love being inspired 😀 I always try to share cool/inspiring stories with some of my year 5/6 students and in the moment they are with it, but afterwards they forget/don't care about it. It makes me so sad :(Re: The Gladiator -Pretty boys are hard to compete with but I'm sure they loved you. Poly kids love seeing anyone who is doing something with their lives…. I'm currently waiting for Amazon to drop of my copy of Telesa….CAN'T WAIT!
I'm so so sure I would have paid more attention to you than to Joseph. And I would have had no Spartacus mental images at all. Whatsoever.
Thanks for the blog visit serenerald!
KNowing me I would probably set my hair on fire.
You are a good friend Sina – which is why I know you are lying. LOL
Yes, I was lying. Down. Lol! Oh look, you replied to my comment. Which is why I have to return to this post…ONLY to reply. It would be rude not to. Reply, that is.
Thanks for the blog visit – I hope Amazon hurries up with delivering your book and I hope you enjoy the read!
Ha! Same as me. Not only would iI set myself on fire, I would set everyone else on fire too.
Sounds like a great time! What about spinning poi?? That would be easier to pack.
LMAO Tu Meke!!
Im terrible at spinning anything. I wonder if people be impressed that I can eat an entire pack of Eclipse fire mints all in one go? Thats a little fiery?
how about bringing with you a dry husk of coconut fiber, and just light a match on it, and say, ‘here unleash all your FIYAS people’… lol that’s talent, who says only men can make fire with coconut husks?? Ha, breath of Life..lol