Rise To Unite offers dynamic, custom presentations for youth. I blend several years of experience in personal development, 150+ mindfulness sessions with students, and over 20 keynote presentations to create brand-new RTU experiences. These presentations deliver solutions curated for your specific audience. Primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools, sports teams, summer camps, and other youth organizations are all welcome.

I’ve been a part of communities all over the world, including a global community I like to call the "travel family." I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with over 100 people from about 40 different countries for in-depth interviews. I gathered different perspectives from unique people on every continent—from the fundamentals of human connection and cooperation in local communities to how humans, regardless of differences, can forge stronger bonds of connection and cooperation globally.

Now, each classroom is a little community in itself. How can I bring such a broad global perspective into a thought incubator like a school community? By shedding light on the one thing that each and every student has with them in class every day: a human heart and how connected it really makes us all.

The Same Human Heart

Everyone, regardless of differences, has a human heartbeat that naturally needs connection, feels compassion, is watered by kindness, and is the central connection one has to love. Shedding light on this sameness between people breaks down the walls of division and separation, of judgment and comparison, of discontent and difference, while building feelings of connection, cooperation, openness, kindness, inclusion, and acceptance. I do this through sharing stories of human connection and kindness from all over the world and exploring what every human heart has in common regardless of differences.

The Importance of Inclusion and Connection Through "Travel Family"

On Christmas Eve, while traveling through Patagonia, I was very lonely, sad, and full of heartache because I was over 10,000 kilometres from my family. Not wanting to stay in the same place, I chose to switch hostels and towns. I arrived at 7:00 pm after dark, lonely and on the brink of tears at the prospect of spending Christmas alone. Upon entering the small, one-house hostel, I was welcomed with merry warmth and eight people setting the table for Christmas dinner. I was welcomed with open arms even though we were all strangers. They made an extra place for me at the table just in time for dinner to be served. Strangers from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Australia all sat down together. Over the four hours we spent together around that table, my heart was filled up for weeks to come. It may be a small act to include someone into a group, but for the person being welcomed, it can be an act so big it could make their entire week better.

The Biggest Mountains We Climb

Of the numerous adventures I’ve been on around the world, climbing mountains has been the most challenging but the most rewarding. I climbed two mountains reaching about 6,000 meters in elevation—that’s higher than almost any peak in North America. Several days of hiking in extremely high elevation, pushing through altitude sickness, combating -20 windchill, and hiking through the night with sleep deprivation all contribute to pushing one to the outer reaches of their ability. Successfully summiting these mountain peaks took every ounce of strength and willpower I had to simply take one more step, and another.

Upon reaching the summit, I let out tears of exhilaration because I realized this isn’t the biggest mountain I’ve ever climbed. I watched the mountains of sadness, fear, insecurity, and failure crumble within me as I stood atop this very real mountain peak. I proved to myself I have the strength to be the mountaineer of my own mountains. Every student has this same strength within them as well. Through relying on my team, never giving up, and taking just one more step to keep going, I learned I can climb the tallest mountains no one sees: the mountains within. I am now training for my next major endurance adventure, hiking the Bruce Trail—the longest marked trail in Canada at over 900 km long.

Rising Into Your Potential Through Committing to Goals

I committed myself to circumnavigating the globe, documenting human connection along the way, and then coming back home to Canada to build a speaking foundation that reaches thousands. Now, one does not need to set such big goals to reach their potential; however, every goal, big or small, starts with just one step along the right path. I learned to travel one country at a time, even though my journey was comprised of every continent. I learned one step at a time will get you to the summit of the tallest mountains. I learned one conversation at a time can build a robust global perspective.

I stayed committed to my path, took one step at a time, and saw it through to completion. Now, a book can be completed by reading one page at a time. Understanding the laws of mathematics can be achieved by practicing one equation at a time. Becoming a well-rounded athlete happens one practice at a time. Whether it’s climbing mountains or studying for a math test, when you choose a good path, commit to taking a few small steps at a time and see it through to the end, you are bound for success.

Achieving your full potential while positively contributing to the school community together

How does this all come together? Naturally, young people want to be included within friend groups and build healthy friendships. They want to play valued positions on sports teams and roles in the classroom. They want to be a part of, and valued by, their community. They want to excel in school and follow their interests. Ultimately, the goal is to motivate students to be the best versions of themselves they can be, while positively contributing to the school community.

I achieve this through sharing stories and messages in a way young people can easily interpret and relate to—whether it be a small act of kindness that made my day better or being included for a meal that made my whole week better. I share tales of climbing mountains that reach the skies, teaching perseverance and overcoming life’s challenges. I speak of setting the goal of circumnavigating the world by traveling one country at a time, committing and following through to achieve a desired outcome. This is about believing in yourself and pushing beyond your limits in the pursuit of personal growth and living out your dreams. By sharing common perspectives from unique people all over the world, I show how similar and connected we really are: the same human heart and the same rhythm of life bring us all together.

Everyone has goals and dreams; we all desire to be included and supported, we all have challenges to overcome, and we all want to contribute to our communities. We truly are all in this together—in our classrooms, through years of schooling, and for the decades beyond. So, choose to be kind even when it feels hard. Choose to be inclusive even if you don’t know someone well. Strive to achieve your fullest potential while contributing to and serving the people around you. Choose to build yourself up while encouraging others, because we are all a lot more successful when we work and grow together.

PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY THROUGH THE HUMAN HEART

REDUCTION IN BULLYING THROUGH ACTS OF KINDNESS

COMMITMENT TO GOALS, FOCUS ON PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

MINDFULNESS PRACTICES BASED ON REGULATION

BUILDING COOPERATION AND COMMUNITY