Toronto, Wednesday, June 14, 2006

… I don’t know where to begin…

First of all, allow me to thank Principal Janice Searles, for welcoming me to your school, and for making this day possible. I know the amount of work that has to go into this kind of visit, and I want you to know how much I appreciate this warm and very special, very unique welcome.

I’d also like to thank Mr. Terrance Saunders, and all his fellow teachers, who made this production a reality. This remarkable show has so many aspects… it is clear that, along with talent and imagination, a great deal of heart went into making this!

And finally, I want to say a very special “thank you”, from the bottom of my heart, to all the students who brought this story to life.

Your energy and your talent takes my breath away… words can’t convey how moved I am by this wonderful gift! Thank you. Thank you very much!

What an achievement! You have succeeded in capturing the elements of one person’s life, through a combination of beautiful music, set design, and some fine performances. Well done!

In his original letter of invitation, Mr. Saunders wrote that he wished that this production would transmit a “message of hope” for all Canadians. I think you have succeeded, and all the credit belongs to the performers and the producers.

My life story is similar to that of many Canadians. It is like the life stories of many of your parents and grandparents, who had to leave their homelands and travel to Canada to start a new life.

Some of you may be thinking “yeah, right!”… but believe me, while I may live in Rideau Hall today, I was not born in a mansion!

I have seen my fair share of poverty, and violence, and sadness. I know what it feels like to fear for your life, and dream of escaping to something better.

The message I want to leave with the students here today, the message that anyone should take from my life story, is that the wonder of Canada is that anything is possible.

If you work hard enough, you can achieve anything you set your heart to.

For all the students at this school, right now, almost your entire life lies ahead of you.

There are really no options that are closed to you! You can become writers, or teachers, or scientists, or actors. You can go into business, or politics, or journalism, or sports, or any other field.

In Canada, where you come from is not a barrier to how far you can go. Who your parents are does not decide what you can be.

I know that, in life, you may hear people say “you can’t do it”, or “you’re not good enough”, or “our people never get ahead.”

Don’t believe it.

There are many stories of strong, ambitious people who believed in themselves, in their capacities, and kept working at their dreams when everyone around them told them to quit.

I won’t pretend that it’s easy; it’s not. Success demands a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice. It means sometimes saying “no” to friends; doing the things you know you have to do, instead of things you just want to do.

But it’s worth it.

For adults, parents, teachers, it’s worth it when you can look into the eyes of young people who tell you that the reason why they’re going back to school is because no one from their community ever graduated from university, and they want to be the first one.

It’s worth it to have this position of governor general so that I can sit down with homelessness advocates and then take their message to the highest levels of the government.

And it’s worth it on a day like today, when so many of you care enough about my life to give me this beautiful tribute, one that I will remember and treasure for the rest of my life.

Today you’ve shown everyone what you can do. Never forget that.

Never doubt yourselves. Hold onto your dreams. Work hard, here in school, and in life, and you will be amazed at how much you can accomplish.

Go for it! It’s worth it!

Thank you very much.