168 Year 10 students. 3 hours. 23 students put pen to paper and emailed us. A sample of what landed in our inbox.
The room
A few days after the seminar, an email arrived from a Year 10 student at Burgmann. He told us his attention span is terrible, and it makes him slack on his schoolwork. Yet he sat through the whole session, fully immersed. The small step he took afterwards was a plain one. He did his schoolwork.
More students wrote in with stories of their own.
On 24 February 2026, Hope Unlimited ran with the 168 Year 10 students at Burgmann Anglican School in Gungahlin, Canberra. 3 hours, on campus. Pen and paper. No phones. Quiet enough to think.
The seminar covers the 4 sub-skills that build hope: grit, optimism, courage and resilience. Students name their character strengths, write a vision they can actually see, and leave with one moonshot in their own handwriting.
In the days that followed, 23 students wrote in. They’d taken action. Here are some of them.
Year 10 students with Glen after Hope Unlimited. Burgmann Anglican School, 24 February 2026.
In their own words
This is some of the feedback that came in…
Theme 1. The wake-up call
“Your talk was a wake up call. I never knew I could sit there for over 2 hours, listening to one person talk, but you changed my entire perspective on how I view my life. The last few talks we had in school weren’t enough to get me to make a change, so I’m really glad our school invited someone as direct and influencing as you. I almost cried on the spot after you said that everyone had a different gift, and it was our job to grow it, because I realised I’d been neglecting my gift when I could be watering it.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
“I wanted to shake your hand and say thank you for today’s session. My attention span is terrible, which causes me to slack in my schoolwork. Yet I was fully immersed in your talk. Which brings me to the small step I took after your seminar, which is doing my schoolwork. Thank you so very much.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
— Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
Theme 2. From self-doubt to self-belief
“Your talk really inspired me. I used to feel like I’m not good enough, but after the talk you gave us, it really made me feel better about myself. It made me feel like I am possible, and that I can achieve my dreams and goals. I love art and writing. I’m currently writing a book. I haven’t quite finished it yet, but now I feel more confident.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
“The speech you presented today was absolutely amazing. Before it, I didn’t have confidence in starting my journey to accomplishing my dreams, but now, after your speech, I am starting to believe in myself a bit more. Thank you.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
— Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
Theme 3. A turn toward hope
“I took into consideration what you said, and even though it takes a long time to get to where I want to be, you inspired me to get the hardest part over and done with: beginning. A few years ago, I fell into a dark place. Your speech today gave me the extra push I knew I needed, and I’m so glad you came when you did, because I know I wouldn’t be working towards building a better life for myself if no one had motivated me to.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
“I found your talk very inspiring and encouraging, and I truly believe that the things I learnt will help me to become who God meant for me to be. Your talk helped me to be more aware of the opportunities I have and more thankful for my position. I wish you all the best with everything you are doing to improve the lives and futures of young people across the world.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
Theme 4. The small step they took
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the impact of your session. I arrived without particularly high expectations, yet I left with a genuinely transformed perspective. After returning home, I carefully reviewed and expanded upon the notes I had taken, connecting your ideas to meaningful situations in my own life. Thank you so much.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
“I wanted to sincerely thank you for your inspiring presentation. Your message about motivation and taking action really resonated with me, and it has encouraged me to start working more seriously on my ideas. Thank you again for your time, your talk, and for the positive impact you had on our school.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
— Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School
What this feedback tells us
Three things worth noting, for the teacher reading this.
They arrive skeptical. They leave changed.
The student who’d tuned out every speaker for 10 years is the same one who wrote in. When a cohort that expects to be bored sits forward instead, that isn’t luck. That’s the signal.
Year 10 will write to you when something lands.
23 students took action and wrote to tell us. No one assigned it. No teacher chased it. That’s the signal we’re looking for. Compliance doesn’t send emails. Connection does.
The small-step test.
Schoolwork finished. Notes reviewed and expanded at home. A book picked back up. A dark place named and pushed against. None of those need a follow-up program. They need a cognitive reset, then space to act.
From a student
“Our school so often gets speakers in to do seminars and clinics with us, and over the 10 years I’ve been at Burgmann, every single time I’ve been disengaged and found them almost useless. That all changed today. What you had to say really resonated with me.”
Year 10 student, Burgmann Anglican School, by email after the seminar
About the work
Hope Unlimited
Hope Unlimited is a 3-hour social and emotional wellbeing seminar for Years 9 to 12. In person, on your campus, in your hall. Pen and paper. No phones. Quiet enough to think. Students leave with their character strengths named, a vision they can see, and one moonshot in their own handwriting.
About Glen
Glen Gerreyn is the founder of The HopeFULL Institute. Former Young Australian of the Year (Queensland, Community Service). 750 schools. More than 1 million young people. He’s based in Brisbane, a father of 4, and a lifelong student of human flourishing. He leads with story, then strategy. He doesn’t swear to win the room.
Glen Gerreyn
Founder, The HopeFULL Institute
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