Trinity College

“I just wanted to write an email to thank you. Your presentation today changed my mindset. I left that room feeling a greater sense of purpose, one that I have never felt before. I have never truly reflected on myself as much as I have done today, and already it has made an impact. Your life and determination is astoundingly inspirational, and the way you told it to all of us really stood out to me. I hope to have the same confidence and self-assurance as you do one day. Your presentation really hit me for many reasons, but the way you spoke about finding hope again really struck something within me. I don’t want to sound cheesy, but I was so close to just giving up and accepting my life for how it is until today. I have kept all of my notes and already begun reading the book you gave me at the end. I am so beyond grateful for what you do. I’ve always been a major perfectionist. Hearing your views surrounding failure and how it should be approached for growth really stood out to me above all else. I have constantly gone beyond my threshold for years on end now because I cannot accept anything but 100%, which of course causes burnout and ultimately failures. The way you spoke about it being an opportunity to learn and improve is something I’ve been told my entire life but never knew how to put it into action. Because of what you do, I know now. I am no longer a part of the 75% whose biggest fear is failure. Thank you for today, for helping all of us beyond what the curriculum can. I prayed for something like this to guide me and here it is. I cannot thank you enough. I didn’t know what to expect coming in today, but it is without doubt something I needed to hear, even if I hadn’t realised beforehand.”