GVRA: Day One

Today, I, Nancy, was able to organize the first meeting of my GVRA team.  Nervous and excited, I waited for 3:00 to arrive, so I could make my way down to 7^th Hart House Circle.  At the beginning of the meeting, my team, consisting of Emma, Samyuktha, Paurnika and Angela were somewhat unfamiliar with the outstanding opportunities that waited for those who joined the GVRA program.  I had briefly mentioned the JTC missions, the Ottawa youth caucus and the Nunavut Conference to them, but Samantha blew them away with her descriptive explanations of these programs.  We all went in, unconscious of the role we play in the GVRA program and came out inspired.  Samantha, the national GVRA coordinator, was able to meet with us.  Unfortunately Terry was unable to come due to a cold, but he later joined us on Skype. We felt extremely honoured that Terry joined us online despite his illness and appreciated it greatly.  It was truly the first steps which pushed us into believing we had the ability to make a difference because he and Samantha placed faith in our abilities to do so.  After meeting with everyone, we realized the difference it makes to converse with people instead of simply watching a clip about the program.  By the end of the meeting the shy, but passionate, group I had assembled were inspired, motivated and thirsty for success after the influential words of Terry, Samantha and Rebecca (a Global Vision Grad).

After the end of the meeting, there was a great shift in the dynamics of my team.  They went from being a bit hesitant about the program to supporting it and dedicating to it 100 per cent.  We learned about the immense support system found within Global Vision and this was heart-warming as it helped ease our nerves.  The down-to-earth members of Global Vision showed us we aren’t just people working together as colleagues, but as family trying to make a change.  We are excited and ready to take the first steps in making a change and that we have people to support our every decision.

We also learned that making a change is not an easy process, in order to be the difference we cannot be defeated when we are ignored.  We must push forth and continue voicing our opinions.  This persistence is the only method of bringing forth the ideas of our youth.

No matter how much progress you make there will always be the people who insist that whatever you’re trying to do is impossible.  And no matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying; the only mistake that can
truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake. Let’s make a difference.

The Etobicoke GVRA Team