By Jessy Diamba/reporter
SE students were told to throw out the word failure during an April 10 Who You Are Makes a Difference conference.
“Consider them mistakes instead,” said NW speech instructor Carol Hunsberger.
Sponsored by the Student Government Association, the conference focused on the foundation of student leadership and difference makers in the community.
Hunsberger provided insight on how to be successful in life, including what kind of attitude is required to advance along the way.
“Mistakes are just knowledge waiting to happen,” she said. “The main two reasons people don’t dream is either they think their dream might not come true or that if it does, it won’t meet their expectations.”
During the 2013-2014 school year, Hunsberger completed a sabbatical, traveling around the world, talking to influential individuals and asking them how they became success stories. Hunsberger shared some of her favorites of the advice she learned from those she interviewed.
One person she interviewed was Cynthia Izaguirre of WFAA News.
“Cynthia told me, ‘Treat others as if they were part of your family,’” she said
Hunsberger also interviewed Dr. Greg Skomal, a marine biologist.
“Sometimes you have to take the hard road if it leads to your passion,” Skomal told her. “The harder road may lead to your passion faster.”
Ocean explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau was also on her list.
“Ask people what can you do for them,” he advised her.
SE student Johnny Pantoja found the motivational speaker very interesting.
“You’ve got to dream small to achieve big,” he said.
SE’s SGA president Joan Ukhuakhua mediated the conference and had been inspired by Hunsberger’s message: “You can achieve anything you put your mind to do.”
