Motivational Speaker Bert Oliva Back in Belize
Motivational speaker Bert Oliva is back in Belize. Today, he started a tour in Belize City meeting with primary school students where, through words and activities, he demonstrated the power of the mind in achieving goals. At the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, eager students learned that confidence can make them do daring things. Andrea Polanco reports.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Walking on glass. Eating fire. Crazy dancing. It sounds like things out of a circus, but it’s not. It’s a part of a motivational tour that engages and empowers students. Renowned motivational speaker, Bert Oliva is in Belize to help young children tap into their own power and realize their potential through action.
Bert Oliva
Bert Oliva, Motivational Speaker
“How many of you have dreams in your life? Raise your hand. How many of you think you are going to make those dreams a reality? Raise them high. Because that is important. People will get in front of you and try to change you and try to change your mind set but you need to have certainty. Because whatever it is, whatever your dream is you can’t cheat. Do you guys agree with me? Do you guys agree with me? Yes or no? See what happens is, you celebrate. As you become an adult they kind of tell you that you need to be more composed. No. Life is about having fun. The more you engage in life. The more life will give you back. Makes sense? Yes or no? I can’t hear you. Yes or no? The more you get involved in this session, the more you’re gonna get out.”
And it wasn’t before long that the Bliss erupted into countless bursts of excitement. The fun, yet empowering, session engaged over three hundred eager primary school students.
Nathida Alvarado
Nathida Alvarado, Holy Redeemer Primary School
“I learn that anything is possible and you can have a fun time.”
Andrea Polanco
“You participated in one of the activities; tell me what that like was for you?”
Nathida Alvarado
“It was like a life changing experience for me because it was something I never did before and it was very exciting.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, tell me after your experience here today, did it change anything for you?”
Nathida Alvarado
“The change for me is that anything can happen once you put your mind to it.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, how will share that message with other students from your school and your friends?”
Nathida Alvarado
“Holy Redeemer Primary School will just encourage them to do what they want to do and do it with their fullest potential.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, you’re leaving here with more confidence, you’d say?”
Nathida Alvarado
“Yes, I am leaving here with more confidence than I came in.”
Dionne Chamberlain Miranda
And while today inside the bliss everything is about positivity, the reality is that social decay has become synonymous to the city’s culture. So, how do we help to change that course? And how do we nurture a more empowered generation? The lady behind it all, Dionne Chamberlain, says that we must start with the children.
Dionne Chamberlain Miranda, Managing Director, Chamberlain Consulting
“We realize that children, yes they need food and they need physical things. But at the end of the day, it is inside of you. I came from harder beginnings. I mean disabled mother, single mother and a hard time growing up you know having people tell me negative things. It was hard and our children go through that. They need some level of insulation and that is what motivation does. But it’s like bathing; you can’t do it once you gotta do it every day and often.”
And like this youngster from St Ignatius Primary, the experience was eye-opening. She did something she has never done before today, she walked on glass.
Tashawn Lozano, St Ignatius Primary
“I was nervous at first. I felt like I was gonna get cut but then they just tell me to believe in myself and nothing will happen.”
Andrea Polanco
“Talk to us about the message you’d share with your friends?”
Tashawn Lozano
Tashawn Lozano
“That they can get and do anything they want in life as long as they work hard.”
Reporter
“Are you going to tell your parents about walking on glass?”
Tashawn Lozano
“Yes. Yes. I can’t believe I just did something like that.”
Andrea Polanco
“You didn’t think you’d be able to do that before?”
Tashawn Lozano
“No. I didn’t.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, the message really made a difference today?”
Tashawn Lozano
“Yes, ma’am. It did.”
And its accounts like that one which makes it rewarding for Chamberlain Consulting. But to impact more lives, require increased partnership.
Dionne Chamberlain Miranda
“It is about belief in yourself doing the best thing. These kids are amazing. These kids have it inside of them, the spirit and the energy. But it can only foster if we as a society realize that we are mentors. We have to develop them. We have to grow them. And it’s from organizations, businesses, and the media. I want to encourage you to spread the good news. Because only when we are insulated can we deal with the bad that is coming at us.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Andrea Polanco.
