Greg Secker Foundation - Inspired Youth Programme SA
In 2016, I had the privilege of speaking to 400 future South African leaders—a mix of students from both private and public school systems. The initiative, called Inspired Youth SA, carried a theme that is still relevant today: “The time is now!”
It was an honour to be asked to share my experience with these young minds. When I was first approached, my initial reaction was “awesome.” Then I woke up the next day, filled with nerves. I thought about the famous mentors and qualified speakers out there and asked myself, “Why me?”
To the outside world, it might seem like I have everything in order, but the truth is, I was terrified. I found myself asking, “Am I enough?”
I began to think about what I wanted to hear when I was a young adult. The core messages haven't changed: “Carpe Diem,” “Seize the moment,” and so on. But I also remembered the reality of those years—the worry about tuition fees or grades not being high enough. I remembered the “What ifs.”
I asked that young crowd: “Would you just say 'forget it, I am not even going to try?'”
The resounding feedback was “NO!” The fact that they were all sitting in a school hall on a Saturday, rather than being out with friends, was all the indication I needed. No matter their circumstances, they were going to give it their best shot.
On that day, I chose to be brutally honest. Youth can see through a podium-dictated speech, but they can smell authenticity a mile away. I shared my life story—my failures, my successes, and my hard-won life lessons.
The major takeaway for me was that while I was there to inspire them, I walked away feeling inspired by them! Their hunger, determination, and ambition reminded me that even when there is noise and negativity in the world, the future of South Africa is not only intact, but bright.
From a Proudly South African business!
To learn more about the legacy of this initiative, visit: Greg Secker Foundation
#InspiredYouthSA
