(Pictured above: Canadian wrestler Jamie Macari invited a few BCI students to come onstage and learn a few wrestling moves during his motivational presentation.)

(Brockville) – Jamie Macari didn’t just come to Brockville Collegiate Institute (BCI) last Thursday to discuss his past accomplishments as a world-class wrestler.

Sure, he talked about his titles and wins – how he wrestled for five years in high school and won three provincial high school championships, how he became the first Canadian wrestler to win five consecutive provincial and national university titles, how he has been to four world championships, and how he was the top Canadian competitor in the 55 kilogram weight class during his career.

But Macari’s real message was about the mistakes he felt he made throughout his wrestling career – his training errors, self-doubts, mediocre standards – and what he’s learned about perseverance and character since then that has allowed him to realize his true potential.

Today, the Queen’s University wrestling coach is part of The ESTEEM Team, a national program that focuses on encouraging youth to set goals for themselves with the help of athlete role models. Throughout his hour-long presentation to BCI students and staff, Macari used his experience in sport to motivate youth to do their best and get involved in all they can.

“Looking back on my career, I realize it’s in the hardships that I enjoyed wrestling the most,” Macari said. “Whatever you do, there’s going to be a time where struggle comes. That struggle is a beautiful process.”

Macari urged the audience to remember five steps that he has learned and practiced in sport and in his day-to-day life: you are good enough – quality character comes from within; choose peers that build you up, not pull you away; choose high standards for yourself, expect much and get it; life is good when we face our fears and step out of our comfort zones; choose wise uses of your time that will pay off in the real world.

“What you invest your time into, you will get,” he said. “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. I encourage you to keep looking forward.”

Macari noted a number of famous role models, including Michael Jordan and Nick Vujicic whose experiences help him get through life’s tough obstacles.

And he encouraged students to remember that when they do meet a goal that they’ve set out for themselves, they should remember to stay grounded.

“Lose yourself in the love of the game, but don’t be proud.” he said. “Be humble.”

In the middle of his presentation, Macari invited three students up onstage to learn and practice some wrestling moves. When the students returned to their seats, Macari concluded his presentation by urging students to recognize the hardships that other people in the world deal with every day – namely poverty and natural disasters like the recent earthquake in Haiti. He encouraged students to get involved and make a difference in their lives and the lives of those around them.

“When you start to push yourself the world changes around you,” Macari said.

Many students were impressed by Macari’s presentation, including grade 11 student Matt Casselman.

“I thought the subject was good especially after exams when everyone was stressed and burned out,” he said. “It was also good that he was interacting with everyone.”

“This presentation was something I didn’t expect,” said grade 12 student Vaishali Doguparty. “It was informal. He made jokes and he got really emotional. It came from his heart.”

“He told us his struggles and he said ‘I didn’t do it right,’” said grade 10 student Zack Hong. “He captured our attention. He treated us like we were somebody.”

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For more information please call:

Don Lewis

Principal

Brockville Collegiate Institute

613-345-5641

Posted February 16, 2010