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Educator Sessions
TEACHING STUDENTS TO THRIVE
TIME - 90 minutes
AUDIENCE - Educators
TIME - 90 minutes
AUDIENCE - Educators
OVERVIEW
In an increasingly complex and challenging world, the only thing that is constant is change – political, economic, technological, social and across the educational landscape. Youth culture is also changing significantly as a result.
With added pressures of social media, research shows that many teens are struggling to cope with school and life challenges. Mental health issues, such as anxiety and eating disorders, addiction and depression have become more common, and the incidents of bullying, self-harm and suicide have increased. It doesn’t have to be this way.
In light of the uncertainty ahead, it’s more important than ever for educators to empower and inspire students to become the leader of their life and equip them with the skills, mindsets and strategies to prepare them to thrive tomorrow.
In this engaging, interactive, and impactful session – delivered onsite or virtually – educators discover:
Educators will leave empowered and with the strategies, insights and inspiration to take immediate action to instil tenacity, optimism and empowerment in their students. Topic areas include: Global youth culture, growth mindset, strengths-based approach, social media and mental health, personal leadership, and resilience.
In an increasingly complex and challenging world, the only thing that is constant is change – political, economic, technological, social and across the educational landscape. Youth culture is also changing significantly as a result.
With added pressures of social media, research shows that many teens are struggling to cope with school and life challenges. Mental health issues, such as anxiety and eating disorders, addiction and depression have become more common, and the incidents of bullying, self-harm and suicide have increased. It doesn’t have to be this way.
In light of the uncertainty ahead, it’s more important than ever for educators to empower and inspire students to become the leader of their life and equip them with the skills, mindsets and strategies to prepare them to thrive tomorrow.
In this engaging, interactive, and impactful session – delivered onsite or virtually – educators discover:
- The 5 MONKEYS that inhibit a student’s success and positive wellbeing
- The CORE COMPETENCIES that a student needs to develop to become the leader of their life, build resilience and become their best self.
- PRACTICAL STRATEGIES for equipping students with the skills, mindsets and "muscle" to thrive in the midst of change and uncertainty.
Educators will leave empowered and with the strategies, insights and inspiration to take immediate action to instil tenacity, optimism and empowerment in their students. Topic areas include: Global youth culture, growth mindset, strengths-based approach, social media and mental health, personal leadership, and resilience.
THE THRIVING SCHOOL
TIME - 120 minutes
AUDIENCE - Heads of Student Wellbeing/Pastoral Care and Middle/Senior School
KEY FOCUS - Wellbeing and leadership
TIME - 120 minutes
AUDIENCE - Heads of Student Wellbeing/Pastoral Care and Middle/Senior School
KEY FOCUS - Wellbeing and leadership
OVERVIEW
In an increasingly complex and challenging world, the only thing that is constant is change - political, economic, technological, social and across the educational landscape.
With the added pressures of social media, research shows that many teens are struggling to cope with school and life challenges. Mental health issues, such as anxiety and eating disorders, addiction and depression, have become more common, and the incidents of bullying, self-harm, and suicide have increased. It doesn’t have to be this way.
In this engaging, interactive and impactful session, audiences will gain:
Wearing multiple caps throughout, audiences will leave this unconventionally customised session empowered and with the clarity, practical tips and inspiration to take immediate action, ignite positive change and lead in the creation of The Thriving School.
In an increasingly complex and challenging world, the only thing that is constant is change - political, economic, technological, social and across the educational landscape.
With the added pressures of social media, research shows that many teens are struggling to cope with school and life challenges. Mental health issues, such as anxiety and eating disorders, addiction and depression, have become more common, and the incidents of bullying, self-harm, and suicide have increased. It doesn’t have to be this way.
In this engaging, interactive and impactful session, audiences will gain:
- An insight into the cornerstone and key to addressing today's teen issues, including a multi ‘student and educator’ perspective.
- A deep experience into Daniel’s style, content and delivery to student audiences via the delivery of a piece from his student wellbeing programs, delivered as if students were present.
- Value-adding content to enhance their professional roles and personal lives, through the tailored delivery of piece from Daniel’s student wellbeing programs, providing a multi ‘student and educator’ perspective.
- A thought-provoking bird eye’s view on the keys to promote mental wellness, drive cultural change and create a thriving school community.
Wearing multiple caps throughout, audiences will leave this unconventionally customised session empowered and with the clarity, practical tips and inspiration to take immediate action, ignite positive change and lead in the creation of The Thriving School.
GAME PLAN FOR SCHOOL GREATNESS
TIME: 3-5 hours
AUDIENCE: Student Leaders (with school executive also in attendance)
TIME: 3-5 hours
AUDIENCE: Student Leaders (with school executive also in attendance)
OVERVIEW
Student leaders, above all, have the greatest power and influence to promote mental wellness and create cultural change within a school environment. This program will empower, inspire and equip student leaders to become drivers of student wellbeing initiatives to create a thriving school community.
Engaging, interactive and impactful, there are three modules in this student leadership program:
1) AWARENESS - Discovering their power of becoming the leader of their life through greater self-awareness, self belief, and resilience - leaving empowered and inspired to get the “monkeys” of their back.
2) ALIGNMENT - Designing their own ‘leadership’ group vision connected to creating a thriving school community (e.g reduce bullying, positive peer relations, mental health, engagement, collaboration) through teamwork - leaving confident, optimistic and driven by purpose.
3) ACTION PLAN - Developing strategies and an implementation plan to turn the vision into reality - leaving with the clarity, practical tips and inspiration to take immediate action to follow-through and achieve their “documented” game plan, help others get the monkeys off their back, and create a thriving school community.
This program also includes post program implementation support and accountability.
Student leaders, above all, have the greatest power and influence to promote mental wellness and create cultural change within a school environment. This program will empower, inspire and equip student leaders to become drivers of student wellbeing initiatives to create a thriving school community.
Engaging, interactive and impactful, there are three modules in this student leadership program:
1) AWARENESS - Discovering their power of becoming the leader of their life through greater self-awareness, self belief, and resilience - leaving empowered and inspired to get the “monkeys” of their back.
- Key Focus: Personal leadership, resilience, inspiration, empowerment, influence
2) ALIGNMENT - Designing their own ‘leadership’ group vision connected to creating a thriving school community (e.g reduce bullying, positive peer relations, mental health, engagement, collaboration) through teamwork - leaving confident, optimistic and driven by purpose.
- Key Focus: Leading others, vision, positive engagement, teamwork, critical thinking
3) ACTION PLAN - Developing strategies and an implementation plan to turn the vision into reality - leaving with the clarity, practical tips and inspiration to take immediate action to follow-through and achieve their “documented” game plan, help others get the monkeys off their back, and create a thriving school community.
- Key Focus: Implementation, communication strategies, positive mindset, collaboration, community, accountability.
This program also includes post program implementation support and accountability.
Testimonials for Onsite Delivery
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"I had the honour to work with Daniel when he was a key note speaker and delivered youth empowerment workshops at the 2019 Middle East Youth Expo in Abu Dhabi. Daniels energy fills the room, he's engaging, compassionate and has the ability to make those who feel they cannot achieve their goals and dreams believe in themselves and it truly comes from the heart. Despite many unforseen circumstances impacting the event, Daniel true to himself took everything in his stride, remained positive, high energy and most importantly focused only on delivering what he set out to do to make a difference in the lives of the young people at the event. I would highly recommend Daniel to help schools, colleges, charities, gov departments increase resilience in young people, focus on their mental wellbeing and engage with each other with higher levels of empathy, which cant be underestimated following the impact of COVID."
Tracy Foundation - Co Founder of Middle East Youth Expo
"We loved the day. I found him to be inspirational. He challenged our students to be better leaders and to find out what a good leader is all about. He made it very practical. They were able to set goals for 2021, and to actually work through to see what it would look like. They came away with a lot of ideas. I would highly recommend this day."
Principal, Hennessy Catholic College
“Energetic and entertaining. So much fun. There was never a dull moment. Highly recommend".
Year 10 student - Oakhill College
"Our students got a huge amount out of it. Highly recommend".
Head of Middle School, Wesley College
“Resilience, how to stand up to bullying and the 5 monkeys, all of which I learned a lot from. Highly recommend him.”
Year 7 student, Freeman College
"Daniel is a motivated speaker to teenagers on a range of different contemporary issues affecting our students. He has strong interpersonal skills which is reflected in his practical and informative talks. I highly recommend Daniel Merza if you would like a speaker with strong knowledge, great presentation skills and a person genuine in helping our next generation".
Curriculum Advisor - NSW Department of Education
"Daniel presented a tailor-made session for me to an audience of educators and personnel who deal with the wellbeing of students in schools. The session contained a lot of highly relevant material, caused much discussion, and also caused many to reflect on some elements of the programs they are running in their schools. He introduced us to what he terms "the monkeys on your back", and showed us how he might use these images with students. He made a strong link between the importance of strong mental health for teachers and strong mental health for students, with reference to current statistics, and high profile experts in the field. The feedback was very positive from all who attended".
Greg Robinson - Head of Students, Senior School at Hunter Valley Grammar School
"Daniel's presentation at Tangara's Year 11 Leadership Camp was inspiring, engaging and highly motivating. He challenged the girls to reflect and think critically about what prevents them from achieving their personal best, and provided some concrete suggestions for how to overcome these obstacles and become the "leader of your life". I highly recommend Daniel for any Secondary School presentation. Looking forward to working with him again in the future".
Rita Sakr - Principal at Tangara School for Girls
"Daniel gave an insightful, energetic and inspirational presentation to our Year 10 boys. Our boys really appreciated hearing Daniel's authentic story explaining his own life experience from being bullied as a young boy to building his own resilience and tenacity in learning to 'get the monkey's off his back'. Daniel's interactive and practical approach to covering important life skills like; setting smart goals, having a growth mindset and developing self-awareness really resonated with our boys. I would highly recommend Daniel".
Catherine O'Sullivan - Head of House at Waverley College
"Thank you for your time, wisdom and generosity Daniel Merza. Students were engaged, motivated and challenged to consider how they can incite positive change in their lives. Fantastic work!"
Head of House (combined Year 7 - 12 students) - Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview
"Through Daniel's personal experiences of the social issues teenagers face today, he is able to deliver a real, heartfelt talk which students can relate to. A sincere presentation".
Year 8 Leader of Wellbeing - De La Salle College, Caringbah
"Just heard Dan's great speech about how he went through bullying and he taught us how to deal with it and how to see if someone else is getting bullied and how to prevent it in the school. I think it was a really inspiring talk and I would recommend it to other schools because it definitely helps them a lot."
Year 8 student
"My main key takeaway from tonight was how to prevent bullying if it’s happening to you and how to identify if you are bullying someone and know how to stop. I think Dan spoke really well and really conveyed his message so we all understood what was happening and how to prevent different things. I recommend him to other schools so that more people can become aware about how to stop bullying and how to help people who are getting bullied and help prevent it."
Year 8 student
“Youthful, dynamic and engaging from start to finish. Our boys took away a great deal from Daniel’s presentation on resilience and achieving their personal best. He took the boys on a journey of discovery as they make the important transition to manhood, and in doing so, helped them find out more about themselves, and more importantly who they can be and what’s possible for them in Senior School and thereafter. Daniel’s passion was evident as he instilled in the boys the importance of making the most of their short block of time remaining at school by adopting a strong work ethic, to be true to oneself, and to be perseverant. Daniel provided energy and guidance in helping the boys make important school, career and life choices. We’ll definitely have Daniel back again”.
Year 10 Boarding Master - Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview
“An outstanding communicator, Daniel kept students engaged right through his presentation on resilience - both males and females. Speaking to ATAR and Non ATAR students, his content was relatable, inspiring, and tailored to both categories, not only providing students with much needed motivation leading into their final HSC exams, but also, unpacking alternative pathways available and the action that they are required to take now to set up their future. It’s exactly what they needed to hear and I was delighted to see several students approach Daniel afterwards to share positive feedback. It won’t be the last time Daniel speaks at this school. I couldn’t recommend him more highly”.
Year 12 Coordinator - Sir Joseph Banks High School, Revesby
“All of the points from his presentation resonated deeply with all of our students. The feedback from our students was overwhelmingly positive and many asked to stay back to have the opportunity to speak to Daniel”.
Year 12 Coordinator - Patrician Brothers College, Fairfield
"Daniel, you're an inspiration mate. As a teenager myself, hearing you speak tonight was mind blowing in terms of completing my HSC and in term of a positive attitude and resilience for a successful life. Daniel, you're an inspiration. Keep it up mate."
Year 12 Student
"Hi Daniel. Thanks for the talk. It was a pleasure speaking to you and you really inspired and motivated me to do what I wish to strive for. Your time and effort really got me into the laser point mood and the next four months will be a journey for me to fight with my books. Thanks again. Much appreciated. Hope there is many more talks to come with you and many more motivational and inspiring talks too. Head down, ass up"
Year 12 Student
"Thank you so much. You have really helped by son get the monkeys off his back"
Parent
"Matthew came home absolutely wrapped in the talk that Daniel gave and very inspired. One of Matthew’s mates actually committed suicide a few months earlier at their school in Year 9 so it was so pertinent. Excellent !"
Parent
Tracy Foundation - Co Founder of Middle East Youth Expo
"We loved the day. I found him to be inspirational. He challenged our students to be better leaders and to find out what a good leader is all about. He made it very practical. They were able to set goals for 2021, and to actually work through to see what it would look like. They came away with a lot of ideas. I would highly recommend this day."
Principal, Hennessy Catholic College
“Energetic and entertaining. So much fun. There was never a dull moment. Highly recommend".
Year 10 student - Oakhill College
"Our students got a huge amount out of it. Highly recommend".
Head of Middle School, Wesley College
“Resilience, how to stand up to bullying and the 5 monkeys, all of which I learned a lot from. Highly recommend him.”
Year 7 student, Freeman College
"Daniel is a motivated speaker to teenagers on a range of different contemporary issues affecting our students. He has strong interpersonal skills which is reflected in his practical and informative talks. I highly recommend Daniel Merza if you would like a speaker with strong knowledge, great presentation skills and a person genuine in helping our next generation".
Curriculum Advisor - NSW Department of Education
"Daniel presented a tailor-made session for me to an audience of educators and personnel who deal with the wellbeing of students in schools. The session contained a lot of highly relevant material, caused much discussion, and also caused many to reflect on some elements of the programs they are running in their schools. He introduced us to what he terms "the monkeys on your back", and showed us how he might use these images with students. He made a strong link between the importance of strong mental health for teachers and strong mental health for students, with reference to current statistics, and high profile experts in the field. The feedback was very positive from all who attended".
Greg Robinson - Head of Students, Senior School at Hunter Valley Grammar School
"Daniel's presentation at Tangara's Year 11 Leadership Camp was inspiring, engaging and highly motivating. He challenged the girls to reflect and think critically about what prevents them from achieving their personal best, and provided some concrete suggestions for how to overcome these obstacles and become the "leader of your life". I highly recommend Daniel for any Secondary School presentation. Looking forward to working with him again in the future".
Rita Sakr - Principal at Tangara School for Girls
"Daniel gave an insightful, energetic and inspirational presentation to our Year 10 boys. Our boys really appreciated hearing Daniel's authentic story explaining his own life experience from being bullied as a young boy to building his own resilience and tenacity in learning to 'get the monkey's off his back'. Daniel's interactive and practical approach to covering important life skills like; setting smart goals, having a growth mindset and developing self-awareness really resonated with our boys. I would highly recommend Daniel".
Catherine O'Sullivan - Head of House at Waverley College
"Thank you for your time, wisdom and generosity Daniel Merza. Students were engaged, motivated and challenged to consider how they can incite positive change in their lives. Fantastic work!"
Head of House (combined Year 7 - 12 students) - Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview
"Through Daniel's personal experiences of the social issues teenagers face today, he is able to deliver a real, heartfelt talk which students can relate to. A sincere presentation".
Year 8 Leader of Wellbeing - De La Salle College, Caringbah
"Just heard Dan's great speech about how he went through bullying and he taught us how to deal with it and how to see if someone else is getting bullied and how to prevent it in the school. I think it was a really inspiring talk and I would recommend it to other schools because it definitely helps them a lot."
Year 8 student
"My main key takeaway from tonight was how to prevent bullying if it’s happening to you and how to identify if you are bullying someone and know how to stop. I think Dan spoke really well and really conveyed his message so we all understood what was happening and how to prevent different things. I recommend him to other schools so that more people can become aware about how to stop bullying and how to help people who are getting bullied and help prevent it."
Year 8 student
“Youthful, dynamic and engaging from start to finish. Our boys took away a great deal from Daniel’s presentation on resilience and achieving their personal best. He took the boys on a journey of discovery as they make the important transition to manhood, and in doing so, helped them find out more about themselves, and more importantly who they can be and what’s possible for them in Senior School and thereafter. Daniel’s passion was evident as he instilled in the boys the importance of making the most of their short block of time remaining at school by adopting a strong work ethic, to be true to oneself, and to be perseverant. Daniel provided energy and guidance in helping the boys make important school, career and life choices. We’ll definitely have Daniel back again”.
Year 10 Boarding Master - Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview
“An outstanding communicator, Daniel kept students engaged right through his presentation on resilience - both males and females. Speaking to ATAR and Non ATAR students, his content was relatable, inspiring, and tailored to both categories, not only providing students with much needed motivation leading into their final HSC exams, but also, unpacking alternative pathways available and the action that they are required to take now to set up their future. It’s exactly what they needed to hear and I was delighted to see several students approach Daniel afterwards to share positive feedback. It won’t be the last time Daniel speaks at this school. I couldn’t recommend him more highly”.
Year 12 Coordinator - Sir Joseph Banks High School, Revesby
“All of the points from his presentation resonated deeply with all of our students. The feedback from our students was overwhelmingly positive and many asked to stay back to have the opportunity to speak to Daniel”.
Year 12 Coordinator - Patrician Brothers College, Fairfield
"Daniel, you're an inspiration mate. As a teenager myself, hearing you speak tonight was mind blowing in terms of completing my HSC and in term of a positive attitude and resilience for a successful life. Daniel, you're an inspiration. Keep it up mate."
Year 12 Student
"Hi Daniel. Thanks for the talk. It was a pleasure speaking to you and you really inspired and motivated me to do what I wish to strive for. Your time and effort really got me into the laser point mood and the next four months will be a journey for me to fight with my books. Thanks again. Much appreciated. Hope there is many more talks to come with you and many more motivational and inspiring talks too. Head down, ass up"
Year 12 Student
"Thank you so much. You have really helped by son get the monkeys off his back"
Parent
"Matthew came home absolutely wrapped in the talk that Daniel gave and very inspired. One of Matthew’s mates actually committed suicide a few months earlier at their school in Year 9 so it was so pertinent. Excellent !"
Parent
MORE TESTIMONIALS
"It was an honour to be one of the students who got to listen to you speak. One of the most engaging and inspiring presentations I have ever had the privilege of hearing!"
Petra, Undergraduate, Western Sydney University
"I attended a conference where Daniel was one of the guest speakers. He was very motivational and I would highly recommend listening to one of his speeches. From the conference I also bought Daniels book- “Get the monkeys off your back” which is a great read for self development. After reading numerous self development books I can say that this was honestly one of the best."
Joshika, Undergraduate, Western Sydney University
"It was an honour to have you share your story with our students. All of the points you presented today resonated with each of them - no matter the major, study year or demographic. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive."
Raymonda Aoun, Western Sydney University, Engagement Officer, Office of the Dean, School of Business
Thank you very much for your motivational speech today at Western Sydney University (4 October 2018). It was great to see my students being engaged and inspired by your story. A lot of them are going through changes in their lives and are trying to figure out what their calling is. The key points you shared will definitely help them to have a deeper reflection on their career journey. You have also made a positive impact on my students who met you at the Networking Event (7 September 2018) at Western Sydney University. When reflecting on the event during our class discussions they described you as being approachable and inspiring.
Dr Noor Lazar, Western Sydney University - School of Business
Testimonials for Digital Delivery with Dynamic Daniel
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"Daniel delivers a strong narrative through his own experiences that is engaging and relevant to every student. A thoughtful, informative presentation during this unprecedented time."
Deputy Principal - Erindale College
"Thank you Daniel. The students loved the two sessions."
Head of Senior School - Bellfield College.
“It was an absolutely amazing experience. The screen was clear, videos were clear, everything was working well.”
Year 10 student
"I really loved how we got to speak to Daniel Merza via Zoom, so cool."
Year 10 student
"My biggest takeaway from the lesson was don't be like the 5 monkeys - Enzo, Scooter, Darryl, Tyson and Moi. I enjoyed the whole session. Daniel was a very nice and enthusiastic man at all times, which made it interesting and got me to listen the whole time and not get distracted (an achievement for me😂). Daniel was able to be seen and heard clearly by us students. I would recommend this to other schools. It's very interesting what Daniel has to say, he is good at presenting and what he says, sticks with you."
Year 10 student
"The virtual session was very good and I would recommend it to other schools. My biggest takeaway was learning how to properly manage my time throughout the week, and how to also properly set my life goals. The engagement throughout the class was great since Daniel often asked questions to involve us."
Year 11 student
"Daniel’s delivery was clear and engaging and helped the students understand more about how to study effectively. Highly recommended."
Teacher
"My biggest takeaway was to get the monkeys off your back, especially Darryl. I get distracted easily and he gave us a lot of information on how to get rid of the monkey on our back. I had fun listening to his experiences and learnt a lot. I love the way he speaks, and gets even those that get distracted easily to focus on what he is saying. Enjoyed the Q&A and how Daniel answered all questions given. I’d recommend it to other schools because like many people would gain a lot from the knowledge he shares and from listening to him. The most important thing is taking notes because you will need them."
Year 10 student
"My biggest takeaway was to focus on being yourself. Daniel was very good and relatable. Definitely recommend it."
Year 10 student
"Daniel taught me that negative mindsets can be challenged - at the end of the day, I'm the only person who can turn my life around. The virtual experience was certainly something different, however it went well. I enjoyed the personifications of the negative mentalities - it helped me to better understand and visualise my own 'monkeys' and think about how to combat them. The delivery was smooth and engaging. I enjoyed the session very much. Highly recommend Daniel to other schools."
Year 10 student
"I learned how to be in control of my own life and not waste time pleasing other people. My favourite parts were how Daniel explained the monkeys and how they impact our everyday lives and I also really liked his story and finding out about the challenges he went through and how he turned his life around to become the man he is today. I really enjoyed it and suggest we do this sort of thing more often and there was honestly nothing that I didn't like. Definitely recommend it to other schools, it's extremely helpful."
Year 10 student
"I learned that I’m not the only one with these specific "monkeys" on my back. It's comforting to know I'm not alone. Daniel was really into it and was hyping us up the whole way and getting us involved. Definitely encourage other schools to get involved."
Year 10 student
"You were amazing Daniel. Thank you so much for the amazing 2 day experience. I learned so much!"
Year 10 student
"I loved the program"
Year 10 student
“The biggest takeaway for me was how to find and overcome the problems we might face as we grow into the real world and not let it get to us. What I liked the most was how the monkeys were used to show to find what you may need help in or what problem you might have. I found it very easy to understand and it was explained very well. I had no trouble with anything. I would definitely recommend this to other schools. It gave me a much more clear understanding of the problems there might be and how to overcome."
Year 10 student
"My biggest takeaway was learning the HARP study method, prioritisation and setting clear goals. Daniel’s delivery was enthusiastic, engaging and interactive. Definitely recommend it."
Year 11 student
"I found the session very inspirational. Daniel knew how to speak about the topics and I learned how to manage my time and effectively cope with subjects."
Year 11 student
"Daniel’s virtual session was great, very engaging and welcoming, instilling in students that self belief comes from applying the right habits. Definitely recommend it to other schools."
Teacher
"I found the session helpful. My biggest take away was that it will help me create achievable goals in the future. I’d recommend it to other schools."
Year 7 student
"I found the session quite engaging and learnt a lot about setting effective goals, in fact, I started writing goals as the content was given and now I just want to tick them all off!"
Year 11 student
"I loved it. Very engaging. My biggest takeaway was the idea of personal momentum and getting started to gain motivation. I also learned about the importance of scheduling our work and not letting our emotional state impact our ability to get it done. I would recommend these sessions to schools."
Year 10 student
"The session was quite informative and straight to the point and the biggest takeaway would be how people perceive fear with fear being a choice rather than an emotion."
Year 11 student
"Awesome. Loved it, especially meditation, types of fear, and that danger is real and fear is just a perspective."
Year 10 student
"It was amazing and cleared so many questions I had. I loved the polls and Q & A, and learned about the 5 steps to be an effective learner. Highly recommended!"
Year 8 student
"Awesome. Excellent content and clear messages not only for my child, but I took away a lot too. Would absolutely recommend it to other schools."
Parent
"Very helpful and informative. It provided me with a better understanding of how to set effective goals.I’d encourage every single school to experience this because you are giving us directions on how to focus on improving ourselves and how to plan for our future."
Year 10 student
"My biggest takeaway was learning about the 7 ways to tackle procrastination."
Year 8 student
"Very helpful. Biggest takeaway was to focus on finding common ground with people to help make new friends. I would definitely recommend this to other schools."
Year 7 student
"Biggest learning was the five steps for effective study planning. Very helpful. I would definitely recommend it to others".
Year 8 student
"I learned about the monkeys and strategies to deal with bullying. I’d definitely recommend it to other schools."
Year 7 student
"Brilliant. I thought it was just going to be a talk but Daniel made it interactive. They were using the chat function. Really engaging, really diverse with the videos, the chat, and the polls. Perfect. Recommend."
Assistant Principal, Amity International School, UAE
“Energetic and entertaining. So much fun. There was never a dull moment. Highly recommend".
Year 10 student - Oakhill College
"Our students got a huge amount out of it. Highly recommend".
Head of Middle School, Wesley College
“Resilience, how to stand up to bullying and the 5 monkeys, all of which I learned a lot from. Highly recommend him.”
Year 7 student, Freeman College
"Daniel is a motivated speaker to teenagers on a range of different contemporary issues affecting our students. He has strong interpersonal skills which is reflected in his practical and informative talks. I highly recommend Daniel Merza if you would like a speaker with strong knowledge, great presentation skills and a person genuine in helping our next generation".
Curriculum Advisor - NSW Department of Education
Deputy Principal - Erindale College
"Thank you Daniel. The students loved the two sessions."
Head of Senior School - Bellfield College.
“It was an absolutely amazing experience. The screen was clear, videos were clear, everything was working well.”
Year 10 student
"I really loved how we got to speak to Daniel Merza via Zoom, so cool."
Year 10 student
"My biggest takeaway from the lesson was don't be like the 5 monkeys - Enzo, Scooter, Darryl, Tyson and Moi. I enjoyed the whole session. Daniel was a very nice and enthusiastic man at all times, which made it interesting and got me to listen the whole time and not get distracted (an achievement for me😂). Daniel was able to be seen and heard clearly by us students. I would recommend this to other schools. It's very interesting what Daniel has to say, he is good at presenting and what he says, sticks with you."
Year 10 student
"The virtual session was very good and I would recommend it to other schools. My biggest takeaway was learning how to properly manage my time throughout the week, and how to also properly set my life goals. The engagement throughout the class was great since Daniel often asked questions to involve us."
Year 11 student
"Daniel’s delivery was clear and engaging and helped the students understand more about how to study effectively. Highly recommended."
Teacher
"My biggest takeaway was to get the monkeys off your back, especially Darryl. I get distracted easily and he gave us a lot of information on how to get rid of the monkey on our back. I had fun listening to his experiences and learnt a lot. I love the way he speaks, and gets even those that get distracted easily to focus on what he is saying. Enjoyed the Q&A and how Daniel answered all questions given. I’d recommend it to other schools because like many people would gain a lot from the knowledge he shares and from listening to him. The most important thing is taking notes because you will need them."
Year 10 student
"My biggest takeaway was to focus on being yourself. Daniel was very good and relatable. Definitely recommend it."
Year 10 student
"Daniel taught me that negative mindsets can be challenged - at the end of the day, I'm the only person who can turn my life around. The virtual experience was certainly something different, however it went well. I enjoyed the personifications of the negative mentalities - it helped me to better understand and visualise my own 'monkeys' and think about how to combat them. The delivery was smooth and engaging. I enjoyed the session very much. Highly recommend Daniel to other schools."
Year 10 student
"I learned how to be in control of my own life and not waste time pleasing other people. My favourite parts were how Daniel explained the monkeys and how they impact our everyday lives and I also really liked his story and finding out about the challenges he went through and how he turned his life around to become the man he is today. I really enjoyed it and suggest we do this sort of thing more often and there was honestly nothing that I didn't like. Definitely recommend it to other schools, it's extremely helpful."
Year 10 student
"I learned that I’m not the only one with these specific "monkeys" on my back. It's comforting to know I'm not alone. Daniel was really into it and was hyping us up the whole way and getting us involved. Definitely encourage other schools to get involved."
Year 10 student
"You were amazing Daniel. Thank you so much for the amazing 2 day experience. I learned so much!"
Year 10 student
"I loved the program"
Year 10 student
“The biggest takeaway for me was how to find and overcome the problems we might face as we grow into the real world and not let it get to us. What I liked the most was how the monkeys were used to show to find what you may need help in or what problem you might have. I found it very easy to understand and it was explained very well. I had no trouble with anything. I would definitely recommend this to other schools. It gave me a much more clear understanding of the problems there might be and how to overcome."
Year 10 student
"My biggest takeaway was learning the HARP study method, prioritisation and setting clear goals. Daniel’s delivery was enthusiastic, engaging and interactive. Definitely recommend it."
Year 11 student
"I found the session very inspirational. Daniel knew how to speak about the topics and I learned how to manage my time and effectively cope with subjects."
Year 11 student
"Daniel’s virtual session was great, very engaging and welcoming, instilling in students that self belief comes from applying the right habits. Definitely recommend it to other schools."
Teacher
"I found the session helpful. My biggest take away was that it will help me create achievable goals in the future. I’d recommend it to other schools."
Year 7 student
"I found the session quite engaging and learnt a lot about setting effective goals, in fact, I started writing goals as the content was given and now I just want to tick them all off!"
Year 11 student
"I loved it. Very engaging. My biggest takeaway was the idea of personal momentum and getting started to gain motivation. I also learned about the importance of scheduling our work and not letting our emotional state impact our ability to get it done. I would recommend these sessions to schools."
Year 10 student
"The session was quite informative and straight to the point and the biggest takeaway would be how people perceive fear with fear being a choice rather than an emotion."
Year 11 student
"Awesome. Loved it, especially meditation, types of fear, and that danger is real and fear is just a perspective."
Year 10 student
"It was amazing and cleared so many questions I had. I loved the polls and Q & A, and learned about the 5 steps to be an effective learner. Highly recommended!"
Year 8 student
"Awesome. Excellent content and clear messages not only for my child, but I took away a lot too. Would absolutely recommend it to other schools."
Parent
"Very helpful and informative. It provided me with a better understanding of how to set effective goals.I’d encourage every single school to experience this because you are giving us directions on how to focus on improving ourselves and how to plan for our future."
Year 10 student
"My biggest takeaway was learning about the 7 ways to tackle procrastination."
Year 8 student
"Very helpful. Biggest takeaway was to focus on finding common ground with people to help make new friends. I would definitely recommend this to other schools."
Year 7 student
"Biggest learning was the five steps for effective study planning. Very helpful. I would definitely recommend it to others".
Year 8 student
"I learned about the monkeys and strategies to deal with bullying. I’d definitely recommend it to other schools."
Year 7 student
"Brilliant. I thought it was just going to be a talk but Daniel made it interactive. They were using the chat function. Really engaging, really diverse with the videos, the chat, and the polls. Perfect. Recommend."
Assistant Principal, Amity International School, UAE
“Energetic and entertaining. So much fun. There was never a dull moment. Highly recommend".
Year 10 student - Oakhill College
"Our students got a huge amount out of it. Highly recommend".
Head of Middle School, Wesley College
“Resilience, how to stand up to bullying and the 5 monkeys, all of which I learned a lot from. Highly recommend him.”
Year 7 student, Freeman College
"Daniel is a motivated speaker to teenagers on a range of different contemporary issues affecting our students. He has strong interpersonal skills which is reflected in his practical and informative talks. I highly recommend Daniel Merza if you would like a speaker with strong knowledge, great presentation skills and a person genuine in helping our next generation".
Curriculum Advisor - NSW Department of Education
About Daniel
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Daniel Merza is a student wellbeing and leadership specialist, award-winning international speaker, teen coach and author.
Having worn the "underdog" cap growing up, Daniel's story can be summed up in three words - "Defying the odds". Bullied for a decade, diagnosed with a mental illness aged 13, and labelled as a student with “no hope”, Daniel faced up to his tormentors at 16 and turned his life around. During an illustrious corporate career spanning 15 years with leading companies like KPMG and BDO, Daniel spent considerable time developing the weaker spots of younger staff - such as tenacity, emotional intelligence, stress management, self confidence, and leadership - as part of his senior leadership roles. Having witnessed first-hand as a manager the degree to which young people lacked the essential skills to thrive post-school, Daniel left behind a six figure corporate pay packet to embark upon his mission to inspire tenacity, optimism and empowerment in high school students and “get them ready” to flourish in the real world. Based in Sydney, Daniel has developed clever and fun ways to engage, empower and equip thousands of people worldwide to get the monkeys off their back and become the leader of their life. He has been featured on the radio and various newspaper and media outlets, and his work has also been acknowledged in NSW Parliament. Daniel was a keynote speaker at the Middle East Youth Expo 2020 in Abu Dhabi, the largest youth event in the region with 10,000 students attending. Daniel also toured the UAE, speaking at high schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Daniel is also the author of Get the Monkeys off Your Back, a book specifically written for teens (and parents/educators), covering important topics such as self leadership, resilience, mental health, bullying, social media addiction, self discovery and peak performance. |
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