Hillier challenges students to stretch themselves

Craig Hillier, author/speaker, talked to students at Lake Holcombe School Nov. 9, keeping the audience in stitches, while evoking deep thoughts. Hillier won over the students by handing out candy and getting them interactive in a few games, before delivering his heartfelt message. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

Every student can probably relate to rough patches throughout their middle/high school careers, which is why speaker/author Craig Hillier challenges kids to perfect the three R’s – resilience, respect and responsibility. Hillier spoke to the high school students at Lake Holcombe Nov. 9, where he shared his experiences growing up in Minnesota.

Since 1990, Hillier has challenged young people to make the most of their lives and shared strategies to help make positive choices. His driving desire is to inspire students to exceed their potential and motivate their peers.

Hillier’s goal is also to be better than the speakers he had growing up.

“It starts by stretching yourself,” he said. “That’s what’s going to happen in school; you’re going to be challenged.”

When that happens, Hillier told students they can either settle or push themselves for more.

That’s where resilience comes in, which is working through the tough times. Hillier said sometimes, you have to re-silence the voice of doubt.

“Maybe that voice in there, it’s time for us to take a look and ask, is it serving us or do we need to kind of turn that volume down a bit?” he said.

For example, Hillier recalled skiing when he was in school. Although he didn’t know how at the time, his friends said they would teach him. The trip wasn’t exactly as he planned, as there were several disasters, including accidentally landing on a girl when he made the decision to jump off the ski lift – twice.

Hillier said he could have quit right then and there, and never look back at snow-covered hills, but he didn’t do that. He got up, and went downhill again and again, and now, there is not a run in the place he can’t handle.

“Your decisions will determine your direction,” said Hillier.

Before a student decides on an action to take, Hillier requested they think about what could happen with that decision and how it will affect others. Hillier says students can’t complain if they just put their time in during school years, and later bemoan what they could have accomplished.

He also wants kids to know that they shouldn’t let what others think of them hold them back. During his high school years, Hillier says respect came into play a lot – or the lack of it.

During his school years, Hillier saw that his fellow students were horrible to each other sometimes. The same can probably be said for many in school nowadays.

Hillier said some kids may be in a group where the students see what damage they can do with their words and/or by physical means, instead of being open-minded and accepting. Hillier asks that kids stand up for others when they get picked on and always stand up for what is important.

One such instance popped to mind, in the form of Hillier’s old classmate, Tommy T., so called to distinguish him from another Tommy. Hillier said there was one girl in the class, who made fun of Tommy T. because he stuttered – until she needed his help with her schoolwork.

Hillier waited for Tommy T. to “tell her off,” but was disappointed, when Tommy T. helped his antagonist. Hillier later asked him why he helped someone who made fun of his speech impediment. Tommy T.’s answer has stuck with Hillier ever since.

“Well, Craig, my mom always told me that if I could help someone, that I should.”

Responsibility, as much as kids might not like that word, also is part of living the best life a person can have. Hillier said students must take responsibility, not just for their actions, but for the course their life takes.

“You’ll never have the life you were destined to have by taking the easy way out,” said Hillier. “You don’t have to be great to start something, but you have to start something to be great. So, what are you going to start?”