Living a peaceful and successful life is a choice.
That was the message both Toronto Argonaut Chuck Winters and Louise Russo, an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of an organized crime shooting, shared with about 300 students who had gathered at Riverdale Collegiate for the third annual United Games.
In his speech, Winters got students thinking about the impact of decisions as he shared his personal story of how his brother was shot to death.
"Your success in life is determined by the relationships you have," he said, adding that despite being creatures of habit we all have the ability to make choices to live differently. "If you put others before yourself, all else will fall into place."
The most touching part of his speech was when he invited everyone at the assembly to stand up and place their right hand on their forehead and repeat after him.
"My mind is made to create miracles."
He then directed everyone to place their hand on their heart and say, "My heart is made to show love."
Russo, a busy mother of three from North York, became the innocent victim of a shooting which left her paralyzed when she popped into an sandwich shop one evening.
Today, Russo is the founder of Walk Against Violence Everywhere (WAVE), a not-for profit organization designed to inspire young people to demonstrate respect, responsibility and leadership through concrete actions that create safer and healthier communities.
"I'm just an ordinary person (who) walked into a horrible situation. Out of this tragedy I want to create a positive impact," she said.
"We choose our behaviours. I hope my own experience and tragedy moves people to make the right choices in life."
Those powerful words were shared with pupils from six east-end high schools attending the United Games, a youth-led initiative focused on bringing together young people to combat violence.
"(The United Games) give students the opportunity to get to know each other in a non-competitive environment," said lead teacher Jenny Chen. "It's a way for all of us to work together."
Monarch Park Collegiate student, Allan Knox, agreed.
"It's not very often that you get schools to hang out. I'm having a blast of a time," said the Grade 12 pupil who one day hopes to become a firefighter. "The speakers really did inspire me to change my life."
Former Riverdale Collegiate students Lucile Neden and Mika Imai founded the event, where local high school students participate in team-building activities as well as informative workshops.
Imai and Neden, now first-year students at the University of Ottawa, were the recipients of a 2007 Louise Russo Youth Award for their efforts to reduce violence in their communities.
The young women were also classmates and friends of 15-year-old Jane Creba, a Riverdale Collegiate student who was killed after being hit by a stray bullet on Boxing Day 2005 while shopping near Yonge and Dundas streets.
"Our goal is to inspire others to get involved," Imai said, hoping the initiative would one day be expanded to other schools.
"We'd love this to go TDSB-wide, even into elementary schools. That would be amazing."
Neden - whose younger sister Clara alongside fellow Grade 11 student Spiros Vavougios are organizing this year's United Games - added she'd love if the concept was extended to the university level.
"The more recognition, the more the message gets out. It is all about inspiring young leaders to feel there is hope. You have to keep that in mind and spirit."