100s of Students Wrote Their Purpose Statements—Here is What We Learned
The Conversation Young People Are Actually Hungry For
There were 770 chairs set up in the gym.
Rows of students slowly made their way in. Hoodies and sneakers everywhere. There was nervous energy, sleepy eyes, and laughter echoing off the walls.
Only Grade 12 students have this kind of energy, standing in that unique space between childhood and adulthood, knowing life is about to demand more from them than ever before.
I arrived on “the stage” to boisterous cheers after a heartfelt introduction by the school’s Chaplain, retreat organizer and long-time high school friend.
As I stood at the front of the room, looking out at all of them, I thought:
What do these young people most need to hear right now?
Not just academically.
Not performatively.
Not another lecture about success.
But soul-level truth.
When I spoke at the Grade 12 retreat at Notre Dame High School in Calgary this week, I chose not to talk about AI the way most people do.
I talked about the ultimate AI.
The one no app can replace.
The one already inside them; the “All-knowing Intelligence” inside them.
I spoke about how we live in a world where algorithms often drown out our own inner voice. This world keeps telling young people who to be, how to look, what to pursue, and how fast they should become “successful.”
And I asked them a question that seemed to stop the room for a moment:
What if your greatest advantage in the future is not artificial intelligence but learning how to listen for this “All-knowing Intelligence” (AI)
You could feel the shift happen.
The room got quieter.
More focused.
More honest.
We talked about the risks of letting others define your identity, and the importance of listening to yourself before the world tells you who to be.
From there, I walked them through the 4 steps to tap into listening to themselves and have a compass to make any decision, any choice and feel great about life.
And then we did something together that I will not soon forget.
I asked each student to create their very own 4-word purpose statement.
Not a resume line.
Not a polished brand slogan.
A real statement about what they value and how they want to use it in the world.
I asked a few of them to share:
“I guide with integrity.”
“I lead with excellence.”
“I create with community.”
WOW. It was powerful to hear these young people declare the best of themselves into the microphone; their voices rising into the room.
I watched as hundreds of young people effortlessly choose their values, their impact, their character, and the kind of life they want to create.
Even amid all the noise young people face today, there is still a strong hunger for meaning.
Not just achievement or fame but real, connected meaning.
After the presentation ended, something happened that I will carry with me for a very long time.
A swarm of students came right up to me with a wave of gratitude:
Questions.
Thank yous.
Big smiles.
Nervous honesty.
One young woman told me, with conviction, that she was going home tonight and putting her personal mission statement on her mirror.
As I get ready to hit the highway back home, I keep thinking about that young woman placing her purpose statement on her mirror.
It was just four simple words, but a daily reminder of who she wants to become. She now has her very own compass to create a new direction.
That matters.
(How many adults do you know have that?)
Here’s why this is important: Before young people can lead others well, they must first learn how to lead themselves.
I believe this generation is far more capable, thoughtful, and purpose-driven than we often give them credit for. They simply need conversations that call something deeper out of them.
And after this week, I know with certainty that I want to continue bringing these conversations into more schools, conferences, retreats, and youth spaces.
Not just to inspire young people for an hour, but to help them remember themselves for a lifetime.
Until next time, keep shifting, keep growing, and keep showing up,
~ 𝕄ℂ𝔾