[Music] what would you do if you were given the
what would you do if you were given the
what would you do if you were given the opportunity to travel to another country
opportunity to travel to another country
opportunity to travel to another country and live there for a year where would
and live there for a year where would
and live there for a year where would you go would you even go would you be
you go would you even go would you be
you go would you even go would you be able to leave behind your friends and
able to leave behind your friends and
able to leave behind your friends and family to travel to somewhere new and
family to travel to somewhere new and
family to travel to somewhere new and unknown four years ago in the summer of
unknown four years ago in the summer of
unknown four years ago in the summer of 2013 my family and I did just that and
2013 my family and I did just that and
2013 my family and I did just that and it was a sort of a new chapter my life
it was a sort of a new chapter my life
it was a sort of a new chapter my life of trying new things and saying yes
of trying new things and saying yes
of trying new things and saying yes during the summer of 2012 a year before
during the summer of 2012 a year before
during the summer of 2012 a year before this adventure
this adventure
this adventure my parents mentioned to my siblings and
my parents mentioned to my siblings and
my parents mentioned to my siblings and I that possibility of a year-long
I that possibility of a year-long
I that possibility of a year-long exchange trip to Australia however as a
exchange trip to Australia however as a
exchange trip to Australia however as a 12 year old all I could think about was
12 year old all I could think about was
12 year old all I could think about was how I was missing my Grady graduation my
how I was missing my Grady graduation my
how I was missing my Grady graduation my cousin’s wedding and all of my friends
cousin’s wedding and all of my friends
cousin’s wedding and all of my friends let’s just say I wasn’t too thrilled by
let’s just say I wasn’t too thrilled by
let’s just say I wasn’t too thrilled by the proposition I was scared and I
the proposition I was scared and I
the proposition I was scared and I didn’t want to leave behind my family to
didn’t want to leave behind my family to
didn’t want to leave behind my family to travel somewhere into an unknown however
travel somewhere into an unknown however
travel somewhere into an unknown however my siblings and ice threats did nothing
my siblings and ice threats did nothing
my siblings and ice threats did nothing to stop my parents they thought that
to stop my parents they thought that
to stop my parents they thought that this would be an incredible experience
this would be an incredible experience
this would be an incredible experience for us and we have so many new
for us and we have so many new
for us and we have so many new opportunities in Australia that we just
opportunities in Australia that we just
opportunities in Australia that we just couldn’t get here and so in July 1st
couldn’t get here and so in July 1st
couldn’t get here and so in July 1st 2013 we hopped on a plane and travel
2013 we hopped on a plane and travel
2013 we hopped on a plane and travel across the world to a new country and a
across the world to a new country and a
across the world to a new country and a new home little did I know that stepping
new home little did I know that stepping
new home little did I know that stepping onto that plane and out of my comfort
onto that plane and out of my comfort
onto that plane and out of my comfort zone would change my life forever before
zone would change my life forever before
zone would change my life forever before we left my parents mentioned to my
we left my parents mentioned to my
we left my parents mentioned to my siblings and I that a year from the word
siblings and I that a year from the word
siblings and I that a year from the word our word for the year would be yes and
our word for the year would be yes and
our word for the year would be yes and that we were gonna try as many new
that we were gonna try as many new
that we were gonna try as many new things as possible we were gonna do our
things as possible we were gonna do our
things as possible we were gonna do our best to not let our fears get the best
best to not let our fears get the best
best to not let our fears get the best of us for my sister and I the fear of
of us for my sister and I the fear of
of us for my sister and I the fear of getting eaten alive by a shark or
getting eaten alive by a shark or
getting eaten alive by a shark or getting bitten by a snake or a spider
getting bitten by a snake or a spider
getting bitten by a snake or a spider was very real one incident within the
was very real one incident within the
was very real one incident within the first two months of our trip that had
first two months of our trip that had
first two months of our trip that had absolutely nothing to calm those fears
absolutely nothing to calm those fears
absolutely nothing to calm those fears after driving 16 hours north through the
after driving 16 hours north through the
after driving 16 hours north through the outback and the desert and the red dirt
outback and the desert and the red dirt
outback and the desert and the red dirt we arrived in National Park upon
we arrived in National Park upon
we arrived in National Park upon arriving we stopped at the information
arriving we stopped at the information
arriving we stopped at the information centre to get some advice about what day
centre to get some advice about what day
centre to get some advice about what day trip to do and what did we see when we
trip to do and what did we see when we
trip to do and what did we see when we walked up to the front door well of
walked up to the front door well of
walked up to the front door well of course it was a sign about all the
course it was a sign about all the
course it was a sign about all the deadly snakes in the area and how to
deadly snakes in the area and how to
deadly snakes in the area and how to recognise them me and my sister were a
recognise them me and my sister were a
recognise them me and my sister were a little worried but we went in anyways
little worried but we went in anyways
little worried but we went in anyways and after talking to the guy at the
and after talking to the guy at the
and after talking to the guy at the front desk my dad asked him if he could
front desk my dad asked him if he could
front desk my dad asked him if he could say anything to calm our fears
say anything to calm our fears
say anything to calm our fears he stood up leaned over the desk looked
he stood up leaned over the desk looked
he stood up leaned over the desk looked into her eyes and said there is nothing
into her eyes and said there is nothing
into her eyes and said there is nothing I can do to calm your fears there are
I can do to calm your fears there are
I can do to calm your fears there are deadly snakes in the area and so stay on
deadly snakes in the area and so stay on
deadly snakes in the area and so stay on the
the
the trails at this point me and my sister
trails at this point me and my sister
trails at this point me and my sister were a little bit more worried but we
were a little bit more worried but we
were a little bit more worried but we tried to ignore it and we sat down on
tried to ignore it and we sat down on
tried to ignore it and we sat down on the hike to a beautiful waterfall after
the hike to a beautiful waterfall after
the hike to a beautiful waterfall after getting back that afternoon we decided
getting back that afternoon we decided
getting back that afternoon we decided to check out another Canyon where we’d
to check out another Canyon where we’d
to check out another Canyon where we’d be staying the following day after
be staying the following day after
be staying the following day after coming back to the lookout we came
coming back to the lookout we came
coming back to the lookout we came across a snake and me and my sister
across a snake and me and my sister
across a snake and me and my sister started to freak out but to be honest I
started to freak out but to be honest I
started to freak out but to be honest I don’t remember much after what happened
don’t remember much after what happened
don’t remember much after what happened but I do remember my dad turning around
but I do remember my dad turning around
but I do remember my dad turning around and just letting us know about the snake
and just letting us know about the snake
and just letting us know about the snake and telling us to stay calm although
and telling us to stay calm although
and telling us to stay calm although nothing bad happened we vowed that we
nothing bad happened we vowed that we
nothing bad happened we vowed that we would never go back there again however
would never go back there again however
would never go back there again however my dad convinced us with a little bit of
my dad convinced us with a little bit of
my dad convinced us with a little bit of ice cream that this would be a great
ice cream that this would be a great
ice cream that this would be a great experience for us and so we set out the
experience for us and so we set out the
experience for us and so we set out the next day scared but hopeful that it
next day scared but hopeful that it
next day scared but hopeful that it would be as good he said it was needless
would be as good he said it was needless
would be as good he said it was needless to say that hike was probably the best
to say that hike was probably the best
to say that hike was probably the best part of our two-week trip up north after
part of our two-week trip up north after
part of our two-week trip up north after scaling down this rocky pathway we came
scaling down this rocky pathway we came
scaling down this rocky pathway we came to this huge pool and met a family there
to this huge pool and met a family there
to this huge pool and met a family there who had also been in exchange after the
who had also been in exchange after the
who had also been in exchange after the spending the day with them we found out
spending the day with them we found out
spending the day with them we found out that they were from Perth the same city
that they were from Perth the same city
that they were from Perth the same city that we lived in and throughout the year
that we lived in and throughout the year
that we lived in and throughout the year we connected with them a couple of other
we connected with them a couple of other
we connected with them a couple of other times as well as men tears at their
times as well as men tears at their
times as well as men tears at their cottage from his experience I learned to
cottage from his experience I learned to
cottage from his experience I learned to do my best but my fears behind me
do my best but my fears behind me
do my best but my fears behind me because worrying wouldn’t make my
because worrying wouldn’t make my
because worrying wouldn’t make my situation any easier it actually made it
situation any easier it actually made it
situation any easier it actually made it a whole lot harder if I hadn’t have
a whole lot harder if I hadn’t have
a whole lot harder if I hadn’t have pushed past my fears of getting eaten by
pushed past my fears of getting eaten by
pushed past my fears of getting eaten by a snake which seems ridiculous now I
a snake which seems ridiculous now I
a snake which seems ridiculous now I never would have gotten to see that part
never would have gotten to see that part
never would have gotten to see that part of the country or meet that family who
of the country or meet that family who
of the country or meet that family who became one of our really good friends
became one of our really good friends
became one of our really good friends while away I also learned how to try new
while away I also learned how to try new
while away I also learned how to try new things in my everyday life sports are a
things in my everyday life sports are a
things in my everyday life sports are a big thing in my family and while ye
big thing in my family and while ye
big thing in my family and while ye wanted to try as many of the traditional
wanted to try as many of the traditional
wanted to try as many of the traditional Aussie sports as we could such as
Aussie sports as we could such as
Aussie sports as we could such as surfing and field hockey surfing was a
surfing and field hockey surfing was a
surfing and field hockey surfing was a total dream come true
total dream come true
total dream come true I loved the beach which is one of the
I loved the beach which is one of the
I loved the beach which is one of the things I missed the most and the feeling
things I missed the most and the feeling
things I missed the most and the feeling I got when I was surfing was truly
I got when I was surfing was truly
I got when I was surfing was truly unique although it was really difficult
unique although it was really difficult
unique although it was really difficult at times I never wanted to give up and
at times I never wanted to give up and
at times I never wanted to give up and by the end of the year although I was by
by the end of the year although I was by
by the end of the year although I was by no means an expert I could get up and
no means an expert I could get up and
no means an expert I could get up and ride a wave that feeling of freedom was
ride a wave that feeling of freedom was
ride a wave that feeling of freedom was something I look forward to every time I
something I look forward to every time I
something I look forward to every time I went out surfing and I hope I get the
went out surfing and I hope I get the
went out surfing and I hope I get the opportunity to do it again feel cocky
opportunity to do it again feel cocky
opportunity to do it again feel cocky though was another story when I was
though was another story when I was
though was another story when I was little I played hockey for a year before
little I played hockey for a year before
little I played hockey for a year before decided to try something new it just
decided to try something new it just
decided to try something new it just really wasn’t for me however in saying
really wasn’t for me however in saying
really wasn’t for me however in saying yes my
yes my
yes my my sister and I had Club down the road
my sister and I had Club down the road
my sister and I had Club down the road and we were set up to join now we showed
and we were set up to join now we showed
and we were set up to join now we showed up our first practice excited a little
up our first practice excited a little
up our first practice excited a little bit nervous and we found out that there
bit nervous and we found out that there
bit nervous and we found out that there was no one there we were a little
was no one there we were a little
was no one there we were a little confused but when we got back home we
confused but when we got back home we
confused but when we got back home we realized we had gotten our time’s wrong
realized we had gotten our time’s wrong
realized we had gotten our time’s wrong and I had missed my only chance to
and I had missed my only chance to
and I had missed my only chance to practice but before my first game the
practice but before my first game the
practice but before my first game the following Saturday I was terrified had
following Saturday I was terrified had
following Saturday I was terrified had no idea what I was doing and I didn’t
no idea what I was doing and I didn’t
no idea what I was doing and I didn’t want to let down my teammates however
want to let down my teammates however
want to let down my teammates however when I got there I was surprised at how
when I got there I was surprised at how
when I got there I was surprised at how much my teammates actually wanted to
much my teammates actually wanted to
much my teammates actually wanted to help me and get to know me I didn’t have
help me and get to know me I didn’t have
help me and get to know me I didn’t have to be afraid I just had to go out there
to be afraid I just had to go out there
to be afraid I just had to go out there try my best and have some fun throughout
try my best and have some fun throughout
try my best and have some fun throughout my year I had the opportunity to play on
my year I had the opportunity to play on
my year I had the opportunity to play on two different teams and spend a great
two different teams and spend a great
two different teams and spend a great time with this group of girls still to
time with this group of girls still to
time with this group of girls still to this day I have the opportunity play
this day I have the opportunity play
this day I have the opportunity play here at school where he met so many
here at school where he met so many
here at school where he met so many amazing friends and had so many really
amazing friends and had so many really
amazing friends and had so many really good memories from trying new things and
good memories from trying new things and
good memories from trying new things and experiencing new things in Australia I
experiencing new things in Australia I
experiencing new things in Australia I was able to push past my fears and come
was able to push past my fears and come
was able to push past my fears and come back here and get to play out for this
back here and get to play out for this
back here and get to play out for this team if I hadn’t have done that I
team if I hadn’t have done that I
team if I hadn’t have done that I probably never would have had the
probably never would have had the
probably never would have had the courage to play through trying new
courage to play through trying new
courage to play through trying new things and stepping out of my comfort
things and stepping out of my comfort
things and stepping out of my comfort zone while I was away I was able to
zone while I was away I was able to
zone while I was away I was able to experience so many amazing things
experience so many amazing things
experience so many amazing things whether it was ziplining swimming with
whether it was ziplining swimming with
whether it was ziplining swimming with whale sharks a ride a camel there was
whale sharks a ride a camel there was
whale sharks a ride a camel there was always something I would have missed out
always something I would have missed out
always something I would have missed out on if I hadn’t have said yes however
on if I hadn’t have said yes however
on if I hadn’t have said yes however coming back home I want to continue to
coming back home I want to continue to
coming back home I want to continue to live live out the journey life’s too
live live out the journey life’s too
live live out the journey life’s too short to not try something new simply
short to not try something new simply
short to not try something new simply because you’re too scared or don’t think
because you’re too scared or don’t think
because you’re too scared or don’t think you’re good enough for it since coming
you’re good enough for it since coming
you’re good enough for it since coming home I’ve had the opportunity to travel
home I’ve had the opportunity to travel
home I’ve had the opportunity to travel more to speak in to Chapel and during
more to speak in to Chapel and during
more to speak in to Chapel and during part of December and January I had the
part of December and January I had the
part of December and January I had the opportunity to host an Australian
opportunity to host an Australian
opportunity to host an Australian exchange student for five weeks coming
exchange student for five weeks coming
exchange student for five weeks coming home and getting to share my country
home and getting to share my country
home and getting to share my country with someone who’s experiencing
with someone who’s experiencing
with someone who’s experiencing something really similar was really cool
something really similar was really cool
something really similar was really cool and I looked forward to the day when I
and I looked forward to the day when I
and I looked forward to the day when I got to see her again after high school I
got to see her again after high school I
got to see her again after high school I hope to go back to Australia and
hope to go back to Australia and
hope to go back to Australia and continued a little bit the adventure
continued a little bit the adventure
continued a little bit the adventure however this time without my family
however this time without my family
however this time without my family although trying the things and stepping
although trying the things and stepping
although trying the things and stepping out of your comfort zone can be really
out of your comfort zone can be really
out of your comfort zone can be really challenging at times it will change your
challenging at times it will change your
challenging at times it will change your life as soon as you stop playing fear be
life as soon as you stop playing fear be
life as soon as you stop playing fear be control and get in the way of things you
control and get in the way of things you
control and get in the way of things you can experience all of the amazing
can experience all of the amazing
can experience all of the amazing adventures that life has to offer you
adventures that life has to offer you
adventures that life has to offer you can live your life every day with Noah
can live your life every day with Noah
can live your life every day with Noah Gretz knowing that you try something new
Gretz knowing that you try something new
Gretz knowing that you try something new and maybe you failed at it and learn
and maybe you failed at it and learn
and maybe you failed at it and learn something new about yourself or about
something new about yourself or about
something new about yourself or about life or you can
life or you can
life or you can experience something new and conquer one
experience something new and conquer one
experience something new and conquer one of your figures and be more bold so
of your figures and be more bold so
of your figures and be more bold so here’s my question for you are you
here’s my question for you are you
here’s my question for you are you willing to try new things and step out
willing to try new things and step out
willing to try new things and step out of your comfort zone or you’re just
of your comfort zone or you’re just
of your comfort zone or you’re just comfortable with letting the adventures
comfortable with letting the adventures
comfortable with letting the adventures pass you by
pass you by
pass you by thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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