[Applause] [Music]
look at all these wonderful people in
look at all these wonderful people in the building tonight it’s a beautiful
the building tonight it’s a beautiful
the building tonight it’s a beautiful night and just happy to see everybody
night and just happy to see everybody
night and just happy to see everybody here before I get into my speech about
here before I get into my speech about
here before I get into my speech about the seeds of leadership I’d tell you a
the seeds of leadership I’d tell you a
the seeds of leadership I’d tell you a little bit about myself my name is
little bit about myself my name is
little bit about myself my name is Ernest Cornelius had to third most
Ernest Cornelius had to third most
Ernest Cornelius had to third most people call me Trey some people call me
people call me Trey some people call me
people call me Trey some people call me mr. Heydrich coach but most importantly
mr. Heydrich coach but most importantly
mr. Heydrich coach but most importantly daddy from my son Ernesto I was born
daddy from my son Ernesto I was born
daddy from my son Ernesto I was born here in Norristown Pennsylvania to
here in Norristown Pennsylvania to
here in Norristown Pennsylvania to parents educators here in our community
parents educators here in our community
parents educators here in our community as you can see here they thought and
as you can see here they thought and
as you can see here they thought and this picture they thought they were a
this picture they thought they were a
this picture they thought they were a little bit of movie stars or something
little bit of movie stars or something
little bit of movie stars or something but uh years ago blessed to be raised in
but uh years ago blessed to be raised in
but uh years ago blessed to be raised in a big family at 50 excuse me 50 first
a big family at 50 excuse me 50 first
a big family at 50 excuse me 50 first cousins I was blessed as a child to be
cousins I was blessed as a child to be
cousins I was blessed as a child to be involved in a lot of community
involved in a lot of community
involved in a lot of community activities sports Twiggs North Monaco
activities sports Twiggs North Monaco
activities sports Twiggs North Monaco Twiggs was a leadership organization
Twiggs was a leadership organization
Twiggs was a leadership organization building at a young age and I was just
building at a young age and I was just
building at a young age and I was just blessed for my parents to instill that
blessed for my parents to instill that
blessed for my parents to instill that you have to give back you have to lead
you have to give back you have to lead
you have to give back you have to lead you have to help others I was raised
you have to help others I was raised
you have to help others I was raised here in a school system public school
here in a school system public school
here in a school system public school system I was blessed to graduate in the
system I was blessed to graduate in the
system I was blessed to graduate in the class of 2000 from namsan high school
class of 2000 from namsan high school
class of 2000 from namsan high school and I graduated and went to Auburn
and I graduated and went to Auburn
and I graduated and went to Auburn University for a year which I was
University for a year which I was
University for a year which I was invited walk-on on the football team
invited walk-on on the football team
invited walk-on on the football team from there I transferred played football
from there I transferred played football
from there I transferred played football what’s not kind of a A&T state
what’s not kind of a A&T state
what’s not kind of a A&T state university as we say down there in South
university as we say down there in South
university as we say down there in South Aggie pride and I was able to play
Aggie pride and I was able to play
Aggie pride and I was able to play football three years there and get a
football three years there and get a
football three years there and get a degree in business management during
degree in business management during
degree in business management during that experience I learned a lot I
that experience I learned a lot I
that experience I learned a lot I learned some traditions that you know I
learned some traditions that you know I
learned some traditions that you know I didn’t know before as well as I learned
didn’t know before as well as I learned
didn’t know before as well as I learned that you know through hard work and
that you know through hard work and
that you know through hard work and dedication you can achieve a goal fast
dedication you can achieve a goal fast
dedication you can achieve a goal fast forward to 2011 graduated here my
forward to 2011 graduated here my
forward to 2011 graduated here my master’s in school counseling part of
master’s in school counseling part of
master’s in school counseling part of the mega sought 5 attorney incorporated
the mega sought 5 attorney incorporated
the mega sought 5 attorney incorporated I was blessed to have opportunity to
I was blessed to have opportunity to
I was blessed to have opportunity to come back and work in the school system
come back and work in the school system
come back and work in the school system and which raised me as a school
and which raised me as a school
and which raised me as a school counselor from there also is that
counselor from there also is that
counselor from there also is that opportunity to start an organization
opportunity to start an organization
opportunity to start an organization with the bun
with the bun
with the bun friends called mark Simon of Excellence
friends called mark Simon of Excellence
friends called mark Simon of Excellence which our main goal was to better the
which our main goal was to better the
which our main goal was to better the community in various different ways
community in various different ways
community in various different ways as you can see here in the bottom and
as you can see here in the bottom and
as you can see here in the bottom and most importantly you see is my family in
most importantly you see is my family in
most importantly you see is my family in the middle my beautiful wife Pearlie and
the middle my beautiful wife Pearlie and
the middle my beautiful wife Pearlie and my son Ernesto the rock of my life
bamboo I’m not sure if many of you know
bamboo I’m not sure if many of you know about how bamboo and leadership go hand
about how bamboo and leadership go hand
about how bamboo and leadership go hand in hand but if you know anything about
in hand but if you know anything about
in hand but if you know anything about bamboo when you put bamboo in the ground
bamboo when you put bamboo in the ground
bamboo when you put bamboo in the ground the seeds of bamboo you put in the
the seeds of bamboo you put in the
the seeds of bamboo you put in the ground you water it you turn the dirt
ground you water it you turn the dirt
ground you water it you turn the dirt over try again year one nothing happens
over try again year one nothing happens
over try again year one nothing happens I can you put the dirt I was going on
I can you put the dirt I was going on
I can you put the dirt I was going on the Sun is on it but nobody sees any
the Sun is on it but nobody sees any
the Sun is on it but nobody sees any growth from there year to maybe a little
growth from there year to maybe a little
growth from there year to maybe a little bit but but not much you’re wondering
bit but but not much you’re wondering
bit but but not much you’re wondering why is this happening why I’ve I’ve come
why is this happening why I’ve I’ve come
why is this happening why I’ve I’ve come out every day I put water on the on the
out every day I put water on the on the
out every day I put water on the on the dirt and I shoveled and I flip it and
dirt and I shoveled and I flip it and
dirt and I shoveled and I flip it and nothing is happening what is really
nothing is happening what is really
nothing is happening what is really happening inside why is it not happening
happening inside why is it not happening
happening inside why is it not happening but in year five in the first 90 days
but in year five in the first 90 days
but in year five in the first 90 days the bamboo grows 80 feet in the air
the bamboo grows 80 feet in the air
the bamboo grows 80 feet in the air people say what happened was that from
people say what happened was that from
people say what happened was that from your four to five or from year one to
your four to five or from year one to
your four to five or from year one to five how did that happen how could
five how did that happen how could
five how did that happen how could bamboo just all the sudden grow that
bamboo just all the sudden grow that
bamboo just all the sudden grow that fast but nobody’s paying attention
fast but nobody’s paying attention
fast but nobody’s paying attention what’s happening underneath seeing the
what’s happening underneath seeing the
what’s happening underneath seeing the roots and seeing the foundation being
roots and seeing the foundation being
roots and seeing the foundation being built saying things happening with the
built saying things happening with the
built saying things happening with the the fertilization and the growth and
the fertilization and the growth and
the fertilization and the growth and most people don’t know what’s gonna
most people don’t know what’s gonna
most people don’t know what’s gonna happen in life how are you going to be
happen in life how are you going to be
happen in life how are you going to be strong if you’re a leader what are you
strong if you’re a leader what are you
strong if you’re a leader what are you gonna do what are you putting in to be a
gonna do what are you putting in to be a
gonna do what are you putting in to be a stronger person so for myself as I
stronger person so for myself as I
stronger person so for myself as I looked at this I cleared that similar to
looked at this I cleared that similar to
looked at this I cleared that similar to leadership and we’re going through that
leadership and we’re going through that
leadership and we’re going through that the seeds of leadership first one
the seeds of leadership first one
the seeds of leadership first one sacrifice myself in college I was a
sacrifice myself in college I was a
sacrifice myself in college I was a fullback as many of you played football
fullback as many of you played football
fullback as many of you played football if you know what a fullback head-to-head
if you know what a fullback head-to-head
if you know what a fullback head-to-head contact some of the stuff they talk
contact some of the stuff they talk
contact some of the stuff they talk about now concussions and different
about now concussions and different
about now concussions and different things but honestly you are a
things but honestly you are a
things but honestly you are a sacrificial lamb you might go back side
sacrificial lamb you might go back side
sacrificial lamb you might go back side on the play you might go front side on
on the play you might go front side on
on the play you might go front side on the play no one sees you you don’t get
the play no one sees you you don’t get
the play no one sees you you don’t get all-conference and probably don’t run
all-conference and probably don’t run
all-conference and probably don’t run the ball that much what you’re doing
the ball that much what you’re doing
the ball that much what you’re doing your part
your part
your part you’re being asset to the organization
you’re being asset to the organization
you’re being asset to the organization and to your team your megasaur that
and to your team your megasaur that
and to your team your megasaur that you’re doing your part even though
you’re doing your part even though
you’re doing your part even though others aren’t
others aren’t
others aren’t maybe knowledge in it but you’re just
maybe knowledge in it but you’re just
maybe knowledge in it but you’re just making sure you were doing what’s
making sure you were doing what’s
making sure you were doing what’s necessary to help the goal and the
necessary to help the goal and the
necessary to help the goal and the mission of organization or your team end
mission of organization or your team end
mission of organization or your team end game there’s a gentleman by the name of
game there’s a gentleman by the name of
game there’s a gentleman by the name of Steven Covey who wrote a book the 7
Steven Covey who wrote a book the 7
Steven Covey who wrote a book the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and
Habits of Highly Effective People and
Habits of Highly Effective People and within that book he speaks about
within that book he speaks about
within that book he speaks about preparing with the end in mind and he
preparing with the end in mind and he
preparing with the end in mind and he talks about a story which is very
talks about a story which is very
talks about a story which is very challenging sometimes for people to
challenging sometimes for people to
challenging sometimes for people to understand but he says imagine going up
understand but he says imagine going up
understand but he says imagine going up to your friend’s funeral you’re getting
to your friend’s funeral you’re getting
to your friend’s funeral you’re getting ready to read the obituary and you’re
ready to read the obituary and you’re
ready to read the obituary and you’re wondering how they’re going to talk
wondering how they’re going to talk
wondering how they’re going to talk about him you get to the casket and it’s
about him you get to the casket and it’s
about him you get to the casket and it’s you and he brings that to your attention
you and he brings that to your attention
you and he brings that to your attention to say in life what is your vision how
to say in life what is your vision how
to say in life what is your vision how do you want people to remember you and
do you want people to remember you and
do you want people to remember you and leadership is very similar you know you
leadership is very similar you know you
leadership is very similar you know you have to plan for the future you can’t
have to plan for the future you can’t
have to plan for the future you can’t just plan for the moment many people try
just plan for the moment many people try
just plan for the moment many people try to prepare for the for the moment
to prepare for the for the moment
to prepare for the for the moment especially in today’s world with
especially in today’s world with
especially in today’s world with technology and social media so easy to
technology and social media so easy to
technology and social media so easy to have things at the click of your hand
have things at the click of your hand
have things at the click of your hand you know it’s easy to say oh I can get
you know it’s easy to say oh I can get
you know it’s easy to say oh I can get it right now but that’s not ever going
it right now but that’s not ever going
it right now but that’s not ever going to change leadership takes time growth
to change leadership takes time growth
to change leadership takes time growth takes time you know and you have to have
takes time you know and you have to have
takes time you know and you have to have that vision and understanding that if I
that vision and understanding that if I
that vision and understanding that if I put in time and plan things out as one
put in time and plan things out as one
put in time and plan things out as one of my coaches told me years ago in high
of my coaches told me years ago in high
of my coaches told me years ago in high school I always said the five piece all
school I always said the five piece all
school I always said the five piece all right stop about five PS proper
right stop about five PS proper
right stop about five PS proper preparation prevents poor performance it
preparation prevents poor performance it
preparation prevents poor performance it talks about that often you know and that
talks about that often you know and that
talks about that often you know and that was one of my basketball coaches while I
was one of my basketball coaches while I
was one of my basketball coaches while I was in high school and that’s similar to
was in high school and that’s similar to
was in high school and that’s similar to Stephen Covey we’re planning with the
Stephen Covey we’re planning with the
Stephen Covey we’re planning with the end of mine and we’re doing that
end of mine and we’re doing that
end of mine and we’re doing that hopefully your life will go better than
hopefully your life will go better than
hopefully your life will go better than you thought and you plan things out and
you thought and you plan things out and
you thought and you plan things out and as a leader that’s what you do for your
as a leader that’s what you do for your
as a leader that’s what you do for your mission you want to plan and make sure
mission you want to plan and make sure
mission you want to plan and make sure that others are taken care of because
that others are taken care of because
that others are taken care of because you have to lead the next a equality for
you have to lead the next a equality for
you have to lead the next a equality for five years I was the president of an
five years I was the president of an
five years I was the president of an organization in our cement of excellence
organization in our cement of excellence
organization in our cement of excellence that we spoke about earlier and during
that we spoke about earlier and during
that we spoke about earlier and during that time I learned that even though we
that time I learned that even though we
that time I learned that even though we were all friends and we’ve grown up
were all friends and we’ve grown up
were all friends and we’ve grown up together from childhood from
together from childhood from
together from childhood from ten years old so now you know we all had
ten years old so now you know we all had
ten years old so now you know we all had to learn how to work together and I had
to learn how to work together and I had
to learn how to work together and I had to learn how to treat everybody equally
to learn how to treat everybody equally
to learn how to treat everybody equally fair as well as make sure they
fair as well as make sure they
fair as well as make sure they understand their input is just as
understand their input is just as
understand their input is just as important you know we’ve done numerous
important you know we’ve done numerous
important you know we’ve done numerous activities in the community we did
activities in the community we did
activities in the community we did active school programs there free
active school programs there free
active school programs there free football clinics we did turkey drives
football clinics we did turkey drives
football clinics we did turkey drives look at Awards banquets the TED Talks
look at Awards banquets the TED Talks
look at Awards banquets the TED Talks prior we’ve done essay contests just
prior we’ve done essay contests just
prior we’ve done essay contests just giving back in numerous different ways
giving back in numerous different ways
giving back in numerous different ways police youth forms with a lot of things
police youth forms with a lot of things
police youth forms with a lot of things that we’ve done you know and everybody
that we’ve done you know and everybody
that we’ve done you know and everybody played a different part sometimes I know
played a different part sometimes I know
played a different part sometimes I know some people lie that someone’s so
some people lie that someone’s so
some people lie that someone’s so getting involved here or what but I had
getting involved here or what but I had
getting involved here or what but I had to take the turn and say as long as
to take the turn and say as long as
to take the turn and say as long as we’re all giving apart we’re making a
we’re all giving apart we’re making a
we’re all giving apart we’re making a difference and the leadership sometimes
difference and the leadership sometimes
difference and the leadership sometimes that’s hard because we want everybody to
that’s hard because we want everybody to
that’s hard because we want everybody to give an equal amount in a pie and that’s
give an equal amount in a pie and that’s
give an equal amount in a pie and that’s not always going to happen you have to
not always going to happen you have to
not always going to happen you have to just make sure that you respect what
just make sure that you respect what
just make sure that you respect what someone is doing and cherish their
someone is doing and cherish their
someone is doing and cherish their efforts and our opportunities to give
efforts and our opportunities to give
efforts and our opportunities to give back to make a difference development
back to make a difference development
back to make a difference development that’s very important often people talk
that’s very important often people talk
that’s very important often people talk about hey I want to be the best I want
about hey I want to be the best I want
about hey I want to be the best I want to be the leader of this but what are
to be the leader of this but what are
to be the leader of this but what are you doing the honing on your skills
you doing the honing on your skills
you doing the honing on your skills myself a few years ago something one of
myself a few years ago something one of
myself a few years ago something one of my friends who got on me about you know
my friends who got on me about you know
my friends who got on me about you know challenging others said well you always
challenging others said well you always
challenging others said well you always talk about how do you make you know
talk about how do you make you know
talk about how do you make you know others do this and you talk about you
others do this and you talk about you
others do this and you talk about you know others aren’t the best at this and
know others aren’t the best at this and
know others aren’t the best at this and I said well I just believe they could do
I said well I just believe they could do
I said well I just believe they could do more and at the time I was trying to get
more and at the time I was trying to get
more and at the time I was trying to get myself you know prepared possibly to be
myself you know prepared possibly to be
myself you know prepared possibly to be a coach and this gentleman at the time
a coach and this gentleman at the time
a coach and this gentleman at the time he was dealing with diabetes he was
he was dealing with diabetes he was
he was dealing with diabetes he was going blind in one eye and he told me he
going blind in one eye and he told me he
going blind in one eye and he told me he said hey if you go down to the football
said hey if you go down to the football
said hey if you go down to the football clinic in Atlantic City I’ll go with you
clinic in Atlantic City I’ll go with you
clinic in Atlantic City I’ll go with you I’ll meet you down there and we’ll go
I’ll meet you down there and we’ll go
I’ll meet you down there and we’ll go you’ll walk me around if you have to go
you’ll walk me around if you have to go
you’ll walk me around if you have to go to different topics and different
to different topics and different
to different topics and different sessions during a clinic to better
sessions during a clinic to better
sessions during a clinic to better yourself as a coach at that time I
yourself as a coach at that time I
yourself as a coach at that time I didn’t have a job
didn’t have a job
didn’t have a job I wasn’t coaching anywhere but he
I wasn’t coaching anywhere but he
I wasn’t coaching anywhere but he challenged me at that time to develop my
challenged me at that time to develop my
challenged me at that time to develop my skill even though the plan ahead wasn’t
skill even though the plan ahead wasn’t
skill even though the plan ahead wasn’t there I was blessing a few months later
there I was blessing a few months later
there I was blessing a few months later to have an opportunity to coach football
to have an opportunity to coach football
to have an opportunity to coach football at Conestoga high school but prior I was
at Conestoga high school but prior I was
at Conestoga high school but prior I was still developing my skills and I’m
still developing my skills and I’m
still developing my skills and I’m thankful for that gentlemen to this day
thankful for that gentlemen to this day
thankful for that gentlemen to this day for challenging me when I was saying so
for challenging me when I was saying so
for challenging me when I was saying so much about others to go out and better
much about others to go out and better
much about others to go out and better myself and develop myself
myself and develop myself
myself and develop myself as an individual as a leader because I
as an individual as a leader because I
as an individual as a leader because I was gonna be able to lead children on
was gonna be able to lead children on
was gonna be able to lead children on the football field strategy s for
the football field strategy s for
the football field strategy s for strategy that’s very important my cell
strategy that’s very important my cell
strategy that’s very important my cell phone the third grade by gentleman by
phone the third grade by gentleman by
phone the third grade by gentleman by the name of think David Swank I’ll never
the name of think David Swank I’ll never
the name of think David Swank I’ll never forget this man but he taught me how to
forget this man but he taught me how to
forget this man but he taught me how to play chess at very young age
play chess at very young age
play chess at very young age and I think I so important in leadership
and I think I so important in leadership
and I think I so important in leadership how you maneuver how do you how do you
how you maneuver how do you how do you
how you maneuver how do you how do you challenge others to put themself out
challenge others to put themself out
challenge others to put themself out there and be strong and belief in
there and be strong and belief in
there and be strong and belief in themselves you know sometimes with
themselves you know sometimes with
themselves you know sometimes with strategy a lot of people don’t
strategy a lot of people don’t
strategy a lot of people don’t understand it’s not always you know do
understand it’s not always you know do
understand it’s not always you know do you win the to every battle sometimes
you win the to every battle sometimes
you win the to every battle sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war
you have to lose a battle to win the war
you have to lose a battle to win the war you know and a leader you have to
you know and a leader you have to
you know and a leader you have to foresee that often people don’t see that
foresee that often people don’t see that
foresee that often people don’t see that and they’re always you know trying to
and they’re always you know trying to
and they’re always you know trying to jump so fast take your time be patient
jump so fast take your time be patient
jump so fast take your time be patient strategize ask for help don’t be fearful
strategize ask for help don’t be fearful
strategize ask for help don’t be fearful to ask for help even if you’re a leader
to ask for help even if you’re a leader
to ask for help even if you’re a leader that’s one of the things that most
that’s one of the things that most
that’s one of the things that most leaders won’t do and you don’t grow
sacrifice and gain equality development
sacrifice and gain equality development and strategy that’s your seeds of
and strategy that’s your seeds of
and strategy that’s your seeds of leadership which is they okay but the
leadership which is they okay but the
leadership which is they okay but the most important thing besides leadership
most important thing besides leadership
most important thing besides leadership is saying thank you in leadership is
is saying thank you in leadership is
is saying thank you in leadership is saying thank you and most people don’t
saying thank you and most people don’t
saying thank you and most people don’t do that they think when you get to a
do that they think when you get to a
do that they think when you get to a certain point that you don’t reach back
certain point that you don’t reach back
certain point that you don’t reach back and say thank you or I’m here and you
and say thank you or I’m here and you
and say thank you or I’m here and you have to continue to say thank you you
have to continue to say thank you you
have to continue to say thank you you know as I’ve learned for my in-laws
know as I’ve learned for my in-laws
know as I’ve learned for my in-laws you know gracias por everything you know
you know gracias por everything you know
you know gracias por everything you know you don’t just say hey I made it here I
you don’t just say hey I made it here I
you don’t just say hey I made it here I made it I made it I made it
made it I made it I made it
made it I made it I made it know you give back you say thank you you
know you give back you say thank you you
know you give back you say thank you you ask for opportunities to do more and
ask for opportunities to do more and
ask for opportunities to do more and hopefully that will make a difference
hopefully that will make a difference
hopefully that will make a difference and if you plant those seeds in the
and if you plant those seeds in the
and if you plant those seeds in the ground of leadership as we spoke most
ground of leadership as we spoke most
ground of leadership as we spoke most likely you will have a better
likely you will have a better
likely you will have a better opportunity to affect other’s lives and
opportunity to affect other’s lives and
opportunity to affect other’s lives and help out in the world thank you
help out in the world thank you
help out in the world thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Music]
”
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