On Wednesday October 10, 2012, Padua Academy welcomed a well-known motivational speaker, Milton Creagh. He is originally from the Southside of Chicago, and also goes by the name Bigg Milt. Creagh travels all around the world talking to mainly high school students about various topics. Some of his main focuses during his speeches are to encourage teenagers to try their best in life, how to respect themselves and others, and how to make the right decisions. Creagh speaks to more than 20,000 teenagers annually. His lectures are high-energy and entertaining, which keeps peoples’ attention.
Mrs. Mann started out the assembly by introducing the nationally recognized speaker. She explained that Creagh’s topic of speech was focused on the challenges of competing and succeeding in today’s changing world. Creagh first showed the students the Padua scarf he had worn in over twenty states, which is quite an honor because other states now know about Padua Academy. He began his speech by saying that 50% of people will have to live at home until their mid twenties. This was a shock to the students, since most of them want to be on their own right after graduating college. Creagh explained that this statistic is true because of young Americans’ lack of work ethic. He stated that our generation is one of the smartest in history, but we do not put in the work to be able to be out on our own. Every employer Creagh spoke with said that they do not like hiring American teenagers and young adults because of this. The companies would rather hire people who were not raised in America. They seem to have a better work ethic.
Work ethic is not only found in the workplace. Creagh told the students that work ethic can also be found in sports. He said that Americans were the most natural athletes, but they do not push themselves enough at practice to get better. Creagh said that he had once spoken to a short boy with no natural talent at basketball, and a tall boy with natural talent at basketball. He gave them both advice to keep practicing and push themselves. The boy with no talent listened, and the one with talent did not. Many years later Creagh found out that the boy who had listened to his advice played in the NBA, while the boy who did not listen did not make it to the NBA. Creagh was trying to make a point that if the work and hours are put in, anyone can go far in life.
Creagh continued by telling the students that his hero is Bill Gates. Bill Gates is a millionaire and has the “American Dream” that many of us desire. Although Bill Gates is a millionaire, this is not why he is Creagh’s hero. Creagh admires him because he earned his money by putting in the work and hours. When Bill Gates was younger, he would work on and program his computer 8 hours every day. He put in the work and hours. Creagh also greatly admires Usher. He once met Usher and heard him practicing his singing. Though Usher is already famous, he still practices everyday. Creagh said that the only way to be successful is to practice, practice, practice. Creagh stated that as a world, we need everyone to be the best they can be.
Creagh brought up another valuable point: to be successful in life, we must respect one another. An example of this is cyberbullying. Creagh had heard of a young girl who had committed suicide because of cyberbullying. He then related this story to one of his grandfather. Creagh’s grandfather had been a slave, but was freed and went to school and then college. Once he graduated, his grandfather went back to his hometown and taught people how to read. The KKK found out about this and decided to try to kill him. When they arrived at his house, all of the people he had taught to read were there to protect him. This story showed that if you respect people, you will be returned the favor.
Creagh ended his speech by telling the students that he is anemic. He goes to a treatment center to receive infusions of iron. This certain treatment center happens to treat cancer patients as well. Every time Creagh goes into the center, the cancer patients warmly welcome him and ask how he is doing. The patients are very uplifting towards one another and tell each other to keep fighting. Creagh wants to know why everyone cannot act like this. He told the students to live their lives day to day as if they had cancer. Creagh means that everyone should have the attitude that the cancer patients have: hopeful, friendly, and respectful. Milton Creagh gave an entertaining, yet insightful speech which taught a lesson and had an impact on the Padua students.
