Picture this: 470 nervous ninth graders walking through the high school doors for the very first time, greeted by a wall of high-energy student leaders clapping, cheering, and chanting at the top of their lungs. The energy in the auditorium was so loud you could feel it buzzing in your chest! I just got back from Hilliard, Ohio, where I had the privilege of kicking off the Freshman Focus Rally at Hilliard Davidson High School, and let me tell you—if this morning was any indicator, the Class of 2030 is ready to take on the world. Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s talk about how we turned first-day jitters into a lifelong mindset of grit and resilience.

The High School Transition and the “Face-Plant” Fear

Let’s be real for a second. Transitioning into high school is an absolute milestone, but it can also feel like stepping onto a high-speed roller coaster without a seatbelt. For a incoming freshman at Hilliard Davidson High School, day one brings a wave of new locker combinations, unfamiliar hallways, bigger academic expectations, and new social dynamics.

The struggle I see as a motivational youth speaker in Ohio is that so many students enter high school expecting perfection. When they hit their first difficult exam, stumble in a new sport, or experience a social “face-plant,” their immediate reaction is to doubt themselves. Without a intentional social emotional learning framework, those temporary setbacks start to feel like permanent failures. The challenge for school leaders during freshman orientation is critical: How do we teach 14-year-olds that failure isn’t the end of the road, but a necessary pitstop on the journey to greatness? How do we convince them that where there’s a will, there’s always a way?

A High-Energy Speaker Meets the Freshman Focus Rally

That is exactly why I partnered with Varsity Brands to bring the I’m Possible School Assembly Program to the Hilliard City Schools district. The Freshman Focus Rally was designed to be an epic kickoff—helping ninth graders get campus tours, receive their class schedules, meet their peer group leaders, and participate in team-building games.

My job as a high-energy speaker was to set the tone for the entire year before they ever sat down in a classroom. I wanted to help these 470 students understand that high school is going to be an incredible ride filled with massive ups and downs.

During my keynote, we didn’t pretend that high school was going to be easy. Instead, we got real about what it actually takes to win:

• Develop Resilience: I reminded them that failure is an undeniable part of the journey. What determines your success in this chapter—and the next—is your ability to bounce back stronger when you inevitably faceplant.
• Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: We talked about perseverance and grit. Obstacles aren’t stop signs; they are opportunities to prove how bad you want your dreams.
• Conquering the Mirror: I told them straight—the greatest obstacle they will ever face in high school isn’t a tough teacher or a hard test. It’s convincing the person staring back at them in the mirror to get back up after a fall. That takes deep self-belief!

By adapting the message for an elementary school assembly program framework into a high-octane high school orientation, we gave these students an actionable game plan for their freshman year.

470 Ninth Graders Built for Grit

The energy inside Davidson’s gym was electric. Thanks to the student leaders who created team chants and peer-to-peer activities, the gym transformed from a room of quiet strangers into a united freshman class.

By the end of our time together, the shift in perspective was palpable:

• Built Resilience: Students learned to view adversity as fuel for growth, realizing that bouncing back is a muscle you build.
• Cultivated Self-Belief: They walked out knowing that they are worthy of their biggest dreams and fully capable of overcoming high school challenges.
• Embraced a Growth Mindset: They left equipped with an “I CAN. I WILL!” attitude that fosters a love for learning and continuous improvement.

As the rally transitioned into campus tours and locker searches, students were high-fiving in the hallways, chanting their team cheers, and stepping into their high school journey with confidence. They realized that no matter what obstacle comes their way this year, where there is a will, there is always a way.

An Ohio-Sized Thank You to Hilliard Davidson & Varsity Brands!

I want to extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to the leadership team at Hilliard Davidson High School for the incredible welcome and hospitality. A huge shout-out to Principal William Ragland and Assistant Principal Jen Mox—thank you so much for the amazing school swag and for prioritizing the emotional well-being of your students!

A special thank you to Ryan Wong and Aaron Utrup from Varsity Brands for your partnership and dedication to creating memorable, high-impact experiences for young people. Together, we are helping the next generation realize that impossible is just I’M POSSIBLE.

To the Hilliard Davidson Class of 2030: Keep being relentless, keep lifting each other up, and remember—believe in the person in the mirror!

Invite Top Youth Motivational Speaker Eddie Cortés to Ohio Schools

If these stories resonate with you, and you’re looking for a school assembly program that goes beyond a simple lecture to create real, lasting impact, I would be honored to talk.

Let’s discuss how we can bring a message of resilience and possibility to your students: call (800) 799-1460 between 8 AM-5 PM CT from Monday-Friday.

Eddie’s School Assembly Program Tour Dates

2026-2027 TOUR DATES

• Aug. 10 – Hilliard, OH
• Aug. 14 – Mt Pleasant, TX
• Aug. 24 – Reedley, CA
• Aug. 24 – Orange Cove, CA
• Aug. 25 – Reedley, CA
• Aug. 26 – Reedley, CA
• Aug. 27 – Reedley, CA
• Aug. 27 – Orange Cove, CA
• Aug. 28 – Reedley, CA
• Aug. 28 – Reedley, CA
• Aug. 31 – Reedley, CA
• Aug. 31 – Orange Cove, CA
• Sept. 1 – Parlier, CA
• Sept. 2 – Reedly, CA
• Sept. 3 – Reedly, CA
• Sept. 3 – Dunlap, CA
• Sept. 4 – Reedly, CA
• Sept. 10 – Land O’Lakes, FL
• Sept. 17 – Oneonta, NY
• Sept. 17 – Oneonta, NY
• Sept. 17 – Oneonta, NY
• Sept. 18 – Jersey City, NJ
• Sept. 22 – Madison, CT
• Oct. 5 – Sea Girt, NJ
• Oct. 5 – Wall Township, NJ
• Oct. 6 – Hamilton Township, NJ
• Oct. 9 – Rock Hill, SC 
• Oct. 13 – Liberty, NY
• Oct. 14 – Liberty, NY
• Oct. 14 – Liberty, NY
• Oct. 16 – Stockton, CA
• Oct. 26 – Long Valley, NJ
• Oct. 28 – Cypress, CA
• Feb 4, 2027 – Long Branch, NJ
• Mar. 2, 2027 – Osage Beach, MO

2025-2026 TOUR DATES

• Aug 1 – Stockton, CA
• Aug 15 – Fort Defiance, AZ
• Aug 15 – Fort Defiance, AZ
• Aug 18 – Saint Cloud, FL
• Aug 25 – Sylvania, OH
• Aug 27 – Lake Crystal, MN
• Sept. 4 – Luray, VA
• Sept. 4 – Luray, VA
• Sept. 4 – Rileyville, VA
• Sept. 5 – Shenandoah, VA
• Sept. 5 – Stanley, VA
• Sept. 20 – Pittsburg, CA
• Sept. 30 – Las Vegas, NV
• Oct. 6 – Hardwick, MA
• Oct. 8 – Stanhope, NJ
• Oct. 8 – Stanhope, NJ
• Oct. 9 – Eastchester, NY
• Oct. 10 – Brooklyn, NY
• Oct. 10 – Brooklyn, NY
• Oct. 10 – Brooklyn, NY
• Oct. 14 – Clovis, NM
• Oct. 21 – Newark, DE
• Oct. 22 – Florence, KY
• Oct. 27 – Poughkeepsie, NY
• Oct. 28  – Queens, NY
• Oct. 29 – Las Cruces, NM
• Dec. 5 – Adelanto, CA
• Jan. 8 – Puerto Vallarta, MX
• Jan. 9 – Puerto Vallarta, MX
• Jan. 10 – Puerto Vallarta, MX
• Jan. 11 – Puerto Vallarta, MX
• Jan. 13 – Mobile, AL
• Jan. 15 – Minneapolis, MN
• Jan. 15 – Minneapolis, MN
• Jan. 15 – Fridley, MN
• Jan. 15 – Minneapolis, MN
• Jan. 22 – Porterville, CA
• Jan. 26 – Waterford, CA
• Jan. 26 – Waterford, CA
• Jan. 26 – Waterford, CA
• Jan. 29 – Grand Blanc, MI
• Feb. 2 – Kermit, TX
• Feb. 3 – Coppell, TX
• Feb. 11 – Sudbury, MA
• Feb. 12 – Egg Harbor Township, NJ
• Feb. 18 – Denair, CA
• Feb. 24 – Los Gatos, CA
• Mar. 5 – Trout Lake, WA
• Mar. 6 – Albuquerque, NM
• Mar. 9 – Little Silver, NJ
• Mar. 9 – Little Silver, NJ
• Mar. 11 – Franklin, MA
• Mar. 16 – Andover, MA
• Mar. 17 – Chula Vista, CA
• Mar. 18 – San Lorenzo, CA
• Mar. 20 – Houston, TX
• Mar. 24 – Severn, MD
• Mar. 25 – Severn, MD
• Mar. 25 – Severn, MD
• Mar. 26 – Reading, PA
• Mar. 31 – Turlock, CA
• Apr. 2 – Tornillo, TX
• Apr. 6 – Hamden, CT
• Apr. 7 – Strasburg, CO
• Apr. 7 – Strasburg, CO
• Apr. 9 – Weston, FL
• Apr. 10 – Melbourne, FL
• Apr. 11 – Melbourne, FL
• Apr. 13 – Acampo, CA
• Apr. 13 – Lodi, CA
• Apr. 14 – Tulare, CA
• Apr. 15 – Lodi, CA
• Apr. 17 – Mays Landing, NJ
• Apr. 22 – Spring Lake, MI
• May 1 – East Greenwich, RI
• May 6 – Rochester, MN
• May 7 – Socorro, NM
• May 11 – Needville, TX
• May 28 – Minneapolis, MN
• May 28 – Minneapolis, MN
• May 29 – Fridley, MN
• May 29 – Minneapolis, MN
• Jun. 8 – Fort Lee, NJ
• Jun. 10 – Wesley Chapel, FL
• Jun. 15 – Jersey City, NJ
• Jun. 24 – Corvallis, OR
• Jul. 27 – Orange Springs, FL

Invite Eddie Cortés to be a guest speaker at your elementary or middle school. Click here or email info@eddiecortes.com to schedule a conversation to learn more about his school assembly program.

SCHOOL ASSEMBLY TOPICS

• Youth Motivation & Inspiration
• Character Education
• Youth Leadership Development

AUDIENCES

• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School
• Virtual School Assembly
• Digital Presentation