Some 320 Year 12 students at St Patrick's College in Townsville received an insight into Johnathan Thurston the man and what makes him tick when the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys co-captain spoke to students as part of the Cowboys Learn Earn Legend! (LEL) program.
The 15-minute assembly talk was used to promote the themes of goal setting, managing peer pressure and striving for your best.
Introduced to the assembly by St Patricks student Tallara Watson, who attended this years NRL All Stars Youth Summit, Thurston focused his advice on dealing with lifes inevitable setbacks and disappointments and on how to stay on target to achieve your goals and dreams.
When asked about managing friendships and peer pressure, Thurston advised the group if friends dont support you to achieve your goals you have to decide whether they are the friends you want in your life.
Thurstons talk at assembly was followed by a number of activities with the Learn Earn Legend! students.
The mentoring session emphasised the leadership responsibilities the senior students have in influencing and supporting younger students and the role they play in continuing to develop a school culture they are proud of.
Discussing how senior players had influenced and supported him during his career development and his current role as a leader in the Cowboys and the game more generally, Thurston said: You will use the leadership skills you develop in your senior school years throughout your career."
They are skills you will use all your life and they are skills you will use many times to help and change the lives of others.
The LEL ambassador also warned students to take their final year of secondary school seriously and use it as a real launching pad to achieve their dreams.
For sure, enjoy Year 12 but dont just coast along, Thurston said.
Make sure you are setting your goals for the year and for the future and using all of the resources of your school and your teachers, family, community and the LEL program to start to achieve these goals.
