I was lucky enough to win 2 tickets to the World Merit Day conference at the ACC Arena in Liverpool (next to the Echo Arena) from the Echo. I just answered a question & filled out my details & got an email on Monday to say I'd won a pair out of 50! Tickets were priced at £37 which me & Holly wanted to go to but couldn't really afford so we were both so happy to find out I'd won!
The day was filled with influential & inspirational speakers with talks from special guests Malala Yousafzai & Katie Piper who are both the most amazing woman so was amazed that I was able to share a room & listen to them speak.
We got there at 10 when it started with talks from Parker Liautard who was the youngest person to ski his way to the north & south pole. He talked about climate change how we need to take action now before it's too late.
There was a performance between speakers. The first was from MD Productions who you might have heard off as they've been in the live finals of Britain's Got Talent a couple of years ago.
The next was Andy Bounds who helps people communicate better gave a really good presentation which I wish he did for us when we were in school or a lot earlier than today when I've applied & had job interviews!
He taught us to think about "after". What you can do for a company or someone after they have chosen you for the role. He also quoted Yoda "Do or do not, there is no try" which is actually a really good quote to live by, you either go for it & put everything into it or you don't simple as.
Next performance was from a new up & coming band from Liverpool called Mic Lowry which were so good. They did an acoustic cover with just a guitar or my favourite song of the year still Clean Bandit's Rather Be!
Felix Finkneiner makes everyone feel like an under achiever.. He is a German teen who is now 17 but at 9 he founded Plant for the Planet, which aims to raise awareness of climate change and global justice. He has helped to plant over 12 million trees! At 9 he was doing talks all over the world in English when that's only his second language! Just amazing how many people can say they've done this?!
I really like his campaign as I think there should be more trees, they help to cut down co2 emissions, gives us shade especially in this crazy heat we're currently having, makes the scenery look nicer & we use the wood for millions of different things! Trees are so important that people don't actually think or realise, his campaign really does make people open their eyes & appreciate how important trees are to us & that it isn't hard to plant more!
The last speaker before the lunch break was Sir Ken Robinson who is a world leading thinker on education. He talked about how important education is & was actually really funny!
There was a lunch break, which we were expecting food, drink & snacks... There was nothing which we were quite disappointed with especially for people who paid £37 for ticket! They had two snack bars which sold over priced sandwiches at £3.50!!
After there were 5 workshops which you could attend. Inspiration Room, Your Voice Matters, The Uprising Room, Potential Matters & Brain Matters. It sounded the most interesting but it turned out to be really boring & not worth it. The woman talked about trust which wasn't that good so we left after she was done to go to the The Uprising Room which we should have went instead of the other as it was really good. It was media related, how to tell your story which gave some really good advice to what I want to do as a career in the media industry!
Afterwards there was a second block of workshops. Inspiration Room, Music Matters then Film Matters, Human Rights & Equality Room, Confidence Matters & Rehabilitation Matters.
Holly went to the human rights one & I went to the music one. Mine wasn't good at all it wasn't really music or film related. The music bit was by a guy who used to be the head of Island Records I think he wasn't very nice & thought he was quite stuck up & arrogant. A guy in the audience asked him if music could change the world & he said no. Which is completely against what the whole day is about. Anything & anyone can change the world if they can communicate their message in the right way! The film one wasn't even about film it was a guy talking about the financial crisis talking about adding interest onto money leading was really boring I was falling asleep at this point since I've been since 7!
When it finished Holly's talk was still going on so I went in there were they had a panel of women, one of them being Katie Piper where they talked about feminism & gender equality.
After it was the conference finale what we were looking forward to all day.
These two were doing the in betweens introducing the speakers.
Chris Arnold is an entrepreneur & businessman from Liverpool who co-founded World Merit.
Margaret Aspinall who's son died in the Hillsborough tragedy & is currently campaigning for justice for the 96 victims.
Kate Robertson co-founder One Young World, Global President Havas Worldwide.
Katie Piper was on next. She is amazing how she hasn't let her 3rd degree burns put her down & has rebuilt her life to be a role model for everyone.
I was a bit gutted at how short her speech was I could have definitely listened to her all day!
Lord Michael Hastings KPMG's Global Head of Citizenship and Diversity. He also brought a friends up who used to be in a gang in Brixton & went to prison in 2009 but has now changed his life around for the better to help young people.
Sir Ken was back on & introduced Malala.
I could listen to her all day, she is only 17 but the things she's done & how she nearly died but is still standing up for all girls to have the right to education. Nothing will silence or stop her, she will continue to campaign until change does happen. She is so courageous I wish I could have just an ounce of what she has & achieved.
If you've not read her book I would definitely recommend it & I'm still amazed that I got 65 in that essay thanks to her & her book.
After her talk Sir Ken did a Q&A with her.
She was awarded the first Mary Wilson Award for the most inspirational young person but Chris Arnold which is named after his school teacher Mary Wilson who helped him to change his life to be the successful entrepreneur he is today.
Me & Holly really enjoyed ourselves today & feel really inspired to make a change. Everyone & anyone can make a change as long as they can get communicate their message across to convince others to listen to your story. We all need to work together for change to happen & work. I'm hoping all the speeches will be up on youtube soon for everyone who didn't get the chance to be there to watch & hear what they had to say because they do really make you think about yourself & the world how things are not perfect a lot needs to be done with all the in quality.
Hat - Asos
Dress - Bank
Shoes - Rocket Dog via Schuh
Bag - Cambridge Satchel
Top - Topshop
Necklace - Mango from Asos
Skirt - Gap (Had since I was 16)
Cutout Boots - Zara
Bag - Zara
I love Liverpool as it is & I'm extremely proud to be from here. In the sunshine I love it even more, it's so beautiful & really appreciate that I call this city my home town where I've spent all my life. If you've got a free weekend or whatever over this summer you should definitely take a trip here whether it's to go shopping, tourist day or chilled day it's perfect. Take a walk down by the docks & take in the Mersey breeze!
This weekend is the perfect time to be coming to Liverpool as the Giant Spectacle are back with the Giant Little Girl & her dog Xolo with her grandma this time! She's been asleep in the St George's hall & the little girl will be coming to Liverpool tomorrow with her dog & walking through the city so will the grandma then they will meet at Newsham park where they will sleep & continue to explore the city over the weekend.
They will be commemorating the first world war as August marks the centenary from 1914.
With the grandma telling stories about it. They came two years ago the giant little girl with her uncle to celebrate the Titanic & it was amazing! I'm so excited to go see them tomorrow & at the weekend I love when Liverpool has these cultural things, no other city can do it better than us! There will be millions of visitors visiting the city over this weekend & we have the perfect weather for it.
If you come down & see the giants please let me know or if you see me around!
Julie
XxX
