Secondary School Presentations
For 40 years, Michael has inspired and educated secondary school students through his dynamic and impactful presentations. Drawing from his firsthand experiences, self-developed resilience, and positive rebel mindset, he empowers students with strategies to turn challenges into opportunities, build resilience, and pursue their passions. He also provides valuable insights on fostering social inclusion, diversity, and equity for everyone, including themselves. Whether addressing a school assembly, a specific grade group, Pink Shirt Day, or unique youth retreats for students with special needs, Michael’s presentations artfully blend inspiration, humour, and seriousness.
The methods & strategies
I use to deliver
my presentations.
- Tell true stories that inspire, educate, and entertain—while encouraging meaningful reflection, constructive thought, and proactive action.
- Offer easy-to-understand information, straightforward insights, and practical advice drawn from firsthand experience.
- Present simple, easy-to-follow, and actionable life-enhancing strategies that lead to meaningful and positive results.
The key benefits each student will learn.
- Why a straightforward smile, combined with a simple five-step strategy, can promote kindness, cultivate empathy, break-down barriers, and foster inclusion, diversity, and equity within the classroom and the broader school community.
- Learn to see and understand adversity not as a negative setback or roadblock, but as an opportunity to learn, grow, and build resilience—laying the foundation for both present and future success.
Michael's Signature Presentations:
PDF Secondary School Brochure
To get full descriptions of the presentations offered to secondary school students, please click the button below to access Michael’s PDF Secondary School Brochure.
Diversity, Equity, & Social Inclusion Presentations.
The 1st Step To Diversity, Equity, & Social Inclusion Is A Smile. - (Grade 10 To 12) - (55 Min.)
Michael draws on his insightful personal experiences to explain how kindness and empathy can be a powerful first step in removing biases, breaking down barriers, and fostering a school environment that champions inclusion, understands diversity, and initiates equity.
Unleashing The Power Of Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity. (Grade 10 To 12) - (55 Min.)
Can social inclusion, diversity, and equity thrive in schools? This presentation equips students with tools to foster inclusion, embrace diversity, and promote equity—creating a school where everyone’s unique strengths are celebrated, and opportunities are accessible to all.
Belonging Shouldn't Be A Challenge. - (Grade 10 To 12) - (55 Min.)
This inspiring and educational presentation for students in grades 10 to 12 shows why including everyone, regardless of their differences, makes schools and communities more inclusive, safe, and vibrant. Students will learn a 6-step strategy to help everyone feel welcome, understand each other, be kind, and build friendships. They’ll also learn how to ask themselves empowering questions to build resilience by seeing challenges and setbacks as opportunities to grow, learn, and achieve success.
Building Resiliency Presentations.
Adversely Boosting Your Resiliency. - (Grade 10 To 12) - (55 Min.)
Teach your students to see and embrace adversity as an opportunity to learn, grow, and build resilience, empowering them to face challenges with confidence and navigate life’s obstacles with purpose and determination.
Looking Inside The Positive Rebel. - (Grade 10 To 12) - (55 Min.)
Looking Inside The Positive Rebel explores the benefits of adopting a Positive Rebel mindset. Michael will explain how this empowering mindset helps students step outside their comfort zones and navigate challenging situations that may evoke uncertainty, insecurity, and vulnerability. At the same time, students are inspired and educated rebel against negative thoughts, ideas of limitations, false conditioning, and self-created fears. Replacing them with confidence, resilience, self-belief, and a strong sense of personal responsibility.
A Blueprint For Building Up Your Resiliency. - (Grade 10 To 12) - (55 Min.)
Resilience is a lifelong journey of learning, growing, and strengthening mental and intellectual capabilities. By developing resilience, firefighters can effectively navigate and manage the challenges and stresses of adversity. Empower your Firefighters with a practical, easy-to-apply strategy to build resilience, enabling them to reduce the impact of stress and stay focused, strong, and prepared for any situation.
Anxiety Isn't Always What It Appears To Be. - (Grade 10 To 12) - (55 Min.)
My greatest challenge as a teenager wasn’t my Cerebral Palsy – it was my mind and the anxiety I created within. I lived with the constant fear of being judged, mocked, and labelled as inferior, different, and disabled by my peers at high school. That fear fueled self-doubt, insecurity and overwhelming anxiety. Now, I use my story to inspire and empower students who struggle with anxiety. This is their opportunity to adopt a Positive Rebel mindset – to rebel against terrorizing thoughts, limiting beliefs, and self-delitataing fears that can lead to victimizing anxiety. Students will learn to challenge their inner critic, build emotional resilience, strengthen self-confidence, and take control of their mindset so that anxiety does not influence their future.
Belonging Shouldn't Be A Challenge. - (Grade 10 To 12) - (55 Min.)
This inspiring and educational presentation for students in grades 10 to 12 shows why including everyone, regardless of their differences, makes schools and communities more inclusive, safe, and vibrant. Students will learn a 6-step strategy to help everyone feel welcome, understand each other, be kind, and build friendships. They’ll also learn how to ask themselves empowering questions to build resilience by seeing challenges and setbacks as opportunities to grow, learn, and achieve success.
Customizing A Presentation To Meet Your Students' Needs.
Please feel free to contact him by phone – text (250-816-2989) or e-mail (michael@michaelbortolotto.com) to talk and consult with Michael on how he can customize a presentation that fits you and your audience’s requirements and needs.