Professional speaker Eddie Slowikowski shared his presentation "The Best Version of You" with Newtown High School students at assemblies in the school's gymnasium on Wednesday and Thursday, September 14 and 15.More information about Mr Slowikowski and his work is available at his website .eddiespeak.com

The NHS PTSA organized the presentation, which was funded by Herff Jones and supported by Newtown Parent Connection.

NHS Principal Lorrie Rodrigue introduced Mr Slowikowski before the presentation on Wednesday, sharing that Mr Slowikowski has spoken at middle schools and high schools across the country.

The presentation began with Mr Slowikowski sharing a memory from a night in 1980, when he and his father watched the United States Olympic hockey team "taking on the Russians." When the United States team won the game, Mr Slowikowski said his father told him, "You gotta be the best." It resonated.

Years later, on a November morning in 1984, Mr Slowikowski said he came in second place at a cross country event to name the state champion. He felt "down, really dejected, because I wasn't the best." Then he said he started to think about what his father had told him in 1980, and his father was the first person he saw after leaving the finish line. His father was knocking people out of the way.

"I looked at him all dejected, I said, 'Dad, I got beat. I got second.' He looked at me and he said, 'I know. I saw the whole thing. That race was incredible. I couldn't believe how well you did today.' He said, 'Son, I am so proud of you because today you did your best,'" Mr Slowikowski remembered. "The words hit me. Your best."

Being the best version of yourself is a lesson Mr Slowikowski said he learned from his father, who believed in him.

"The key to a great life, to really feeling fulfilled in your life doesn't come in the destination," said Mr Slowikowski. "It comes in the journey, in the things we do on a daily basis on how we live our lives."

Mr Slowikowski said he would talk with the students about the things they need to do in order to "live our best life, and be the best version of who we can be."

The presentation included interactive demonstrations, like learning new dance moves, and other stories from Mr Slowikowski's experiences.