Team Mangalorean, USA

Success is a journey and not a destination. This adage is definitely exemplified by this young inspiring teen Bradly Ivan D’Souza who  had the pleasure and pride to have attended the Global Young Leaders' Conference (GYLC) in Washington DC and the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York city from June 11 to June 20, 2012.

Bradly had the honour of being one among the 200 students invited and nominated from all over the world i.e.,  100 countries to participate in this remarkable Global Scholar Conference in America.

Bradly got himself engaged in an activity to learn about different types of communication. He discussed strategies for international communication with Dr Gary Weaver, American University professor and executive director of the Intercultural Management Institute. He had the opportunity to culturally enrich himself by exploring some of Washington DC's most famous monuments, which included the Korean War Veterans' Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and the World War II Memorial.  Bradly had the privilege to learn about international leadership from keynote speakers.

The Global Young Leaders Conference (GYLC) has been filled with adventure and learning. The culmination of all of Bradly's hard work was at the Global Summit simulation. During the Global Summit, Bradly and the other members of his commission introduced their global resolution, which was then debated and voted on by the entire delegation. 

Bradly went behind the scenes at the United Nations, where he and his fellow scholars were escorted on a private exploration of the international organization. After all their hard work, he and the rest of the scholars enjoyed themselves on a dinner cruise of the scenic New York harbour.

Bradly explored Ellis Island, once a gateway to the United States and the promise of freedom for over 12 million immigrants. He experienced New York’s famous China Town district and also attended the Broadway show 'Mary Poppins' presented by Disney. In Washington DC, Bradly had the pleasure to stay at Sheraton National Hotel and St John’s University in New York.

Bradly met with UN officials and learnt more about the goals and inner workings of the organization. The scholars also wrapped up their final preparations for the Global Summit,  by attending strategy sessions to learn how to build coalitions through negotiation and compromise, and examine the components of successful speech-writing.

Bradly had the special honour to give the 'Commencement Speech' on June 20, the last day of the Global Young Leaders' Conference at New York and these are a few clippings from this future leader Bradly's speech:

"Our journeys from being scholars to future international leaders was not an easy one, but we made it, and this day is witness to just that transformation. The Global Summit simulation taught us how to collaborate efficiently to achieve a common goal. During the actual summit, the fact that one person's voiced interests can effect the whole group's way of thinking and their choice on that matter is a baffling and an amazing concept to me. To remember all the friends we have made through these ten days, I would like to part with this quote, 'They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire lifetime to forget them' " This is how Bradly ended his sensational speech.

It is amazing to see the sixteen-year-old Bradly's accomplishments in life at an early age. Bradly’s hobbies are camping, networking, biking, swimming, travelling and playing the baritone in the Sycamore School Marching Band. He is always passionate about volunteering and driving his new Toyota Prius Hybrid car, gifted by his father in 2011. He has already driven over 20,000 miles, i.e., over 32,000 kilometres across 19 states in America, travelled in 47 states in America and dedicated over 1200 hours towards community service at various non-profit organizations.

Bradly a junior at Sycamore High School is the son of Harold and Dancy D’Souza and  is an assistant teacher for the 8th grader at the parish school of religion (PSR) in the Saint Saviour Parish Church every Sunday since 2010 till date.

In recognition of his consistent performance, Bradly is invited to attend a 2012 Lead America National High School Leadership Conference for high-achieving high school students at Stanford University, California  on 'Business and Entrepreneurship' in July 2012.

He will explore the dynamics of business from the boardroom to Wall Street. This conference will help him to explore his future path, discover what inspires him and achieve his passion. This conference allows him to experience the exhilaration of turning his idea into a viable venture and also lets him take on key responsibilities of management, marketing and finance. He will also learn critical thinking and strategic management skills and learn to think like a business leader and bring his idea to real life. 

Bradly was asked the million-dollar question as to how he manages his time during the school year. This smart kid said, "It is easy. A day has 24 hours and a week has 168 hours. I take a day at a time and monitor my activities on a weekly basis. My dad always tells me, 'Every drop of water, time and education is precious'. I just go with the flow, pace myself and focus on achieving my goals ."

Not only in words but in deeds all spoken of this young kid Bradly is a reality in his life.  In the school year 2011-2012 Bradly attended seven leadership conferences all over the United States of America. He is a boys' scout in Troop 18 at Saint Saviour Church, assistant teacher for the 8th Grader in the PSR, plays the baritone in the Sycamore School Marching Band,selected and appointed as an ambassador for the National Society of High School Scholars, Atlanta,  INTERallaince Leadership Council for 2011-2012, volunteers regularly at the Soup Kitchen, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Saint Saviour Parish, Sycamore School District, is a fund-raiser doing walks/run like Flying Pigs, Fleet Feet, Hike of Hospice etc and is a ball person at the Western and Southern Tennis Open at Cincinnati for the past three years.

'Simply watching Bradly’s, experience, knowledge, self-discipline, enthusiasm and busy schedule round the year astonishes me' said his mother Dancy D’Souza.

Consistency, continuity and change  by Bradly since his childhood days has blossomed him into such an extraordinary teen today that he deserves all the glamour, recognition and rewards and is a true role model. Time and tide does not wait for any man. The same has been exemplified by this dynamic teen Bradly Ivan D’Souza by being nominated and selected at local, regional, national and Global Scholar Conferences in USA. 

“The GYLC experience was a good privilege  for me to personally interact with students from all over the world. Inspiring to meet , talk and understand top acting Government Dignitaries, Executives and key note speakers, on how the Nation and International Policies operate," said Bradly Ivan D'Souza, the Mangalorean Global Scholar.