The Get Motivated Seminar on Jan. 31 at the Hawaii Convention Center saw thousands of attendees, including the Sacred Hearts’ AP Government class.

Speakers, including former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Forbes media chairman Steve Forbes, former NFL quarterback Joe Montana, former first lady Laura Bush, and Rick Belluzzo, former president and chief operating officer of Microsoft, spoke about business, leadership and management skills.

Many spoke about how to manage money through the current tough economy, but each speaker also had individual stories of motivating themselves and solving their own problems.

AP Government student Jaqueline Baginski said, “ I learned that it is important to motivate yourself because no one else can do it for you. You have to get out there and do things if you want good things to happen to you.”

AP Government student Victoria Amoroso said, “I found that one needs to be open to critique and improve on their imperfections in order to become successful.”

Robbie Murakami, AP Government teacher said, “It is important for our students to mingle with others from Hawaii’s business community to see firsthand the importance that other organizations place on self-improvement and learning.”

Powell also went to Punahou School to speak to JROTC troops from all over the island, talking about his own experiences through the JROTC program and how much it helped him to be successful in the army where he had a career of years before retiring.

JROTC member, Nadia Busekrus, said, “His speech inspired me to take JROTC more seriously because all the skills that I am learning and developing now will help me throughout life.”