
hyah so hello ladies gentlemen and all my friends in the queue si who checked
my friends in the queue si who checked
my friends in the queue si who checked the other box my name is Kiran ward I am
the other box my name is Kiran ward I am
the other box my name is Kiran ward I am a junior here at Mountain View High
a junior here at Mountain View High
a junior here at Mountain View High School and I’m here today because I
School and I’m here today because I
School and I’m here today because I think I have an idea worth spreading now
think I have an idea worth spreading now
think I have an idea worth spreading now I want to ask you all a question
I want to ask you all a question
I want to ask you all a question what do you think of when you hear the
what do you think of when you hear the
what do you think of when you hear the word change
word change
word change some people think of change for the
some people think of change for the
some people think of change for the better
better
better some people think of change for the
some people think of change for the
some people think of change for the worse
worse
worse some people think of changing for PE
some people think of changing for PE
some people think of changing for PE some people think of like you know that
some people think of like you know that
some people think of like you know that one older guy at the supermarket who’s
one older guy at the supermarket who’s
one older guy at the supermarket who’s like taking a really long time to like
like taking a really long time to like
like taking a really long time to like is taking a really long time and he’s
is taking a really long time and he’s
is taking a really long time and he’s just like fishing around in his pocket
just like fishing around in his pocket
just like fishing around in his pocket for change and like they have to open up
for change and like they have to open up
for change and like they have to open up 12 lanes behind all right let’s just
12 lanes behind all right let’s just
12 lanes behind all right let’s just stick with this whose so-called change
stick with this whose so-called change
stick with this whose so-called change for the better and change for the worse
for the better and change for the worse
for the better and change for the worse now I’m here today because some because
now I’m here today because some because
now I’m here today because some because people don’t really seem to realize that
people don’t really seem to realize that
people don’t really seem to realize that not all of this changed for the worse
not all of this changed for the worse
not all of this changed for the worse this stays as change for the worse to
this stays as change for the worse to
this stays as change for the worse to get more into it let I’m gonna tell you
get more into it let I’m gonna tell you
get more into it let I’m gonna tell you all a story let me take you back to 8th
all a story let me take you back to 8th
all a story let me take you back to 8th grade living in Menlo Park California
grade living in Menlo Park California
grade living in Menlo Park California going to Hill View middle school and
going to Hill View middle school and
going to Hill View middle school and looking fly as hell as usual
looking fly as hell as usual
looking fly as hell as usual I had a bunch of friends fun
I had a bunch of friends fun
I had a bunch of friends fun extracurricular activities and I thought
extracurricular activities and I thought
extracurricular activities and I thought everything would just be smooth sailing
everything would just be smooth sailing
everything would just be smooth sailing from here that is until one day my
from here that is until one day my
from here that is until one day my father told me that I would not be going
father told me that I would not be going
father told me that I would not be going to Menlo Atherton high school like I had
to Menlo Atherton high school like I had
to Menlo Atherton high school like I had planned instead he was forcing me to go
planned instead he was forcing me to go
planned instead he was forcing me to go to Mountain View and become educated at
to Mountain View and become educated at
to Mountain View and become educated at Mountain View High School all right I
Mountain View High School all right I
Mountain View High School all right I mean all right first of all this is
mean all right first of all this is
mean all right first of all this is literally ruining my life for like the
literally ruining my life for like the
literally ruining my life for like the rest of it even though all of my friends
rest of it even though all of my friends
rest of it even though all of my friends are like half an hour drive away I
are like half an hour drive away I
are like half an hour drive away I thought I would never see them again
thought I would never see them again
thought I would never see them again and yeah and also Mountain View High
and yeah and also Mountain View High
and yeah and also Mountain View High School how in our original of a name can
School how in our original of a name can
School how in our original of a name can you get all right I’ve never heard of
you get all right I’ve never heard of
you get all right I’ve never heard of anybody successful or cool coming out of
anybody successful or cool coming out of
anybody successful or cool coming out of Mountain View High School and worst of
Mountain View High School and worst of
Mountain View High School and worst of all I’ve never even been to Mountain
all I’ve never even been to Mountain
all I’ve never even been to Mountain View all right I I only knew like two
View all right I I only knew like two
View all right I I only knew like two people who had ever seen Mountain View
people who had ever seen Mountain View
people who had ever seen Mountain View so obviously this was the worst place
so obviously this was the worst place
so obviously this was the worst place forever times infinity
now as you may or may not be able to
now as you may or may not be able to tell I was a bit of a drama queen I at
tell I was a bit of a drama queen I at
tell I was a bit of a drama queen I at first I didn’t want to give mountain
first I didn’t want to give mountain
first I didn’t want to give mountain view its chance between being so being a
view its chance between being so being a
view its chance between being so being a socially awkward freshman put out of my
socially awkward freshman put out of my
socially awkward freshman put out of my element I thought I wouldn’t ever make
element I thought I wouldn’t ever make
element I thought I wouldn’t ever make friends again and it really doesn’t help
friends again and it really doesn’t help
friends again and it really doesn’t help when within the first few weeks of
when within the first few weeks of
when within the first few weeks of school you get your backpack texts and
school you get your backpack texts and
school you get your backpack texts and house search because they think you’re
house search because they think you’re
house search because they think you’re going to kill the passage of time itself
going to kill the passage of time itself
going to kill the passage of time itself but that’s a story for another day
but that’s a story for another day
but that’s a story for another day nope I kind of felt lost like friendless
nope I kind of felt lost like friendless
nope I kind of felt lost like friendless and pretty damn lonely that all changed
and pretty damn lonely that all changed
and pretty damn lonely that all changed though one day in room 420 miss goods
though one day in room 420 miss goods
though one day in room 420 miss goods room all right now the room is awesome
room all right now the room is awesome
room all right now the room is awesome enough with miss code in there but it’s
enough with miss code in there but it’s
enough with miss code in there but it’s made even better by the fact that every
made even better by the fact that every
made even better by the fact that every day a bunch of people gather to play
day a bunch of people gather to play
day a bunch of people gather to play super smash brothers melee on the
super smash brothers melee on the
super smash brothers melee on the Nintendo game now most of you know super
Nintendo game now most of you know super
Nintendo game now most of you know super smash brothers as that game that
smash brothers as that game that
smash brothers as that game that everyone had on their weak you know it
everyone had on their weak you know it
everyone had on their weak you know it has like Mario and like 400 other
has like Mario and like 400 other
has like Mario and like 400 other characters you never heard of oh you
characters you never heard of oh you
characters you never heard of oh you know that Meta Knight is like really
know that Meta Knight is like really
know that Meta Knight is like really good and Kirby has that one move that
good and Kirby has that one move that
good and Kirby has that one move that turns them into a rock that your little
turns them into a rock that your little
turns them into a rock that your little cousin always spans but what you may not
cousin always spans but what you may not
cousin always spans but what you may not know is that melee which is the second
know is that melee which is the second
know is that melee which is the second game in a series of four is
has a has a gigantic metagame millions
has a has a gigantic metagame millions of tournaments and play and players
of tournaments and play and players
of tournaments and play and players worldwide and some players so skilled
worldwide and some players so skilled
worldwide and some players so skilled they can take one of your lives without
they can take one of your lives without
they can take one of your lives without a second thought
a second thought
a second thought and I certainly didn’t know that going
and I certainly didn’t know that going
and I certainly didn’t know that going in I just thought of this as that older
in I just thought of this as that older
in I just thought of this as that older one that older version of that game that
one that older version of that game that
one that older version of that game that I kind of played a few times on my way
I kind of played a few times on my way
I kind of played a few times on my way so I watched this small group of people
so I watched this small group of people
so I watched this small group of people playing this 15 year old game on a
playing this 15 year old game on a
playing this 15 year old game on a console of the same age and I just
console of the same age and I just
console of the same age and I just watched and watched and watched and as I
watched and watched and watched and as I
watched and watched and watched and as I as I watch and as I watched these people
as I watch and as I watched these people
as I watch and as I watched these people play from Jared the amazing Foxx player
play from Jared the amazing Foxx player
play from Jared the amazing Foxx player to Lincoln the spammy peach and
to Lincoln the spammy peach and
to Lincoln the spammy peach and broadcasting zone thinker SAE Angeles
broadcasting zone thinker SAE Angeles
broadcasting zone thinker SAE Angeles usually one of them would just ask me do
usually one of them would just ask me do
usually one of them would just ask me do you want to play too
you want to play too
you want to play too so well usually I declined because I
so well usually I declined because I
so well usually I declined because I mean I was afraid of getting like beaten
mean I was afraid of getting like beaten
mean I was afraid of getting like beaten so bad that my parents would disown me
so bad that my parents would disown me
so bad that my parents would disown me or something I I was afraid I was way
or something I I was afraid I was way
or something I I was afraid I was way too afraid of losing to give it a chance
too afraid of losing to give it a chance
too afraid of losing to give it a chance so I just kind of sat on the sidelines
so I just kind of sat on the sidelines
so I just kind of sat on the sidelines and watched but one day I just kind of
and watched but one day I just kind of
and watched but one day I just kind of started thinking nobody gets anywhere in
started thinking nobody gets anywhere in
started thinking nobody gets anywhere in life by just sitting around doing
life by just sitting around doing
life by just sitting around doing nothing if you don’t try you have no
nothing if you don’t try you have no
nothing if you don’t try you have no chance of succeeding but if you lose you
chance of succeeding but if you lose you
chance of succeeding but if you lose you still gain new experiences from it like
still gain new experiences from it like
still gain new experiences from it like Wayne Gretzky said you miss a hundred
Wayne Gretzky said you miss a hundred
Wayne Gretzky said you miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take
percent of the shots you don’t take
percent of the shots you don’t take and I mean Lance Armstrong wasn’t the
and I mean Lance Armstrong wasn’t the
and I mean Lance Armstrong wasn’t the first man on the mood by doing nothing
first man on the mood by doing nothing
first man on the mood by doing nothing he wrote the eye of a dream speech and
he wrote the eye of a dream speech and
he wrote the eye of a dream speech and freed the slaves making him the first
freed the slaves making him the first
freed the slaves making him the first man on Mars yes I did fail freshman
man on Mars yes I did fail freshman
man on Mars yes I did fail freshman history how did you know so on that
history how did you know so on that
history how did you know so on that particular day someone asked me as usual
particular day someone asked me as usual
particular day someone asked me as usual if I wanted to play next game and think
if I wanted to play next game and think
if I wanted to play next game and think back on the idea of how I wouldn’t
back on the idea of how I wouldn’t
back on the idea of how I wouldn’t change if I didn’t try I finally
change if I didn’t try I finally
change if I didn’t try I finally responded with yes now I was finally
responded with yes now I was finally
responded with yes now I was finally ready I had seen many of the characters
ready I had seen many of the characters
ready I had seen many of the characters and time in my time watching them play
and time in my time watching them play
and time in my time watching them play and
and
and I thought Samus sounds pretty easy so I
I thought Samus sounds pretty easy so I
I thought Samus sounds pretty easy so I decided to go with her and with that we
decided to go with her and with that we
decided to go with her and with that we hopped into the match simply by pressing
hopped into the match simply by pressing
hopped into the match simply by pressing the a button unsurprisingly I got my ass
the a button unsurprisingly I got my ass
the a button unsurprisingly I got my ass kicked
kicked
kicked chopped cooked and handed back to me on
chopped cooked and handed back to me on
chopped cooked and handed back to me on a silver platter apparently people who
a silver platter apparently people who
a silver platter apparently people who three people who play this game every
three people who play this game every
three people who play this game every day of their life somehow managed to
day of their life somehow managed to
day of their life somehow managed to beat a first-time player but I was not
beat a first-time player but I was not
beat a first-time player but I was not deterred I kept playing and playing and
deterred I kept playing and playing and
deterred I kept playing and playing and playing and losing and losing and losing
playing and losing and losing and losing
playing and losing and losing and losing and losing and but I like played this
and losing and but I like played this
and losing and but I like played this game I started to a death I started to
game I started to a death I started to
game I started to a death I started to adjust I started to learn how to get
adjust I started to learn how to get
adjust I started to learn how to get better for instance I learned that knew
better for instance I learned that knew
better for instance I learned that knew that that B wasn’t the only button you
that that B wasn’t the only button you
that that B wasn’t the only button you could press to do attacks new attacks
could press to do attacks new attacks
could press to do attacks new attacks were as simple as press o press oh no no
were as simple as press o press oh no no
were as simple as press o press oh no no no well that my slides are all up
no well that my slides are all up
no well that my slides are all up pressing the a button to get better I
pressing the a button to get better I
pressing the a button to get better I had to change an idea that free freshman
had to change an idea that free freshman
had to change an idea that free freshman me would have hated and one of the
me would have hated and one of the
me would have hated and one of the greatest things of this experience is as
greatest things of this experience is as
greatest things of this experience is as I fell in love with this game it started
I fell in love with this game it started
I fell in love with this game it started to open up new op and new opportunities
to open up new op and new opportunities
to open up new op and new opportunities and make me Pete and meet and socialize
and make me Pete and meet and socialize
and make me Pete and meet and socialize with people that I never even knew
with people that I never even knew
with people that I never even knew existed
existed
existed alright I want you all to raise your
alright I want you all to raise your
alright I want you all to raise your hand if you have ever became super close
hand if you have ever became super close
hand if you have ever became super close friends with someone because of like a
friends with someone because of like a
friends with someone because of like a single thing you had in common a lot of
single thing you had in common a lot of
single thing you had in common a lot of you see it’s quite a common thing like
you see it’s quite a common thing like
you see it’s quite a common thing like for instance one of my best friends ever
for instance one of my best friends ever
for instance one of my best friends ever since second grade became my friend
since second grade became my friend
since second grade became my friend because I told him about World of
because I told him about World of
because I told him about World of Warcraft all right and one of em and one
Warcraft all right and one of em and one
Warcraft all right and one of em and one of my friends that go to this school we
of my friends that go to this school we
of my friends that go to this school we became fret one of the main reasons we
became fret one of the main reasons we
became fret one of the main reasons we became friends was through our love of
became friends was through our love of
became friends was through our love of acting and hatred for eight frames of
acting and hatred for eight frames of
acting and hatred for eight frames of input lag it’s only only a few of what
input lag it’s only only a few of what
input lag it’s only only a few of what you will get that joke I’m sorry about
you will get that joke I’m sorry about
you will get that joke I’m sorry about that
that
that as I fell in love with the game it gave
as I fell in love with the game it gave
as I fell in love with the game it gave me new opportunities and access to more
me new opportunities and access to more
me new opportunities and access to more friendships and it all started with a
friendships and it all started with a
friendships and it all started with a party game
party game
party game from 2001 so by now you’re probably
from 2001 so by now you’re probably
from 2001 so by now you’re probably thinking kiri what is this hot talk have
thinking kiri what is this hot talk have
thinking kiri what is this hot talk have to do with me
to do with me
to do with me also you’re incredibly attractive and I
also you’re incredibly attractive and I
also you’re incredibly attractive and I want to go on a date with you to which I
want to go on a date with you to which I
want to go on a date with you to which I say to which I say I am thank you for
say to which I say I am thank you for
say to which I say I am thank you for noticing but I kind of want to get to
noticing but I kind of want to get to
noticing but I kind of want to get to the main point of this talk I want to
the main point of this talk I want to
the main point of this talk I want to tell you now that the reason I’ve been
tell you now that the reason I’ve been
tell you now that the reason I’ve been rambling for at you for eight straight
rambling for at you for eight straight
rambling for at you for eight straight minutes is because I want to get is
minutes is because I want to get is
minutes is because I want to get is because I want to give you a message
because I want to give you a message
because I want to give you a message friends can come and friends can go
friends can come and friends can go
friends can come and friends can go making making friends is it can be easy
making making friends is it can be easy
making making friends is it can be easy as just starting a conversation and
as just starting a conversation and
as just starting a conversation and finding a common point friends and if
finding a common point friends and if
finding a common point friends and if friends go don’t be discouraged because
friends go don’t be discouraged because
friends go don’t be discouraged because everyone changes and sometimes people
everyone changes and sometimes people
everyone changes and sometimes people change into things that may or may not
change into things that may or may not
change into things that may or may not be compatible with you so well one
be compatible with you so well one
be compatible with you so well one friend may change into someone who’s not
friend may change into someone who’s not
friend may change into someone who’s not compatible maybe another person’s
compatible maybe another person’s
compatible maybe another person’s changed into someone who you’d really
changed into someone who you’d really
changed into someone who you’d really like friends don’t become discouraged
like friends don’t become discouraged
like friends don’t become discouraged when something changes instead keep an
when something changes instead keep an
when something changes instead keep an open mind because just letting yourself
open mind because just letting yourself
open mind because just letting yourself be changed is one of the greatest
be changed is one of the greatest
be changed is one of the greatest possible things you can do I found out
possible things you can do I found out
possible things you can do I found out from coming to the school that change
from coming to the school that change
from coming to the school that change can lead you to places that you’ve never
can lead you to places that you’ve never
can lead you to places that you’ve never imagined like falling in love with a
imagined like falling in love with a
imagined like falling in love with a 2001 party game developed by nintendo
2001 party game developed by nintendo
2001 party game developed by nintendo entertainment in Hal laboratories or
entertainment in Hal laboratories or
entertainment in Hal laboratories or when your dad asks you if you want to be
when your dad asks you if you want to be
when your dad asks you if you want to be in a play in third grade and you just
in a play in third grade and you just
in a play in third grade and you just say yes
change can lead you down hundreds of
change can lead you down hundreds of different roads some and sometimes just
different roads some and sometimes just
different roads some and sometimes just it just helps to let it come to you
it just helps to let it come to you
it just helps to let it come to you even philosophers who are thought to be
even philosophers who are thought to be
even philosophers who are thought to be some of the smartest minds in history
some of the smartest minds in history
some of the smartest minds in history have made a ton of comments on this
have made a ton of comments on this
have made a ton of comments on this whether they’re recent or ancient chain
whether they’re recent or ancient chain
whether they’re recent or ancient chain starts and change ends things from the
starts and change ends things from the
starts and change ends things from the game from a game of hopscotch on the
game from a game of hopscotch on the
game from a game of hopscotch on the street to the mightiest empires and
street to the mightiest empires and
street to the mightiest empires and civilizations of the entire history of
civilizations of the entire history of
civilizations of the entire history of the world change is a natural part of
the world change is a natural part of
the world change is a natural part of life and it will happen to you I was
life and it will happen to you I was
life and it will happen to you I was changed in so many great ways from
changed in so many great ways from
changed in so many great ways from coming to this school meeting friends
coming to this school meeting friends
coming to this school meeting friends discovering a new favorite hobby and
discovering a new favorite hobby and
discovering a new favorite hobby and even getting to talk in front of a crowd
even getting to talk in front of a crowd
even getting to talk in front of a crowd vote people at a TEDx event and that all
vote people at a TEDx event and that all
vote people at a TEDx event and that all started simply by pressing the a button
started simply by pressing the a button
started simply by pressing the a button thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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