early on an American life the blow of a whistle signals the end
the blow of a whistle signals the end
the blow of a whistle signals the end the schoolyard game no more playing tag
the schoolyard game no more playing tag
the schoolyard game no more playing tag no more hanging from the monkey bars and
no more hanging from the monkey bars and
no more hanging from the monkey bars and no more trying to chase girls and steal
no more trying to chase girls and steal
no more trying to chase girls and steal those kisses a small object can be a
those kisses a small object can be a
those kisses a small object can be a powerful tool now when I grew up past
powerful tool now when I grew up past
powerful tool now when I grew up past childhood games I was told to take all
childhood games I was told to take all
childhood games I was told to take all the right steps now get the right grades
right University and get the right
right University and get the right internship and get the right job if you
internship and get the right job if you
internship and get the right job if you take all the right steps then you’ll be
take all the right steps then you’ll be
take all the right steps then you’ll be happy I could then classified as a
happy I could then classified as a
happy I could then classified as a well-rounded All American college
well-rounded All American college
well-rounded All American college student it was still chasing girls and
student it was still chasing girls and
student it was still chasing girls and trying trying to steal kisses those days
trying trying to steal kisses those days
trying trying to steal kisses those days and so I moved on and I met a professor
and so I moved on and I met a professor
and so I moved on and I met a professor who told me you need three things to be
who told me you need three things to be
who told me you need three things to be happy you need love meaningful work and
happy you need love meaningful work and
happy you need love meaningful work and creativity and this equation intriguing
creativity and this equation intriguing
creativity and this equation intriguing so much that I wanted to explore for
so much that I wanted to explore for
so much that I wanted to explore for myself and adventures can lead to
myself and adventures can lead to
myself and adventures can lead to activism now when we go off on someone
activism now when we go off on someone
activism now when we go off on someone else’s prescribed path we lose the
else’s prescribed path we lose the
else’s prescribed path we lose the thrill of going out on our own
thrill of going out on our own
thrill of going out on our own exploration we can we go we can we can
exploration we can we go we can we can
exploration we can we go we can we can we can become so focused on the
we can become so focused on the
we can become so focused on the destination that we sometimes lose focus
destination that we sometimes lose focus
destination that we sometimes lose focus that could be graduating college or
that could be graduating college or
that could be graduating college or getting that first real job and we can
getting that first real job and we can
getting that first real job and we can find Anna numbing sensation starting the
find Anna numbing sensation starting the
find Anna numbing sensation starting the same game my first year of university
same game my first year of university
same game my first year of university people would have said out of feeling
people would have said out of feeling
people would have said out of feeling well I I was very busy socially and I
well I I was very busy socially and I
well I I was very busy socially and I was having a good time I noticed
was having a good time I noticed
was having a good time I noticed something a very core level that there
something a very core level that there
something a very core level that there was something fundamentally missing I
was something fundamentally missing I
was something fundamentally missing I told myself this is what I should be
told myself this is what I should be
told myself this is what I should be doing at this age and I use the idea
doing at this age and I use the idea
doing at this age and I use the idea that should to dismiss any type of
that should to dismiss any type of
that should to dismiss any type of questioning or lingering doubts that I
questioning or lingering doubts that I
questioning or lingering doubts that I had all those doing and this focus on
had all those doing and this focus on
had all those doing and this focus on the should allow this sense of a number
the should allow this sense of a number
the should allow this sense of a number to set it at that point I knew I needed
to set it at that point I knew I needed
to set it at that point I knew I needed the shock myself and at that point my
the shock myself and at that point my
the shock myself and at that point my prescribed path in this world started to
prescribed path in this world started to
prescribed path in this world started to unravel I became an explorer I wanted to
unravel I became an explorer I wanted to
unravel I became an explorer I wanted to seek the rawness of this world and the
seek the rawness of this world and the
seek the rawness of this world and the raw places I’m passionate about seeing
raw places I’m passionate about seeing
raw places I’m passionate about seeing the more obscure harp fifth planet I
the more obscure harp fifth planet I
the more obscure harp fifth planet I wanted to see the places off the beaten
wanted to see the places off the beaten
wanted to see the places off the beaten track and so I’m going to share three
track and so I’m going to share three
track and so I’m going to share three adventure stories with you that levy to
adventure stories with you that levy to
adventure stories with you that levy to activism my first the adventures in the
activism my first the adventures in the
activism my first the adventures in the Balkans help me explore the love of
Balkans help me explore the love of
Balkans help me explore the love of humanity like I said I wanted to go to
humanity like I said I wanted to go to
humanity like I said I wanted to go to places off the beaten track see places
places off the beaten track see places
places off the beaten track see places at work untouched by tourism and the
at work untouched by tourism and the
at work untouched by tourism and the thing about hitchhiking is that you’re
thing about hitchhiking is that you’re
thing about hitchhiking is that you’re at the complete mercy of the people
at the complete mercy of the people
at the complete mercy of the people passing by both are taking a risk and
passing by both are taking a risk and
passing by both are taking a risk and both are hoping that the other isn’t
both are hoping that the other isn’t
both are hoping that the other isn’t some crazy psycho ax murder person that
some crazy psycho ax murder person that
some crazy psycho ax murder person that you see
you see
you see the news and there is a genuine kindness
the news and there is a genuine kindness
the news and there is a genuine kindness and helping a complete stranger get to
and helping a complete stranger get to
and helping a complete stranger get to the next point to move forward I never
the next point to move forward I never
the next point to move forward I never felt the love of humanity as strongly as
felt the love of humanity as strongly as
felt the love of humanity as strongly as I did on the road every time that I
I did on the road every time that I
I did on the road every time that I thought I was completely screwed that I
thought I was completely screwed that I
thought I was completely screwed that I was stuck in some place that I might as
was stuck in some place that I might as
was stuck in some place that I might as well just start bringing or building up
well just start bringing or building up
well just start bringing or building up a small little Hut from whatever piece
a small little Hut from whatever piece
a small little Hut from whatever piece of land that I was on that moment a car
of land that I was on that moment a car
of land that I was on that moment a car always came with a stranger inside
always came with a stranger inside
always came with a stranger inside willing to help one of the rides in
willing to help one of the rides in
willing to help one of the rides in Albania now baney is an amazing place
Albania now baney is an amazing place
Albania now baney is an amazing place the hospitality of that culture there is
the hospitality of that culture there is
the hospitality of that culture there is truly incredible well I was waiting on
truly incredible well I was waiting on
truly incredible well I was waiting on the side of the road this the sopita car
the side of the road this the sopita car
the side of the road this the sopita car with this chain smoking Albanian man
with this chain smoking Albanian man
with this chain smoking Albanian man pulled over and I went up with my
pulled over and I went up with my
pulled over and I went up with my crumpled up map and he told me that he
crumpled up map and he told me that he
crumpled up map and he told me that he couldn’t get any to the destination but
couldn’t get any to the destination but
couldn’t get any to the destination but he’d get me a lot closer she also had
he’d get me a lot closer she also had
he’d get me a lot closer she also had about ninety four ninety five percent
about ninety four ninety five percent
about ninety four ninety five percent maybe 95 and ninety-seven percent and
maybe 95 and ninety-seven percent and
maybe 95 and ninety-seven percent and all the conversations we had were either
all the conversations we had were either
all the conversations we had were either prolonged games of charades grand hand
prolonged games of charades grand hand
prolonged games of charades grand hand gestures and drawing pictures things
gestures and drawing pictures things
gestures and drawing pictures things sometimes got lost in translation during
sometimes got lost in translation during
sometimes got lost in translation during the trip he he asked me if I was hungry
the trip he he asked me if I was hungry
the trip he he asked me if I was hungry fun fact I love food I’m always hungry
fun fact I love food I’m always hungry
fun fact I love food I’m always hungry so the answer that is always yes I
so the answer that is always yes I
so the answer that is always yes I thought we were going to pull over and
thought we were going to pull over and
thought we were going to pull over and grab a quick snack by the side of the
grab a quick snack by the side of the
grab a quick snack by the side of the road we ended up going back at his home
road we ended up going back at his home
road we ended up going back at his home where I met his family his family’s
where I met his family his family’s
where I met his family his family’s family his neighbors neighbors families
family his neighbors neighbors families
family his neighbors neighbors families as well as the family goes and legitly
as well as the family goes and legitly
as well as the family goes and legitly everyone brought everything they could
everyone brought everything they could
everyone brought everything they could to create this feast with this random
to create this feast with this random
to create this feast with this random looking stranger kid out of nowhere it
looking stranger kid out of nowhere it
looking stranger kid out of nowhere it was
was
was beautiful and by the time it was or by
beautiful and by the time it was or by
beautiful and by the time it was or by the time I needed to leave they wanted
the time I needed to leave they wanted
the time I needed to leave they wanted me to take a souvenir so I could
me to take a souvenir so I could
me to take a souvenir so I could remember this her the Gimli taking
remember this her the Gimli taking
remember this her the Gimli taking things off their walls and trying to
things off their walls and trying to
things off their walls and trying to give it to me repeating the word
give it to me repeating the word
give it to me repeating the word souvenir souvenir to a complete stranger
the kindness I experienced while the
the kindness I experienced while the road was was spectacular I felt the love
road was was spectacular I felt the love
road was was spectacular I felt the love of humanity and traveling around the
of humanity and traveling around the
of humanity and traveling around the West Balkans made me want to continue
West Balkans made me want to continue
West Balkans made me want to continue exploring these places off the beaten
exploring these places off the beaten
exploring these places off the beaten path these raw places adventures and
path these raw places adventures and
path these raw places adventures and conflict zones help me explore
conflict zones help me explore
conflict zones help me explore meaningful work always knew landed home
meaningful work always knew landed home
meaningful work always knew landed home was going to end up in Africa I had this
was going to end up in Africa I had this
was going to end up in Africa I had this natural curiosity and this odd pool to
natural curiosity and this odd pool to
natural curiosity and this odd pool to the place that I just knew I wanted to
the place that I just knew I wanted to
the place that I just knew I wanted to visit at least once in my life becoming
visit at least once in my life becoming
visit at least once in my life becoming a conflict researcher gave me that push
a conflict researcher gave me that push
a conflict researcher gave me that push and there was beauty and tragedies and
and there was beauty and tragedies and
and there was beauty and tragedies and there was laughter in danger and this
there was laughter in danger and this
there was laughter in danger and this has could have been one of the ra’s
has could have been one of the ra’s
has could have been one of the ra’s places I’ve experienced so far I made a
places I’ve experienced so far I made a
places I’ve experienced so far I made a contact while I was in central Eastern
contact while I was in central Eastern
contact while I was in central Eastern Africa who knew the areas that I wanted
Africa who knew the areas that I wanted
Africa who knew the areas that I wanted to go to I wanted to go to the places
to go to I wanted to go to the places
to go to I wanted to go to the places that were touched by armed disturbances
that were touched by armed disturbances
that were touched by armed disturbances places that people didn’t want to go to
places that people didn’t want to go to
places that people didn’t want to go to and when you walk into the unexpected
and when you walk into the unexpected
and when you walk into the unexpected you never know what’s waiting for you I
you never know what’s waiting for you I
you never know what’s waiting for you I never knew what was ahead and I found
never knew what was ahead and I found
never knew what was ahead and I found myself walking to a situation that I
myself walking to a situation that I
myself walking to a situation that I shouldn’t have been no I found beauty in
shouldn’t have been no I found beauty in
shouldn’t have been no I found beauty in the rural hills they were wrapped the
the rural hills they were wrapped the
the rural hills they were wrapped the dangers of armed groups not all way to
dangers of armed groups not all way to
dangers of armed groups not all way to one of the villages notice a man laying
one of the villages notice a man laying
one of the villages notice a man laying down
down
down as we got closer I saw blood I saw I saw
as we got closer I saw blood I saw I saw
as we got closer I saw blood I saw I saw the wounds and I saw a lot blood this
the wounds and I saw a lot blood this
the wounds and I saw a lot blood this guy was not alone there are others shot
guy was not alone there are others shot
guy was not alone there are others shot execution-style this is the first time
execution-style this is the first time
execution-style this is the first time that was exposed the monsters I later
that was exposed the monsters I later
that was exposed the monsters I later found out that this is a common reaction
found out that this is a common reaction
found out that this is a common reaction to when armed groups think someone will
to when armed groups think someone will
to when armed groups think someone will just buy thinks someone is five not
just buy thinks someone is five not
just buy thinks someone is five not necessarily a spy and I saw the darkness
necessarily a spy and I saw the darkness
necessarily a spy and I saw the darkness of humanity another armed group tactic
of humanity another armed group tactic
of humanity another armed group tactic is stealing kids from villages and
is stealing kids from villages and
is stealing kids from villages and forcing them to be child soldiers and
forcing them to be child soldiers and
forcing them to be child soldiers and each of the rebel groups have a
each of the rebel groups have a
each of the rebel groups have a different hope for these kids the bigger
different hope for these kids the bigger
different hope for these kids the bigger ones they they arm them with guns or
ones they they arm them with guns or
ones they they arm them with guns or machetes the ones who can handle the
machetes the ones who can handle the
machetes the ones who can handle the kickback of ak-47s the smaller ones too
kickback of ak-47s the smaller ones too
kickback of ak-47s the smaller ones too weak and too small to carry weapons are
weak and too small to carry weapons are
weak and too small to carry weapons are sometimes given noise makers like a
sometimes given noise makers like a
sometimes given noise makers like a whistle and send to the frontline of
whistle and send to the frontline of
whistle and send to the frontline of these rebel groups and I want you to
these rebel groups and I want you to
these rebel groups and I want you to really pay attention to this next point
really pay attention to this next point
really pay attention to this next point the whistleblowers are supposed to bring
the whistleblowers are supposed to bring
the whistleblowers are supposed to bring awareness and then move people to action
awareness and then move people to action
awareness and then move people to action Congo is at the complex place there’s a
Congo is at the complex place there’s a
Congo is at the complex place there’s a it was the raw place that I found
it was the raw place that I found
it was the raw place that I found meaningful work my adventures there
meaningful work my adventures there
meaningful work my adventures there maybe you want to take meaningful action
my adventures with an activist nonprofit
my adventures with an activist nonprofit help me explore creativity my friend
help me explore creativity my friend
help me explore creativity my friend Sean was also impacted by his
Sean was also impacted by his
Sean was also impacted by his experiences in Africa and in 2008 he
experiences in Africa and in 2008 he
experiences in Africa and in 2008 he visited Congo and he met boys who were
visited Congo and he met boys who were
visited Congo and he met boys who were forced to be child soldiers and they
forced to be child soldiers and they
forced to be child soldiers and they told us of the boys who were too small
told us of the boys who were too small
told us of the boys who were too small to carry weapons being sent to the front
to carry weapons being sent to the front
to carry weapons being sent to the front lines armed with a whistle to scare off
lines armed with a whistle to scare off
lines armed with a whistle to scare off other rebel groups by the noise that
other rebel groups by the noise that
other rebel groups by the noise that they made and in failing so they would
they made and in failing so they would
they made and in failing so they would accept the first round of bullets this
accept the first round of bullets this
accept the first round of bullets this story that he wrote and sent out into
story that he wrote and sent out into
story that he wrote and sent out into the world ignited a creative
the world ignited a creative
the world ignited a creative collaboration of individuals who are
collaboration of individuals who are
collaboration of individuals who are taking their talents and investing it in
taking their talents and investing it in
taking their talents and investing it in meaning and turning it into the movement
meaning and turning it into the movement
meaning and turning it into the movement and falling whistles was born it was
and falling whistles was born it was
and falling whistles was born it was created at a campaign with peace and
created at a campaign with peace and
created at a campaign with peace and calm oh all we do is we find the
calm oh all we do is we find the
calm oh all we do is we find the individuals who are in these war zones
individuals who are in these war zones
individuals who are in these war zones or in these conflicts of give him
or in these conflicts of give him
or in these conflicts of give him support we find the visionaries the
support we find the visionaries the
support we find the visionaries the entrepreneurs who are wanting to rebuild
entrepreneurs who are wanting to rebuild
entrepreneurs who are wanting to rebuild their communities to have a vision of
their communities to have a vision of
their communities to have a vision of the peace in a whiffle a tool of war was
the peace in a whiffle a tool of war was
the peace in a whiffle a tool of war was turned into a tool for peace after
turned into a tool for peace after
turned into a tool for peace after graduating University i joined the
graduating University i joined the
graduating University i joined the leadership of falling whistles I was not
leadership of falling whistles I was not
leadership of falling whistles I was not content on being a bystander to in
content on being a bystander to in
content on being a bystander to in justices I wanted to be an activist and
justices I wanted to be an activist and
justices I wanted to be an activist and my exploration in the world of activism
my exploration in the world of activism
my exploration in the world of activism help me be creative whilst while trying
help me be creative whilst while trying
help me be creative whilst while trying to solve very complex problems and it is
to solve very complex problems and it is
to solve very complex problems and it is hard to look at the atrocities across
hard to look at the atrocities across
hard to look at the atrocities across the world I I get that
the world I I get that
the world I I get that I understand that it is hard and
I understand that it is hard and
I understand that it is hard and difficult to relate to the difficulties
difficult to relate to the difficulties
difficult to relate to the difficulties of Congo i 100% get up yeah I know it is
of Congo i 100% get up yeah I know it is
of Congo i 100% get up yeah I know it is so easy to say it’s not my problem
so easy to say it’s not my problem
so easy to say it’s not my problem Congo’s one of the most resource-rich
Congo’s one of the most resource-rich
Congo’s one of the most resource-rich countries on the planet and their
countries on the planet and their
countries on the planet and their conflict minerals have been found in our
conflict minerals have been found in our
conflict minerals have been found in our cell phones and our laptops and use
cell phones and our laptops and use
cell phones and our laptops and use every day we are all very much connected
every day we are all very much connected
every day we are all very much connected to this and we can’t find all the
to this and we can’t find all the
to this and we can’t find all the solutions to calm these problems but
solutions to calm these problems but
solutions to calm these problems but what we can do is help a complete
what we can do is help a complete
what we can do is help a complete stranger get to their next point to move
stranger get to their next point to move
stranger get to their next point to move forward my my adventures in the West
forward my my adventures in the West
forward my my adventures in the West Balkans help me explore the love of
Balkans help me explore the love of
Balkans help me explore the love of humanity adventures in conflict zone
humanity adventures in conflict zone
humanity adventures in conflict zone help me for meaningful work I continue
help me for meaningful work I continue
help me for meaningful work I continue to have the experience of finding
to have the experience of finding
to have the experience of finding creative solutions with falling whistles
creative solutions with falling whistles
creative solutions with falling whistles and I explored this equation the
and I explored this equation the
and I explored this equation the happiness adventures can lead to
happiness adventures can lead to
happiness adventures can lead to activism I found truth and what my
activism I found truth and what my
activism I found truth and what my professor told me happiness isn’t a
professor told me happiness isn’t a
professor told me happiness isn’t a destination it’s very much the adventure
destination it’s very much the adventure
destination it’s very much the adventure of the journey what I learned is that
of the journey what I learned is that
of the journey what I learned is that happiness wasn’t about trying to take
happiness wasn’t about trying to take
happiness wasn’t about trying to take all the right steps that you can have a
all the right steps that you can have a
all the right steps that you can have a perfect life happiness was an equation
perfect life happiness was an equation
perfect life happiness was an equation you can find people along the way to
you can find people along the way to
you can find people along the way to help and to serve happiness was a
help and to serve happiness was a
help and to serve happiness was a process of finding what you were
process of finding what you were
process of finding what you were passionate without happiness was the
passionate without happiness was the
passionate without happiness was the adventure and finding purpose
and now not everyone has to go hitchhike
and now not everyone has to go hitchhike around the world or go to rural Africa a
around the world or go to rural Africa a
around the world or go to rural Africa a lot of the things I did weren’t well
lot of the things I did weren’t well
lot of the things I did weren’t well thought out by any stretch of the
thought out by any stretch of the
thought out by any stretch of the imagination some were dangerous and
imagination some were dangerous and
imagination some were dangerous and looking back really dumb but part of
looking back really dumb but part of
looking back really dumb but part of being an explorer is finding your own
being an explorer is finding your own
being an explorer is finding your own adventure taking action to be curious
adventure taking action to be curious
adventure taking action to be curious about your own path where you can find
about your own path where you can find
about your own path where you can find your own passion my path my prescribed
your own passion my path my prescribed
your own passion my path my prescribed path unraveled due to my exploration
path unraveled due to my exploration
path unraveled due to my exploration which led me to doing some of the most
which led me to doing some of the most
which led me to doing some of the most meaningful work that I have done in my
meaningful work that I have done in my
meaningful work that I have done in my life so far I choose not to be numb I
life so far I choose not to be numb I
life so far I choose not to be numb I choose the shock myself I choose to
choose the shock myself I choose to
choose the shock myself I choose to continue to see the rawness of this
continue to see the rawness of this
continue to see the rawness of this world and visit raw places I choose to
world and visit raw places I choose to
world and visit raw places I choose to see the monsters in the darkness of
see the monsters in the darkness of
see the monsters in the darkness of humanity and monsters do not go away we
humanity and monsters do not go away we
humanity and monsters do not go away we close our eyes they still exist when we
close our eyes they still exist when we
close our eyes they still exist when we turn and look the other way we can’t
turn and look the other way we can’t
turn and look the other way we can’t pretend atrocities don’t happen monsters
pretend atrocities don’t happen monsters
pretend atrocities don’t happen monsters will stay where they are comfortable
will stay where they are comfortable
will stay where they are comfortable where they are allowed to and the
where they are allowed to and the
where they are allowed to and the darkness the stars shine the brightest
darkness the stars shine the brightest
darkness the stars shine the brightest and we need to help support these local
and we need to help support these local
and we need to help support these local heroes who are in these war zones who
heroes who are in these war zones who
heroes who are in these war zones who are in these conflict zones who are
are in these conflict zones who are
are in these conflict zones who are rebuilding their communities and leading
rebuilding their communities and leading
rebuilding their communities and leading the way the peace and healing the
the way the peace and healing the
the way the peace and healing the whistle
whistle
whistle one small object Kent is a powerful tool
it elevates conversations is a tool to
it elevates conversations is a tool to bring awareness for peace it can move
bring awareness for peace it can move
bring awareness for peace it can move people to action find the monsters
people to action find the monsters
people to action find the monsters they’re hiding in the dark and be a
they’re hiding in the dark and be a
they’re hiding in the dark and be a whistleblower for then justices the
whistleblower for then justices the
whistleblower for then justices the world thank you
world thank you
world thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment