[Applause] good evening everyone now as a high
good evening everyone now as a high
good evening everyone now as a high school teacher I work with 15 year olds
school teacher I work with 15 year olds
school teacher I work with 15 year olds every day now to some of you that might
every day now to some of you that might
every day now to some of you that might be your worst nightmare I mean we’ve all
be your worst nightmare I mean we’ve all
be your worst nightmare I mean we’ve all been 15 year olds and I bet that you
been 15 year olds and I bet that you
been 15 year olds and I bet that you must remember a time when you or you
must remember a time when you or you
must remember a time when you or you know someone that gave your teachers are
know someone that gave your teachers are
know someone that gave your teachers are hard time and even I on reflection
hard time and even I on reflection
hard time and even I on reflection myself I remember being kicked out of
myself I remember being kicked out of
myself I remember being kicked out of class because I was talking too much and
class because I was talking too much and
class because I was talking too much and I had my flip phone confiscated I guess
I had my flip phone confiscated I guess
I had my flip phone confiscated I guess that’s really showing my age yes 15 year
that’s really showing my age yes 15 year
that’s really showing my age yes 15 year olds have a knack for making your blood
olds have a knack for making your blood
olds have a knack for making your blood boil and if you let your guard down they
boil and if you let your guard down they
boil and if you let your guard down they can cause grief and havoc in the
can cause grief and havoc in the
can cause grief and havoc in the classroom and yes I know that that’s my
classroom and yes I know that that’s my
classroom and yes I know that that’s my day job that’s what I signed up for but
day job that’s what I signed up for but
day job that’s what I signed up for but what I did not sign up for and what I
what I did not sign up for and what I
what I did not sign up for and what I did not anticipate was were 15 year old
did not anticipate was were 15 year old
did not anticipate was were 15 year old to be the cause of the greatest grief
to be the cause of the greatest grief
to be the cause of the greatest grief and havoc in my life now in October
and havoc in my life now in October
and havoc in my life now in October second 2015 a 15 year old boy was pacing
second 2015 a 15 year old boy was pacing
second 2015 a 15 year old boy was pacing back and forth outside the new south
back and forth outside the new south
back and forth outside the new south wales police headquarters in Parramatta
wales police headquarters in Parramatta
wales police headquarters in Parramatta Sydney they had a gun in his hand and he
Sydney they had a gun in his hand and he
Sydney they had a gun in his hand and he was looking for a target now dad walked
was looking for a target now dad walked
was looking for a target now dad walked out at the right place at the right time
out at the right place at the right time
out at the right place at the right time and this 15 year old boy followed him he
and this 15 year old boy followed him he
and this 15 year old boy followed him he pulled out his gun and shot him in the
pulled out his gun and shot him in the
pulled out his gun and shot him in the back of the head at point-blank range
back of the head at point-blank range
back of the head at point-blank range the shot killed that instantly farha
the shot killed that instantly farha
the shot killed that instantly farha jabong knew nothing of the person that
jabong knew nothing of the person that
jabong knew nothing of the person that walked out of the building not his name
walked out of the building not his name
walked out of the building not his name your age that he was a loving father and
your age that he was a loving father and
your age that he was a loving father and devoted husband but it was a Buddhist a
devoted husband but it was a Buddhist a
devoted husband but it was a Buddhist a dancer a joke stone he did not know that
dancer a joke stone he did not know that
dancer a joke stone he did not know that he was not a police officer but in that
he was not a police officer but in that
he was not a police officer but in that moment our worlds have collided I just
moment our worlds have collided I just
moment our worlds have collided I just didn’t know it yet and at that same
didn’t know it yet and at that same
didn’t know it yet and at that same moment I was walking into a restaurant
moment I was walking into a restaurant
moment I was walking into a restaurant in the McLaren Vale in South Australia
in the McLaren Vale in South Australia
in the McLaren Vale in South Australia and a friend got a alert on his phone
and a friend got a alert on his phone
and a friend got a alert on his phone and he was like oh there’s finish
and he was like oh there’s finish
and he was like oh there’s finish shooting outside the new south wales
shooting outside the new south wales
shooting outside the new south wales police headquarters in Parramatta nice
police headquarters in Parramatta nice
police headquarters in Parramatta nice shrugged it off and said oh well dad
shrugged it off and said oh well dad
shrugged it off and said oh well dad works there maybe I should give him a
works there maybe I should give him a
works there maybe I should give him a call but we sat down and we ordered and
call but we sat down and we ordered and
call but we sat down and we ordered and I gave dad a call it didn’t connect on
I gave dad a call it didn’t connect on
I gave dad a call it didn’t connect on so curious I just called home and mum
so curious I just called home and mum
so curious I just called home and mum picked up and she was worried as well
picked up and she was worried as well
picked up and she was worried as well dad hadn’t come home yet and she too
dad hadn’t come home yet and she too
dad hadn’t come home yet and she too could not connect I just reassured her
could not connect I just reassured her
could not connect I just reassured her that it must be a security measure that
that it must be a security measure that
that it must be a security measure that no one can leave and they can’t make any
no one can leave and they can’t make any
no one can leave and they can’t make any connections but shortly after I got a
connections but shortly after I got a
connections but shortly after I got a call from my sister and she was in tears
call from my sister and she was in tears
call from my sister and she was in tears on the phone and I knew before she even
on the phone and I knew before she even
on the phone and I knew before she even spoke did you hear what happened outside
spoke did you hear what happened outside
spoke did you hear what happened outside the New South Wales Police Headquarters
the New South Wales Police Headquarters
the New South Wales Police Headquarters the police just notified me that that
the police just notified me that that
the police just notified me that that was dead and in that moment the world as
was dead and in that moment the world as
was dead and in that moment the world as i know it has shattered now sudden grief
i know it has shattered now sudden grief
i know it has shattered now sudden grief is hard to deal with at the best of time
is hard to deal with at the best of time
is hard to deal with at the best of time but public grief gives you little solace
but public grief gives you little solace
but public grief gives you little solace in the past 18 months has been one of
in the past 18 months has been one of
in the past 18 months has been one of the toughest times of my life and little
the toughest times of my life and little
the toughest times of my life and little did I know it I went through an intense
did I know it I went through an intense
did I know it I went through an intense learning experience to cope with a new
learning experience to cope with a new
learning experience to cope with a new reality and a new role it has taken me
reality and a new role it has taken me
reality and a new role it has taken me out of the classroom and on to a much
out of the classroom and on to a much
out of the classroom and on to a much wider stage and since then I have spoken
wider stage and since then I have spoken
wider stage and since then I have spoken and written widely about the need for a
and written widely about the need for a
and written widely about the need for a safer and more inclusive society it has
safer and more inclusive society it has
safer and more inclusive society it has taken me from showing TED talks in the
taken me from showing TED talks in the
taken me from showing TED talks in the classroom to being in one but what’s
classroom to being in one but what’s
classroom to being in one but what’s most confusing is that my students seem
most confusing is that my students seem
most confusing is that my students seem to pay more attention to me when I’m on
to pay more attention to me when I’m on
to pay more attention to me when I’m on screen then when I’m there in real life
screen then when I’m there in real life
screen then when I’m there in real life it just shows what complementary
it just shows what complementary
it just shows what complementary lighting and sound system does to your
lighting and sound system does to your
lighting and sound system does to your credibility
credibility
credibility and now with all the credibility
and now with all the credibility
and now with all the credibility surrounding me I hope to share with you
surrounding me I hope to share with you
surrounding me I hope to share with you some lessons that I’ve learned in the
some lessons that I’ve learned in the
some lessons that I’ve learned in the past 18 months and I hope that they are
past 18 months and I hope that they are
past 18 months and I hope that they are relevant to you whether you’re 15 or 50
relevant to you whether you’re 15 or 50
relevant to you whether you’re 15 or 50 wear them like yourselves you’ve chosen
wear them like yourselves you’ve chosen
wear them like yourselves you’ve chosen to be in my lesson or if you’re in the
to be in my lesson or if you’re in the
to be in my lesson or if you’re in the back of the room and your think I’m a
back of the room and your think I’m a
back of the room and your think I’m a big pain because I’m not letting you out
big pain because I’m not letting you out
big pain because I’m not letting you out to lunch before you learn something so
to lunch before you learn something so
to lunch before you learn something so here goes lesser number one the heat
here goes lesser number one the heat
here goes lesser number one the heat stops with me and the hate stops with
stops with me and the hate stops with
stops with me and the hate stops with you now I have every right to be hateful
you now I have every right to be hateful
you now I have every right to be hateful and angry at that time sorry
I remember when I was a recent migrant I
I remember when I was a recent migrant I just start with that story a recent
just start with that story a recent
just start with that story a recent migrant in Australia and I remember that
migrant in Australia and I remember that
migrant in Australia and I remember that I was being bullied for being Asian for
I was being bullied for being Asian for
I was being bullied for being Asian for being an immigrant and people made
being an immigrant and people made
being an immigrant and people made deportation jokes and people and dad and
deportation jokes and people and dad and
deportation jokes and people and dad and I remember being really angry and upset
I remember being really angry and upset
I remember being really angry and upset but I remembered our lessons dad told me
but I remembered our lessons dad told me
but I remembered our lessons dad told me but to overcome this you must do this
but to overcome this you must do this
but to overcome this you must do this with patients hard work and resilience
now hate is a destructive emotion to
now hate is a destructive emotion to hold onto and hate an anger will only
hold onto and hate an anger will only
hold onto and hate an anger will only lead to more hate and anger that is what
lead to more hate and anger that is what
lead to more hate and anger that is what the extremists would want me to feel and
the extremists would want me to feel and
the extremists would want me to feel and I choose not to feel that and I choose
I choose not to feel that and I choose
I choose not to feel that and I choose to not give them more fuel because to
to not give them more fuel because to
to not give them more fuel because to hate is a choice but to not hate is also
hate is a choice but to not hate is also
hate is a choice but to not hate is also a choice and we must rise above that and
a choice and we must rise above that and
a choice and we must rise above that and that leads me to lesson number two is
that leads me to lesson number two is
that leads me to lesson number two is that an injustice should not lead to
that an injustice should not lead to
that an injustice should not lead to another now it is really easy to point
another now it is really easy to point
another now it is really easy to point fingers it’s Muslim its poor
fingers it’s Muslim its poor
fingers it’s Muslim its poor surveillance its political correctness
surveillance its political correctness
surveillance its political correctness gone mad it’s the dishonest medium now
gone mad it’s the dishonest medium now
gone mad it’s the dishonest medium now at my father’s funeral in my eulogy I
at my father’s funeral in my eulogy I
at my father’s funeral in my eulogy I had an open national stage and I could
had an open national stage and I could
had an open national stage and I could have blamed anyone that I wanted but I
have blamed anyone that I wanted but I
have blamed anyone that I wanted but I knew one thing for certain is that I did
knew one thing for certain is that I did
knew one thing for certain is that I did not want dad’s tragedy to be a call to
not want dad’s tragedy to be a call to
not want dad’s tragedy to be a call to arms to fuel hate and fear and that
arms to fuel hate and fear and that
arms to fuel hate and fear and that guiding principle has led me to speak
guiding principle has led me to speak
guiding principle has led me to speak out against one nation senator Pauline
out against one nation senator Pauline
out against one nation senator Pauline Hanson and most recently US President
Hanson and most recently US President
Hanson and most recently US President Donald Trump both of whom have you dad’s
Donald Trump both of whom have you dad’s
Donald Trump both of whom have you dad’s tragedy to
tragedy to
tragedy to simplistically scapegoat a particular
simplistically scapegoat a particular
simplistically scapegoat a particular group of people Muslims now I am all for
group of people Muslims now I am all for
group of people Muslims now I am all for discussions actions and decisions that
discussions actions and decisions that
discussions actions and decisions that address the drivers of extremism but
address the drivers of extremism but
address the drivers of extremism but what I will not stand for is rhetoric
what I will not stand for is rhetoric
what I will not stand for is rhetoric that seeks to divide and victimize a
that seeks to divide and victimize a
that seeks to divide and victimize a particular group of people just for who
particular group of people just for who
particular group of people just for who they are whilst we must respond to
they are whilst we must respond to
they are whilst we must respond to sudden changes sometimes dramatic
sudden changes sometimes dramatic
sudden changes sometimes dramatic changes and injustice should not feel
changes and injustice should not feel
changes and injustice should not feel another and that leads me to lesson
another and that leads me to lesson
another and that leads me to lesson number three the action of one does not
number three the action of one does not
number three the action of one does not equal an action of a group now it is a
equal an action of a group now it is a
equal an action of a group now it is a well-known fact that the assailant had
well-known fact that the assailant had
well-known fact that the assailant had killed my father was a Muslim was
killed my father was a Muslim was
killed my father was a Muslim was visiting a mosque in Parramatta and was
visiting a mosque in Parramatta and was
visiting a mosque in Parramatta and was influenced by Isis propaganda we cannot
influenced by Isis propaganda we cannot
influenced by Isis propaganda we cannot refute that but what is less well known
refute that but what is less well known
refute that but what is less well known is that one of my best friends is from a
is that one of my best friends is from a
is that one of my best friends is from a Muslim background and I cannot see the
Muslim background and I cannot see the
Muslim background and I cannot see the linkage between the 15 year old boy that
linkage between the 15 year old boy that
linkage between the 15 year old boy that shot my father in the back of the head
shot my father in the back of the head
shot my father in the back of the head to one of my best friends who took time
to one of my best friends who took time
to one of my best friends who took time off work who dropped everything to be
off work who dropped everything to be
off work who dropped everything to be with me in my darkest days yes we cannot
with me in my darkest days yes we cannot
with me in my darkest days yes we cannot deny that an extreme form of the faith
deny that an extreme form of the faith
deny that an extreme form of the faith was a contributing factor but we cannot
was a contributing factor but we cannot
was a contributing factor but we cannot paint a broad-brush the action of one
paint a broad-brush the action of one
paint a broad-brush the action of one does not equal an entire group which
does not equal an entire group which
does not equal an entire group which leads me to my next lesson is that we
leads me to my next lesson is that we
leads me to my next lesson is that we must call out the fat and not the faith
must call out the fat and not the faith
must call out the fat and not the faith because if we call out the act were able
because if we call out the act were able
because if we call out the act were able to address that but if we call out the
to address that but if we call out the
to address that but if we call out the faith it muddies the waters now H is not
faith it muddies the waters now H is not
faith it muddies the waters now H is not bred by faith hate preachers and
bred by faith hate preachers and
bred by faith hate preachers and fanatics pull out scriptures doctrines
fanatics pull out scriptures doctrines
fanatics pull out scriptures doctrines and traditions in order to meet their
and traditions in order to meet their
and traditions in order to meet their own ends and we’ve seen that in terms of
own ends and we’ve seen that in terms of
own ends and we’ve seen that in terms of justifying acts of via
justifying acts of via
justifying acts of via the violation of human rights human
the violation of human rights human
the violation of human rights human decency and equality and murder now we
decency and equality and murder now we
decency and equality and murder now we must call out the act and not the faith
must call out the act and not the faith
must call out the act and not the faith that’s not being politically correct I
that’s not being politically correct I
that’s not being politically correct I think that’s just being correct now you
think that’s just being correct now you
think that’s just being correct now you might think this is logical but if you
might think this is logical but if you
might think this is logical but if you think that then I’m probably not
think that then I’m probably not
think that then I’m probably not speaking to you I’m trying to reach out
speaking to you I’m trying to reach out
speaking to you I’m trying to reach out if this was a lesson to the student
if this was a lesson to the student
if this was a lesson to the student that’s in the back of the room with
that’s in the back of the room with
that’s in the back of the room with their arms crossed send their hoodies
their arms crossed send their hoodies
their arms crossed send their hoodies over the head looking at their feet the
over the head looking at their feet the
over the head looking at their feet the one that doesn’t want to have their
one that doesn’t want to have their
one that doesn’t want to have their perspective understanding changed which
perspective understanding changed which
perspective understanding changed which leads me to my next lesson that it’s
leads me to my next lesson that it’s
leads me to my next lesson that it’s hard to change attitudes and I know that
hard to change attitudes and I know that
hard to change attitudes and I know that in the classroom just two weeks ago I
in the classroom just two weeks ago I
in the classroom just two weeks ago I was teaching a lesson on identity and
was teaching a lesson on identity and
was teaching a lesson on identity and culture and we talked about the dangers
culture and we talked about the dangers
culture and we talked about the dangers of prejudice the dangers of
of prejudice the dangers of
of prejudice the dangers of fear-mongering and scapegoating and at
fear-mongering and scapegoating and at
fear-mongering and scapegoating and at the end of the lesson I ask my students
the end of the lesson I ask my students
the end of the lesson I ask my students to write down in a sheet of paper what
to write down in a sheet of paper what
to write down in a sheet of paper what they believe that they can take away
they believe that they can take away
they believe that they can take away from and what they needed to do to
from and what they needed to do to
from and what they needed to do to contribute to a more inclusive and safer
contribute to a more inclusive and safer
contribute to a more inclusive and safer society now a lot of the students wrote
society now a lot of the students wrote
society now a lot of the students wrote down what we’ve just talked about they
down what we’ve just talked about they
down what we’ve just talked about they wrote down that the hate stops with me
wrote down that the hate stops with me
wrote down that the hate stops with me they wrote down and adjusted should not
they wrote down and adjusted should not
they wrote down and adjusted should not feel another and that the action of one
feel another and that the action of one
feel another and that the action of one does not equal an entire group now I had
does not equal an entire group now I had
does not equal an entire group now I had a one anonymous note back and it said
a one anonymous note back and it said
a one anonymous note back and it said kick all the Muslims out of this was
kick all the Muslims out of this was
kick all the Muslims out of this was said this was not a joke and this was
said this was not a joke and this was
said this was not a joke and this was said with all intent and seriousness and
said with all intent and seriousness and
said with all intent and seriousness and after all we’ve talked about but I
after all we’ve talked about but I
after all we’ve talked about but I cannot blame the student there are whole
cannot blame the student there are whole
cannot blame the student there are whole host of reasons why someone has anger
host of reasons why someone has anger
host of reasons why someone has anger and resentment in that way and as an
and resentment in that way and as an
and resentment in that way and as an educator we cannot give up in providing
educator we cannot give up in providing
educator we cannot give up in providing understanding and perspective because
understanding and perspective because
understanding and perspective because sometimes the most rewarding part of
sometimes the most rewarding part of
sometimes the most rewarding part of being a teacher and educator is not when
being a teacher and educator is not when
being a teacher and educator is not when your best and brightest students
your best and brightest students
your best and brightest students understand something straight away
understand something straight away
understand something straight away this perhaps that one defiant students
this perhaps that one defiant students
this perhaps that one defiant students when over a period of time shows an
when over a period of time shows an
when over a period of time shows an inkling of change and that is how we
inkling of change and that is how we
inkling of change and that is how we need to approach our discourse but our
need to approach our discourse but our
need to approach our discourse but our next lesson and we all must remember
next lesson and we all must remember
next lesson and we all must remember that complex issues need complex
that complex issues need complex
that complex issues need complex solutions and extremism is a complex
solutions and extremism is a complex
solutions and extremism is a complex issue there is no silver bullet but the
issue there is no silver bullet but the
issue there is no silver bullet but the problem is is that the ones that seem to
problem is is that the ones that seem to
problem is is that the ones that seem to know the least about the issue are the
know the least about the issue are the
know the least about the issue are the most desperate to find that silver
most desperate to find that silver
most desperate to find that silver bullet now at the end of 2016 I was
bullet now at the end of 2016 I was
bullet now at the end of 2016 I was invited to a counter extremism hackathon
invited to a counter extremism hackathon
invited to a counter extremism hackathon where it’s an intensive group problem
where it’s an intensive group problem
where it’s an intensive group problem solving workshop to try to find a
solving workshop to try to find a
solving workshop to try to find a solution to our online extremism and in
solution to our online extremism and in
solution to our online extremism and in my team I had IT experts graphics
my team I had IT experts graphics
my team I had IT experts graphics designers counterterrorism researchers
designers counterterrorism researchers
designers counterterrorism researchers myself someone who’s experienced
myself someone who’s experienced
myself someone who’s experienced extremism but most interestingly a
extremism but most interestingly a
extremism but most interestingly a former extremist for three days I worked
former extremist for three days I worked
former extremist for three days I worked in the same group and sat next to a
in the same group and sat next to a
in the same group and sat next to a former white supremacist who used to
former white supremacist who used to
former white supremacist who used to bash up Asians Chinese how’s that for
bash up Asians Chinese how’s that for
bash up Asians Chinese how’s that for confronting is now a friend what I’ve
confronting is now a friend what I’ve
confronting is now a friend what I’ve learned is that ideas may come from
learned is that ideas may come from
learned is that ideas may come from unlikely perspectives now my new friend
unlikely perspectives now my new friend
unlikely perspectives now my new friend works in the juvenile justice system
works in the juvenile justice system
works in the juvenile justice system working with young people who are on the
working with young people who are on the
working with young people who are on the path or at risk of being on the path of
path or at risk of being on the path of
path or at risk of being on the path of violence and extremism and he coaches
violence and extremism and he coaches
violence and extremism and he coaches them out of it through his own
them out of it through his own
them out of it through his own experiences and realization what he also
experiences and realization what he also
experiences and realization what he also taught me was that the drivers of
taught me was that the drivers of
taught me was that the drivers of extremism and violence and hateful
extremism and violence and hateful
extremism and violence and hateful attitudes our individual personal fueled
attitudes our individual personal fueled
attitudes our individual personal fueled by anger and resentment that is usually
by anger and resentment that is usually
by anger and resentment that is usually unrelated to what they’re projecting
unrelated to what they’re projecting
unrelated to what they’re projecting against now no war will solve that no
against now no war will solve that no
against now no war will solve that no immigration ban no deportation scheme
immigration ban no deportation scheme
immigration ban no deportation scheme there is no silver bullet there’s no
there is no silver bullet there’s no
there is no silver bullet there’s no syllable no one single solution for our
syllable no one single solution for our
syllable no one single solution for our societal challenge
societal challenge
societal challenge now our law enforcement snow that and
now our law enforcement snow that and
now our law enforcement snow that and our schools know that now if only 15
our schools know that now if only 15
our schools know that now if only 15 year old far haja bomb the boy that shot
year old far haja bomb the boy that shot
year old far haja bomb the boy that shot my father knew that now I wish that I
my father knew that now I wish that I
my father knew that now I wish that I could stand here and tell you what the
could stand here and tell you what the
could stand here and tell you what the solutions are because lots of people
solutions are because lots of people
solutions are because lots of people have asked me alpha what do you think
have asked me alpha what do you think
have asked me alpha what do you think are the causes of extremism what do you
are the causes of extremism what do you
are the causes of extremism what do you think I’m is the solution and I really
think I’m is the solution and I really
think I’m is the solution and I really have to say I alone do not have the
have to say I alone do not have the
have to say I alone do not have the answer and no one no single person does
answer and no one no single person does
answer and no one no single person does but there are a lot of people that do
but there are a lot of people that do
but there are a lot of people that do underground there are counterterrorism
underground there are counterterrorism
underground there are counterterrorism experts law enforcement community
experts law enforcement community
experts law enforcement community leaders community workers social workers
leaders community workers social workers
leaders community workers social workers youth workers and some people are
youth workers and some people are
youth workers and some people are working every day to address the drivers
working every day to address the drivers
working every day to address the drivers of extremism and violence in our society
of extremism and violence in our society
of extremism and violence in our society and we must start listening to those
and we must start listening to those
and we must start listening to those people and not to those that seek to
people and not to those that seek to
people and not to those that seek to address this with headlines because we
address this with headlines because we
address this with headlines because we must all work together and this all must
must all work together and this all must
must all work together and this all must sound kind of bleak but what gives me
sound kind of bleak but what gives me
sound kind of bleak but what gives me hope as a belief and the understanding
hope as a belief and the understanding
hope as a belief and the understanding that there is humanity in all of us that
that there is humanity in all of us that
that there is humanity in all of us that all of us are capable of respect love
all of us are capable of respect love
all of us are capable of respect love and compassion now a 15 year old was the
and compassion now a 15 year old was the
and compassion now a 15 year old was the cause of the greatest grief and havoc in
cause of the greatest grief and havoc in
cause of the greatest grief and havoc in my life and it took a 15 year old to
my life and it took a 15 year old to
my life and it took a 15 year old to realize that the challenge ahead is
realize that the challenge ahead is
realize that the challenge ahead is tough but it is also my students
tough but it is also my students
tough but it is also my students teenagers 15 year olds that have also
teenagers 15 year olds that have also
teenagers 15 year olds that have also been the greatest source of inspiration
been the greatest source of inspiration
been the greatest source of inspiration in the past 18 months so I cannot paint
in the past 18 months so I cannot paint
in the past 18 months so I cannot paint a broad brush I remember going back to
a broad brush I remember going back to
a broad brush I remember going back to work after taking a couple of weeks off
work after taking a couple of weeks off
work after taking a couple of weeks off after dad’s funeral and in the lesson
after dad’s funeral and in the lesson
after dad’s funeral and in the lesson first lesson I told my story and I asked
first lesson I told my story and I asked
first lesson I told my story and I asked that the students had any questions for
that the students had any questions for
that the students had any questions for me unexpectedly from the back of the
me unexpectedly from the back of the
me unexpectedly from the back of the room I had a hand up not your usual
room I had a hand up not your usual
room I had a hand up not your usual suspect
suspect
suspect but he said mr. Chang I have a question
but he said mr. Chang I have a question
but he said mr. Chang I have a question what do you need from us to help you get
what do you need from us to help you get
what do you need from us to help you get through this difficult time I was not
through this difficult time I was not
through this difficult time I was not expecting that I was not expecting the
expecting that I was not expecting the
expecting that I was not expecting the depth of compassion and empathy that was
depth of compassion and empathy that was
depth of compassion and empathy that was coming out of the room and for the next
coming out of the room and for the next
coming out of the room and for the next 18 months I’ve been constantly surprised
18 months I’ve been constantly surprised
18 months I’ve been constantly surprised and there was one time when a student
and there was one time when a student
and there was one time when a student slipped me a note and on the note it
slipped me a note and on the note it
slipped me a note and on the note it said mr. Chang this quote helped me get
said mr. Chang this quote helped me get
said mr. Chang this quote helped me get through some hard times and I hope it
through some hard times and I hope it
through some hard times and I hope it helps you to the quote bread you do not
helps you to the quote bread you do not
helps you to the quote bread you do not know how strong you are until being
know how strong you are until being
know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have and
strong is the only choice you have and
strong is the only choice you have and that continues to give me strength and
that continues to give me strength and
that continues to give me strength and the hope for the future which leads me
the hope for the future which leads me
the hope for the future which leads me to my final lesson is that humanity is
to my final lesson is that humanity is
to my final lesson is that humanity is greater and safer when we are the some
greater and safer when we are the some
greater and safer when we are the some of the best that we bring out of each
of the best that we bring out of each
of the best that we bring out of each other now there are tough times ahead
other now there are tough times ahead
other now there are tough times ahead attitudes that are hard to shift and we
attitudes that are hard to shift and we
attitudes that are hard to shift and we continue to see acts of violence that
continue to see acts of violence that
continue to see acts of violence that hurt us and we continue to hear words
hurt us and we continue to hear words
hurt us and we continue to hear words that divide us and we cannot approach
that divide us and we cannot approach
that divide us and we cannot approach this with division and fear we must
this with division and fear we must
this with division and fear we must approach this with unity and courage and
approach this with unity and courage and
approach this with unity and courage and inclusion and my challenge is to you
inclusion and my challenge is to you
inclusion and my challenge is to you warm what will you do what can we do to
warm what will you do what can we do to
warm what will you do what can we do to bring out the best in all of us in your
bring out the best in all of us in your
bring out the best in all of us in your families in your communities in your
families in your communities in your
families in your communities in your schools in your society because humanity
schools in your society because humanity
schools in your society because humanity is greater and safer when we are the
is greater and safer when we are the
is greater and safer when we are the some of the best that we draw out from
some of the best that we draw out from
some of the best that we draw out from each other and that is my hope and I
each other and that is my hope and I
each other and that is my hope and I hope you can share it thank you
hope you can share it thank you
hope you can share it thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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