hello y’all at the core of our existence is this longing for connection to be
is this longing for connection to be
is this longing for connection to be seen and to be accepted I’ve grown up
seen and to be accepted I’ve grown up
seen and to be accepted I’ve grown up around college students my entire life
around college students my entire life
around college students my entire life and I’ve always heard the question asked
and I’ve always heard the question asked
and I’ve always heard the question asked of do you see me yet this question is
of do you see me yet this question is
of do you see me yet this question is very rarely asked verbally rather it’s
very rarely asked verbally rather it’s
very rarely asked verbally rather it’s the underlining theme to my
the underlining theme to my
the underlining theme to my conversations I ask them questions like
conversations I ask them questions like
conversations I ask them questions like what’s your major what are you
what’s your major what are you
what’s your major what are you passionate about what do you want to do
passionate about what do you want to do
passionate about what do you want to do with your life and there’s always this
with your life and there’s always this
with your life and there’s always this ache of do you see me and their answers
ache of do you see me and their answers
ache of do you see me and their answers and I have found that the greatest
and I have found that the greatest
and I have found that the greatest moments of my life have been the moments
moments of my life have been the moments
moments of my life have been the moments where I’ve had the privilege of seeing
where I’ve had the privilege of seeing
where I’ve had the privilege of seeing others and where I’ve taken the risk to
others and where I’ve taken the risk to
others and where I’ve taken the risk to be seen and to expand on that I want to
be seen and to expand on that I want to
be seen and to expand on that I want to reference this folder now this folder
reference this folder now this folder
reference this folder now this folder has my entire academic history in it and
has my entire academic history in it and
has my entire academic history in it and there’s lots of different stories in
there’s lots of different stories in
there’s lots of different stories in here but there’s one story from the
here but there’s one story from the
here but there’s one story from the third grade that I want to talk about
third grade that I want to talk about
third grade that I want to talk about now in the third grade I had the highest
now in the third grade I had the highest
now in the third grade I had the highest caliber testing done to see if I had a
caliber testing done to see if I had a
caliber testing done to see if I had a learning disability and if I needed to
learning disability and if I needed to
learning disability and if I needed to be placed in a special education room
be placed in a special education room
be placed in a special education room and after all the testing was done a
and after all the testing was done a
and after all the testing was done a table full of experts sat down and they
table full of experts sat down and they
table full of experts sat down and they looked at my file and based off what was
looked at my file and based off what was
looked at my file and based off what was in front of them they came to the
in front of them they came to the
in front of them they came to the conclusion that I should be placed in a
conclusion that I should be placed in a
conclusion that I should be placed in a special education room however there was
special education room however there was
special education room however there was a one person in that room who saw me and
a one person in that room who saw me and
a one person in that room who saw me and it was my third grade teacher and she
it was my third grade teacher and she
it was my third grade teacher and she said let me tell you about Allison she
said let me tell you about Allison she
said let me tell you about Allison she said allison is passionate and she loves
said allison is passionate and she loves
said allison is passionate and she loves people and she’s the type of student
people and she’s the type of student
people and she’s the type of student that goes after students that are not
that goes after students that are not
that goes after students that are not being included and invites them in and
being included and invites them in and
being included and invites them in and although school is exceedingly hard for
although school is exceedingly hard for
although school is exceedingly hard for Allison she always gets the same place
Allison she always gets the same place
Allison she always gets the same place everyone else is at it just takes her a
everyone else is at it just takes her a
everyone else is at it just takes her a little bit more time and she pulled out
little bit more time and she pulled out
little bit more time and she pulled out one of the test results and said this is
one of the test results and said this is
one of the test results and said this is who allison is and it was a test on
who allison is and it was a test on
who allison is and it was a test on adaptability and she said alison has the
adaptability and she said alison has the
adaptability and she said alison has the uncanny ability to take what she knows
uncanny ability to take what she knows
uncanny ability to take what she knows and apply it to a situation or
and apply it to a situation or
and apply it to a situation or circumstance she has no previous context
circumstance she has no previous context
circumstance she has no previous context of understanding
of understanding
of understanding and she can navigate that situation with
and she can navigate that situation with
and she can navigate that situation with success and my parents turned her and
success and my parents turned her and
success and my parents turned her and said what will happen if we take Allison
said what will happen if we take Allison
said what will happen if we take Allison out of her normal classroom and she said
out of her normal classroom and she said
out of her normal classroom and she said it will kill her because one person saw
it will kill her because one person saw
it will kill her because one person saw me my entire world changed because my
me my entire world changed because my
me my entire world changed because my teacher had the courage to see me she
teacher had the courage to see me she
teacher had the courage to see me she gave me the freedom to be me she knew
gave me the freedom to be me she knew
gave me the freedom to be me she knew that I needed to be in the classroom
that I needed to be in the classroom
that I needed to be in the classroom with other students she knew that I had
with other students she knew that I had
with other students she knew that I had the tenacity and grit necessary to not
the tenacity and grit necessary to not
the tenacity and grit necessary to not only navigate having a learning
only navigate having a learning
only navigate having a learning disability but to be successful despite
disability but to be successful despite
disability but to be successful despite it because she saw me she gave me the
it because she saw me she gave me the
it because she saw me she gave me the freedom to be me and there is freedom
freedom to be me and there is freedom
freedom to be me and there is freedom and being seen however freedom requires
and being seen however freedom requires
and being seen however freedom requires vulnerability it requires owning that
vulnerability it requires owning that
vulnerability it requires owning that were broken and messy which is something
were broken and messy which is something
were broken and messy which is something that our society tells us is a weakness
that our society tells us is a weakness
that our society tells us is a weakness however I see it as a strength for
however I see it as a strength for
however I see it as a strength for example if you think that naming that I
example if you think that naming that I
example if you think that naming that I have a learning disability in front of
have a learning disability in front of
have a learning disability in front of any one person let alone an auditorium
any one person let alone an auditorium
any one person let alone an auditorium is easy let me tell you it’s not and if
is easy let me tell you it’s not and if
is easy let me tell you it’s not and if you would have told me at the beginning
you would have told me at the beginning
you would have told me at the beginning of applying to be part of TEDx GCU that
of applying to be part of TEDx GCU that
of applying to be part of TEDx GCU that I would be naming this I would say
I would be naming this I would say
I would be naming this I would say you’re crazy because it was nowhere on
you’re crazy because it was nowhere on
you’re crazy because it was nowhere on my radar I would have told you I wanted
my radar I would have told you I wanted
my radar I would have told you I wanted to talk about the difference between
to talk about the difference between
to talk about the difference between looking and seeing but I had lots of
looking and seeing but I had lots of
looking and seeing but I had lots of other stories I was planning on talking
other stories I was planning on talking
other stories I was planning on talking about then but one very wise person
about then but one very wise person
about then but one very wise person asked me Allison why aren’t you talking
asked me Allison why aren’t you talking
asked me Allison why aren’t you talking about your learning disability and my
about your learning disability and my
about your learning disability and my response was because it’s scary because
response was because it’s scary because
response was because it’s scary because I don’t want to and that feels really
I don’t want to and that feels really
I don’t want to and that feels really vulnerable and hard and I don’t know
vulnerable and hard and I don’t know
vulnerable and hard and I don’t know that I want the first thing the world to
that I want the first thing the world to
that I want the first thing the world to know about me is that I have a learning
know about me is that I have a learning
know about me is that I have a learning disability because I’ve spent my entire
disability because I’ve spent my entire
disability because I’ve spent my entire life trying to hide that I have one but
life trying to hide that I have one but
life trying to hide that I have one but two thoughts came to mind after I
two thoughts came to mind after I
two thoughts came to mind after I answered that person the first was curse
answered that person the first was curse
answered that person the first was curse you brené Brown and your TED talk on
you brené Brown and your TED talk on
you brené Brown and your TED talk on vulnerability and you’re daring greatly
vulnerability and you’re daring greatly
vulnerability and you’re daring greatly book because it’s one of my favorites
book because it’s one of my favorites
book because it’s one of my favorites and the second thought that came to mind
and the second thought that came to mind
and the second thought that came to mind was I asked my students and my friends
was I asked my students and my friends
was I asked my students and my friends my family to have courage to be seen and
my family to have courage to be seen and
my family to have courage to be seen and I’m also a leader who likes to lead by
I’m also a leader who likes to lead by
I’m also a leader who likes to lead by example so I knew it was time for me to
example so I knew it was time for me to
example so I knew it was time for me to step into the light and name this truth
step into the light and name this truth
step into the light and name this truth so I started working on my TED talk and
so I started working on my TED talk and
so I started working on my TED talk and a week before the trials I kept asking
a week before the trials I kept asking
a week before the trials I kept asking myself do I really have anything we’re
myself do I really have anything we’re
myself do I really have anything we’re saying does this really matter and two
saying does this really matter and two
saying does this really matter and two days with before the trials I got my
days with before the trials I got my
days with before the trials I got my answer I was grabbing a cup of coffee on
answer I was grabbing a cup of coffee on
answer I was grabbing a cup of coffee on campus and another rd and a student
campus and another rd and a student
campus and another rd and a student walked in and we just started talking
walked in and we just started talking
walked in and we just started talking and the student didn’t know that I was
and the student didn’t know that I was
and the student didn’t know that I was auditioning for Ted and when they found
auditioning for Ted and when they found
auditioning for Ted and when they found out they got so excited for me they were
out they got so excited for me they were
out they got so excited for me they were like what are you teaching on and how
like what are you teaching on and how
like what are you teaching on and how are you feeling and I believe my exact
are you feeling and I believe my exact
are you feeling and I believe my exact response was okay um and I said that i’m
response was okay um and I said that i’m
response was okay um and I said that i’m teaching on the difference between
teaching on the difference between
teaching on the difference between looking vs seeing which I’m really
looking vs seeing which I’m really
looking vs seeing which I’m really excited about however I’m talking about
excited about however I’m talking about
excited about however I’m talking about something that I don’t usually name
something that I don’t usually name
something that I don’t usually name which is that I have a learning
which is that I have a learning
which is that I have a learning disability and that feels really hard
disability and that feels really hard
disability and that feels really hard for me and this student got a little bit
for me and this student got a little bit
for me and this student got a little bit quiet and said I never knew you had a
quiet and said I never knew you had a
quiet and said I never knew you had a learning disability and with tears
learning disability and with tears
learning disability and with tears starting to fill her eye she said what
starting to fill her eye she said what
starting to fill her eye she said what do you have and I said I have a type of
do you have and I said I have a type of
do you have and I said I have a type of dyslexia it falls in that category but
dyslexia it falls in that category but
dyslexia it falls in that category but it’s not exactly and as I responded the
it’s not exactly and as I responded the
it’s not exactly and as I responded the tears started to fall from her eyes and
tears started to fall from her eyes and
tears started to fall from her eyes and she said I’ve never met an adult who’s
she said I’ve never met an adult who’s
she said I’ve never met an adult who’s been successful who’s navigated having
been successful who’s navigated having
been successful who’s navigated having dyslexia I’ve only met peers that have
dyslexia I’ve only met peers that have
dyslexia I’ve only met peers that have it and I have dyslexia and in that
it and I have dyslexia and in that
it and I have dyslexia and in that moment I began to cry because I
moment I began to cry because I
moment I began to cry because I understood and I met her eyes and I said
understood and I met her eyes and I said
understood and I met her eyes and I said I know that you have had a work harder
I know that you have had a work harder
I know that you have had a work harder than anyone else knows and I know that
than anyone else knows and I know that
than anyone else knows and I know that you don’t feel like people see you but I
you don’t feel like people see you but I
you don’t feel like people see you but I see you and in that moment I embraced
see you and in that moment I embraced
see you and in that moment I embraced her and she embraced me and we just
her and she embraced me and we just
her and she embraced me and we just allowed ourselves to be seen by one
allowed ourselves to be seen by one
allowed ourselves to be seen by one another and I wouldn’t trade that
another and I wouldn’t trade that
another and I wouldn’t trade that moment for anything and once again I was
moment for anything and once again I was
moment for anything and once again I was reminded of how sweet it is to be seen
reminded of how sweet it is to be seen
reminded of how sweet it is to be seen if we’re going to be people that choose
if we’re going to be people that choose
if we’re going to be people that choose to see it’s imperative that we
to see it’s imperative that we
to see it’s imperative that we understand the difference between
understand the difference between
understand the difference between looking versus sink and the best
looking versus sink and the best
looking versus sink and the best breakdown I’ve ever heard comes from
breakdown I’ve ever heard comes from
breakdown I’ve ever heard comes from Christine Caine who says the difference
Christine Caine who says the difference
Christine Caine who says the difference between looking versus seen is that
between looking versus seen is that
between looking versus seen is that looking allows us the opportunity to
looking allows us the opportunity to
looking allows us the opportunity to look past or to look away or to look
look past or to look away or to look
look past or to look away or to look through but seeing stirs our hearts in
through but seeing stirs our hearts in
through but seeing stirs our hearts in such a way that we cannot unsee what we
such a way that we cannot unsee what we
such a way that we cannot unsee what we have seen and we must respond to it
seeing requires courage and hope and
seeing requires courage and hope and risk and your heart showing up but it is
risk and your heart showing up but it is
risk and your heart showing up but it is glorious so once again I want to lead by
glorious so once again I want to lead by
glorious so once again I want to lead by example and let you see me hello my name
example and let you see me hello my name
example and let you see me hello my name is Alison freaking Johnson and know my
is Alison freaking Johnson and know my
is Alison freaking Johnson and know my middle name is not freaking but I’m
middle name is not freaking but I’m
middle name is not freaking but I’m proud of Who I am I am an extrovert and
proud of Who I am I am an extrovert and
proud of Who I am I am an extrovert and an artist and a theologian I am a
an artist and a theologian I am a
an artist and a theologian I am a daughter and a sister and a friend I am
daughter and a sister and a friend I am
daughter and a sister and a friend I am a risk taker coffee drinker and world
a risk taker coffee drinker and world
a risk taker coffee drinker and world traveler I dance often and I laugh very
traveler I dance often and I laugh very
traveler I dance often and I laugh very loudly I have a learning disability at
loudly I have a learning disability at
loudly I have a learning disability at certain times I suck at spelling and
certain times I suck at spelling and
certain times I suck at spelling and reading out loud is really really
reading out loud is really really
reading out loud is really really challenging for me and I’ve had enough
challenging for me and I’ve had enough
challenging for me and I’ve had enough speech therapy that I can communicate my
speech therapy that I can communicate my
speech therapy that I can communicate my thoughts but it’s really challenging
thoughts but it’s really challenging
thoughts but it’s really challenging sometimes but I always have struggled
sometimes but I always have struggled
sometimes but I always have struggled with this idea of am I enough
and yet i still love who i am i’m aware
and yet i still love who i am i’m aware that at the end of the day even though i
that at the end of the day even though i
that at the end of the day even though i struggle with my insecurities Who I am
struggle with my insecurities Who I am
struggle with my insecurities Who I am is good enough Who I am is smart enough
is good enough Who I am is smart enough
is good enough Who I am is smart enough and who I am is worthy enough to be seen
and who I am is worthy enough to be seen
and who I am is worthy enough to be seen and I want to say that although I have a
and I want to say that although I have a
and I want to say that although I have a learning disability it doesn’t define me
what if you did what I just did what if
what if you did what I just did what if you named truth about yourself what have
you named truth about yourself what have
you named truth about yourself what have you stepped into the light and said Who
you stepped into the light and said Who
you stepped into the light and said Who I am is good enough what have you
I am is good enough what have you
I am is good enough what have you stopped allowing what people think of
stopped allowing what people think of
stopped allowing what people think of you or what you’ve done in your past to
you or what you’ve done in your past to
you or what you’ve done in your past to define who you are but rather you
define who you are but rather you
define who you are but rather you declared in this moment that I am enough
declared in this moment that I am enough
declared in this moment that I am enough just as me what if you didn’t settle for
just as me what if you didn’t settle for
just as me what if you didn’t settle for a world that just looked but that saw
a world that just looked but that saw
a world that just looked but that saw because if we chose to be part of that
because if we chose to be part of that
because if we chose to be part of that world we wouldn’t let stereotypes on a
world we wouldn’t let stereotypes on a
world we wouldn’t let stereotypes on a race or gender or social economic
race or gender or social economic
race or gender or social economic standing or education or sexual
standing or education or sexual
standing or education or sexual orientation dictate what we see but
orientation dictate what we see but
orientation dictate what we see but rather we would see a person who has a
rather we would see a person who has a
rather we would see a person who has a name who has a story we talk about the
name who has a story we talk about the
name who has a story we talk about the change that we want to see in our world
change that we want to see in our world
change that we want to see in our world yet are we brave enough to walk into the
yet are we brave enough to walk into the
yet are we brave enough to walk into the tension of looking but rather seeing
tension of looking but rather seeing
tension of looking but rather seeing people now our world has become so
people now our world has become so
people now our world has become so dehumanized that everything is about us
dehumanized that everything is about us
dehumanized that everything is about us and we have more conversations with
and we have more conversations with
and we have more conversations with screens than we do people standing right
screens than we do people standing right
screens than we do people standing right in front of us one thing that dr. brené
in front of us one thing that dr. brené
in front of us one thing that dr. brené Brown brings up in her book daring
Brown brings up in her book daring
Brown brings up in her book daring greatly is this side of when was the
greatly is this side of when was the
greatly is this side of when was the last time
last time
last time we went to like a coffee shop and when
we went to like a coffee shop and when
we went to like a coffee shop and when you ordered your coffee you looked the
you ordered your coffee you looked the
you ordered your coffee you looked the barista in the eyes and you thank them
barista in the eyes and you thank them
barista in the eyes and you thank them and you used their name when i first
and you used their name when i first
and you used their name when i first read this it wrecked me because it made
read this it wrecked me because it made
read this it wrecked me because it made me ask the question do I see everyone I
me ask the question do I see everyone I
me ask the question do I see everyone I interact with if we re-engage with our
interact with if we re-engage with our
interact with if we re-engage with our world we will see things that disrupt us
world we will see things that disrupt us
world we will see things that disrupt us we will see things that break our hearts
we will see things that break our hearts
we will see things that break our hearts because looking is easier looking is
because looking is easier looking is
because looking is easier looking is safer because it gives me the
safer because it gives me the
safer because it gives me the opportunity to put an arm’s distance
opportunity to put an arm’s distance
opportunity to put an arm’s distance between me and that person but when I
between me and that person but when I
between me and that person but when I see someone I get to be a part of
see someone I get to be a part of
see someone I get to be a part of something great when I see someone I see
something great when I see someone I see
something great when I see someone I see a daughter or son I see a friend I see
a daughter or son I see a friend I see
a daughter or son I see a friend I see someone who’s broken and messy but who
someone who’s broken and messy but who
someone who’s broken and messy but who has dreams and aspirations I see someone
has dreams and aspirations I see someone
has dreams and aspirations I see someone who wants to be seen and my heart
who wants to be seen and my heart
who wants to be seen and my heart connects with them because I too want to
connects with them because I too want to
connects with them because I too want to be seen I don’t have this world all
be seen I don’t have this world all
be seen I don’t have this world all figured out and I have lots of days
figured out and I have lots of days
figured out and I have lots of days where as I’m trying to interact and see
where as I’m trying to interact and see
where as I’m trying to interact and see people i know it’s hard but i don’t want
people i know it’s hard but i don’t want
people i know it’s hard but i don’t want to be someone who disregards you because
to be someone who disregards you because
to be someone who disregards you because it’s going to get hard for me because
it’s going to get hard for me because
it’s going to get hard for me because it’s going to be messy for me to engage
it’s going to be messy for me to engage
it’s going to be messy for me to engage with you I want to see you because you
with you I want to see you because you
with you I want to see you because you are worth being seen just as I am I have
are worth being seen just as I am I have
are worth being seen just as I am I have voices in my head that tell me to live
voices in my head that tell me to live
voices in my head that tell me to live small and to live safe and to not see
small and to live safe and to not see
small and to live safe and to not see but I fight those voices by telling
but I fight those voices by telling
but I fight those voices by telling myself that who I am again is good
myself that who I am again is good
myself that who I am again is good enough that I must be all of the
enough that I must be all of the
enough that I must be all of the goodness of who I am and who I was meant
goodness of who I am and who I was meant
goodness of who I am and who I was meant to be by being all of who I am me I must
to be by being all of who I am me I must
to be by being all of who I am me I must own my faults and my failures regardless
own my faults and my failures regardless
own my faults and my failures regardless and I want to give you one
and I want to give you one
and I want to give you one more story before I leave that helps me
more story before I leave that helps me
more story before I leave that helps me to keep coming back to knowing that
to keep coming back to knowing that
to keep coming back to knowing that seeing is worth it and it does make a
seeing is worth it and it does make a
seeing is worth it and it does make a difference I remember taking my final
difference I remember taking my final
difference I remember taking my final exam in college and as I left that room
exam in college and as I left that room
exam in college and as I left that room I realized that was the last thing I
I realized that was the last thing I
I realized that was the last thing I needed to finish before I was completely
needed to finish before I was completely
needed to finish before I was completely done and graduated with college and I
done and graduated with college and I
done and graduated with college and I was overwhelmed with emotion so I went
was overwhelmed with emotion so I went
was overwhelmed with emotion so I went to my college advisors office to try and
to my college advisors office to try and
to my college advisors office to try and connect with him because he knew but
connect with him because he knew but
connect with him because he knew but when I got there he wasn’t there so I
when I got there he wasn’t there so I
when I got there he wasn’t there so I turned to leave and ended up crossing
turned to leave and ended up crossing
turned to leave and ended up crossing paths with another one of my professors
paths with another one of my professors
paths with another one of my professors and he said hello and asked how I was
and he said hello and asked how I was
and he said hello and asked how I was doing and then realized I had tears in
doing and then realized I had tears in
doing and then realized I had tears in my eyes and said what’s going on and I
my eyes and said what’s going on and I
my eyes and said what’s going on and I said I just finished my last final of
said I just finished my last final of
said I just finished my last final of college and I’m done and he wished me a
college and I’m done and he wished me a
college and I’m done and he wished me a huge congratulations about this point
huge congratulations about this point
huge congratulations about this point the tears started streaming down my face
the tears started streaming down my face
the tears started streaming down my face he said what’s going on for you and I
he said what’s going on for you and I
he said what’s going on for you and I said I’ve just done the impossible and I
said I’ve just done the impossible and I
said I’ve just done the impossible and I don’t even know how to engage with it
don’t even know how to engage with it
don’t even know how to engage with it and he turned and looked rather confused
and he turned and looked rather confused
and he turned and looked rather confused and I said I have a learning disability
and I said I have a learning disability
and I said I have a learning disability and some of my earliest memories growing
and some of my earliest memories growing
and some of my earliest memories growing up for from doctors and teachers who
up for from doctors and teachers who
up for from doctors and teachers who told me that I would never be in a
told me that I would never be in a
told me that I would never be in a normal classroom that I would never
normal classroom that I would never
normal classroom that I would never graduate from high school or get into
graduate from high school or get into
graduate from high school or get into college or even go to college so the
college or even go to college so the
college or even go to college so the fact that I’ve just finished the
fact that I’ve just finished the
fact that I’ve just finished the impossible is beyond what I can fathom
impossible is beyond what I can fathom
impossible is beyond what I can fathom and process in my head right now and my
and process in my head right now and my
and process in my head right now and my teacher turned to me and said I have no
teacher turned to me and said I have no
teacher turned to me and said I have no idea you had a learning disability and
idea you had a learning disability and
idea you had a learning disability and he said if I would have known I probably
he said if I would have known I probably
he said if I would have known I probably would have graded some of your papers
would have graded some of your papers
would have graded some of your papers differently and he honored that he had
differently and he honored that he had
differently and he honored that he had caught grammatical and spelling mistakes
caught grammatical and spelling mistakes
caught grammatical and spelling mistakes that I had made but he didn’t know it
that I had made but he didn’t know it
that I had made but he didn’t know it was because I had a learning disability
was because I had a learning disability
was because I had a learning disability and i turned my professor and I said
and i turned my professor and I said
and i turned my professor and I said that is the greatest thing you could
that is the greatest thing you could
that is the greatest thing you could have ever given me and I wouldn’t trade
have ever given me and I wouldn’t trade
have ever given me and I wouldn’t trade those grades for anything and I left
those grades for anything and I left
those grades for anything and I left after he wished me another huge
after he wished me another huge
after he wished me another huge congratulations with one of the most
congratulations with one of the most
congratulations with one of the most important and impactful lessons of my
important and impactful lessons of my
important and impactful lessons of my life because I have allowed myself to be
life because I have allowed myself to be
life because I have allowed myself to be seen by my professor
I got an answer that I had always
I got an answer that I had always wondered i had just attained the
wondered i had just attained the
wondered i had just attained the impossible and he didn’t pity me and he
impossible and he didn’t pity me and he
impossible and he didn’t pity me and he didn’t feel sorry for me my best was
didn’t feel sorry for me my best was
didn’t feel sorry for me my best was good enough and I was smart enough and I
good enough and I was smart enough and I
good enough and I was smart enough and I got into the same place everyone else
got into the same place everyone else
got into the same place everyone else was it just took me a little bit more
was it just took me a little bit more
was it just took me a little bit more time and by being seen in that moment it
time and by being seen in that moment it
time and by being seen in that moment it made me apply for jobs and go for things
made me apply for jobs and go for things
made me apply for jobs and go for things that I didn’t think I could do like be a
that I didn’t think I could do like be a
that I didn’t think I could do like be a resident director at grand canyon
resident director at grand canyon
resident director at grand canyon university or believe that I could have
university or believe that I could have
university or believe that I could have my master’s degree before 25 because I
my master’s degree before 25 because I
my master’s degree before 25 because I was seen in that moment I have had the
was seen in that moment I have had the
was seen in that moment I have had the opportunity to see countless other
opportunity to see countless other
opportunity to see countless other students and to make a difference in
students and to make a difference in
students and to make a difference in their life which has brought me endless
their life which has brought me endless
their life which has brought me endless join my own life because I was seen in
join my own life because I was seen in
join my own life because I was seen in that moment I got to live my dreams and
that moment I got to live my dreams and
that moment I got to live my dreams and I got to be me because of that moment
I got to be me because of that moment
I got to be me because of that moment and so many others I am Who the person I
and so many others I am Who the person I
and so many others I am Who the person I am the person who i am today and I will
am the person who i am today and I will
am the person who i am today and I will continue to allow myself to be seen and
continue to allow myself to be seen and
continue to allow myself to be seen and to see other students so that they too
to see other students so that they too
to see other students so that they too can possibly attain the ability to be
can possibly attain the ability to be
can possibly attain the ability to be the fullness of their character so as I
the fullness of their character so as I
the fullness of their character so as I end today I want to ask you will you
end today I want to ask you will you
end today I want to ask you will you join me in seeing and being seen will
join me in seeing and being seen will
join me in seeing and being seen will you not just look at me but have the
you not just look at me but have the
you not just look at me but have the courage to see me will you have the
courage to see me will you have the
courage to see me will you have the courage to see the person sitting next
courage to see the person sitting next
courage to see the person sitting next to you or the person behind you when you
to you or the person behind you when you
to you or the person behind you when you leave here today and you pass by all the
leave here today and you pass by all the
leave here today and you pass by all the other students will you truly see them
other students will you truly see them
other students will you truly see them and I want to take it one step further
and I want to take it one step further
and I want to take it one step further say will you have the courage to be seen
say will you have the courage to be seen
say will you have the courage to be seen will you be all of the goodness of who
will you be all of the goodness of who
will you be all of the goodness of who you are and who you were meant to be
you are and who you were meant to be
you are and who you were meant to be will you put down the mask of I’m fine
will you put down the mask of I’m fine
will you put down the mask of I’m fine and own your broken and messy self there
and own your broken and messy self there
and own your broken and messy self there are people in your life who have earned
are people in your life who have earned
are people in your life who have earned the right to see you will you let them
the right to see you will you let them
the right to see you will you let them will you choose to live a life of
will you choose to live a life of
will you choose to live a life of wholeheartedness and be real and
wholeheartedness and be real and
wholeheartedness and be real and authentic and vulnerable because if we
authentic and vulnerable because if we
authentic and vulnerable because if we choose to be people who see and are seen
choose to be people who see and are seen
choose to be people who see and are seen we just might be a part of something
we just might be a part of something
we just might be a part of something great thank you very much
great thank you very much
great thank you very much [Applause]
”
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