after 13 years of an amazing amazing journey to the United States of America
journey to the United States of America
journey to the United States of America a life that was filled with an excellent
a life that was filled with an excellent
a life that was filled with an excellent education my friend Molly can talk about
education my friend Molly can talk about
education my friend Molly can talk about that and work experience that I would
that and work experience that I would
that and work experience that I would not give up for anything on jun 1 2010 I
not give up for anything on jun 1 2010 I
not give up for anything on jun 1 2010 I got on a plane delta airlines to be
got on a plane delta airlines to be
got on a plane delta airlines to be exact with a one-way tickets in hand now
exact with a one-way tickets in hand now
exact with a one-way tickets in hand now on that plane I remember walking up and
on that plane I remember walking up and
on that plane I remember walking up and down there out high-fiving my friends
down there out high-fiving my friends
down there out high-fiving my friends from Africa who were going back home
from Africa who were going back home
from Africa who were going back home they were all headed because I charged
they were all headed because I charged
they were all headed because I charged to keep we have and they were doing what
to keep we have and they were doing what
to keep we have and they were doing what i call joining the progress train to go
i call joining the progress train to go
i call joining the progress train to go back to the country and continent with
back to the country and continent with
back to the country and continent with soul of in the middle of that thought i
soul of in the middle of that thought i
soul of in the middle of that thought i had ma’am do you want some coffee or tea
had ma’am do you want some coffee or tea
had ma’am do you want some coffee or tea oh it was only a dream the truth is that
oh it was only a dream the truth is that
oh it was only a dream the truth is that on that plane I was the only one who had
on that plane I was the only one who had
on that plane I was the only one who had the mission that I have I was the only
the mission that I have I was the only
the mission that I have I was the only one with that one-way tickets in my hand
one with that one-way tickets in my hand
one with that one-way tickets in my hand and it got fearful because I remembered
and it got fearful because I remembered
and it got fearful because I remembered the conversations that we had prior to
the conversations that we had prior to
the conversations that we had prior to getting on that plane where people
getting on that plane where people
getting on that plane where people called me foolish people called me naive
called me foolish people called me naive
called me foolish people called me naive what is wrong with you why would you
what is wrong with you why would you
what is wrong with you why would you want to make this journey why would you
want to make this journey why would you
want to make this journey why would you not stay when the dream was so good in
not stay when the dream was so good in
not stay when the dream was so good in the United States when you had the
the United States when you had the
the United States when you had the American Dream rolling was was it that’s
American Dream rolling was was it that’s
American Dream rolling was was it that’s pumped you and got you on that plane but
pumped you and got you on that plane but
pumped you and got you on that plane but I am reminded as my life would be that
I am reminded as my life would be that
I am reminded as my life would be that there were people that made that journey
there were people that made that journey
there were people that made that journey ahead of me and I said I’ll tell them my
ahead of me and I said I’ll tell them my
ahead of me and I said I’ll tell them my story I remember that dream I had that
story I remember that dream I had that
story I remember that dream I had that and make it a reality in my own small
and make it a reality in my own small
and make it a reality in my own small way so this is how it goes tonight I
way so this is how it goes tonight I
way so this is how it goes tonight I tell you about two broad topics and it’s
tell you about two broad topics and it’s
tell you about two broad topics and it’s very simple the first one is why do we
very simple the first one is why do we
very simple the first one is why do we come back home and the second is how do
come back home and the second is how do
come back home and the second is how do we get others to join that progress
we get others to join that progress
we get others to join that progress train and stay the course for me the why
train and stay the course for me the why
train and stay the course for me the why is the fact that I remember
is the fact that I remember
is the fact that I remember that there are people who got on that
that there are people who got on that
that there are people who got on that journey before me the reason I’m here
journey before me the reason I’m here
journey before me the reason I’m here today and the reason you are here today
today and the reason you are here today
today and the reason you are here today and can open the airwaves and speak for
and can open the airwaves and speak for
and can open the airwaves and speak for and against an issue and not have any
and against an issue and not have any
and against an issue and not have any repercussions is because of those people
repercussions is because of those people
repercussions is because of those people so remember that the reason I’m here
so remember that the reason I’m here
so remember that the reason I’m here today and be able to ask for free
today and be able to ask for free
today and be able to ask for free education when in Pakistan girls are
education when in Pakistan girls are
education when in Pakistan girls are asking for the right to even go to
asking for the right to even go to
asking for the right to even go to school is because people ahead of us
school is because people ahead of us
school is because people ahead of us made that journey the reason I’m here
made that journey the reason I’m here
made that journey the reason I’m here today is because when I was six seven
today is because when I was six seven
today is because when I was six seven and eight years old I remember so while
and eight years old I remember so while
and eight years old I remember so while every wednesday when i sat under the
every wednesday when i sat under the
every wednesday when i sat under the table and did my homework while my
table and did my homework while my
table and did my homework while my mother in antioch atlanta Elizabeth aunt
mother in antioch atlanta Elizabeth aunt
mother in antioch atlanta Elizabeth aunt Amelia SAT and fought for women’s rights
Amelia SAT and fought for women’s rights
Amelia SAT and fought for women’s rights we enjoy what we enjoy today because of
we enjoy what we enjoy today because of
we enjoy what we enjoy today because of those roundtable discussions they had
those roundtable discussions they had
those roundtable discussions they had those free legal aid services they gave
those free legal aid services they gave
those free legal aid services they gave to women that’s why I’m here and so the
to women that’s why I’m here and so the
to women that’s why I’m here and so the cost is bigger than me and that’s why I
cost is bigger than me and that’s why I
cost is bigger than me and that’s why I made the journey so think about it when
made the journey so think about it when
made the journey so think about it when you are out there and you want you view
you are out there and you want you view
you are out there and you want you view you have that feeling my friends just do
you have that feeling my friends just do
you have that feeling my friends just do it because the time will never be right
it because the time will never be right
it because the time will never be right it will never be perfect now to the how
it will never be perfect now to the how
it will never be perfect now to the how remember that plane the story I just
remember that plane the story I just
remember that plane the story I just told you so I said I’ll tell my story in
told you so I said I’ll tell my story in
told you so I said I’ll tell my story in my own small way and my story went
my own small way and my story went
my own small way and my story went something like this year one life was
something like this year one life was
something like this year one life was rosy oh my god I love my country I get
rosy oh my god I love my country I get
rosy oh my god I love my country I get to see my niece and nephew every day I
to see my niece and nephew every day I
to see my niece and nephew every day I get to go to the beach as you can see i
get to go to the beach as you can see i
get to go to the beach as you can see i love the beach i lived in ohio for five
love the beach i lived in ohio for five
love the beach i lived in ohio for five years had horrible winters and it was
years had horrible winters and it was
years had horrible winters and it was always sunshine and ghana so i
always sunshine and ghana so i
always sunshine and ghana so i absolutely loved it and I kept telling
absolutely loved it and I kept telling
absolutely loved it and I kept telling people you need to come you need to come
people you need to come you need to come
people you need to come you need to come you need to join that progress dream
you need to join that progress dream
you need to join that progress dream then I kept going here too yeah it was
then I kept going here too yeah it was
then I kept going here too yeah it was okay then yeah 3 the sentiments hits
okay then yeah 3 the sentiments hits
okay then yeah 3 the sentiments hits hard I realized that there was a reality
hard I realized that there was a reality
hard I realized that there was a reality check in life interestingly enough I
check in life interestingly enough I
check in life interestingly enough I only saw the negative the traffic that
only saw the negative the traffic that
only saw the negative the traffic that bad customer service the bad economy the
bad customer service the bad economy the
bad customer service the bad economy the fact that our community doesn’t exist
fact that our community doesn’t exist
fact that our community doesn’t exist anymore when I was a child we played on
anymore when I was a child we played on
anymore when I was a child we played on the streets today’s children are sitting
the streets today’s children are sitting
the streets today’s children are sitting in rooms playing video games life was
in rooms playing video games life was
in rooms playing video games life was just not what it was people said a
just not what it was people said a
just not what it was people said a question I was always complaining
question I was always complaining
question I was always complaining peoples that are questioning is she okay
peoples that are questioning is she okay
peoples that are questioning is she okay whatever happened to her fired up ready
whatever happened to her fired up ready
whatever happened to her fired up ready to go fix Ghana attitude the truth is
to go fix Ghana attitude the truth is
to go fix Ghana attitude the truth is life
life
life pimp now year one to year three the ups
pimp now year one to year three the ups
pimp now year one to year three the ups and the Downs has been my life but I’ll
and the Downs has been my life but I’ll
and the Downs has been my life but I’ll tell you this my friends the ops mean
tell you this my friends the ops mean
tell you this my friends the ops mean that I should not settle it means that I
that I should not settle it means that I
that I should not settle it means that I should show up on time still to events
should show up on time still to events
should show up on time still to events it means that I shouldn’t throw trash
it means that I shouldn’t throw trash
it means that I shouldn’t throw trash out of my car because I can and then
out of my car because I can and then
out of my car because I can and then when the downs happen it means there’s
when the downs happen it means there’s
when the downs happen it means there’s only one way which is up the second
only one way which is up the second
only one way which is up the second thing that I tell people is that when
thing that I tell people is that when
thing that I tell people is that when you come home look for that thing that
you come home look for that thing that
you come home look for that thing that does it for you and if you don’t find it
does it for you and if you don’t find it
does it for you and if you don’t find it make it happen find that something so
make it happen find that something so
make it happen find that something so for me that something was finding
for me that something was finding
for me that something was finding like-minded people who were also coming
like-minded people who were also coming
like-minded people who were also coming back home with the agency in the sense
back home with the agency in the sense
back home with the agency in the sense of change and I’ve change in mindset
of change and I’ve change in mindset
of change and I’ve change in mindset like me and I had these conversations on
like me and I had these conversations on
like me and I had these conversations on and on and on with them I looked around
and on and on with them I looked around
and on and on with them I looked around and I realized that I needed a support
and I realized that I needed a support
and I realized that I needed a support network but I couldn’t find it so what
network but I couldn’t find it so what
network but I couldn’t find it so what did I do I created one interestingly
did I do I created one interestingly
did I do I created one interestingly enough as I talk to people about the
enough as I talk to people about the
enough as I talk to people about the need for the support group and the need
need for the support group and the need
need for the support group and the need for a system to give back to our society
for a system to give back to our society
for a system to give back to our society folks got excited let’s do this let’s
folks got excited let’s do this let’s
folks got excited let’s do this let’s make it happen and we formed a support
make it happen and we formed a support
make it happen and we formed a support network which has been in existence for
network which has been in existence for
network which has been in existence for five years and has a listserv that
five years and has a listserv that
five years and has a listserv that basically allows anybody to just ask any
basically allows anybody to just ask any
basically allows anybody to just ask any question making your journey home much
question making your journey home much
question making your journey home much better but more importantly was the give
better but more importantly was the give
better but more importantly was the give back part of our job which was which was
back part of our job which was which was
back part of our job which was which was mentoring ladies and gentlemen for me
mentoring ladies and gentlemen for me
mentoring ladies and gentlemen for me because of those days that i SAT under
because of those days that i SAT under
because of those days that i SAT under the table I knew that had become agenda
the table I knew that had become agenda
the table I knew that had become agenda activists because of those days that I
activists because of those days that I
activists because of those days that I watched these women work hard to get to
watched these women work hard to get to
watched these women work hard to get to where we had get the policies that we
where we had get the policies that we
where we had get the policies that we have today so my charge is to mentor
have today so my charge is to mentor
have today so my charge is to mentor others to be like me to be beyond me and
others to be like me to be beyond me and
others to be like me to be beyond me and so now after three years we’ve mented
so now after three years we’ve mented
so now after three years we’ve mented three over three hundred high school
three over three hundred high school
three over three hundred high school students we’ve been who have embraced
students we’ve been who have embraced
students we’ve been who have embraced today travelling blogging going to the
today travelling blogging going to the
today travelling blogging going to the beach the simple things in life career
beach the simple things in life career
beach the simple things in life career development meeting other people who are
development meeting other people who are
development meeting other people who are ahead of them so that they can aspire to
ahead of them so that they can aspire to
ahead of them so that they can aspire to be like them for me that’s what keeps me
be like them for me that’s what keeps me
be like them for me that’s what keeps me up at night
up at night
up at night when last week one of our mentees came
when last week one of our mentees came
when last week one of our mentees came to me and said madam Christabel why they
to me and said madam Christabel why they
to me and said madam Christabel why they call me madam I can’t see but I digress
call me madam I can’t see but I digress
call me madam I can’t see but I digress he said I’m gonna create a mentoring
he said I’m gonna create a mentoring
he said I’m gonna create a mentoring community in my university because of
community in my university because of
community in my university because of what you’ve taught me oh my god that was
what you’ve taught me oh my god that was
what you’ve taught me oh my god that was one of the best days of my life so what
one of the best days of my life so what
one of the best days of my life so what I’m trying to tell you ladies and
I’m trying to tell you ladies and
I’m trying to tell you ladies and gentlemen is that whatever you do you
gentlemen is that whatever you do you
gentlemen is that whatever you do you need to stand for something our
need to stand for something our
need to stand for something our generation is indeed different as we
generation is indeed different as we
generation is indeed different as we have said when I came home I had these
have said when I came home I had these
have said when I came home I had these conversations and realized that ours is
conversations and realized that ours is
conversations and realized that ours is an agency to change mindsets I’m
an agency to change mindsets I’m
an agency to change mindsets I’m mentoring program therefore it’s called
mentoring program therefore it’s called
mentoring program therefore it’s called changing mindsets channel in our future
changing mindsets channel in our future
changing mindsets channel in our future but how do you channel your future if
but how do you channel your future if
but how do you channel your future if you don’t stand for something I urge you
you don’t stand for something I urge you
you don’t stand for something I urge you today to inject yourself with the needle
today to inject yourself with the needle
today to inject yourself with the needle of progress and to stand for something
of progress and to stand for something
of progress and to stand for something indeed ladies and gentlemen let me not
indeed ladies and gentlemen let me not
indeed ladies and gentlemen let me not lie to you and say who all be Michelle
lie to you and say who all be Michelle
lie to you and say who all be Michelle Obama’s or we’ll all be a sin to us but
Obama’s or we’ll all be a sin to us but
Obama’s or we’ll all be a sin to us but you can be a Christabel dad see you can
you can be a Christabel dad see you can
you can be a Christabel dad see you can be a merry tubby and it’s the Lamb who
be a merry tubby and it’s the Lamb who
be a merry tubby and it’s the Lamb who and the list goes on you can you can
and the list goes on you can you can
and the list goes on you can you can channel that path and put your stand in
channel that path and put your stand in
channel that path and put your stand in the ground one step at a time with eight
the ground one step at a time with eight
the ground one step at a time with eight a large progress or a small one ladies
a large progress or a small one ladies
a large progress or a small one ladies and gentlemen at time indeed is now and
and gentlemen at time indeed is now and
and gentlemen at time indeed is now and when you stand for something you will
when you stand for something you will
when you stand for something you will push for it you act to it you innovate
push for it you act to it you innovate
push for it you act to it you innovate you evolve and you make a difference in
you evolve and you make a difference in
you evolve and you make a difference in our country that needs us so bad thank
our country that needs us so bad thank
our country that needs us so bad thank you very much my name is crystal des
you very much my name is crystal des
you very much my name is crystal des [Applause]
”
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