have you ever been looked at as an outsider a rebel have you ever been
outsider a rebel have you ever been
outsider a rebel have you ever been called too young too naive or too
called too young too naive or too
called too young too naive or too idealistic why are our abilities judged
idealistic why are our abilities judged
idealistic why are our abilities judged based on our aides or what we wear or
based on our aides or what we wear or
based on our aides or what we wear or how we think
how we think
how we think why not judge us based on our youth and
why not judge us based on our youth and
why not judge us based on our youth and what we can do with our ideologies sure
what we can do with our ideologies sure
what we can do with our ideologies sure the older you are the more experience
the older you are the more experience
the older you are the more experience you have but experience is not always
you have but experience is not always
you have but experience is not always the thing that matters the most
the thing that matters the most
the thing that matters the most sometimes it’s all about heart and
sometimes it’s all about heart and
sometimes it’s all about heart and perseverance and in a society like Egypt
perseverance and in a society like Egypt
perseverance and in a society like Egypt heart and perseverance is all we’ve got
heart and perseverance is all we’ve got
heart and perseverance is all we’ve got I believe we choose to be average people
I believe we choose to be average people
I believe we choose to be average people or we choose not to be some of us are
or we choose not to be some of us are
or we choose not to be some of us are born with special abilities and some of
born with special abilities and some of
born with special abilities and some of us aren’t but some of us make the
us aren’t but some of us make the
us aren’t but some of us make the conscious choice to stand out to make
conscious choice to stand out to make
conscious choice to stand out to make something of themselves I made that
something of themselves I made that
something of themselves I made that choice when I was 14 years old I decided
choice when I was 14 years old I decided
choice when I was 14 years old I decided I want to make a difference in this
I want to make a difference in this
I want to make a difference in this world
world
world my name is Amna Maloof and I live by
my name is Amna Maloof and I live by
my name is Amna Maloof and I live by dreaming
[Applause]
[Applause] during the has the raids of 2008 I was
during the has the raids of 2008 I was
during the has the raids of 2008 I was living in Dubai and my friends and I
living in Dubai and my friends and I
living in Dubai and my friends and I decided to fundraise for the Palestinian
decided to fundraise for the Palestinian
decided to fundraise for the Palestinian cause we wanted to give any kind of
cause we wanted to give any kind of
cause we wanted to give any kind of humanitarian assistance to the refugees
humanitarian assistance to the refugees
humanitarian assistance to the refugees and the displaced we raised an
and the displaced we raised an
and the displaced we raised an equivalent of 50,000 Egyptian pounds at
equivalent of 50,000 Egyptian pounds at
equivalent of 50,000 Egyptian pounds at the time mind you we were all eighth
the time mind you we were all eighth
the time mind you we were all eighth ninth tenth graders so that’s when I
ninth tenth graders so that’s when I
ninth tenth graders so that’s when I knew I wanted to leave my footprints on
knew I wanted to leave my footprints on
knew I wanted to leave my footprints on this world even if it wasn’t going to
this world even if it wasn’t going to
this world even if it wasn’t going to have a large impact even if it was just
have a large impact even if it was just
have a large impact even if it was just for one person that’s when I started
for one person that’s when I started
for one person that’s when I started dreaming of working at the United
dreaming of working at the United
dreaming of working at the United Nations the United Nations I was 14 I
Nations the United Nations I was 14 I
Nations the United Nations I was 14 I was seen as naive by so many sounds
was seen as naive by so many sounds
was seen as naive by so many sounds familiar right
familiar right
familiar right not being taken seriously because of
not being taken seriously because of
not being taken seriously because of your aid happens to all of us but that
your aid happens to all of us but that
your aid happens to all of us but that shouldn’t stop you do you know why
shouldn’t stop you do you know why
shouldn’t stop you do you know why because all those people out there who
because all those people out there who
because all those people out there who make a difference started with a dream
make a difference started with a dream
make a difference started with a dream and some of them pursued it but some of
and some of them pursued it but some of
and some of them pursued it but some of them didn’t and those who did can tell
them didn’t and those who did can tell
them didn’t and those who did can tell you that it was hard and it was painful
you that it was hard and it was painful
you that it was hard and it was painful and they were faced with criticisms and
and they were faced with criticisms and
and they were faced with criticisms and mockery and letdowns some people judged
mockery and letdowns some people judged
mockery and letdowns some people judged them and called them eccentric and
them and called them eccentric and
them and called them eccentric and called them idealistic but they were
called them idealistic but they were
called them idealistic but they were dreamers and they had ambition and they
dreamers and they had ambition and they
dreamers and they had ambition and they had perseverance but what they also had
had perseverance but what they also had
had perseverance but what they also had was a plan and that plan didn’t
was a plan and that plan didn’t
was a plan and that plan didn’t necessarily involve rebelling against
necessarily involve rebelling against
necessarily involve rebelling against the society that excluded them but
the society that excluded them but
the society that excluded them but rather helping it in some way and
rather helping it in some way and
rather helping it in some way and persevering towards a greater cause even
persevering towards a greater cause even
persevering towards a greater cause even if it was unconventional I come from a
if it was unconventional I come from a
if it was unconventional I come from a relatively conservative family and there
relatively conservative family and there
relatively conservative family and there are sometimes certain expectations of
are sometimes certain expectations of
are sometimes certain expectations of how I should live my life and what I
how I should live my life and what I
how I should live my life and what I should or should not do especially
should or should not do especially
should or should not do especially considering that working at the UN
considering that working at the UN
considering that working at the UN involves lots of working hours travel
involves lots of working hours travel
involves lots of working hours travel dangerous hotspots but my parents Robin
dangerous hotspots but my parents Robin
dangerous hotspots but my parents Robin Italian Leia there in the crowd here
Italian Leia there in the crowd here
Italian Leia there in the crowd here tonight my parents very much supported
tonight my parents very much supported
tonight my parents very much supported the idea because they knew that at the
the idea because they knew that at the
the idea because they knew that at the end of the day I wanted to help people
end of the day I wanted to help people
end of the day I wanted to help people and even if the road to get there was
and even if the road to get there was
and even if the road to get there was unconventional they supported me my
unconventional they supported me my
unconventional they supported me my parents knew that considering the
parents knew that considering the
parents knew that considering the current realities we live in in this
current realities we live in in this
current realities we live in in this competitive and fast-paced world that
competitive and fast-paced world that
competitive and fast-paced world that they thought it was important to give me
they thought it was important to give me
they thought it was important to give me the freedom to persevere the freedom to
the freedom to persevere the freedom to
the freedom to persevere the freedom to live by dreaming and making a difference
so when I was 19 I started working at a
so when I was 19 I started working at a non-governmental organization an NGO by
non-governmental organization an NGO by
non-governmental organization an NGO by the time I was 20 I became a journalist
the time I was 20 I became a journalist
the time I was 20 I became a journalist and by 21 I graduated with a bachelor’s
and by 21 I graduated with a bachelor’s
and by 21 I graduated with a bachelor’s and political science and I started my
and political science and I started my
and political science and I started my master’s in international and
master’s in international and
master’s in international and comparative law right after that which I
comparative law right after that which I
comparative law right after that which I graduated from this last June and then I
graduated from this last June and then I
graduated from this last June and then I realized all my hard work paid off I get
realized all my hard work paid off I get
realized all my hard work paid off I get to finally live my dream I’m now 23 and
to finally live my dream I’m now 23 and
to finally live my dream I’m now 23 and I’ve been blessed with the opportunity
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to have worked at the United Nations
to have worked at the United Nations
to have worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
and I now currently work at the United
and I now currently work at the United Nations World Food Program and I’ve been
Nations World Food Program and I’ve been
Nations World Food Program and I’ve been there for almost two years and it feels
there for almost two years and it feels
there for almost two years and it feels exactly like I imagined it would I’m
exactly like I imagined it would I’m
exactly like I imagined it would I’m living the dream that I dreamt when I
living the dream that I dreamt when I
living the dream that I dreamt when I was 14 but sometimes I still get asked
was 14 but sometimes I still get asked
was 14 but sometimes I still get asked why I ran through my life so quickly why
why I ran through my life so quickly why
why I ran through my life so quickly why did I start my masters at such a young
did I start my masters at such a young
did I start my masters at such a young age or why did I decide to take a job at
age or why did I decide to take a job at
age or why did I decide to take a job at the UN and of course the very typical
the UN and of course the very typical
the UN and of course the very typical question which you may all relate to how
question which you may all relate to how
question which you may all relate to how am I gonna get married so that’s the
am I gonna get married so that’s the
am I gonna get married so that’s the thing society is now giving the youth
thing society is now giving the youth
thing society is now giving the youth these mixed messages on the one hand we
these mixed messages on the one hand we
these mixed messages on the one hand we should be living up to the speed at
should be living up to the speed at
should be living up to the speed at which the world is evolving and
which the world is evolving and
which the world is evolving and progressing because we are the future
progressing because we are the future
progressing because we are the future but at the same time Society is holding
but at the same time Society is holding
but at the same time Society is holding on to some archaic norms that keep us
on to some archaic norms that keep us
on to some archaic norms that keep us from innovating and keep us from
from innovating and keep us from
from innovating and keep us from progressing and striving towards our
progressing and striving towards our
progressing and striving towards our dreams and developing as a nation
dreams and developing as a nation
dreams and developing as a nation nevertheless my message here for you
nevertheless my message here for you
nevertheless my message here for you today is not to rebel against societal
today is not to rebel against societal
today is not to rebel against societal norms but it’s to persevere towards your
norms but it’s to persevere towards your
norms but it’s to persevere towards your own goals and your own dreams no matter
own goals and your own dreams no matter
own goals and your own dreams no matter how big or small or silly or far-fetched
how big or small or silly or far-fetched
how big or small or silly or far-fetched you think they are you should be able to
you think they are you should be able to
you think they are you should be able to choose your own path without having an
choose your own path without having an
choose your own path without having an outside force dictated to you you should
outside force dictated to you you should
outside force dictated to you you should also try though to make sure that you’re
also try though to make sure that you’re
also try though to make sure that you’re benefiting the world around you and
benefiting the world around you and
benefiting the world around you and benefitting yourselves seeking guidance
benefitting yourselves seeking guidance
benefitting yourselves seeking guidance and support from elders family members
and support from elders family members
and support from elders family members those more experienced than you are is
those more experienced than you are is
those more experienced than you are is important but ultimately it’s still a
important but ultimately it’s still a
important but ultimately it’s still a journey that should be divined defined
journey that should be divined defined
journey that should be divined defined by each person’s individuality now is
by each person’s individuality now is
by each person’s individuality now is the time for our norms to be revisited
the time for our norms to be revisited
the time for our norms to be revisited and readjusted we can pick and choose
and readjusted we can pick and choose
and readjusted we can pick and choose the norms that maintain our wonderful
the norms that maintain our wonderful
the norms that maintain our wonderful social traditions show the social
social traditions show the social
social traditions show the social cohesion gallantry generosity
cohesion gallantry generosity
cohesion gallantry generosity the importance of family love respect
the importance of family love respect
the importance of family love respect and helping those less fortunate but we
and helping those less fortunate but we
and helping those less fortunate but we must let go of the norms that hinder our
must let go of the norms that hinder our
must let go of the norms that hinder our development as individuals and as a
development as individuals and as a
development as individuals and as a society judgment oppression
society judgment oppression
society judgment oppression discrimination discouragement these are
discrimination discouragement these are
discrimination discouragement these are all norms that should be discarded so
I’ll tell you this making the conscious
I’ll tell you this making the conscious decision to dream an extravagant dream
decision to dream an extravagant dream
decision to dream an extravagant dream is scary most of us choose not to take
is scary most of us choose not to take
is scary most of us choose not to take that risk because we’re scared not to
that risk because we’re scared not to
that risk because we’re scared not to fit in and we all go through it right we
fit in and we all go through it right we
fit in and we all go through it right we stumble and we fall and there are days
stumble and we fall and there are days
stumble and we fall and there are days when the pressures of the world overtake
when the pressures of the world overtake
when the pressures of the world overtake us so hard that we just want to quit and
us so hard that we just want to quit and
us so hard that we just want to quit and guess what you can you can quit it’s
guess what you can you can quit it’s
guess what you can you can quit it’s your life nobody’s gonna live it for you
your life nobody’s gonna live it for you
your life nobody’s gonna live it for you but then you have to decide right
but then you have to decide right
but then you have to decide right whether the fear of falling is large
whether the fear of falling is large
whether the fear of falling is large enough to surpass your dreams letting go
enough to surpass your dreams letting go
enough to surpass your dreams letting go of your dreams has a cost and that cost
of your dreams has a cost and that cost
of your dreams has a cost and that cost forces you to ask yourself what if what
forces you to ask yourself what if what
forces you to ask yourself what if what if I had chosen this path what if I had
if I had chosen this path what if I had
if I had chosen this path what if I had taken that risk
taken that risk
taken that risk what if I had worked just a little bit
what if I had worked just a little bit
what if I had worked just a little bit harder and a life of what-ifs is the
harder and a life of what-ifs is the
harder and a life of what-ifs is the most unfulfilling kind I couldn’t live
most unfulfilling kind I couldn’t live
most unfulfilling kind I couldn’t live with the what if now is the time to be
with the what if now is the time to be
with the what if now is the time to be able to dream and be allowed to dream if
able to dream and be allowed to dream if
able to dream and be allowed to dream if you’re called naive or
you’re called naive or
you’re called naive or idealistic for choosing your own path
idealistic for choosing your own path
idealistic for choosing your own path brush it off tomorrow those people will
brush it off tomorrow those people will
brush it off tomorrow those people will wish they were a part of your dream
wish they were a part of your dream
wish they were a part of your dream because success will be shining off of
because success will be shining off of
because success will be shining off of you in whatever you do persevere towards
you in whatever you do persevere towards
you in whatever you do persevere towards what you want to achieve live by
what you want to achieve live by
what you want to achieve live by dreaming be an artist be a teacher be a
dreaming be an artist be a teacher be a
dreaming be an artist be a teacher be a life coach be a dance instructor be a
life coach be a dance instructor be a
life coach be a dance instructor be a mathematician be an economist be
mathematician be an economist be
mathematician be an economist be everything you don’t have to choose one
everything you don’t have to choose one
everything you don’t have to choose one path it’s not the only path build your
path it’s not the only path build your
path it’s not the only path build your vision of who you want to be I designed
vision of who you want to be I designed
vision of who you want to be I designed my life the way I envisioned
my life the way I envisioned
my life the way I envisioned I got a music degree when I was fifteen
I got a music degree when I was fifteen
I got a music degree when I was fifteen I got a diving license and I work at the
I got a diving license and I work at the
I got a diving license and I work at the UN I have a friend who’s an engineer and
UN I have a friend who’s an engineer and
UN I have a friend who’s an engineer and she’s a makeup artist on the side I know
she’s a makeup artist on the side I know
she’s a makeup artist on the side I know a data scientist who’s also an
a data scientist who’s also an
a data scientist who’s also an incredible athlete so I’ll leave you
incredible athlete so I’ll leave you
incredible athlete so I’ll leave you with this find a worthy goal find an
with this find a worthy goal find an
with this find a worthy goal find an extravagant dream make a plan and don’t
extravagant dream make a plan and don’t
extravagant dream make a plan and don’t let anyone ruin it not backward social
let anyone ruin it not backward social
let anyone ruin it not backward social norms not followers or status quo
norms not followers or status quo
norms not followers or status quo maintain errs don’t wait for life to
maintain errs don’t wait for life to
maintain errs don’t wait for life to happen to you go out there and design it
happen to you go out there and design it
happen to you go out there and design it to yourself thank you
to yourself thank you
to yourself thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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