thank you um what if I told you there are kids ready to learn serve and change
are kids ready to learn serve and change
are kids ready to learn serve and change the world what are being held back what
the world what are being held back what
the world what are being held back what if I told you there are kids ready to
if I told you there are kids ready to
if I told you there are kids ready to solve major problems like world hunger
solve major problems like world hunger
solve major problems like world hunger and homelessness but are being relegated
and homelessness but are being relegated
and homelessness but are being relegated to the kiddie table what if I told you
to the kiddie table what if I told you
to the kiddie table what if I told you they are kids waiting to drive change
they are kids waiting to drive change
they are kids waiting to drive change across the globe but nobody trusts them
across the globe but nobody trusts them
across the globe but nobody trusts them enough to hand over the steering wheel
enough to hand over the steering wheel
enough to hand over the steering wheel I recently embarked on a journey that
I recently embarked on a journey that
I recently embarked on a journey that was designed to test a simple idea what
was designed to test a simple idea what
was designed to test a simple idea what if we allow young people to drive their
if we allow young people to drive their
if we allow young people to drive their own learning the results are fascinating
own learning the results are fascinating
own learning the results are fascinating and empowering in a way I have never of
and empowering in a way I have never of
and empowering in a way I have never of imagined a few months ago I learned
imagined a few months ago I learned
imagined a few months ago I learned about this amazing opportunity through
about this amazing opportunity through
about this amazing opportunity through one of my mentors for an organization
one of my mentors for an organization
one of my mentors for an organization called grip tape that was seeking
called grip tape that was seeking
called grip tape that was seeking applications from teenagers for their
applications from teenagers for their
applications from teenagers for their learning journey the idea was simple but
learning journey the idea was simple but
learning journey the idea was simple but yet revolutionary grip tape would
yet revolutionary grip tape would
yet revolutionary grip tape would sponsor up to $500 to allow a teenager
sponsor up to $500 to allow a teenager
sponsor up to $500 to allow a teenager to embark on their learning journey the
to embark on their learning journey the
to embark on their learning journey the catch was their journey had to be
catch was their journey had to be
catch was their journey had to be euthanized to learn about and they
euthanized to learn about and they
euthanized to learn about and they promised to help and support us
promised to help and support us
promised to help and support us throughout the way simple right I of
throughout the way simple right I of
throughout the way simple right I of course did what most teenagers do who’ve
course did what most teenagers do who’ve
course did what most teenagers do who’ve never been given the keys to their own
never been given the keys to their own
never been given the keys to their own learning I asked for the rules and
learning I asked for the rules and
learning I asked for the rules and regulations what types of areas am I
regulations what types of areas am I
regulations what types of areas am I allowed to study for my learning journey
allowed to study for my learning journey
allowed to study for my learning journey can it be academic what if what I want
can it be academic what if what I want
can it be academic what if what I want to learn doesn’t cost anything what if
to learn doesn’t cost anything what if
to learn doesn’t cost anything what if it costs more than $500 can I enroll in
it costs more than $500 can I enroll in
it costs more than $500 can I enroll in a class can it be a project and the
a class can it be a project and the
a class can it be a project and the answers to all my questions were the
answers to all my questions were the
answers to all my questions were the same and it was absolutely refreshing
same and it was absolutely refreshing
same and it was absolutely refreshing you decide you are in charge now
you decide you are in charge now
you decide you are in charge now if you haven’t been in a traditional
if you haven’t been in a traditional
if you haven’t been in a traditional school
school
school a while you may not understand why this
a while you may not understand why this
a while you may not understand why this is so revolutionary let me take you
is so revolutionary let me take you
is so revolutionary let me take you through a teenager’s typical experience
through a teenager’s typical experience
through a teenager’s typical experience in the schooling system or dare I say
in the schooling system or dare I say
in the schooling system or dare I say school assembly line we wake up in the
school assembly line we wake up in the
school assembly line we wake up in the morning and we’re told when and where to
morning and we’re told when and where to
morning and we’re told when and where to learn here go to this big factory
learn here go to this big factory
learn here go to this big factory looking thing because that’s where
looking thing because that’s where
looking thing because that’s where learning happens you start school at
learning happens you start school at
learning happens you start school at 7:30 you end at 2:00 then you must learn
7:30 you end at 2:00 then you must learn
7:30 you end at 2:00 then you must learn in 90 minute intervals or block
in 90 minute intervals or block
in 90 minute intervals or block scheduling then you must go to school
scheduling then you must go to school
scheduling then you must go to school 180 days out of the year and don’t ask
180 days out of the year and don’t ask
180 days out of the year and don’t ask why because this is how it’s been done
why because this is how it’s been done
why because this is how it’s been done for decades
for decades
for decades we are told what to learn you must learn
we are told what to learn you must learn
we are told what to learn you must learn these subjects in these quantities and
these subjects in these quantities and
these subjects in these quantities and these frequencies who cares that you
these frequencies who cares that you
these frequencies who cares that you spend your evenings writing poetry or
spend your evenings writing poetry or
spend your evenings writing poetry or coding that’s not on the menu here we
coding that’s not on the menu here we
coding that’s not on the menu here we have an abundance of academic solids
have an abundance of academic solids
have an abundance of academic solids like math English social studies and
like math English social studies and
like math English social studies and science and if you want to get fancy you
science and if you want to get fancy you
science and if you want to get fancy you can double up on that this year
we are told how to learn you must learn
we are told how to learn you must learn using these textbooks and these handouts
using these textbooks and these handouts
using these textbooks and these handouts then you must sit in your desk all day
then you must sit in your desk all day
then you must sit in your desk all day and take notes using a certain
and take notes using a certain
and take notes using a certain note-taking method or graphic organizer
note-taking method or graphic organizer
note-taking method or graphic organizer and you’re not allowed to work in groups
and you’re not allowed to work in groups
and you’re not allowed to work in groups unless of course I tell you to do so
unless of course I tell you to do so
unless of course I tell you to do so because it’s a group project then we’re
because it’s a group project then we’re
because it’s a group project then we’re told how to know we learn here take this
told how to know we learn here take this
told how to know we learn here take this test to make sure you learned what we
test to make sure you learned what we
test to make sure you learned what we wanted you to learn when we wanted you
wanted you to learn when we wanted you
wanted you to learn when we wanted you to learn it and how we wanted you to
to learn it and how we wanted you to
to learn it and how we wanted you to learn it if this sounds bleak it is
learn it if this sounds bleak it is
learn it if this sounds bleak it is because it is if it sounds disempowering
because it is if it sounds disempowering
because it is if it sounds disempowering it is because it simply is in these
it is because it simply is in these
it is because it simply is in these settings where young people should be
settings where young people should be
settings where young people should be driven to learn creates reflect and
driven to learn creates reflect and
driven to learn creates reflect and apply we’re just sitting as passengers
apply we’re just sitting as passengers
apply we’re just sitting as passengers waiting and wondering are we there yet
waiting and wondering are we there yet
waiting and wondering are we there yet and that’s why I threw my griptape
and that’s why I threw my griptape
and that’s why I threw my griptape experience I was given the keys to my
experience I was given the keys to my
experience I was given the keys to my own learning and the mentors hold
own learning and the mentors hold
own learning and the mentors hold willing to help support me get there my
willing to help support me get there my
willing to help support me get there my idea for my griptape experience was to
idea for my griptape experience was to
idea for my griptape experience was to get a deeper understanding of the root
get a deeper understanding of the root
get a deeper understanding of the root causes of homelessness and the reason
causes of homelessness and the reason
causes of homelessness and the reason for this is because I realized that
for this is because I realized that
for this is because I realized that deeper you got into the inner city the
deeper you got into the inner city the
deeper you got into the inner city the more prevalent homelessness became and I
more prevalent homelessness became and I
more prevalent homelessness became and I wondered why so I decided to explore
wondered why so I decided to explore
wondered why so I decided to explore this through surveys and a homeless
this through surveys and a homeless
this through surveys and a homeless banquet before jumping into this I did
banquet before jumping into this I did
banquet before jumping into this I did not know how intense this experience was
not know how intense this experience was
not know how intense this experience was going to be I was constantly calling
going to be I was constantly calling
going to be I was constantly calling local organizations in hopes to seeking
local organizations in hopes to seeking
local organizations in hopes to seeking some assistance while Doug Lee my junior
some assistance while Doug Lee my junior
some assistance while Doug Lee my junior year of sight is a commitments and
year of sight is a commitments and
year of sight is a commitments and finding time to visit venues to find the
finding time to visit venues to find the
finding time to visit venues to find the perfect place to host my event and I had
perfect place to host my event and I had
perfect place to host my event and I had to organize people to help support me
to organize people to help support me
to organize people to help support me accomplish my event my journey was not
accomplish my event my journey was not
accomplish my event my journey was not without his challenges I received a lot
without his challenges I received a lot
without his challenges I received a lot of rejection as I contacted
of rejection as I contacted
of rejection as I contacted organizations but I still managed to
organizations but I still managed to
organizations but I still managed to make it fun by bringing my friends along
make it fun by bringing my friends along
make it fun by bringing my friends along for the journey and meeting new people
for the journey and meeting new people
for the journey and meeting new people and contacts which reminded and incur
and contacts which reminded and incur
and contacts which reminded and incur to me how many people want to see young
to me how many people want to see young
to me how many people want to see young people succeed one of my favorite
people succeed one of my favorite
people succeed one of my favorite memories on my learning journey was a
memories on my learning journey was a
memories on my learning journey was a time I drove around visiting religious
time I drove around visiting religious
time I drove around visiting religious institutions I decided to visit my local
institutions I decided to visit my local
institutions I decided to visit my local Jewish Community Center and before that
Jewish Community Center and before that
Jewish Community Center and before that I had never stepped foot in a Jewish
I had never stepped foot in a Jewish
I had never stepped foot in a Jewish Community Center before and I had no
Community Center before and I had no
Community Center before and I had no clue on what to expect but as soon as I
clue on what to expect but as soon as I
clue on what to expect but as soon as I entered I was escorted to see the rabbi
entered I was escorted to see the rabbi
entered I was escorted to see the rabbi we were having a lovely discussion as
we were having a lovely discussion as
we were having a lovely discussion as they handed him my Flyers he noticed
they handed him my Flyers he noticed
they handed him my Flyers he noticed that I misspelled perishables wrong and
that I misspelled perishables wrong and
that I misspelled perishables wrong and it was an embarrassing moment but he
it was an embarrassing moment but he
it was an embarrassing moment but he still managed to be encouraged to help
still managed to be encouraged to help
still managed to be encouraged to help me in my cause right before I was going
me in my cause right before I was going
me in my cause right before I was going to leave he invited me to go to his
to leave he invited me to go to his
to leave he invited me to go to his interfaith banquet I said yes I’ll
interfaith banquet I said yes I’ll
interfaith banquet I said yes I’ll attend but I was so nervous and during
attend but I was so nervous and during
attend but I was so nervous and during the event I went table to table handing
the event I went table to table handing
the event I went table to table handing out flyers and pitching out my idea and
out flyers and pitching out my idea and
out flyers and pitching out my idea and I had an amazing time if I would have
I had an amazing time if I would have
I had an amazing time if I would have stayed in comfort zone I wouldn’t have
stayed in comfort zone I wouldn’t have
stayed in comfort zone I wouldn’t have made any progress
made any progress
made any progress I wouldn’t receive all those donations I
I wouldn’t receive all those donations I
I wouldn’t receive all those donations I did that night and most importantly I
did that night and most importantly I
did that night and most importantly I wouldn’t have grown as a person not only
wouldn’t have grown as a person not only
wouldn’t have grown as a person not only did I make it banquet to feed the
did I make it banquet to feed the
did I make it banquet to feed the homeless I conducted a study to get a
homeless I conducted a study to get a
homeless I conducted a study to get a deeper understanding of homelessness but
deeper understanding of homelessness but
deeper understanding of homelessness but to top it off I realized I was capable
to top it off I realized I was capable
to top it off I realized I was capable of so much more and my peers are capable
of so much more and my peers are capable
of so much more and my peers are capable of so much more
of so much more
of so much more but many never realize that due to how
but many never realize that due to how
but many never realize that due to how society expects so little from us most
society expects so little from us most
society expects so little from us most of our lives even ask questions such as
of our lives even ask questions such as
of our lives even ask questions such as what do you want to be when you grow up
what do you want to be when you grow up
what do you want to be when you grow up or what colleges do you want to go to
or what colleges do you want to go to
or what colleges do you want to go to but the main theme of all these
but the main theme of all these
but the main theme of all these questions are that they consist of
questions are that they consist of
questions are that they consist of something in the future
something in the future
something in the future why don’t we ask in people questions
why don’t we ask in people questions
why don’t we ask in people questions such as what do you want what life
such as what do you want what life
such as what do you want what life dreams are you pursuing in the present
dreams are you pursuing in the present
dreams are you pursuing in the present what are you doing now to leave your
what are you doing now to leave your
what are you doing now to leave your market society and what are you learning
market society and what are you learning
market society and what are you learning that keeps you inspired and hungry for
that keeps you inspired and hungry for
that keeps you inspired and hungry for more if you look around there are so
more if you look around there are so
more if you look around there are so many examples of young people who
many examples of young people who
many examples of young people who decided that their age was only a number
decided that their age was only a number
decided that their age was only a number mary grace henry only 12 at the time
mary grace henry only 12 at the time
mary grace henry only 12 at the time decided to sell reversible headband
decided to sell reversible headband
decided to sell reversible headband and sold them to her local bookstore and
and sold them to her local bookstore and
and sold them to her local bookstore and took a hundred percent of the proceeds
took a hundred percent of the proceeds
took a hundred percent of the proceeds to fund a girls education in Africa
to fund a girls education in Africa
to fund a girls education in Africa she took a simple idea of reversible
she took a simple idea of reversible
she took a simple idea of reversible headbands and made it into something
headbands and made it into something
headbands and made it into something impactful also seventeen-year-old yeah
impactful also seventeen-year-old yeah
impactful also seventeen-year-old yeah scripta one day broke his glasses and
scripta one day broke his glasses and
scripta one day broke his glasses and realized how much he depended on them
realized how much he depended on them
realized how much he depended on them and couldn’t imagine other kids
and couldn’t imagine other kids
and couldn’t imagine other kids suffering due to not having glasses so
suffering due to not having glasses so
suffering due to not having glasses so he sold he took use ones and gave them
he sold he took use ones and gave them
he sold he took use ones and gave them two kids with poor eyesight these young
two kids with poor eyesight these young
two kids with poor eyesight these young people took small actions and made it
people took small actions and made it
people took small actions and made it into something impactful so I challenged
into something impactful so I challenged
into something impactful so I challenged my peers to go out there and try
my peers to go out there and try
my peers to go out there and try something you’ve always wanted to try
something you’ve always wanted to try
something you’ve always wanted to try learn what you want to learn when you
learn what you want to learn when you
learn what you want to learn when you want to learn and how you want to learn
want to learn and how you want to learn
want to learn and how you want to learn it meet new people outside of your
it meet new people outside of your
it meet new people outside of your normal circle of friends allow yourself
normal circle of friends allow yourself
normal circle of friends allow yourself to go into a tree with branches that
to go into a tree with branches that
to go into a tree with branches that sprout out in different directions
sprout out in different directions
sprout out in different directions diversifying your experiences is the
diversifying your experiences is the
diversifying your experiences is the only way you can broaden your mind now
only way you can broaden your mind now
only way you can broaden your mind now we live in a time that’s facing many
we live in a time that’s facing many
we live in a time that’s facing many challenges from the environment to
challenges from the environment to
challenges from the environment to education to crime to healthcare where
education to crime to healthcare where
education to crime to healthcare where our voices as young people need to be
our voices as young people need to be
our voices as young people need to be heard more than ever I cannot wait to
heard more than ever I cannot wait to
heard more than ever I cannot wait to see the possibilities when we give the
see the possibilities when we give the
see the possibilities when we give the keys so young people can drive their own
keys so young people can drive their own
keys so young people can drive their own learning and most importantly make
learning and most importantly make
learning and most importantly make change if you haven’t got anything out
change if you haven’t got anything out
change if you haven’t got anything out of this talk today I want you to
of this talk today I want you to
of this talk today I want you to remember one thing regardless of your
remember one thing regardless of your
remember one thing regardless of your age whether you are young or old but
age whether you are young or old but
age whether you are young or old but especially if you are young remember
especially if you are young remember
especially if you are young remember that your age is nothing but a number
that your age is nothing but a number
that your age is nothing but a number when it comes to making change so go out
when it comes to making change so go out
when it comes to making change so go out there and start your journey to make
there and start your journey to make
there and start your journey to make change
change
change you
”
Be First to Comment