[Applause] hi everybody I’m Justine trakis as you
hi everybody I’m Justine trakis as you
hi everybody I’m Justine trakis as you just heard it’s interesting Lehigh is
just heard it’s interesting Lehigh is
just heard it’s interesting Lehigh is actually pivotal plays of pitiable
actually pivotal plays of pitiable
actually pivotal plays of pitiable pivotal role in my life as I was walking
pivotal role in my life as I was walking
pivotal role in my life as I was walking down this hall again I heard a bunch of
down this hall again I heard a bunch of
down this hall again I heard a bunch of different languages and looked at the
different languages and looked at the
different languages and looked at the people and I thought I could relate been
people and I thought I could relate been
people and I thought I could relate been here kind of done some of that so today
here kind of done some of that so today
here kind of done some of that so today we’re going to talk about interesting
we’re going to talk about interesting
we’re going to talk about interesting topic ignorant and then the definition
topic ignorant and then the definition
topic ignorant and then the definition of ignorance what’s ignorant to ignore
of ignorance what’s ignorant to ignore
of ignorance what’s ignorant to ignore to not pay attention to not understand
to not pay attention to not understand
to not pay attention to not understand to not values them well they say that
to not values them well they say that
to not values them well they say that ignorant is bliss and ignorance can be
ignorant is bliss and ignorance can be
ignorant is bliss and ignorance can be bliss for example I bought my son a
bliss for example I bought my son a
bliss for example I bought my son a puppy not knowing how difficult it was
puppy not knowing how difficult it was
puppy not knowing how difficult it was but how many things do we do that we are
but how many things do we do that we are
but how many things do we do that we are able to do because of ignorance if we
able to do because of ignorance if we
able to do because of ignorance if we knew the problems of raising a family of
knew the problems of raising a family of
knew the problems of raising a family of being married or starting at companies
being married or starting at companies
being married or starting at companies if the discoverers relied that when
if the discoverers relied that when
if the discoverers relied that when everyone said and things regarding would
everyone said and things regarding would
everyone said and things regarding would we even have explorers we have invention
we even have explorers we have invention
we even have explorers we have invention no entrepreneurship by itself doesn’t
no entrepreneurship by itself doesn’t
no entrepreneurship by itself doesn’t exist if you’re looking at something
exist if you’re looking at something
exist if you’re looking at something that is guaranteed and if you agree with
that is guaranteed and if you agree with
that is guaranteed and if you agree with what everybody else says so that’s the
what everybody else says so that’s the
what everybody else says so that’s the positive side but there’s also a
positive side but there’s also a
positive side but there’s also a negative side so today we’ll explore
negative side so today we’ll explore
negative side so today we’ll explore this a little bit and I’ll take you on a
this a little bit and I’ll take you on a
this a little bit and I’ll take you on a brief journey my journey starts in 1930
brief journey my journey starts in 1930
brief journey my journey starts in 1930 oh wait we’ve got a gift this is the
oh wait we’ve got a gift this is the
oh wait we’ve got a gift this is the negative part the negative part is how
negative part the negative part is how
negative part the negative part is how what the Scriptures have been written
what the Scriptures have been written
what the Scriptures have been written about having a talent not using it
about having a talent not using it
about having a talent not using it having a gift and not appreciating it
having a gift and not appreciating it
having a gift and not appreciating it how would we feel if we had something
how would we feel if we had something
how would we feel if we had something that was a present and we didn’t know
that was a present and we didn’t know
that was a present and we didn’t know its value like a grandparent like a love
its value like a grandparent like a love
its value like a grandparent like a love like a friendship like a relationship
like a friendship like a relationship
like a friendship like a relationship and not knowing how to appreciate that
and not knowing how to appreciate that
and not knowing how to appreciate that until it was too late until it was gone
until it was too late until it was gone
until it was too late until it was gone so we’re going to take a brief brief
so we’re going to take a brief brief
so we’re going to take a brief brief journey here and I’ll start back with my
journey here and I’ll start back with my
journey here and I’ll start back with my dad my father was born in 1930 in that
dad my father was born in 1930 in that
dad my father was born in 1930 in that is Greece he was the youngest of three
is Greece he was the youngest of three
is Greece he was the youngest of three siblings was the only boy and my
siblings was the only boy and my
siblings was the only boy and my grandfather would spoil him he wouldn’t
grandfather would spoil him he wouldn’t
grandfather would spoil him he wouldn’t come down to eat unless my grandfather
come down to eat unless my grandfather
come down to eat unless my grandfather would give him pegs that all changed in
would give him pegs that all changed in
would give him pegs that all changed in World War two during the German
World War two during the German
World War two during the German occupation hundreds of thousands of
occupation hundreds of thousands of
occupation hundreds of thousands of Athenians died of starvation both of my
Athenians died of starvation both of my
Athenians died of starvation both of my grandparents died of starvation
grandparents died of starvation
grandparents died of starvation my father’s appreciation for food
my father’s appreciation for food
my father’s appreciation for food dramatically changed ran the same period
dramatically changed ran the same period
dramatically changed ran the same period my grandmother my mother was one of 10
my grandmother my mother was one of 10
my grandmother my mother was one of 10 siblings she loved school she was bright
siblings she loved school she was bright
siblings she loved school she was bright everything was great but her mother
everything was great but her mother
everything was great but her mother wanted her to stay home and help her
wanted her to stay home and help her
wanted her to stay home and help her raise the children and do chores
raise the children and do chores
raise the children and do chores my mother was forced not to go to school
my mother was forced not to go to school
my mother was forced not to go to school all kids at school went to school they
all kids at school went to school they
all kids at school went to school they didn’t really appreciate it my mother
didn’t really appreciate it my mother
didn’t really appreciate it my mother was deprived all of a sudden education
was deprived all of a sudden education
was deprived all of a sudden education was something that she valued she could
was something that she valued she could
was something that she valued she could understand the value of education so
understand the value of education so
understand the value of education so food education my parents actually met
food education my parents actually met
food education my parents actually met in Sydney Australia
my parents met in Sydney Australia to
my parents met in Sydney Australia to them they left the depressed Greece and
them they left the depressed Greece and
them they left the depressed Greece and came to a world of opportunity a wealthy
came to a world of opportunity a wealthy
came to a world of opportunity a wealthy where where there are a lot of options a
where where there are a lot of options a
where where there are a lot of options a lot of things that they could do they
lot of things that they could do they
lot of things that they could do they wanted to raise a family
wanted to raise a family
wanted to raise a family and
and we wanted to have a future so I was
and we wanted to have a future so I was born in Redfern which is a suburb of
born in Redfern which is a suburb of
born in Redfern which is a suburb of Sydney I went to high school in Rockdale
Sydney I went to high school in Rockdale
Sydney I went to high school in Rockdale and I played football and cricket and
and I played football and cricket and
and I played football and cricket and rugby so the bus would take us on our
rugby so the bus would take us on our
rugby so the bus would take us on our wing tours and there are wakings
wing tours and there are wakings
wing tours and there are wakings and also we had TVs at school which is
and also we had TVs at school which is
and also we had TVs at school which is really an interesting thing so just in
really an interesting thing so just in
really an interesting thing so just in case you’re looking at who the guy was
case you’re looking at who the guy was
case you’re looking at who the guy was that’s me there so one of the programs
that’s me there so one of the programs
that’s me there so one of the programs that we saw on TV was the Apollo 11
that we saw on TV was the Apollo 11
that we saw on TV was the Apollo 11 lunar win so all of a sudden you know we
lunar win so all of a sudden you know we
lunar win so all of a sudden you know we were like blown away hey we could
were like blown away hey we could
were like blown away hey we could actually go to the moon
actually go to the moon
actually go to the moon so we can be a scientist an astronaut an
so we can be a scientist an astronaut an
so we can be a scientist an astronaut an engineer anything we wanted the land was
engineer anything we wanted the land was
engineer anything we wanted the land was wide open our opportunities were there
wide open our opportunities were there
wide open our opportunities were there everyone was encouraging us to succeed
everyone was encouraging us to succeed
everyone was encouraging us to succeed and that was in the 70s my parents felt
and that was in the 70s my parents felt
and that was in the 70s my parents felt homesick for Greece so in night in the
homesick for Greece so in night in the
homesick for Greece so in night in the 70s we left Australia and we went to
70s we left Australia and we went to
70s we left Australia and we went to Greece Greece is a beautiful European
Greece Greece is a beautiful European
Greece Greece is a beautiful European country when it’s not a wealthy not
country when it’s not a wealthy not
country when it’s not a wealthy not compared to strengthen not compared to
compared to strengthen not compared to
compared to strengthen not compared to America I was a little bit different I
America I was a little bit different I
America I was a little bit different I was there talking I went to Yokohama the
was there talking I went to Yokohama the
was there talking I went to Yokohama the 11th High School of Athens and my my
11th High School of Athens and my my
11th High School of Athens and my my fellow students thought to me Steve you
fellow students thought to me Steve you
fellow students thought to me Steve you know you’re a little strange here you’re
know you’re a little strange here you’re
know you’re a little strange here you’re talking about things of you know when
talking about things of you know when
talking about things of you know when you talk about and grow up this isn’t a
you talk about and grow up this isn’t a
you talk about and grow up this isn’t a strainer this is great we don’t actually
strainer this is great we don’t actually
strainer this is great we don’t actually make things here and that really kind of
make things here and that really kind of
make things here and that really kind of struck me and the way it struck me is
struck me and the way it struck me is
struck me and the way it struck me is the majority of countries around the
the majority of countries around the
the majority of countries around the world don’t make cars that will make
world don’t make cars that will make
world don’t make cars that will make them autonomous then I’ll do research
them autonomous then I’ll do research
them autonomous then I’ll do research then research pharmaceutical there’s no
then research pharmaceutical there’s no
then research pharmaceutical there’s no genetic testing there are very few
genetic testing there are very few
genetic testing there are very few places in the world that have astronauts
imagine if you live in the country like
imagine if you live in the country like that what is your future going to be
that what is your future going to be
that what is your future going to be what could you do one of the things that
what could you do one of the things that
what could you do one of the things that happens is we start thinking that we
happens is we start thinking that we
happens is we start thinking that we can’t do something and that’s what
can’t do something and that’s what
can’t do something and that’s what everything is prefaced by we can’t make
everything is prefaced by we can’t make
everything is prefaced by we can’t make cars which is wrong we can’t do research
cars which is wrong we can’t do research
cars which is wrong we can’t do research which is small what are we going to do
which is small what are we going to do
which is small what are we going to do what kind of future could you have for
what kind of future could you have for
what kind of future could you have for future in Greece there are limited
future in Greece there are limited
future in Greece there are limited universities or colleges and everyone
universities or colleges and everyone
universities or colleges and everyone wants to get into it I applied I didn’t
wants to get into it I applied I didn’t
wants to get into it I applied I didn’t get into it friends of mine did apply
get into it friends of mine did apply
get into it friends of mine did apply and they got beat so I didn’t really
and they got beat so I didn’t really
and they got beat so I didn’t really know what would my future being I saw my
know what would my future being I saw my
know what would my future being I saw my future my friends that actually graduate
future my friends that actually graduate
future my friends that actually graduate with an engineering degree their first
with an engineering degree their first
with an engineering degree their first job was pizza delivery food delivery
job was pizza delivery food delivery
job was pizza delivery food delivery flowers driving a taxi now you have
flowers driving a taxi now you have
flowers driving a taxi now you have engineers accountants lawyers doing
engineers accountants lawyers doing
engineers accountants lawyers doing these fields it’s sad but it’s so true
these fields it’s sad but it’s so true
these fields it’s sad but it’s so true and this it doesn’t just have an
and this it doesn’t just have an
and this it doesn’t just have an increase if you look at the reality of
increase if you look at the reality of
increase if you look at the reality of things
things
things it happens around the world slowly the
it happens around the world slowly the
it happens around the world slowly the we can we can’t affects us and what ends
we can we can’t affects us and what ends
we can we can’t affects us and what ends up happening is we feel like I can’t so
up happening is we feel like I can’t so
up happening is we feel like I can’t so instead of enabling people to do things
instead of enabling people to do things
instead of enabling people to do things it prevents people from doing things we
it prevents people from doing things we
it prevents people from doing things we know that the economy in Greece has gone
know that the economy in Greece has gone
know that the economy in Greece has gone very bad but still if you look at the
very bad but still if you look at the
very bad but still if you look at the data here from the IMF the per capita
data here from the IMF the per capita
data here from the IMF the per capita model GDP Greece ranks 38th in the world
model GDP Greece ranks 38th in the world
model GDP Greece ranks 38th in the world there are hundreds of countries worse
there are hundreds of countries worse
there are hundreds of countries worse off if that’s how it is increased
off if that’s how it is increased
off if that’s how it is increased imagine other countries that summer an
imagine other countries that summer an
imagine other countries that summer an uncle of mine came and visited from
uncle of mine came and visited from
uncle of mine came and visited from America and it was interesting to see
America and it was interesting to see
America and it was interesting to see him what came to heart right off the bat
him what came to heart right off the bat
him what came to heart right off the bat was he had a can-do attitude he was an
was he had a can-do attitude he was an
was he had a can-do attitude he was an engineer and we actually
engineer and we actually
engineer and we actually here saline honey I spoke with it we
here saline honey I spoke with it we
here saline honey I spoke with it we spoke about my future he said hey you
spoke about my future he said hey you
spoke about my future he said hey you really want to be a missionary
really want to be a missionary
really want to be a missionary I said yes he says come visit us live
I said yes he says come visit us live
I said yes he says come visit us live with us in America go Toledo my parents
with us in America go Toledo my parents
with us in America go Toledo my parents I was lucky my parents could afford it
I was lucky my parents could afford it
I was lucky my parents could afford it they sent me here so I actually came it
they sent me here so I actually came it
they sent me here so I actually came it was inevitable I was going to be an
was inevitable I was going to be an
was inevitable I was going to be an immigrant
talking about immigration and the
talking about immigration and the immigrants what immigrants do what I did
immigrants what immigrants do what I did
immigrants what immigrants do what I did and the majority America through they
and the majority America through they
and the majority America through they have a mission statement at night when
have a mission statement at night when
have a mission statement at night when you’re here you’re lying in bed looking
you’re here you’re lying in bed looking
you’re here you’re lying in bed looking at the ceiling and your thought is am I
at the ceiling and your thought is am I
at the ceiling and your thought is am I better off today and that was yesterday
better off today and that was yesterday
better off today and that was yesterday and if not why am I here
and if not why am I here
and if not why am I here why have I left everything why have I
why have I left everything why have I
why have I left everything why have I sacrificed
the the place I went to study is right
the the place I went to study is right outside these doors though some of you
outside these doors though some of you
outside these doors though some of you have actually come through you can see
have actually come through you can see
have actually come through you can see this door coming in as you’re entering
this door coming in as you’re entering
this door coming in as you’re entering this wall it’s later University I
this wall it’s later University I
this wall it’s later University I actually came to Lehigh and that wasn’t
actually came to Lehigh and that wasn’t
actually came to Lehigh and that wasn’t the smartest I knew I was though not to
the smartest I knew I was though not to
the smartest I knew I was though not to be in college I knew how my future would
be in college I knew how my future would
be in college I knew how my future would be so I was one of the most determined
be so I was one of the most determined
be so I was one of the most determined that’s a picture of my local vest I
that’s a picture of my local vest I
that’s a picture of my local vest I ended up getting a bachelor’s in
ended up getting a bachelor’s in
ended up getting a bachelor’s in electrical engineering a bachelor’s in
electrical engineering a bachelor’s in
electrical engineering a bachelor’s in computer science of minor international
computer science of minor international
computer science of minor international relations I went to Drexel to get my
relations I went to Drexel to get my
relations I went to Drexel to get my master’s in lecture engineering robotics
master’s in lecture engineering robotics
master’s in lecture engineering robotics and they I came back to Lehigh for my
and they I came back to Lehigh for my
and they I came back to Lehigh for my PhD in computer science or what
PhD in computer science or what
PhD in computer science or what dissertation growing up I was asked what
dissertation growing up I was asked what
dissertation growing up I was asked what do I want to be when I grow up I always
do I want to be when I grow up I always
do I want to be when I grow up I always had one answer happy I don’t care about
had one answer happy I don’t care about
had one answer happy I don’t care about Tigers I care about how I feel I care
Tigers I care about how I feel I care
Tigers I care about how I feel I care about what I could do
about what I could do
about what I could do I stayed in America I started the
I stayed in America I started the
I stayed in America I started the company of a beautiful wife and three
company of a beautiful wife and three
company of a beautiful wife and three children my eldest wants to be an
children my eldest wants to be an
children my eldest wants to be an engineer my daughter would like to be a
engineer my daughter would like to be a
engineer my daughter would like to be a schoolteacher my son would like to be a
schoolteacher my son would like to be a
schoolteacher my son would like to be a gym teacher
gym teacher
gym teacher everything is great the big thing is
everything is great the big thing is
everything is great the big thing is that I know myself I have a global
that I know myself I have a global
that I know myself I have a global perspective I wanted to share that
perspective I wanted to share that
perspective I wanted to share that global perspective with my family so
global perspective with my family so
global perspective with my family so every year we go and visit different
every year we go and visit different
every year we go and visit different countries because we aren’t citizens of
countries because we aren’t citizens of
countries because we aren’t citizens of this little area we’re citizens in the
this little area we’re citizens in the
this little area we’re citizens in the world and we can affect the world you
world and we can affect the world you
world and we can affect the world you can’t appreciate something unless you
can’t appreciate something unless you
can’t appreciate something unless you see the opposite unless you seem lack of
see the opposite unless you seem lack of
see the opposite unless you seem lack of you can’t really appreciate freedom
you can’t really appreciate freedom
you can’t really appreciate freedom until you understand oppression you
until you understand oppression you
until you understand oppression you can’t really stand opportunity until you
can’t really stand opportunity until you
can’t really stand opportunity until you see the spare you can’t see optimism
see the spare you can’t see optimism
see the spare you can’t see optimism unless you’ve known pessimism and
unless you’ve known pessimism and
unless you’ve known pessimism and depression
everything goes in the nurturing
everything goes in the nurturing environment but that doesn’t suffice
environment but that doesn’t suffice
environment but that doesn’t suffice just having it around you isn’t another
just having it around you isn’t another
just having it around you isn’t another what you need is you need to be able to
what you need is you need to be able to
what you need is you need to be able to be to have a can-do attitude and to have
be to have a can-do attitude and to have
be to have a can-do attitude and to have the confidence that you can actually
the confidence that you can actually
the confidence that you can actually affect the world we take that for
affect the world we take that for
affect the world we take that for granted we hear that all the time but
granted we hear that all the time but
granted we hear that all the time but you know the majority of the world has
you know the majority of the world has
you know the majority of the world has the exact opposite they feel they cannot
the exact opposite they feel they cannot
the exact opposite they feel they cannot do they cannot affect the world there
do they cannot affect the world there
do they cannot affect the world there are very places where the people feel
are very places where the people feel
are very places where the people feel like they have that power when they hear
like they have that power when they hear
like they have that power when they hear people talking about the American Dream
people talking about the American Dream
people talking about the American Dream and they refer to buying a house are you
and they refer to buying a house are you
and they refer to buying a house are you serious
serious
serious to me that short-sighted what I think is
to me that short-sighted what I think is
to me that short-sighted what I think is the American Dream is the fact that the
the American Dream is the fact that the
the American Dream is the fact that the youth can actually have a dream then you
youth can actually have a dream then you
youth can actually have a dream then you can dream of a better future they dream
can dream of a better future they dream
can dream of a better future they dream of a better reality and guess what you
of a better reality and guess what you
of a better reality and guess what you have a chance of succeeding the fact
have a chance of succeeding the fact
have a chance of succeeding the fact that this country as a cornerstone has
that this country as a cornerstone has
that this country as a cornerstone has life liberty and the pursuit of
life liberty and the pursuit of
life liberty and the pursuit of happiness and the politicians even
happiness and the politicians even
happiness and the politicians even thought even said or are concerned with
thought even said or are concerned with
thought even said or are concerned with not just the rich the well-off but
not just the rich the well-off but
not just the rich the well-off but giving opportunity to everybody when we
giving opportunity to everybody when we
giving opportunity to everybody when we talk about the Statue of Liberty coming
talk about the Statue of Liberty coming
talk about the Statue of Liberty coming through there I don’t know as an
through there I don’t know as an
through there I don’t know as an immigrant I don’t know how everybody
immigrant I don’t know how everybody
immigrant I don’t know how everybody else feels but it really is the place
else feels but it really is the place
else feels but it really is the place where dreams do come true and it does
where dreams do come true and it does
where dreams do come true and it does shine the light on the Golden Gate and
shine the light on the Golden Gate and
shine the light on the Golden Gate and it asks for the poor those yearning for
it asks for the poor those yearning for
it asks for the poor those yearning for freedom and to breathe fresh air free
freedom and to breathe fresh air free
freedom and to breathe fresh air free air and to work hard and succeed that’s
air and to work hard and succeed that’s
air and to work hard and succeed that’s we were looking for Americans we see
we were looking for Americans we see
we were looking for Americans we see these two glasses and half of you
these two glasses and half of you
these two glasses and half of you thinking the glass is half full the
thinking the glass is half full the
thinking the glass is half full the other half it’s half empty to the world
other half it’s half empty to the world
other half it’s half empty to the world America’s cup runneth over
my father died um he loved being able to
my father died um he loved being able to feed people and enjoyed having friends
feed people and enjoyed having friends
feed people and enjoyed having friends and family over and giving them food you
and family over and giving them food you
and family over and giving them food you can understand how he relates to that
can understand how he relates to that
can understand how he relates to that but don’t let a tragic event make you
but don’t let a tragic event make you
but don’t let a tragic event make you appreciate what you have what we have
appreciate what you have what we have
appreciate what you have what we have here in America are the opportunities
here in America are the opportunities
here in America are the opportunities that most of the world never dreamt them
that most of the world never dreamt them
that most of the world never dreamt them if Syrian refugees kill themselves to go
if Syrian refugees kill themselves to go
if Syrian refugees kill themselves to go to Greece what do you think the world
to Greece what do you think the world
to Greece what do you think the world would do it come to America for me the
would do it come to America for me the
would do it come to America for me the worst thing that I can see is people not
worst thing that I can see is people not
worst thing that I can see is people not appreciating what exists here what
appreciating what exists here what
appreciating what exists here what people have died to provide for the rest
people have died to provide for the rest
people have died to provide for the rest of us what most people here have so I’d
of us what most people here have so I’d
of us what most people here have so I’d like to conclude with this I’d like
like to conclude with this I’d like
like to conclude with this I’d like everyone to maximize their opportunities
everyone to maximize their opportunities
everyone to maximize their opportunities appreciate what you have
appreciate what you have
appreciate what you have seize the moment
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
Be First to Comment