you [Music]
I have a confession to make I spent more
I have a confession to make I spent more time in choosing this dress than
time in choosing this dress than
time in choosing this dress than rehearsing for the TEDx talk which is
rehearsing for the TEDx talk which is
rehearsing for the TEDx talk which is something that I deeply regret right now
something that I deeply regret right now
something that I deeply regret right now then so yeah I was not thinking about it
then so yeah I was not thinking about it
then so yeah I was not thinking about it but see I don’t have too many chances of
but see I don’t have too many chances of
but see I don’t have too many chances of wearing a gown here in the states in
wearing a gown here in the states in
wearing a gown here in the states in Colombia especially and so you know I
Colombia especially and so you know I
Colombia especially and so you know I just wanted to emphasize this important
just wanted to emphasize this important
just wanted to emphasize this important moment and because this is recorded I
moment and because this is recorded I
moment and because this is recorded I wanted to show my mother that I am able
wanted to show my mother that I am able
wanted to show my mother that I am able to wear high heels it’s just that they
to wear high heels it’s just that they
to wear high heels it’s just that they are usually next to me not on me
are usually next to me not on me
are usually next to me not on me so anyway mom I did it so um another
so anyway mom I did it so um another
so anyway mom I did it so um another reason why I’m here is because I am very
reason why I’m here is because I am very
reason why I’m here is because I am very very bad at public speaking I don’t like
very bad at public speaking I don’t like
very bad at public speaking I don’t like it and I think most of us don’t so as
it and I think most of us don’t so as
it and I think most of us don’t so as any mentally sane person who hates
any mentally sane person who hates
any mentally sane person who hates public speaking you go and apply for a
public speaking you go and apply for a
public speaking you go and apply for a TEDx top right because that’s what you
TEDx top right because that’s what you
TEDx top right because that’s what you do so I’m really sorry virtually for
do so I’m really sorry virtually for
do so I’m really sorry virtually for that um so as you can see I have notes
that um so as you can see I have notes
that um so as you can see I have notes here because I’m incapable of memorizing
here because I’m incapable of memorizing
here because I’m incapable of memorizing a ten minute speech and I have sweaty
a ten minute speech and I have sweaty
a ten minute speech and I have sweaty palms and I didn’t sleep last night
palms and I didn’t sleep last night
palms and I didn’t sleep last night and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna faint or
and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna faint or
and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna faint or slip or fall or anything in between but
slip or fall or anything in between but
slip or fall or anything in between but there is me besides all these things I
there is me besides all these things I
there is me besides all these things I do have or I hope I have an idea we’re
do have or I hope I have an idea we’re
do have or I hope I have an idea we’re spreading and this is one of the reason
spreading and this is one of the reason
spreading and this is one of the reason why I apply for this TEDx talk because I
why I apply for this TEDx talk because I
why I apply for this TEDx talk because I think citizenship is not as important as
think citizenship is not as important as
think citizenship is not as important as we all like to think sometimes see I am
we all like to think sometimes see I am
we all like to think sometimes see I am NOT an American citizen no surprises
NOT an American citizen no surprises
NOT an American citizen no surprises there
there
there but do I want to be one I’m not really
but do I want to be one I’m not really
but do I want to be one I’m not really sure see it might be easier to get
sure see it might be easier to get
sure see it might be easier to get around might be easier to get a job here
around might be easier to get a job here
around might be easier to get a job here without heavy recruiters asking me how
without heavy recruiters asking me how
without heavy recruiters asking me how long can you stay when are you going
long can you stay when are you going
long can you stay when are you going home why don’t you have the proper
home why don’t you have the proper
home why don’t you have the proper documents and what I mean I am legal but
documents and what I mean I am legal but
documents and what I mean I am legal but I don’t have it I’m not a resident I
I don’t have it I’m not a resident I
I don’t have it I’m not a resident I could start a real savings account the
could start a real savings account the
could start a real savings account the type of account where you don’t add
type of account where you don’t add
type of account where you don’t add every penny you save – just in case you
every penny you save – just in case you
every penny you save – just in case you need to start your life all over again
need to start your life all over again
need to start your life all over again someplace else I could have a real
someplace else I could have a real
someplace else I could have a real housing contract the type of contract
housing contract the type of contract
housing contract the type of contract that expires in more than three months
that expires in more than three months
that expires in more than three months that would allow me to get furniture and
that would allow me to get furniture and
that would allow me to get furniture and decorate a place of my own and not wait
decorate a place of my own and not wait
decorate a place of my own and not wait to be kicked out
to be kicked out
to be kicked out I could not live my life in a suitcase
I could not live my life in a suitcase
I could not live my life in a suitcase and I could not I could buy stuff
and I could not I could buy stuff
and I could not I could buy stuff without throwing them away in like 3-4
without throwing them away in like 3-4
without throwing them away in like 3-4 months I could get a dog I always wanted
months I could get a dog I always wanted
months I could get a dog I always wanted to get a dog you know those creatures
to get a dog you know those creatures
to get a dog you know those creatures that need you for longer than three
that need you for longer than three
that need you for longer than three months I know
months I know
months I know piñon quite a pain um I could start a
piñon quite a pain um I could start a
piñon quite a pain um I could start a college fund for my future kids hey I
college fund for my future kids hey I
college fund for my future kids hey I want to send my kids to Harvard too okay
want to send my kids to Harvard too okay
want to send my kids to Harvard too okay and I need to start saving for that I
and I need to start saving for that I
and I need to start saving for that I could not get stuck in this heavy
could not get stuck in this heavy
could not get stuck in this heavy bureaucracy and I could plan for buying
bureaucracy and I could plan for buying
bureaucracy and I could plan for buying you know my house part of the American
you know my house part of the American
you know my house part of the American dream with an ocean view or a lake view
dream with an ocean view or a lake view
dream with an ocean view or a lake view and instead of freaking out on my couch
and instead of freaking out on my couch
and instead of freaking out on my couch every single night about what I’m going
every single night about what I’m going
every single night about what I’m going to do with my life next I could actually
to do with my life next I could actually
to do with my life next I could actually Google recipes or brownies or apple pies
Google recipes or brownies or apple pies
Google recipes or brownies or apple pies or plan my next Thanksgiving dinner or
or plan my next Thanksgiving dinner or
or plan my next Thanksgiving dinner or any other things that are so common for
any other things that are so common for
any other things that are so common for you here that for me are quite a
you here that for me are quite a
you here that for me are quite a challenge see I don’t know if any of
challenge see I don’t know if any of
challenge see I don’t know if any of those things will happen for me here
those things will happen for me here
those things will happen for me here heck I don’t even know if any of those
heck I don’t even know if any of those
heck I don’t even know if any of those things will happen for me at all but do
things will happen for me at all but do
things will happen for me at all but do I feel less of a citizen here now I
I feel less of a citizen here now I
I feel less of a citizen here now I don’t you can see I’ve been living in
don’t you can see I’ve been living in
don’t you can see I’ve been living in the United States for two years now and
the United States for two years now and
the United States for two years now and you all have created a new home for me
you all have created a new home for me
you all have created a new home for me if in my definition of home has changed
if in my definition of home has changed
if in my definition of home has changed because of you prior to coming here I
because of you prior to coming here I
because of you prior to coming here I have lived 28 years in my home country
have lived 28 years in my home country
have lived 28 years in my home country of Romania a country in Eastern Europe
of Romania a country in Eastern Europe
of Romania a country in Eastern Europe and I came here because at one point in
and I came here because at one point in
and I came here because at one point in your history your government decided to
your history your government decided to
your history your government decided to give scholarships to students to come
give scholarships to students to come
give scholarships to students to come here and study and see how Great America
here and study and see how Great America
here and study and see how Great America is no pun intended and
I lived in that country for a long time
I lived in that country for a long time and I had just one big dream in mind
and I had just one big dream in mind
and I had just one big dream in mind which was to get out of there as soon as
which was to get out of there as soon as
which was to get out of there as soon as possible because for as much as I loved
possible because for as much as I loved
possible because for as much as I loved Romania and the Romanian people that
Romania and the Romanian people that
Romania and the Romanian people that country always seemed too small for me
country always seemed too small for me
country always seemed too small for me and not for my for my ambitions but for
and not for my for my ambitions but for
and not for my for my ambitions but for my curiosity see I was born and raised
my curiosity see I was born and raised
my curiosity see I was born and raised in the capital city of Bucharest and
in the capital city of Bucharest and
in the capital city of Bucharest and this is the place in Romania where
this is the place in Romania where
this is the place in Romania where everyone comes to school or to get
everyone comes to school or to get
everyone comes to school or to get better career opportunities so I went to
better career opportunities so I went to
better career opportunities so I went to college there I got my first master’s
college there I got my first master’s
college there I got my first master’s degree there I got my first job there
degree there I got my first job there
degree there I got my first job there I’m a second job there I fell in love I
I’m a second job there I fell in love I
I’m a second job there I fell in love I was heartbroken
was heartbroken
was heartbroken I fell in love again and I suffered
I fell in love again and I suffered
I fell in love again and I suffered tremendous pain and experienced
tremendous pain and experienced
tremendous pain and experienced tremendous joy all in one place on the
tremendous joy all in one place on the
tremendous joy all in one place on the same streets yet I always knew there had
same streets yet I always knew there had
same streets yet I always knew there had to be more there had to be a world
to be more there had to be a world
to be more there had to be a world outside my all-white friends and my
outside my all-white friends and my
outside my all-white friends and my Romanian speaking friends there had to
Romanian speaking friends there had to
Romanian speaking friends there had to be people who sounded different who
be people who sounded different who
be people who sounded different who spoke different who looked different
spoke different who looked different
spoke different who looked different it’s all the same so I started looking
it’s all the same so I started looking
it’s all the same so I started looking for all these differences in my travels
for all these differences in my travels
for all these differences in my travels I spent my early career traveling on
I spent my early career traveling on
I spent my early career traveling on scholarship going on all these
scholarship going on all these
scholarship going on all these adventures that started with just a trip
adventures that started with just a trip
adventures that started with just a trip to the airport for me I never had money
to the airport for me I never had money
to the airport for me I never had money to travel much but I was very lucky to
to travel much but I was very lucky to
to travel much but I was very lucky to always run into people who believed in
always run into people who believed in
always run into people who believed in my career and who would sponsor my
my career and who would sponsor my
my career and who would sponsor my adventures I’ve been to beautiful
adventures I’ve been to beautiful
adventures I’ve been to beautiful European places rich in tradition and
European places rich in tradition and
European places rich in tradition and culture and I’ve seen sad places
culture and I’ve seen sad places
culture and I’ve seen sad places conflict areas or poverty and loss are
conflict areas or poverty and loss are
conflict areas or poverty and loss are just mundane topics at home I worked as
just mundane topics at home I worked as
just mundane topics at home I worked as a magazine reporter and I was one of
a magazine reporter and I was one of
a magazine reporter and I was one of those magazine reporters it always looks
those magazine reporters it always looks
those magazine reporters it always looks for the different not because it made
for the different not because it made
for the different not because it made for a good story but because
for a good story but because
for a good story but because different humanize the world because
different humanize the world because
different humanize the world because diversity is beautiful so in my home
diversity is beautiful so in my home
diversity is beautiful so in my home country I had many different friends for
country I had many different friends for
country I had many different friends for myself I had friends among people with
myself I had friends among people with
myself I had friends among people with disabilities which see Romania is some
disabilities which see Romania is some
disabilities which see Romania is some sort of roller coaster every time they
sort of roller coaster every time they
sort of roller coaster every time they have to get out of streets because the
have to get out of streets because the
have to get out of streets because the country that’s very little to defend
country that’s very little to defend
country that’s very little to defend their rights I had friends among the
their rights I had friends among the
their rights I had friends among the Roma community which is a community that
Roma community which is a community that
Roma community which is a community that is associated with a very high crime
is associated with a very high crime
is associated with a very high crime rate as a journalist I covered the LGBT
rate as a journalist I covered the LGBT
rate as a journalist I covered the LGBT community which in my country being gay
community which in my country being gay
community which in my country being gay men go into prison up until the early
men go into prison up until the early
men go into prison up until the early 2000s I loved every single one of those
2000s I loved every single one of those
2000s I loved every single one of those different people the diversity is
different people the diversity is
different people the diversity is beautiful and because we lack diversity
beautiful and because we lack diversity
beautiful and because we lack diversity in my culture so when I got to looking
in my culture so when I got to looking
in my culture so when I got to looking for a master’s program America was yet
for a master’s program America was yet
for a master’s program America was yet another clear choice for me I choose to
another clear choice for me I choose to
another clear choice for me I choose to be here because you are so different and
be here because you are so different and
be here because you are so different and because you are so diverse and because
because you are so diverse and because
because you are so diverse and because no matter how much you still struggle
no matter how much you still struggle
no matter how much you still struggle with this and no matter the many
with this and no matter the many
with this and no matter the many problems are still facing about
problems are still facing about
problems are still facing about integrating the different you still do
integrating the different you still do
integrating the different you still do much better jobs the job than many other
much better jobs the job than many other
much better jobs the job than many other nations out there because I just love
nations out there because I just love
nations out there because I just love walking down the streets of Columbia
walking down the streets of Columbia
walking down the streets of Columbia Missouri and meeting my Indian friends
Missouri and meeting my Indian friends
Missouri and meeting my Indian friends my French friends my German friends my
my French friends my German friends my
my French friends my German friends my Mexican friends my American friends my
Mexican friends my American friends my
Mexican friends my American friends my white and black and Asian and brown
white and black and Asian and brown
white and black and Asian and brown friends all these people who have helped
friends all these people who have helped
friends all these people who have helped me get a better education the United
me get a better education the United
me get a better education the United States who have helped me get a degree
States who have helped me get a degree
States who have helped me get a degree from one of the finest journalism
from one of the finest journalism
from one of the finest journalism schools in the nation who have helped me
schools in the nation who have helped me
schools in the nation who have helped me get jobs in places I only heard about in
get jobs in places I only heard about in
get jobs in places I only heard about in movies who helped me integrate in the
movies who helped me integrate in the
movies who helped me integrate in the small Midwestern town and even even
small Midwestern town and even even
small Midwestern town and even even helped me create a business of my own
helped me create a business of my own
helped me create a business of my own and travel across the nation to pitch my
and travel across the nation to pitch my
and travel across the nation to pitch my story and our idea to investors
story and our idea to investors
story and our idea to investors entrepreneurs businesspeople and anyone
entrepreneurs businesspeople and anyone
entrepreneurs businesspeople and anyone who ever wanted to hear about the
who ever wanted to hear about the
who ever wanted to hear about the outstanding things that Outsiders can do
outstanding things that Outsiders can do
outstanding things that Outsiders can do in America and for America because I
in America and for America because I
in America and for America because I have a small face in their eyes and
have a small face in their eyes and
have a small face in their eyes and people think I’m some sort of mixture
people think I’m some sort of mixture
people think I’m some sort of mixture between some Asian and some European
between some Asian and some European
between some Asian and some European thing because I sound kind of funny I
thing because I sound kind of funny I
thing because I sound kind of funny I have a funny accent and people people
have a funny accent and people people
have a funny accent and people people don’t turn their backs with me
don’t turn their backs with me
don’t turn their backs with me but get more helpful because of that
but get more helpful because of that
but get more helpful because of that because if there’s one thing that I
because if there’s one thing that I
because if there’s one thing that I learned in this life is that struggling
learned in this life is that struggling
learned in this life is that struggling to fit in is a very very bad decision
to fit in is a very very bad decision
to fit in is a very very bad decision for yourself that the real value comes
for yourself that the real value comes
for yourself that the real value comes from having the courage to stand out in
from having the courage to stand out in
from having the courage to stand out in every single way you can I speak six
every single way you can I speak six
every single way you can I speak six languages and these are all the
languages and these are all the
languages and these are all the countries that I have friends in all the
countries that I have friends in all the
countries that I have friends in all the color ones right not the great one every
color ones right not the great one every
color ones right not the great one every single one of those places has one
single one of those places has one
single one of those places has one person out there who might host me for
person out there who might host me for
person out there who might host me for the night who might tell me a story or
the night who might tell me a story or
the night who might tell me a story or who might help me when I’m in need see I
who might help me when I’m in need see I
who might help me when I’m in need see I don’t need to be a citizen of any of
don’t need to be a citizen of any of
don’t need to be a citizen of any of those places to call those places home
those places to call those places home
those places to call those places home for one night or for one year there is
for one night or for one year there is
for one night or for one year there is no paper nor document that would tell me
no paper nor document that would tell me
no paper nor document that would tell me I belong there as long as there’s people
I belong there as long as there’s people
I belong there as long as there’s people loving me there because I believe that
loving me there because I believe that
loving me there because I believe that no government nor country should tell me
no government nor country should tell me
no government nor country should tell me when I should be staying or when I
when I should be staying or when I
when I should be staying or when I should be going this life is not about
should be going this life is not about
should be going this life is not about that it’s not about papers it’s about
that it’s not about papers it’s about
that it’s not about papers it’s about freedom and love all those things that
freedom and love all those things that
freedom and love all those things that know no borders no boundaries
know no borders no boundaries
know no borders no boundaries no paperwork I am graduating in May
no paperwork I am graduating in May
no paperwork I am graduating in May which is one month from now I feel like
which is one month from now I feel like
which is one month from now I feel like this is some sort of graduation party
this is some sort of graduation party
this is some sort of graduation party that I have because I know a lot of
that I have because I know a lot of
that I have because I know a lot of people in the audience I’m graduating in
people in the audience I’m graduating in
people in the audience I’m graduating in May and I am terrified I have never been
May and I am terrified I have never been
May and I am terrified I have never been more scared in my life because as a
more scared in my life because as a
more scared in my life because as a student graduating you’re already scared
student graduating you’re already scared
student graduating you’re already scared at your ending an important part of your
at your ending an important part of your
at your ending an important part of your life but at the same time I have no idea
life but at the same time I have no idea
life but at the same time I have no idea what I’m going to be doing what I’m
what I’m going to be doing what I’m
what I’m going to be doing what I’m going to do next or if I will be able to
going to do next or if I will be able to
going to do next or if I will be able to stay here and continue working for the
stay here and continue working for the
stay here and continue working for the projects that are very dear to me or if
projects that are very dear to me or if
projects that are very dear to me or if I should just pack my bags and go
because all kinds of rumors about visas
because all kinds of rumors about visas and immigrants not being welcomed in the
and immigrants not being welcomed in the
and immigrants not being welcomed in the United States sometimes makes it hard
United States sometimes makes it hard
United States sometimes makes it hard for international students to reach out
for international students to reach out
for international students to reach out to employers or employers to give a
to employers or employers to give a
to employers or employers to give a chance to elite international students
chance to elite international students
chance to elite international students that feel like they are not welcome
that feel like they are not welcome
that feel like they are not welcome anymore
anymore
anymore at the same time these are people who
at the same time these are people who
at the same time these are people who have invested in we have been here two
have invested in we have been here two
have invested in we have been here two years we have gotten skills that now
years we have gotten skills that now
years we have gotten skills that now best serve your community and many of
best serve your community and many of
best serve your community and many of these students want to stay and give
these students want to stay and give
these students want to stay and give back they want to help you build this
back they want to help you build this
back they want to help you build this country and make it better every single
country and make it better every single
country and make it better every single day in every single way we can because
day in every single way we can because
day in every single way we can because panic and anxiety and self-centeredness
panic and anxiety and self-centeredness
panic and anxiety and self-centeredness can curb blossoming careers and the past
can curb blossoming careers and the past
can curb blossoming careers and the past to get another person saying hey you
to get another person saying hey you
to get another person saying hey you know what I was not born here but I care
know what I was not born here but I care
know what I was not born here but I care about this place just as much as you do
about this place just as much as you do
about this place just as much as you do and I feel like I belong here see I am
and I feel like I belong here see I am
and I feel like I belong here see I am NOT an American citizen but in my heart
NOT an American citizen but in my heart
NOT an American citizen but in my heart right now I might be feeling as American
right now I might be feeling as American
right now I might be feeling as American as every single American in this room
as every single American in this room
as every single American in this room and some of you might feel more European
and some of you might feel more European
and some of you might feel more European than I do right now and maybe some of
than I do right now and maybe some of
than I do right now and maybe some of you will want to travel one day to a
you will want to travel one day to a
you will want to travel one day to a faraway place and we want to come we
faraway place and we want to come we
faraway place and we want to come we want to stay there for longer and make
want to stay there for longer and make
want to stay there for longer and make their place their own and meet people
their place their own and meet people
their place their own and meet people and establish new relationships and
and establish new relationships and
and establish new relationships and connections and we want to build that
connections and we want to build that
connections and we want to build that place with them no government should
place with them no government should
place with them no government should tell you’re not allowed to do that
tell you’re not allowed to do that
tell you’re not allowed to do that because you’re not of the right
because you’re not of the right
because you’re not of the right citizenship because you know what I
citizenship because you know what I
citizenship because you know what I really believe we are all citizens of
really believe we are all citizens of
really believe we are all citizens of the world and this is a world we create
the world and this is a world we create
the world and this is a world we create for ourselves every single day so let’s
for ourselves every single day so let’s
for ourselves every single day so let’s make sure it’s a beautiful one thank you
make sure it’s a beautiful one thank you
make sure it’s a beautiful one thank you you
you
you [Music]
”
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