as human beings we all go through very difficult and painful situations and
difficult and painful situations and
difficult and painful situations and sometimes things just happen and these
sometimes things just happen and these
sometimes things just happen and these experiences can leave us feeling raw and
experiences can leave us feeling raw and
experiences can leave us feeling raw and vulnerable and somehow we have gotten
vulnerable and somehow we have gotten
vulnerable and somehow we have gotten the message that these experiences
the message that these experiences
the message that these experiences should not be shared but hidden and that
should not be shared but hidden and that
should not be shared but hidden and that vulnerability equals weakness I’m here
vulnerability equals weakness I’m here
vulnerability equals weakness I’m here today to share with you that from these
today to share with you that from these
today to share with you that from these experiences we can still live full
experiences we can still live full
experiences we can still live full meaningful and valuable lives and that
meaningful and valuable lives and that
meaningful and valuable lives and that vulnerability and nose experiences can
vulnerability and nose experiences can
vulnerability and nose experiences can be used as a source of our own super
be used as a source of our own super
be used as a source of our own super power
power
power it wasn’t until a few years ago when my
it wasn’t until a few years ago when my
it wasn’t until a few years ago when my friend suggested that I write my story
friend suggested that I write my story
friend suggested that I write my story and share it with others since I had
and share it with others since I had
and share it with others since I had some amazing experiences that was so
some amazing experiences that was so
some amazing experiences that was so unbelievable but were true I initially
unbelievable but were true I initially
unbelievable but were true I initially was reluctant since I’m a private person
was reluctant since I’m a private person
was reluctant since I’m a private person and I simply didn’t think anyone would
and I simply didn’t think anyone would
and I simply didn’t think anyone would believe me plus the last time I shared
believe me plus the last time I shared
believe me plus the last time I shared my story the only thing people remember
my story the only thing people remember
my story the only thing people remember was that I liked gummy bears
was that I liked gummy bears
was that I liked gummy bears however after some time I thought about
however after some time I thought about
however after some time I thought about it and I took up their advice and I
it and I took up their advice and I
it and I took up their advice and I wrote my story but I did not do it in
wrote my story but I did not do it in
wrote my story but I did not do it in the way anyone expected instead of
the way anyone expected instead of
the way anyone expected instead of writing an autobiography I wrote an
writing an autobiography I wrote an
writing an autobiography I wrote an opinion pin name of bee Giovanni and
opinion pin name of bee Giovanni and
opinion pin name of bee Giovanni and through that I turned myself into a
through that I turned myself into a
through that I turned myself into a fictional character and wrote a
fictional character and wrote a
fictional character and wrote a fictional novel of my life story this
fictional novel of my life story this
fictional novel of my life story this approach allowed me to create a freedom
approach allowed me to create a freedom
approach allowed me to create a freedom to tell my story and also tell those
to tell my story and also tell those
to tell my story and also tell those missing dynamics that others did not
missing dynamics that others did not
missing dynamics that others did not know it also allowed me to get those
know it also allowed me to get those
know it also allowed me to get those experiences out of my head and translate
experiences out of my head and translate
experiences out of my head and translate them into something a bit more real
them into something a bit more real
them into something a bit more real through written narrative in what could
through written narrative in what could
through written narrative in what could be called fictional narrative art I
be called fictional narrative art I
be called fictional narrative art I called the novel
called the novel
called the novel Bernice Rath toll from Bernice’s
Bernice Rath toll from Bernice’s
Bernice Rath toll from Bernice’s perspective
perspective
perspective now fictional narrative art was
now fictional narrative art was
now fictional narrative art was something that I stumbled upon so when I
something that I stumbled upon so when I
something that I stumbled upon so when I wrote this I did not write it to be
wrote this I did not write it to be
wrote this I did not write it to be perfect or wrote it to create a theme I
perfect or wrote it to create a theme I
perfect or wrote it to create a theme I just wanted it to be a robbery flexion
just wanted it to be a robbery flexion
just wanted it to be a robbery flexion of my life story so when I translated
of my life story so when I translated
of my life story so when I translated this I also created a counter-narrative
this I also created a counter-narrative
this I also created a counter-narrative to rewrite my story from there the novel
to rewrite my story from there the novel
to rewrite my story from there the novel took a life of its own the writing
took a life of its own the writing
took a life of its own the writing process is actually fun because
process is actually fun because
process is actually fun because Bernice’s story was so much my story and
Bernice’s story was so much my story and
Bernice’s story was so much my story and created in my image and again I did not
created in my image and again I did not
created in my image and again I did not worry about being perfect after writing
worry about being perfect after writing
worry about being perfect after writing a novel I discovered some powerful
a novel I discovered some powerful
a novel I discovered some powerful takeaways that I did not initially
takeaways that I did not initially
takeaways that I did not initially attend these things were themes seen
attend these things were themes seen
attend these things were themes seen from superhero epics such as Batman
from superhero epics such as Batman
from superhero epics such as Batman Catwoman or even Wonder Woman themes
Catwoman or even Wonder Woman themes
Catwoman or even Wonder Woman themes such as the power of discernment where
such as the power of discernment where
such as the power of discernment where we’ve seen superheroes possessing unique
we’ve seen superheroes possessing unique
we’ve seen superheroes possessing unique abilities to understand people and
abilities to understand people and
abilities to understand people and situations that others could not and the
situations that others could not and the
situations that others could not and the power of vulnerability which every
power of vulnerability which every
power of vulnerability which every superhero seems to have in a classic
superhero seems to have in a classic
superhero seems to have in a classic example which I’m sure some of you know
example which I’m sure some of you know
example which I’m sure some of you know Superman’s kryptonite
Superman’s kryptonite
Superman’s kryptonite in the power of empathy in particularly
in the power of empathy in particularly
in the power of empathy in particularly empathy for Humanity where we’ve seen
empathy for Humanity where we’ve seen
empathy for Humanity where we’ve seen superheroes faced with saving themselves
superheroes faced with saving themselves
superheroes faced with saving themselves or saving humanity and finally my
or saving humanity and finally my
or saving humanity and finally my personal favorite the power of
personal favorite the power of
personal favorite the power of transformation we’ve seen this play out
transformation we’ve seen this play out
transformation we’ve seen this play out numerous times where super heroes live
numerous times where super heroes live
numerous times where super heroes live double lives among humans until called
double lives among humans until called
double lives among humans until called upon to use it of those abilities to
upon to use it of those abilities to
upon to use it of those abilities to save humanity
save humanity
save humanity and in some instances we have seen
and in some instances we have seen
and in some instances we have seen spider-man living as Peter Parker our
spider-man living as Peter Parker our
spider-man living as Peter Parker our Superman living as Clark Kent conflicted
Superman living as Clark Kent conflicted
Superman living as Clark Kent conflicted and ready to leave behind their
and ready to leave behind their
and ready to leave behind their abilities and live a normal life or to
abilities and live a normal life or to
abilities and live a normal life or to remain hidden knowing they’ll never
remain hidden knowing they’ll never
remain hidden knowing they’ll never truly be accepted by the world well
truly be accepted by the world well
truly be accepted by the world well Vernice also had those same struggles
Vernice also had those same struggles
Vernice also had those same struggles and in trying to make sense of her world
and in trying to make sense of her world
and in trying to make sense of her world around her her journey also took many
around her her journey also took many
around her her journey also took many epic turns just like the classic
epic turns just like the classic
epic turns just like the classic superheroes journey so what is Bernice’s
superheroes journey so what is Bernice’s
superheroes journey so what is Bernice’s story or I should say who is Bernice
story or I should say who is Bernice
story or I should say who is Bernice well Bernice is a rather interesting
well Bernice is a rather interesting
well Bernice is a rather interesting individual she grew up in humble
individual she grew up in humble
individual she grew up in humble beginnings with her mother who’s a
beginnings with her mother who’s a
beginnings with her mother who’s a social worker and a stepfather who’s a
social worker and a stepfather who’s a
social worker and a stepfather who’s a fisherman she was a music child prodigy
fisherman she was a music child prodigy
fisherman she was a music child prodigy she graduated early from high school and
she graduated early from high school and
she graduated early from high school and college and she later became one of the
college and she later became one of the
college and she later became one of the youngest prosecutors in the nation
youngest prosecutors in the nation
youngest prosecutors in the nation investigating complaints of
investigating complaints of
investigating complaints of discrimination and corruption
discrimination and corruption
discrimination and corruption just like those classic superheroes
just like those classic superheroes
just like those classic superheroes desire to fight for justice she also had
desire to fight for justice she also had
desire to fight for justice she also had that same desire and a desire led her to
that same desire and a desire led her to
that same desire and a desire led her to apply to a top-secret government
apply to a top-secret government
apply to a top-secret government position and she was the perfect
position and she was the perfect
position and she was the perfect candidate for that position many
candidate for that position many
candidate for that position many agencies sought after her if I had to
agencies sought after her if I had to
agencies sought after her if I had to describe her she had to be the super
describe her she had to be the super
describe her she had to be the super maverick James Bond type of individual
maverick James Bond type of individual
maverick James Bond type of individual she was bad she was bad life was going
she was bad she was bad life was going
she was bad she was bad life was going great for her the vetting process was
great for her the vetting process was
great for her the vetting process was going very well but wait one day the
going very well but wait one day the
going very well but wait one day the process is stalled and her life is
process is stalled and her life is
process is stalled and her life is derailed true to the classic superhero
derailed true to the classic superhero
derailed true to the classic superhero theme the villains moved in and
theme the villains moved in and
theme the villains moved in and disrupted her life she no longer found
disrupted her life she no longer found
disrupted her life she no longer found herself working for the government and
herself working for the government and
herself working for the government and fighting for justice get this she found
fighting for justice get this she found
fighting for justice get this she found herself a target for rogue government
herself a target for rogue government
herself a target for rogue government elements desperate to prove her
elements desperate to prove her
elements desperate to prove her innocence and find the truth behind all
innocence and find the truth behind all
innocence and find the truth behind all of this she’s discredited and
of this she’s discredited and
of this she’s discredited and unfortunately she’s falsely pegged as
unfortunately she’s falsely pegged as
unfortunately she’s falsely pegged as bipolar and paranoid delusional as well
bipolar and paranoid delusional as well
bipolar and paranoid delusional as well as a terrorists among a well-coordinated
as a terrorists among a well-coordinated
as a terrorists among a well-coordinated campaign of hate lies and deception
campaign of hate lies and deception
campaign of hate lies and deception bernice eventually finds the truth but
bernice eventually finds the truth but
bernice eventually finds the truth but it’s not what she thinks the truth is
it’s not what she thinks the truth is
it’s not what she thinks the truth is deeply rooted in state secrets that were
deeply rooted in state secrets that were
deeply rooted in state secrets that were later rock the nation and world
later rock the nation and world
later rock the nation and world that’s Bernice Rath
that’s Bernice Rath
that’s Bernice Rath what a round story right well there’s
what a round story right well there’s
what a round story right well there’s this saying that goes life is stranger
this saying that goes life is stranger
this saying that goes life is stranger than fiction well ladies and gentlemen
than fiction well ladies and gentlemen
than fiction well ladies and gentlemen in this instance this is so true and
in this instance this is so true and
in this instance this is so true and I’ll leave it at that so I’m sure some
I’ll leave it at that so I’m sure some
I’ll leave it at that so I’m sure some of you are wondering how does Bernice
of you are wondering how does Bernice
of you are wondering how does Bernice life relate to my life well in all
life relate to my life well in all
life relate to my life well in all seriousness my life could be a lifetime
seriousness my life could be a lifetime
seriousness my life could be a lifetime movie maybe near John Grisham movie I
movie maybe near John Grisham movie I
movie maybe near John Grisham movie I grew up in a small Bayou town in south
grew up in a small Bayou town in south
grew up in a small Bayou town in south Louisiana my mom was a social worker and
Louisiana my mom was a social worker and
Louisiana my mom was a social worker and my stepdad was a fisherman by age 12 I
my stepdad was a fisherman by age 12 I
my stepdad was a fisherman by age 12 I was a music child prodigy I graduated
was a music child prodigy I graduated
was a music child prodigy I graduated early from high school in college
early from high school in college
early from high school in college I later became one of the youngest
I later became one of the youngest
I later became one of the youngest people placed in a prosecutorial role at
people placed in a prosecutorial role at
people placed in a prosecutorial role at one time I later became United Nations
one time I later became United Nations
one time I later became United Nations delegate for NGO I have accomplished a
delegate for NGO I have accomplished a
delegate for NGO I have accomplished a lot in my life and I still have more to
lot in my life and I still have more to
lot in my life and I still have more to accomplish but what many people do not
accomplish but what many people do not
accomplish but what many people do not realize from my personal story is that
realize from my personal story is that
realize from my personal story is that success came with lots of hardship and I
success came with lots of hardship and I
success came with lots of hardship and I mean extreme hardship like me I’m sure
mean extreme hardship like me I’m sure
mean extreme hardship like me I’m sure some of you can relate to the hardships
some of you can relate to the hardships
some of you can relate to the hardships of hate malicious lies spread against
of hate malicious lies spread against
of hate malicious lies spread against you envy or even jealousy or what about
you envy or even jealousy or what about
you envy or even jealousy or what about those times were people in your life who
those times were people in your life who
those times were people in your life who are close to you are not there for you
are close to you are not there for you
are close to you are not there for you or who are not happy for you when good
or who are not happy for you when good
or who are not happy for you when good things happen what about those friends
things happen what about those friends
things happen what about those friends who have let you down or you find there
who have let you down or you find there
who have let you down or you find there are simply not good people and if your
are simply not good people and if your
are simply not good people and if your journey is anything like my journey you
journey is anything like my journey you
journey is anything like my journey you may have also experienced threats
may have also experienced threats
may have also experienced threats against you violence against you been
against you violence against you been
against you violence against you been mistreated and even uses a scapegoat for
mistreated and even uses a scapegoat for
mistreated and even uses a scapegoat for other people’s problems and if you’re
other people’s problems and if you’re
other people’s problems and if you’re wondering like I am when will justice
wondering like I am when will justice
wondering like I am when will justice ever happened for the wrongs committed
ever happened for the wrongs committed
ever happened for the wrongs committed against you since in some people’s
against you since in some people’s
against you since in some people’s perspective justice is fiction I’m
perspective justice is fiction I’m
perspective justice is fiction I’m hoping you’re starting to see that by
hoping you’re starting to see that by
hoping you’re starting to see that by sharing your story
sharing your story
sharing your story you are connecting with others since we
you are connecting with others since we
you are connecting with others since we all have similar experiences this is the
all have similar experiences this is the
all have similar experiences this is the type of stuff you people talk about
type of stuff you people talk about
type of stuff you people talk about since those in leadership rarely talk
since those in leadership rarely talk
since those in leadership rarely talk about their struggles or experiences
about their struggles or experiences
about their struggles or experiences since they can be viewed as being weak
since they can be viewed as being weak
since they can be viewed as being weak or vulnerable but I believe by opening
or vulnerable but I believe by opening
or vulnerable but I believe by opening up about our struggles we can connect to
up about our struggles we can connect to
up about our struggles we can connect to a broader audience and help us to
a broader audience and help us to
a broader audience and help us to relieve ourselves of that burden or that
relieve ourselves of that burden or that
relieve ourselves of that burden or that thing that can be used against us
thing that can be used against us
thing that can be used against us similar to that kryptonite use against
similar to that kryptonite use against
similar to that kryptonite use against Superman and this is why I decided to
Superman and this is why I decided to
Superman and this is why I decided to take up my friends advice and write my
take up my friends advice and write my
take up my friends advice and write my story but in fictional narrative art
story but in fictional narrative art
story but in fictional narrative art form while using Bernice as my
form while using Bernice as my
form while using Bernice as my mouthpiece to deliver these messages you
mouthpiece to deliver these messages you
mouthpiece to deliver these messages you see the fictional narrative art process
see the fictional narrative art process
see the fictional narrative art process wasn’t just a writing process for me it
wasn’t just a writing process for me it
wasn’t just a writing process for me it was a healing one a healing process I
was a healing one a healing process I
was a healing one a healing process I learned that healing is not some place
learned that healing is not some place
learned that healing is not some place you get to and is done it’s not absolute
you get to and is done it’s not absolute
you get to and is done it’s not absolute it was more about releasing than
it was more about releasing than
it was more about releasing than perfection and just like those classic
perfection and just like those classic
perfection and just like those classic superhero things vulnerabilities and
superhero things vulnerabilities and
superhero things vulnerabilities and strengths can coexist
strengths can coexist
strengths can coexist my hope is that sharing my story as
my hope is that sharing my story as
my hope is that sharing my story as fictional narrative art will help those
fictional narrative art will help those
fictional narrative art will help those who will have similar struggles to stand
who will have similar struggles to stand
who will have similar struggles to stand in their truth and to move forward in
in their truth and to move forward in
in their truth and to move forward in their lives
their lives
their lives dudes happen into their creativity my
dudes happen into their creativity my
dudes happen into their creativity my hope is also that we use the power of
hope is also that we use the power of
hope is also that we use the power of discernment to better understand
discernment to better understand
discernment to better understand ourselves and how we all connect and
ourselves and how we all connect and
ourselves and how we all connect and impact one another to also use their
impact one another to also use their
impact one another to also use their power of vulnerability to rid ourselves
power of vulnerability to rid ourselves
power of vulnerability to rid ourselves that weakness and vulnerability or equal
that weakness and vulnerability or equal
that weakness and vulnerability or equal because it’s not to also use that power
because it’s not to also use that power
because it’s not to also use that power of empathy to not only have compassion
of empathy to not only have compassion
of empathy to not only have compassion for others but ourselves
for others but ourselves
for others but ourselves and finally and more importantly to use
and finally and more importantly to use
and finally and more importantly to use that power of transformation to reclaim
that power of transformation to reclaim
that power of transformation to reclaim our identities and be who we want to be
our identities and be who we want to be
our identities and be who we want to be and eliminate those negative societal
and eliminate those negative societal
and eliminate those negative societal narratives that tend to play it on
narratives that tend to play it on
narratives that tend to play it on in our lives like a record player and I
in our lives like a record player and I
in our lives like a record player and I know that writing your story cannot be
know that writing your story cannot be
know that writing your story cannot be articulated into one word or a few words
articulated into one word or a few words
articulated into one word or a few words for some of you it may be difficult to
for some of you it may be difficult to
for some of you it may be difficult to write your story because it stirs up all
write your story because it stirs up all
write your story because it stirs up all sorts of emotions and that’s okay just
sorts of emotions and that’s okay just
sorts of emotions and that’s okay just don’t remain stuck but you may find that
don’t remain stuck but you may find that
don’t remain stuck but you may find that you have a better perspective on who you
you have a better perspective on who you
you have a better perspective on who you are and the people and patterns that
are and the people and patterns that
are and the people and patterns that tend to play out in your life and that
tend to play out in your life and that
tend to play out in your life and that you also see the tragedy as well as the
you also see the tragedy as well as the
you also see the tragedy as well as the triumph that is and will be possible
triumph that is and will be possible
triumph that is and will be possible knowing your story is knowing your truth
knowing your story is knowing your truth
knowing your story is knowing your truth knowing your story is your superpower
knowing your story is your superpower
knowing your story is your superpower thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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