I want everyone here especially you students in the room to imagine
students in the room to imagine
students in the room to imagine something for a second imagine who you
something for a second imagine who you
something for a second imagine who you are when you’re not in school now for
are when you’re not in school now for
are when you’re not in school now for many of us here the last time we were
many of us here the last time we were
many of us here the last time we were really able to picture this was when we
really able to picture this was when we
really able to picture this was when we were about five years old right before
were about five years old right before
were about five years old right before we had started kindergarten and boy has
we had started kindergarten and boy has
we had started kindergarten and boy has a lot changed since then it’s really
a lot changed since then it’s really
a lot changed since then it’s really tricky to prepare for a life outside of
tricky to prepare for a life outside of
tricky to prepare for a life outside of school when you haven’t known one for so
school when you haven’t known one for so
school when you haven’t known one for so long for those of us that plan on going
long for those of us that plan on going
long for those of us that plan on going to college we often see a direct pathway
to college we often see a direct pathway
to college we often see a direct pathway from high school to college as our only
from high school to college as our only
from high school to college as our only option and while in high school
option and while in high school
option and while in high school we spend so much time worrying about how
we spend so much time worrying about how
we spend so much time worrying about how to do activities that will look best on
to do activities that will look best on
to do activities that will look best on our college application so much time
our college application so much time
our college application so much time worrying about the average a CT score of
worrying about the average a CT score of
worrying about the average a CT score of this school or the acceptance rate of
this school or the acceptance rate of
this school or the acceptance rate of that one we end up molding ourselves
that one we end up molding ourselves
that one we end up molding ourselves into these little College presents
into these little College presents
into these little College presents perfectly wrapped with a bow to match
perfectly wrapped with a bow to match
perfectly wrapped with a bow to match but what happens when we take away that
but what happens when we take away that
but what happens when we take away that pressure when we stop trying to mold
pressure when we stop trying to mold
pressure when we stop trying to mold ourselves in such a way what happens
ourselves in such a way what happens
ourselves in such a way what happens when we take time off of school and time
when we take time off of school and time
when we take time off of school and time on life well that’s exactly what I
on life well that’s exactly what I
on life well that’s exactly what I decided to do the spring of my senior
decided to do the spring of my senior
decided to do the spring of my senior year in high school I deferred admission
year in high school I deferred admission
year in high school I deferred admission from Overland College which meant that I
from Overland College which meant that I
from Overland College which meant that I had a seat reserved in the following
had a seat reserved in the following
had a seat reserved in the following years class and I took a road that was a
years class and I took a road that was a
years class and I took a road that was a little bit more unconventional for
little bit more unconventional for
little bit more unconventional for someone in my graduating class well I
someone in my graduating class well I
someone in my graduating class well I did three things actually I first
did three things actually I first
did three things actually I first traveled around Nepal and India for
traveled around Nepal and India for
traveled around Nepal and India for three months where I where I did
three months where I where I did
three months where I where I did backpacking
backpacking
backpacking camping staying with hoes families
camping staying with hoes families
camping staying with hoes families living at a Buddhist monastery
living at a Buddhist monastery
living at a Buddhist monastery I’m all through a program called where
I’m all through a program called where
I’m all through a program called where there be dragons when I finished that up
there be dragons when I finished that up
there be dragons when I finished that up and came back to the United States I
and came back to the United States I
and came back to the United States I moved to South Lake Tahoe where I got my
moved to South Lake Tahoe where I got my
moved to South Lake Tahoe where I got my first full-time job working at a ski
first full-time job working at a ski
first full-time job working at a ski resort and got to try out skiing which I
resort and got to try out skiing which I
resort and got to try out skiing which I didn’t really get to do much growing up
didn’t really get to do much growing up
didn’t really get to do much growing up here in flat Northwest Ohio after I had
here in flat Northwest Ohio after I had
here in flat Northwest Ohio after I had you know finished up the ski season and
you know finished up the ski season and
you know finished up the ski season and saved up some money I went on a two and
saved up some money I went on a two and
saved up some money I went on a two and a half month solo backpacking trip
a half month solo backpacking trip
a half month solo backpacking trip around Europe where I stayed with
around Europe where I stayed with
around Europe where I stayed with different friends and family also kind
different friends and family also kind
different friends and family also kind strangers and at hostels for the rest of
strangers and at hostels for the rest of
strangers and at hostels for the rest of the time now I had an admittedly hard
the time now I had an admittedly hard
the time now I had an admittedly hard time feeling inspired in high school I
time feeling inspired in high school I
time feeling inspired in high school I felt really crushed by this pressure to
felt really crushed by this pressure to
felt really crushed by this pressure to conform to the normative ideas of what
conform to the normative ideas of what
conform to the normative ideas of what it meant to be successful all based on
it meant to be successful all based on
it meant to be successful all based on what I found to be what could help me
what I found to be what could help me
what I found to be what could help me get into a good school
get into a good school
get into a good school you know we have this system that’s
you know we have this system that’s
you know we have this system that’s really hardwired on a certain model of
really hardwired on a certain model of
really hardwired on a certain model of what it means to be successful but what
what it means to be successful but what
what it means to be successful but what if that measurement doesn’t feel right
if that measurement doesn’t feel right
if that measurement doesn’t feel right for you think about how different you
for you think about how different you
for you think about how different you are from the person sitting next to you
are from the person sitting next to you
are from the person sitting next to you and then think about how different you
and then think about how different you
and then think about how different you are from any random high schooler in
are from any random high schooler in
are from any random high schooler in this country how can we have one set of
this country how can we have one set of
this country how can we have one set of expectations for us all what if you have
expectations for us all what if you have
expectations for us all what if you have a bud of inspiration inside of you that
a bud of inspiration inside of you that
a bud of inspiration inside of you that is just waiting to blossom but it
is just waiting to blossom but it
is just waiting to blossom but it doesn’t get the right amount of sunlight
doesn’t get the right amount of sunlight
doesn’t get the right amount of sunlight and water in the school setting well I
and water in the school setting well I
and water in the school setting well I like to think that when I took my gap
like to think that when I took my gap
like to think that when I took my gap beer I gave myself that sunlight
I realized so much more about myself
I realized so much more about myself than I ever could have imagined and as
than I ever could have imagined and as
than I ever could have imagined and as much as I would love to rave about the
much as I would love to rave about the
much as I would love to rave about the spectacular extravagant moments that I
spectacular extravagant moments that I
spectacular extravagant moments that I had like watching the Sun rise over the
had like watching the Sun rise over the
had like watching the Sun rise over the Himalayas or jumping into the ocean at
Himalayas or jumping into the ocean at
Himalayas or jumping into the ocean at night to realize that there’s a trail of
night to realize that there’s a trail of
night to realize that there’s a trail of sparkling glowing phytoplankton
sparkling glowing phytoplankton
sparkling glowing phytoplankton following my every movement which
following my every movement which
following my every movement which unfortunately I don’t have a picture of
unfortunately I don’t have a picture of
unfortunately I don’t have a picture of the moments that were equally or even
the moments that were equally or even
the moments that were equally or even more powerful where the ickey the
more powerful where the ickey the
more powerful where the ickey the mundane the challenging moments like
mundane the challenging moments like
mundane the challenging moments like picking leeches off of my feet while
picking leeches off of my feet while
picking leeches off of my feet while resting my tired bones after a long day
resting my tired bones after a long day
resting my tired bones after a long day of hiking or waking up at 4:30 in the
of hiking or waking up at 4:30 in the
of hiking or waking up at 4:30 in the morning to drive across a mountain
morning to drive across a mountain
morning to drive across a mountain snowstorm just to go work selling
snowstorm just to go work selling
snowstorm just to go work selling tickets for eight hours or even just
tickets for eight hours or even just
tickets for eight hours or even just wandering a city all by myself
wandering a city all by myself
wandering a city all by myself and feeling so alone yet so wrapped up
and feeling so alone yet so wrapped up
and feeling so alone yet so wrapped up in gratitude I could go on forever about
in gratitude I could go on forever about
in gratitude I could go on forever about all of the things I learned from this
all of the things I learned from this
all of the things I learned from this experience but I want to try to convey
experience but I want to try to convey
experience but I want to try to convey to you some of the biggest ones first of
to you some of the biggest ones first of
to you some of the biggest ones first of all there are so many ways for one
all there are so many ways for one
all there are so many ways for one person to be and I am more capable than
person to be and I am more capable than
person to be and I am more capable than I ever imagined you know I didn’t get a
I ever imagined you know I didn’t get a
I ever imagined you know I didn’t get a perfect score on my AC T and that didn’t
perfect score on my AC T and that didn’t
perfect score on my AC T and that didn’t feel good when I was in high school but
feel good when I was in high school but
feel good when I was in high school but hey I traveled for two and a half months
hey I traveled for two and a half months
hey I traveled for two and a half months as a solo 18 year old woman and I think
as a solo 18 year old woman and I think
as a solo 18 year old woman and I think that’s pretty cool I am more strong than
that’s pretty cool I am more strong than
that’s pretty cool I am more strong than I ever imagined I threw myself into
I ever imagined I threw myself into
I ever imagined I threw myself into these personally uncharted territories
these personally uncharted territories
these personally uncharted territories and I navigated them
and I navigated them
and I navigated them I felt the burn of my legs as I climb
I felt the burn of my legs as I climb
I felt the burn of my legs as I climb mountains
mountains
mountains I felt the struggle of my mind wandering
I felt the struggle of my mind wandering
I felt the struggle of my mind wandering as I tried to meditate
as I tried to meditate
as I tried to meditate and I felt jitters come up from my body
and I felt jitters come up from my body
and I felt jitters come up from my body as I stepped off a train to a new city
as I stepped off a train to a new city
as I stepped off a train to a new city where I knew no one and tried to make
where I knew no one and tried to make
where I knew no one and tried to make friends I learned from doing
friends I learned from doing
friends I learned from doing no one ever teaches you how to
no one ever teaches you how to
no one ever teaches you how to communicate with people that don’t share
communicate with people that don’t share
communicate with people that don’t share any spoken language with you but I
any spoken language with you but I
any spoken language with you but I realized I’m more connected to everyone
realized I’m more connected to everyone
realized I’m more connected to everyone across the world than I ever imagined I
across the world than I ever imagined I
across the world than I ever imagined I mean I think it’s really wonderful that
mean I think it’s really wonderful that
mean I think it’s really wonderful that as humans we can figure out ways to
as humans we can figure out ways to
as humans we can figure out ways to communicate we dance we play we smile we
communicate we dance we play we smile we
communicate we dance we play we smile we share food we look into each other’s
share food we look into each other’s
share food we look into each other’s eyes it’s so comforting and invigorating
eyes it’s so comforting and invigorating
eyes it’s so comforting and invigorating all at the same time to realize this may
all at the same time to realize this may
all at the same time to realize this may be the biggest lesson that I learned
be the biggest lesson that I learned
be the biggest lesson that I learned though was that saying yes to the
though was that saying yes to the
though was that saying yes to the unexpected no matter what that
unexpected no matter what that
unexpected no matter what that unexpected is for you could bring you so
unexpected is for you could bring you so
unexpected is for you could bring you so much more joy than you ever imagined I
much more joy than you ever imagined I
much more joy than you ever imagined I am now in my second semester at Oberlin
am now in my second semester at Oberlin
am now in my second semester at Oberlin College and I am thriving I feel
College and I am thriving I feel
College and I am thriving I feel rejuvenated and stimulated academically
rejuvenated and stimulated academically
rejuvenated and stimulated academically I feel more comfortable socializing with
I feel more comfortable socializing with
I feel more comfortable socializing with people and living on my own than I ever
people and living on my own than I ever
people and living on my own than I ever did before and taking all of these
did before and taking all of these
did before and taking all of these experiences with me every single day I
experiences with me every single day I
experiences with me every single day I feel more rooted in the world than I
feel more rooted in the world than I
feel more rooted in the world than I ever did but most of all I’m trying to
ever did but most of all I’m trying to
ever did but most of all I’m trying to continue that lesson of striving for the
continue that lesson of striving for the
continue that lesson of striving for the unexpected and thinking in unexpected
unexpected and thinking in unexpected
unexpected and thinking in unexpected ways so I want to bring this back to all
ways so I want to bring this back to all
ways so I want to bring this back to all of you by saying if you want to go to
of you by saying if you want to go to
of you by saying if you want to go to college right after high school that’s
college right after high school that’s
college right after high school that’s great I want you to do what feels right
great I want you to do what feels right
great I want you to do what feels right for you but when I was in high school I
for you but when I was in high school I
for you but when I was in high school I didn’t know that this was really an
didn’t know that this was really an
didn’t know that this was really an option and I really wanted to open your
option and I really wanted to open your
option and I really wanted to open your mind up to this logistical ewwww
mind up to this logistical ewwww
mind up to this logistical ewwww you can defer you can apply to college
you can defer you can apply to college
you can defer you can apply to college like normal and then defer for a year
like normal and then defer for a year
like normal and then defer for a year like I did or you can wait to apply to
like I did or you can wait to apply to
like I did or you can wait to apply to college until you’re on your gap year
college until you’re on your gap year
college until you’re on your gap year and also taking a gap year can mean so
and also taking a gap year can mean so
and also taking a gap year can mean so many things it doesn’t have to look even
many things it doesn’t have to look even
many things it doesn’t have to look even remotely like what I did you can do
remotely like what I did you can do
remotely like what I did you can do internships get a job volunteer travel
internships get a job volunteer travel
internships get a job volunteer travel learn a new skill or cultivate a hobby
learn a new skill or cultivate a hobby
learn a new skill or cultivate a hobby that you have and also know that there
that you have and also know that there
that you have and also know that there are so many online resources available
are so many online resources available
are so many online resources available so you can to help you figure out how to
so you can to help you figure out how to
so you can to help you figure out how to talk to your parents about taking a gap
talk to your parents about taking a gap
talk to your parents about taking a gap year how to plan your gap year and there
year how to plan your gap year and there
year how to plan your gap year and there are also a lot of scholarships available
are also a lot of scholarships available
are also a lot of scholarships available to make this financially accessible so
to make this financially accessible so
to make this financially accessible so I’ve always taken pride and having a
I’ve always taken pride and having a
I’ve always taken pride and having a little dose of unconventional and
little dose of unconventional and
little dose of unconventional and unconventionality about me but as far as
unconventionality about me but as far as
unconventionality about me but as far as gap years go
gap years go
gap years go I would be so happy to see this become
I would be so happy to see this become
I would be so happy to see this become the conventional so who are you when
the conventional so who are you when
the conventional so who are you when you’re not in school thank you
you’re not in school thank you
you’re not in school thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment