laughing at everyone back when I was in seventh grade I had no idea what I was
seventh grade I had no idea what I was
seventh grade I had no idea what I was doing like any other average student
doing like any other average student
doing like any other average student I studied did my homework got good
I studied did my homework got good
I studied did my homework got good grades from for my parents and looking
grades from for my parents and looking
grades from for my parents and looking back I was a shy and soft-spoken kid
back I was a shy and soft-spoken kid
back I was a shy and soft-spoken kid being the tiniest in the batch in which
being the tiniest in the batch in which
being the tiniest in the batch in which case s-salam I lacked a lot of
case s-salam I lacked a lot of
case s-salam I lacked a lot of confidence but all this changed when I
confidence but all this changed when I
confidence but all this changed when I entered high school and expressed an
entered high school and expressed an
entered high school and expressed an interest for photography and eventually
interest for photography and eventually
interest for photography and eventually developing an eye for the art the thing
developing an eye for the art the thing
developing an eye for the art the thing was I had no idea where to start
was I had no idea where to start
was I had no idea where to start so I turned to my iPod touch the first
so I turned to my iPod touch the first
so I turned to my iPod touch the first gadget I own that could take photos and
gadget I own that could take photos and
gadget I own that could take photos and I created an Instagram account called
I created an Instagram account called
I created an Instagram account called underscore positivity with no followers
underscore positivity with no followers
underscore positivity with no followers at all I took the opportunity to upload
at all I took the opportunity to upload
at all I took the opportunity to upload my photos with no hesitation
my photos with no hesitation
my photos with no hesitation I followed a bunch of photographers and
I followed a bunch of photographers and
I followed a bunch of photographers and looking at the way they saw the world I
looking at the way they saw the world I
looking at the way they saw the world I hope that one day I could I could be
hope that one day I could I could be
hope that one day I could I could be able to do the same so little by little
able to do the same so little by little
able to do the same so little by little my perspective began to change
my perspective began to change
my perspective began to change and sure enough I learned to pay more
and sure enough I learned to pay more
and sure enough I learned to pay more attention to my surroundings the colors
attention to my surroundings the colors
attention to my surroundings the colors around me the quality of light the time
around me the quality of light the time
around me the quality of light the time the Sun rose and set and no matter how
the Sun rose and set and no matter how
the Sun rose and set and no matter how cheesy it it may sound and get it really
cheesy it it may sound and get it really
cheesy it it may sound and get it really changed the way I looked at life my
changed the way I looked at life my
changed the way I looked at life my perspective with no formal training or
perspective with no formal training or
perspective with no formal training or whatsoever on photography I experimented
whatsoever on photography I experimented
whatsoever on photography I experimented with my dad’s camera and forced my
with my dad’s camera and forced my
with my dad’s camera and forced my little sister to model for me and as you
little sister to model for me and as you
little sister to model for me and as you can see him these photos weren’t the
can see him these photos weren’t the
can see him these photos weren’t the best but just looking at them
best but just looking at them
best but just looking at them remembering the thrill I felt when I was
remembering the thrill I felt when I was
remembering the thrill I felt when I was taking these it made me feel alive it
taking these it made me feel alive it
taking these it made me feel alive it made me feel happy and accomplished and
made me feel happy and accomplished and
made me feel happy and accomplished and here I realized that I’m actually
here I realized that I’m actually
here I realized that I’m actually capable of doing something capturing
capable of doing something capturing
capable of doing something capturing Vitti and the simplest things and being
Vitti and the simplest things and being
Vitti and the simplest things and being able to share stories through the visual
able to share stories through the visual
able to share stories through the visual art and so I continued these spontaneous
art and so I continued these spontaneous
art and so I continued these spontaneous adventures with my little sister and
adventures with my little sister and
adventures with my little sister and friends and I also posted them on my
friends and I also posted them on my
friends and I also posted them on my social media on Instagram where I began
social media on Instagram where I began
social media on Instagram where I began to interact with more people and also
to interact with more people and also
to interact with more people and also gained a following and what I never
gained a following and what I never
gained a following and what I never expected happened earning recognition
expected happened earning recognition
expected happened earning recognition and spreading art through this
and spreading art through this
and spreading art through this application I was able to inspire and
application I was able to inspire and
application I was able to inspire and connect to hundreds and thousands of
connect to hundreds and thousands of
connect to hundreds and thousands of people from all around the world and
people from all around the world and
people from all around the world and this is something that continues to
this is something that continues to
this is something that continues to shock me up to this day because who
shock me up to this day because who
shock me up to this day because who would have thought and it was at this
would have thought and it was at this
would have thought and it was at this point when I discovered my passion for
point when I discovered my passion for
point when I discovered my passion for photography it wasn’t a defining moment
photography it wasn’t a defining moment
photography it wasn’t a defining moment when I first held a camera and like
when I first held a camera and like
when I first held a camera and like lights on the phone let light shine upon
lights on the phone let light shine upon
lights on the phone let light shine upon me it was more like a series of events
me it was more like a series of events
me it was more like a series of events and opportunities that predisposed me
and opportunities that predisposed me
and opportunities that predisposed me for my passion for photography something
for my passion for photography something
for my passion for photography something I needed that I could invest my time and
I needed that I could invest my time and
I needed that I could invest my time and effort to grow as a person and an artist
effort to grow as a person and an artist
effort to grow as a person and an artist but the question people always ask me
but the question people always ask me
but the question people always ask me now is how am I able to pursue this much
now is how am I able to pursue this much
now is how am I able to pursue this much us up at my age and the answer is quite
us up at my age and the answer is quite
us up at my age and the answer is quite simple I paid attention to the to what I
simple I paid attention to the to what I
simple I paid attention to the to what I was naturally drawn to I’ve always had
was naturally drawn to I’ve always had
was naturally drawn to I’ve always had so many ideas and feelings but I never
so many ideas and feelings but I never
so many ideas and feelings but I never knew how to put them in the right words
knew how to put them in the right words
knew how to put them in the right words I was I wasn’t an writer nor a painter
I was I wasn’t an writer nor a painter
I was I wasn’t an writer nor a painter nor an athlete but I saw the world
nor an athlete but I saw the world
nor an athlete but I saw the world differently and I was able to convey
differently and I was able to convey
differently and I was able to convey this perspective through my photographs
this perspective through my photographs
this perspective through my photographs I learned I learned to find beauty in
I learned I learned to find beauty in
I learned I learned to find beauty in the things and places we get to
the things and places we get to
the things and places we get to encounter everyday and so eventually I
encounter everyday and so eventually I
encounter everyday and so eventually I realized that the username I chose which
realized that the username I chose which
realized that the username I chose which was a positivity it wasn’t a mistake or
was a positivity it wasn’t a mistake or
was a positivity it wasn’t a mistake or or a regret like unlike our first email
or a regret like unlike our first email
or a regret like unlike our first email addresses it actually had a bearing to
addresses it actually had a bearing to
addresses it actually had a bearing to my craft and after claiming my dad’s
my craft and after claiming my dad’s
my craft and after claiming my dad’s camera as my own I committed to taking
camera as my own I committed to taking
camera as my own I committed to taking better photos every day deciding to call
better photos every day deciding to call
better photos every day deciding to call photography my hobby that turned into my
photography my hobby that turned into my
photography my hobby that turned into my passion but does it really just a blur
passion but does it really just a blur
passion but does it really just a blur in developing our own talents and skills
in developing our own talents and skills
in developing our own talents and skills to pursue a passion passion just first
to pursue a passion passion just first
to pursue a passion passion just first self growth proving at the teenager like
self growth proving at the teenager like
self growth proving at the teenager like me is capable of discovering my passion
me is capable of discovering my passion
me is capable of discovering my passion at a young age no it doesn’t end there
at a young age no it doesn’t end there
at a young age no it doesn’t end there because this is only the first step of
because this is only the first step of
because this is only the first step of realizing that you have the potential to
realizing that you have the potential to
realizing that you have the potential to break boundaries but what is breaking
break boundaries but what is breaking
break boundaries but what is breaking boundaries in the first place for me
boundaries in the first place for me
boundaries in the first place for me it is going beyond ourselves by reaching
it is going beyond ourselves by reaching
it is going beyond ourselves by reaching out to others through collaborative
out to others through collaborative
out to others through collaborative efforts these are what we know more as
efforts these are what we know more as
efforts these are what we know more as collabs or the big X
collabs or the big X
collabs or the big X and that’s actually everywhere we see it
and that’s actually everywhere we see it
and that’s actually everywhere we see it and in the famous collaborations of
and in the famous collaborations of
and in the famous collaborations of singers fashion labels are a group of
singers fashion labels are a group of
singers fashion labels are a group of people with a common goal coming
people with a common goal coming
people with a common goal coming together and samples are hmm and boom on
together and samples are hmm and boom on
together and samples are hmm and boom on Kanye West and adidas very easy and of
Kanye West and adidas very easy and of
Kanye West and adidas very easy and of course TEDx Britta school Manila but
course TEDx Britta school Manila but
course TEDx Britta school Manila but applying this in a smaller scope our
applying this in a smaller scope our
applying this in a smaller scope our students it’s not something new to us
students it’s not something new to us
students it’s not something new to us it’s a strategy we are all thought to
it’s a strategy we are all thought to
it’s a strategy we are all thought to apply in a group which is Team Erick and
apply in a group which is Team Erick and
apply in a group which is Team Erick and based on my experience as a budding
based on my experience as a budding
based on my experience as a budding photographer breaking boundaries through
photographer breaking boundaries through
photographer breaking boundaries through collaborations can be applied in three
collaborations can be applied in three
collaborations can be applied in three ways first is exploring beyond your own
ways first is exploring beyond your own
ways first is exploring beyond your own perspective the second is going out of
perspective the second is going out of
perspective the second is going out of our own comfort zones and last is
our own comfort zones and last is
our own comfort zones and last is exceeding the expectations set for us so
exceeding the expectations set for us so
exceeding the expectations set for us so the first one it involves creating a
the first one it involves creating a
the first one it involves creating a common vision for from each individual
common vision for from each individual
common vision for from each individual acknowledging that each one in the
acknowledging that each one in the
acknowledging that each one in the collaboration has something new and
collaboration has something new and
collaboration has something new and exciting to offer him but this can only
exciting to offer him but this can only
exciting to offer him but this can only be done by speaking up and listening
be done by speaking up and listening
be done by speaking up and listening through communication from an artistic
through communication from an artistic
through communication from an artistic point of view style is very important
point of view style is very important
point of view style is very important it’s something unique to each one of us
it’s something unique to each one of us
it’s something unique to each one of us and through collaborations we are able
and through collaborations we are able
and through collaborations we are able to open up a little bit of ourselves to
to open up a little bit of ourselves to
to open up a little bit of ourselves to other possibilities allowing the
other possibilities allowing the
other possibilities allowing the exchange of ideas and perspectives take
exchange of ideas and perspectives take
exchange of ideas and perspectives take this for example
this for example
this for example I started out with a vision of a
I started out with a vision of a
I started out with a vision of a character that symbolized a
character that symbolized a
character that symbolized a free-spirited bohemian and with ideas
free-spirited bohemian and with ideas
free-spirited bohemian and with ideas with the stylus the makeup artist and
with the stylus the makeup artist and
with the stylus the makeup artist and the whole team we were able to convey
the whole team we were able to convey
the whole team we were able to convey her story by incorporating white lace
her story by incorporating white lace
her story by incorporating white lace and tell story of an anti bride although
and tell story of an anti bride although
and tell story of an anti bride although minimalism is in my personal style I was
minimalism is in my personal style I was
minimalism is in my personal style I was able to explore beyond my perspective
able to explore beyond my perspective
able to explore beyond my perspective what I normally do
what I normally do
what I normally do and by this I was able to achieve the
and by this I was able to achieve the
and by this I was able to achieve the common vision that the team had
common vision that the team had
common vision that the team had established next is now getting out of
established next is now getting out of
established next is now getting out of your comfort zone by building bridges
your comfort zone by building bridges
your comfort zone by building bridges and connections filling in and what of
and connections filling in and what of
and connections filling in and what of this lack like I said earlier everyone
this lack like I said earlier everyone
this lack like I said earlier everyone has something different and need to
has something different and need to
has something different and need to offer but it’s not only in the way of
offer but it’s not only in the way of
offer but it’s not only in the way of exchanging ideas but also establishing
exchanging ideas but also establishing
exchanging ideas but also establishing respect and Trust it is inevitable for
respect and Trust it is inevitable for
respect and Trust it is inevitable for us to gain new friends along the way
us to gain new friends along the way
us to gain new friends along the way and through the process and looking back
and through the process and looking back
and through the process and looking back to one of my first few collaborations
to one of my first few collaborations
to one of my first few collaborations and passion projects it’s true up to
and passion projects it’s true up to
and passion projects it’s true up to today it’s pretty amazing that I’m able
today it’s pretty amazing that I’m able
today it’s pretty amazing that I’m able to connect more people through the
to connect more people through the
to connect more people through the internet
internet
internet well I was in Europe last summer I took
well I was in Europe last summer I took
well I was in Europe last summer I took the I Toby advantage two collaborated
the I Toby advantage two collaborated
the I Toby advantage two collaborated models and valid answers based in
models and valid answers based in
models and valid answers based in Barcelona Paris and Amsterdam I got I
Barcelona Paris and Amsterdam I got I
Barcelona Paris and Amsterdam I got I got in touch with them and made my
got in touch with them and made my
got in touch with them and made my Partridge series and titled her although
Partridge series and titled her although
Partridge series and titled her although I was in a foreign land everything
I was in a foreign land everything
I was in a foreign land everything seemed to feel feel like home when I
seemed to feel feel like home when I
seemed to feel feel like home when I started shooting being able to create
started shooting being able to create
started shooting being able to create art despite the differences in the
art despite the differences in the
art despite the differences in the language barrier collaborating for the
language barrier collaborating for the
language barrier collaborating for the sole purpose of creating and influencing
sole purpose of creating and influencing
sole purpose of creating and influencing others it is that it is definitely the
others it is that it is definitely the
others it is that it is definitely the best place for newfound friendships as
best place for newfound friendships as
best place for newfound friendships as you were able to surround yourself with
you were able to surround yourself with
you were able to surround yourself with people as passionate as you are no
people as passionate as you are no
people as passionate as you are no matter what the background may be last
matter what the background may be last
matter what the background may be last but not believe it’s exceeding the
but not believe it’s exceeding the
but not believe it’s exceeding the expectations set for us being able to
expectations set for us being able to
expectations set for us being able to find meaning in the whole crate in the
find meaning in the whole crate in the
find meaning in the whole crate in the whole creative process the fulfillment
whole creative process the fulfillment
whole creative process the fulfillment and inspiration and sharing the work
and inspiration and sharing the work
and inspiration and sharing the work that you have put together being able to
that you have put together being able to
that you have put together being able to appreciate what others do gaining a
appreciate what others do gaining a
appreciate what others do gaining a broader perspective in life and let’s
broader perspective in life and let’s
broader perspective in life and let’s not underestimate the power of Ireland
not underestimate the power of Ireland
not underestimate the power of Ireland its inspiration it can give to people
its inspiration it can give to people
its inspiration it can give to people I’m not only talking about the visual
I’m not only talking about the visual
I’m not only talking about the visual arts but of course also performing arts
arts but of course also performing arts
arts but of course also performing arts on your visual it’s not only being able
on your visual it’s not only being able
on your visual it’s not only being able to create for ourselves but creating art
to create for ourselves but creating art
to create for ourselves but creating art for others to find a common connection a
for others to find a common connection a
for others to find a common connection a common connection and appreciation this
common connection and appreciation this
common connection and appreciation this continuously surrounding yourself with
continuously surrounding yourself with
continuously surrounding yourself with people who can uplift you and that’s and
people who can uplift you and that’s and
people who can uplift you and that’s and that’s what could having a community is
that’s what could having a community is
that’s what could having a community is important maybe an organization or a
important maybe an organization or a
important maybe an organization or a social media platform choosing who you
social media platform choosing who you
social media platform choosing who you surround yourself with will greatly
surround yourself with will greatly
surround yourself with will greatly influence you and how you’ll be able to
influence you and how you’ll be able to
influence you and how you’ll be able to face the challenges ahead so breaking
face the challenges ahead so breaking
face the challenges ahead so breaking boundaries what should it mean to us
boundaries what should it mean to us
boundaries what should it mean to us students of course collaborating and
students of course collaborating and
students of course collaborating and working together together continuously
working together together continuously
working together together continuously improving and transforming ourselves to
improving and transforming ourselves to
improving and transforming ourselves to becoming better people can I get the
becoming better people can I get the
becoming better people can I get the show of hands here or who those who
show of hands here or who those who
show of hands here or who those who dread group breaks no one those who just
dread group breaks no one those who just
dread group breaks no one those who just can’t stand freeloaders I’m sure we can
can’t stand freeloaders I’m sure we can
can’t stand freeloaders I’m sure we can all relate to that
all relate to that
all relate to that yeah I’ve thought the same way back in
yeah I’ve thought the same way back in
yeah I’ve thought the same way back in high school just a few years ago but we
high school just a few years ago but we
high school just a few years ago but we need to put it in a better perspective
need to put it in a better perspective
need to put it in a better perspective because we need to remember that if you
because we need to remember that if you
because we need to remember that if you want to go fast we go alone but if you
want to go fast we go alone but if you
want to go fast we go alone but if you want to go far we work together this
want to go far we work together this
want to go far we work together this isn’t the most spectacular and stunning
isn’t the most spectacular and stunning
isn’t the most spectacular and stunning idea because it’s something we have the
idea because it’s something we have the
idea because it’s something we have the chance to work on every
chance to work on every
chance to work on every as we go to school and talk to people
as we go to school and talk to people
as we go to school and talk to people but I hope I was able to deliver a
but I hope I was able to deliver a
but I hope I was able to deliver a reminder to each one of you in this room
reminder to each one of you in this room
reminder to each one of you in this room that he must go beyond ourselves because
that he must go beyond ourselves because
that he must go beyond ourselves because who knows collaborations just might be
who knows collaborations just might be
who knows collaborations just might be the key to your next idea
the key to your next idea
the key to your next idea imagine what more we can achieve
imagine what more we can achieve
imagine what more we can achieve together there are endless possibilities
together there are endless possibilities
together there are endless possibilities thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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