All It Takes Is One | Natalie Hampton | TEDxTeen

a boy stopped me in my school hallway to

a boy stopped me in my school hallway to ask me if I needed help finding my

ask me if I needed help finding my

ask me if I needed help finding my classes and it saved my life

classes and it saved my life

classes and it saved my life see it was the first day out of a school

see it was the first day out of a school

see it was the first day out of a school that had imprisoned me where my own

that had imprisoned me where my own

that had imprisoned me where my own classmates fought to strip me of my

classmates fought to strip me of my

classmates fought to strip me of my safety and my voice and everything that

safety and my voice and everything that

safety and my voice and everything that I was through death threats and physical

I was through death threats and physical

I was through death threats and physical attacks that left me bruised and

attacks that left me bruised and

attacks that left me bruised and bleeding they pushed me farther and

bleeding they pushed me farther and

bleeding they pushed me farther and farther into a hole until I could no

farther into a hole until I could no

farther into a hole until I could no longer see my own future but there he

longer see my own future but there he

longer see my own future but there he was a stranger who saw my struggle and

was a stranger who saw my struggle and

was a stranger who saw my struggle and how obviously lost I was on a new campus

how obviously lost I was on a new campus

how obviously lost I was on a new campus and he took the time to stop notice me

and he took the time to stop notice me

and he took the time to stop notice me and help me I was seen for the first

and help me I was seen for the first

and help me I was seen for the first time in two years and it saved my life

time in two years and it saved my life

time in two years and it saved my life this is the story of how I went from the

this is the story of how I went from the

this is the story of how I went from the victim of physical attacks to the CEO of

victim of physical attacks to the CEO of

victim of physical attacks to the CEO of a nonprofit aimed to help kids across

a nonprofit aimed to help kids across

a nonprofit aimed to help kids across the world but if you’ll take one thing

the world but if you’ll take one thing

the world but if you’ll take one thing away from my story it’s that all it

away from my story it’s that all it

away from my story it’s that all it takes is one person to change the world

takes is one person to change the world

takes is one person to change the world and that person can be you with a simple

and that person can be you with a simple

and that person can be you with a simple act of kindness my story starts almost

act of kindness my story starts almost

act of kindness my story starts almost five years ago when I was entering the

five years ago when I was entering the

five years ago when I was entering the seventh grade at a new prestigious

seventh grade at a new prestigious

seventh grade at a new prestigious all-girls private school so there I was

all-girls private school so there I was

all-girls private school so there I was in my itchy new uniform skirt about to

in my itchy new uniform skirt about to

in my itchy new uniform skirt about to start my middle and high school career I

start my middle and high school career I

start my middle and high school career I fully expected three things one I would

fully expected three things one I would

fully expected three things one I would make lots of new friends

make lots of new friends

make lots of new friends two I would enjoy all my classes

two I would enjoy all my classes

two I would enjoy all my classes including math and three I would

including math and three I would

including math and three I would eventually graduate from there and go on

eventually graduate from there and go on

eventually graduate from there and go on to some college but within the first few

to some college but within the first few

to some college but within the first few weeks I started to notice that I didn’t

weeks I started to notice that I didn’t

weeks I started to notice that I didn’t exactly fit in with anyone but I told

exactly fit in with anyone but I told

exactly fit in with anyone but I told myself it’s just the beginning

myself it’s just the beginning

myself it’s just the beginning everything will be okay

everything will be okay

everything will be okay essentially things were fine until they

essentially things were fine until they

essentially things were fine until they weren’t started with those little things

weren’t started with those little things

weren’t started with those little things that are easily explained away people

that are easily explained away people

that are easily explained away people would ditch me as a joke

would ditch me as a joke

would ditch me as a joke or they’d say mean things in passing and

or they’d say mean things in passing and

or they’d say mean things in passing and every time I tried to join a lunch table

every time I tried to join a lunch table

every time I tried to join a lunch table I get the same line as in the

I get the same line as in the

I get the same line as in the you can’t sit with us well on paper

you can’t sit with us well on paper

you can’t sit with us well on paper these don’t sound like much

these don’t sound like much

these don’t sound like much it was the overall cumulative effect

it was the overall cumulative effect

it was the overall cumulative effect that began to chip away at my

that began to chip away at my

that began to chip away at my self-esteem and self-confidence then in

self-esteem and self-confidence then in

self-esteem and self-confidence then in the spring of my seventh grade year I

the spring of my seventh grade year I

the spring of my seventh grade year I was physically attacked twice in two

was physically attacked twice in two

was physically attacked twice in two days I came home sobbing with bleeding

days I came home sobbing with bleeding

days I came home sobbing with bleeding red scratch marks down my face bruises

red scratch marks down my face bruises

red scratch marks down my face bruises down my leg and my hair in knots and

down my leg and my hair in knots and

down my leg and my hair in knots and then a week later another attack

then a week later another attack

then a week later another attack happened I was walking to class when a

happened I was walking to class when a

happened I was walking to class when a group of girls surrounded me and they

group of girls surrounded me and they

group of girls surrounded me and they were all calling my name and laughing

were all calling my name and laughing

were all calling my name and laughing and converging in when one girl grabbed

and converging in when one girl grabbed

and converging in when one girl grabbed my laptop computer and ran well another

my laptop computer and ran well another

my laptop computer and ran well another one attacked me from behind and pinned

one attacked me from behind and pinned

one attacked me from behind and pinned me to the floor using her foot on my

me to the floor using her foot on my

me to the floor using her foot on my head

head

head I remember my head hitting the ground in

I remember my head hitting the ground in

I remember my head hitting the ground in my face scraping against the concrete in

my face scraping against the concrete in

my face scraping against the concrete in my ears ringing everything was spinning

my ears ringing everything was spinning

my ears ringing everything was spinning and I could hear them laughing at me I

and I could hear them laughing at me I

and I could hear them laughing at me I was able to ride and struggle as hard as

was able to ride and struggle as hard as

was able to ride and struggle as hard as I could and get free of that girl and

I could and get free of that girl and

I could and get free of that girl and run after the one with my computer and

run after the one with my computer and

run after the one with my computer and get it back but as I turned to run away

get it back but as I turned to run away

get it back but as I turned to run away I felt the blow of her fist on my spine

I felt the blow of her fist on my spine

I felt the blow of her fist on my spine punching me to the ground that moment

punching me to the ground that moment

punching me to the ground that moment plays in my head over and over again and

plays in my head over and over again and

plays in my head over and over again and I don’t know if I’ll ever forget it

I don’t know if I’ll ever forget it

I don’t know if I’ll ever forget it after that point was completely

after that point was completely

after that point was completely ostracized by everyone I was shoved into

ostracized by everyone I was shoved into

ostracized by everyone I was shoved into lockers verbally bullied cyber bullied

lockers verbally bullied cyber bullied

lockers verbally bullied cyber bullied and ate lunch alone every day I became

and ate lunch alone every day I became

and ate lunch alone every day I became so afraid to go to school not knowing if

so afraid to go to school not knowing if

so afraid to go to school not knowing if I was going to be attacked again and I

I was going to be attacked again and I

I was going to be attacked again and I felt like nothing I felt like my life no

felt like nothing I felt like my life no

felt like nothing I felt like my life no longer mattered and every day became a

longer mattered and every day became a

longer mattered and every day became a battle to smile to eat to sleep at night

battle to smile to eat to sleep at night

battle to smile to eat to sleep at night to look and seem okay despite what was

to look and seem okay despite what was

to look and seem okay despite what was going on in my head and it was a battle

going on in my head and it was a battle

going on in my head and it was a battle I was slowly losing until I hit the

I was slowly losing until I hit the

I was slowly losing until I hit the point where I didn’t think I would

point where I didn’t think I would

point where I didn’t think I would survive long enough to see my high

survive long enough to see my high

survive long enough to see my high school graduation day the final straw

school graduation day the final straw

school graduation day the final straw for me came the next year in eighth

for me came the next year in eighth

for me came the next year in eighth grade in science class we were working

grade in science class we were working

grade in science class we were working on a group project when the girl next to

on a group project when the girl next to

on a group project when the girl next to me became enraged because her project

me became enraged because her project

me became enraged because her project failed she was standing on the desk with

failed she was standing on the desk with

failed she was standing on the desk with scissors and

scissors and

scissors and her hand when she spun around fuming and

her hand when she spun around fuming and

her hand when she spun around fuming and I still clearly remember the scissors

I still clearly remember the scissors

I still clearly remember the scissors glinting off the fluorescent lights as

glinting off the fluorescent lights as

glinting off the fluorescent lights as she pointed them at me and said I’m

she pointed them at me and said I’m

she pointed them at me and said I’m resisting the urge to slit your throat

resisting the urge to slit your throat

resisting the urge to slit your throat with these even though the teacher was

with these even though the teacher was

with these even though the teacher was right there he did nothing the students

right there he did nothing the students

right there he did nothing the students around me did nothing nobody did

around me did nothing nobody did

around me did nothing nobody did anything even the administration did

anything even the administration did

anything even the administration did nothing according to them it was all my

nothing according to them it was all my

nothing according to them it was all my fault and instead of blaming the bullies

fault and instead of blaming the bullies

fault and instead of blaming the bullies they blamed me I was screaming out for

they blamed me I was screaming out for

they blamed me I was screaming out for help and no one was stopping to even

help and no one was stopping to even

help and no one was stopping to even notice and I’ve never felt more

notice and I’ve never felt more

notice and I’ve never felt more voiceless it was at that point I

voiceless it was at that point I

voiceless it was at that point I realized that things weren’t going to

realized that things weren’t going to

realized that things weren’t going to get better so I began to look at other

get better so I began to look at other

get better so I began to look at other schools and then my salvation came to me

schools and then my salvation came to me

schools and then my salvation came to me in the form of an envelope full of

in the form of an envelope full of

in the form of an envelope full of confetti and a piece of paper with the

confetti and a piece of paper with the

confetti and a piece of paper with the word accepted on it I was so blinded by

word accepted on it I was so blinded by

word accepted on it I was so blinded by all the years I would actually get to

all the years I would actually get to

all the years I would actually get to see and the new school that I fell in

see and the new school that I fell in

see and the new school that I fell in love with loved me back and from the

love with loved me back and from the

love with loved me back and from the first day I had people stopping to help

first day I had people stopping to help

first day I had people stopping to help me find my classes so we’ve come full

me find my classes so we’ve come full

me find my classes so we’ve come full circle I got out and I was finally happy

circle I got out and I was finally happy

circle I got out and I was finally happy but my story doesn’t end here

but my story doesn’t end here

but my story doesn’t end here I began to think what if I didn’t have

I began to think what if I didn’t have

I began to think what if I didn’t have to go through what I went through in the

to go through what I went through in the

to go through what I went through in the first place what if things could have

first place what if things could have

first place what if things could have been different I was lucky to have

been different I was lucky to have

been different I was lucky to have escaped but in a way I felt stuck I felt

escaped but in a way I felt stuck I felt

escaped but in a way I felt stuck I felt guilty for getting the chance to see

guilty for getting the chance to see

guilty for getting the chance to see that I was better than the person that

that I was better than the person that

that I was better than the person that my school community painted me to be why

my school community painted me to be why

my school community painted me to be why did I get that second chance when so

did I get that second chance when so

did I get that second chance when so many kids out there still suffer I

many kids out there still suffer I

many kids out there still suffer I realized that if I didn’t speak out

realized that if I didn’t speak out

realized that if I didn’t speak out against bullying I was just as bad as

against bullying I was just as bad as

against bullying I was just as bad as all the students who saw me suffer and

all the students who saw me suffer and

all the students who saw me suffer and said nothing so at my new school every

said nothing so at my new school every

said nothing so at my new school every time I saw someone sitting alone I would

time I saw someone sitting alone I would

time I saw someone sitting alone I would always invite them over to my table and

always invite them over to my table and

always invite them over to my table and some of these people one girl in

some of these people one girl in

some of these people one girl in particular are now my best friends who I

particular are now my best friends who I

particular are now my best friends who I never would have met if I hadn’t invited

never would have met if I hadn’t invited

never would have met if I hadn’t invited them over and it wasn’t until years

them over and it wasn’t until years

them over and it wasn’t until years later that I found out that around the

later that I found out that around the

later that I found out that around the time that I invited that one girl over

time that I invited that one girl over

time that I invited that one girl over to my table she had been struggling with

to my table she had been struggling with

to my table she had been struggling with self-harm and thoughts of suicide

self-harm and thoughts of suicide

self-harm and thoughts of suicide finding a group of friends changed her

finding a group of friends changed her

finding a group of friends changed her mind and so I saw firsthand that one

mind and so I saw firsthand that one

mind and so I saw firsthand that one small action which made out of met that

small action which made out of met that

small action which made out of met that much to me at the time completely

much to me at the time completely

much to me at the time completely changed her

changed her

changed her life and so that’s when I came up with

life and so that’s when I came up with

life and so that’s when I came up with the idea for sit with us it’s a free

the idea for sit with us it’s a free

the idea for sit with us it’s a free lunch planning app that helps promote

lunch planning app that helps promote

lunch planning app that helps promote inclusion in schools by giving kids at

inclusion in schools by giving kids at

inclusion in schools by giving kids at least one person who sees their struggle

least one person who sees their struggle

least one person who sees their struggle it can save them from so much suffering

it can save them from so much suffering

it can save them from so much suffering it did for her and it did for me the way

it did for her and it did for me the way

it did for her and it did for me the way it works is simple it takes kids looking

it works is simple it takes kids looking

it works is simple it takes kids looking for tables with tables of friends in

for tables with tables of friends in

for tables with tables of friends in their schools and pairs them together to

their schools and pairs them together to

their schools and pairs them together to start you create a profile page like any

start you create a profile page like any

start you create a profile page like any social media site with your bio picture

social media site with your bio picture

social media site with your bio picture interests whatever and you can add

interests whatever and you can add

interests whatever and you can add friends then if you choose to be a sit

friends then if you choose to be a sit

friends then if you choose to be a sit with us ambassador you can take a pledge

with us ambassador you can take a pledge

with us ambassador you can take a pledge basically saying that you’ll host open

basically saying that you’ll host open

basically saying that you’ll host open lunches where anyone who tries to join

lunches where anyone who tries to join

lunches where anyone who tries to join your table is welcome so if you’re a kid

your table is welcome so if you’re a kid

your table is welcome so if you’re a kid in a school looking for a table to join

in a school looking for a table to join

in a school looking for a table to join you just open the app and there’s a

you just open the app and there’s a

you just open the app and there’s a whole list of places you can go without

whole list of places you can go without

whole list of places you can go without any fear of rejection so you know you’re

any fear of rejection so you know you’re

any fear of rejection so you know you’re always finding somewhere safe since our

always finding somewhere safe since our

always finding somewhere safe since our release last September

release last September

release last September we’ve gained over a hundred thousand

we’ve gained over a hundred thousand

we’ve gained over a hundred thousand users and we’re operating in seven

users and we’re operating in seven

users and we’re operating in seven different countries and we continue to

different countries and we continue to

different countries and we continue to grow every day what I’m most astounding

grow every day what I’m most astounding

grow every day what I’m most astounding by is the difference in people and

by is the difference in people and

by is the difference in people and schools and organizations and places of

schools and organizations and places of

schools and organizations and places of worship who have been looking for a

worship who have been looking for a

worship who have been looking for a simple way to better their community and

simple way to better their community and

simple way to better their community and who have incorporated sit with us to fit

who have incorporated sit with us to fit

who have incorporated sit with us to fit that need so what do I want you to take

that need so what do I want you to take

that need so what do I want you to take away from this it’s a simple but

away from this it’s a simple but

away from this it’s a simple but meaningful message all it takes is one

meaningful message all it takes is one

meaningful message all it takes is one person to change the world and that

person to change the world and that

person to change the world and that person starting right now is you it’s up

person starting right now is you it’s up

person starting right now is you it’s up to you to make a difference in your

to you to make a difference in your

to you to make a difference in your communities to leave this world better

communities to leave this world better

communities to leave this world better than the way you found it

than the way you found it

than the way you found it something is seemingly small as lunch

something is seemingly small as lunch

something is seemingly small as lunch can make a school way more inclusive and

can make a school way more inclusive and

can make a school way more inclusive and something like a simple act of kindness

something like a simple act of kindness

something like a simple act of kindness can save a life so imagine what you’re

can save a life so imagine what you’re

can save a life so imagine what you’re capable of we all go through life not

capable of we all go through life not

capable of we all go through life not always being conscious of the people

always being conscious of the people

always being conscious of the people around us so if we take just one second

around us so if we take just one second

around us so if we take just one second to be more perceptive and be more kind

to be more perceptive and be more kind

to be more perceptive and be more kind imagine what you could do even if you

imagine what you could do even if you

imagine what you could do even if you don’t use the app you can embody the

don’t use the app you can embody the

don’t use the app you can embody the spirit of sit with us by inviting

spirit of sit with us by inviting

spirit of sit with us by inviting someone alone over to your table

someone alone over to your table

someone alone over to your table you never know your future best friend

you never know your future best friend

you never know your future best friend might be sitting at the next table over

might be sitting at the next table over

might be sitting at the next table over so what will you do next

so what will you do next

so what will you do next thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]