can you raise your hand if you’re familiar with the island of Guam I sell
familiar with the island of Guam I sell
familiar with the island of Guam I sell out more people that I expected yeah so
out more people that I expected yeah so
out more people that I expected yeah so Guam is the Pacific island I was born
Guam is the Pacific island I was born
Guam is the Pacific island I was born and raised in it’s an unincorporated
and raised in it’s an unincorporated
and raised in it’s an unincorporated territory of the United States and it’s
territory of the United States and it’s
territory of the United States and it’s located in Micronesia which is the
located in Micronesia which is the
located in Micronesia which is the smallest of all denita’s you know
smallest of all denita’s you know
smallest of all denita’s you know Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia there’s Polynesia there’s Melanesia and
there’s Polynesia there’s Melanesia and
there’s Polynesia there’s Melanesia and enters Micronesia and one of the first
enters Micronesia and one of the first
enters Micronesia and one of the first things I learned in kindergarten was
things I learned in kindergarten was
things I learned in kindergarten was that you couldn’t find Guam on a globe
that you couldn’t find Guam on a globe
that you couldn’t find Guam on a globe without using a magnifying glass
without using a magnifying glass
without using a magnifying glass imagine a half grown child standing on
imagine a half grown child standing on
imagine a half grown child standing on shore staring at the expansive horizon
shore staring at the expansive horizon
shore staring at the expansive horizon and realizing a single grain of sand is
and realizing a single grain of sand is
and realizing a single grain of sand is bigger than his home on a map now I’m
bigger than his home on a map now I’m
bigger than his home on a map now I’m not that half grown child anymore I’m
not that half grown child anymore I’m
not that half grown child anymore I’m more like half grown adult I’m like five
more like half grown adult I’m like five
more like half grown adult I’m like five five when I got my shoes on but uh when
five when I got my shoes on but uh when
five when I got my shoes on but uh when you’re a tiny kid who grows up in a tiny
you’re a tiny kid who grows up in a tiny
you’re a tiny kid who grows up in a tiny house in a very small island you
house in a very small island you
house in a very small island you naturally start to fear how big the rest
naturally start to fear how big the rest
naturally start to fear how big the rest of the world really is in a society that
of the world really is in a society that
of the world really is in a society that emphasizes the enormity of things being
emphasizes the enormity of things being
emphasizes the enormity of things being little is a huge hurdle at school the
little is a huge hurdle at school the
little is a huge hurdle at school the bigger kids started roughing me up
bigger kids started roughing me up
bigger kids started roughing me up because they could when I started coming
because they could when I started coming
because they could when I started coming home with cuts and bruises my dad
home with cuts and bruises my dad
home with cuts and bruises my dad instead of wanting to talk to the
instead of wanting to talk to the
instead of wanting to talk to the principal decided to teach me how to
principal decided to teach me how to
principal decided to teach me how to fight this guy he always said though
fight this guy he always said though
fight this guy he always said though whatever you do don’t start the fight
whatever you do don’t start the fight
whatever you do don’t start the fight just make sure you end it
just make sure you end it
just make sure you end it a bunch of my fights ended with me face
a bunch of my fights ended with me face
a bunch of my fights ended with me face flat in the dirt everything I learned
flat in the dirt everything I learned
flat in the dirt everything I learned growing up taught me that size will
growing up taught me that size will
growing up taught me that size will always be the final measurements of
always be the final measurements of
always be the final measurements of strength so how could little old me ever
strength so how could little old me ever
strength so how could little old me ever be strong I carried that question with
be strong I carried that question with
be strong I carried that question with me for almost all my life and at every
me for almost all my life and at every
me for almost all my life and at every turn it was the same answer a voice
turn it was the same answer a voice
turn it was the same answer a voice saying you’re too weak
saying you’re too weak
saying you’re too weak eventually that voice started screaming
eventually that voice started screaming
eventually that voice started screaming you will never be good enough for anyone
you will never be good enough for anyone
you will never be good enough for anyone or anything and I believed it and it all
or anything and I believed it and it all
or anything and I believed it and it all started out innocently enough didn’t it
started out innocently enough didn’t it
started out innocently enough didn’t it can’t get on the roller coaster because
can’t get on the roller coaster because
can’t get on the roller coaster because I’m too short can’t join my division in
I’m too short can’t join my division in
I’m too short can’t join my division in football because I’m too light can’t
football because I’m too light can’t
football because I’m too light can’t date girls in heels but then life got a
date girls in heels but then life got a
date girls in heels but then life got a little more complicated can’t defend the
little more complicated can’t defend the
little more complicated can’t defend the people I love can’t speak my mind
people I love can’t speak my mind
people I love can’t speak my mind because I’m too afraid can’t compete
because I’m too afraid can’t compete
because I’m too afraid can’t compete with others in my field of work on a
with others in my field of work on a
with others in my field of work on a global scale
global scale
global scale you see smallness is a state of mind
you see smallness is a state of mind
you see smallness is a state of mind that breeds feelings of weakness and
that breeds feelings of weakness and
that breeds feelings of weakness and inadequacy that smallness is often
inadequacy that smallness is often
inadequacy that smallness is often shaped by the physical interactions we
shaped by the physical interactions we
shaped by the physical interactions we have within our immediate environment we
have within our immediate environment we
have within our immediate environment we live in a world that teaches young boys
live in a world that teaches young boys
live in a world that teaches young boys bigger is better bigger means stronger I
bigger is better bigger means stronger I
bigger is better bigger means stronger I was a tiny kid from a virtually
was a tiny kid from a virtually
was a tiny kid from a virtually invisible place so I naturally felt
invisible place so I naturally felt
invisible place so I naturally felt hopelessly weak for a very long time
hopelessly weak for a very long time
hopelessly weak for a very long time until my sister gave birth to her first
until my sister gave birth to her first
until my sister gave birth to her first son Elijah my eldest nephew everyone in
son Elijah my eldest nephew everyone in
son Elijah my eldest nephew everyone in my family says he reminds them of me
my family says he reminds them of me
my family says he reminds them of me he’s musically inclined he loves to read
he’s musically inclined he loves to read
he’s musically inclined he loves to read he’s emotionally intelligent and he’s
he’s emotionally intelligent and he’s
he’s emotionally intelligent and he’s also really small
also really small
also really small so when I started seeing myself in him
so when I started seeing myself in him
so when I started seeing myself in him I grew worried I didn’t want him to
I grew worried I didn’t want him to
I grew worried I didn’t want him to harbor the same self-doubt or ever feel
harbor the same self-doubt or ever feel
harbor the same self-doubt or ever feel hopelessly weak but I knew it was
hopelessly weak but I knew it was
hopelessly weak but I knew it was inevitable and I wanted to be that super
inevitable and I wanted to be that super
inevitable and I wanted to be that super awesome uncle who could help him through
awesome uncle who could help him through
awesome uncle who could help him through it all but how could I do that if I was
it all but how could I do that if I was
it all but how could I do that if I was stuck in the same place
stuck in the same place
stuck in the same place Eli was my motivation to figure things
Eli was my motivation to figure things
Eli was my motivation to figure things out one of the most important things I
out one of the most important things I
out one of the most important things I did was ask myself in what other ways am
did was ask myself in what other ways am
did was ask myself in what other ways am i strong and I realized we need to stop
i strong and I realized we need to stop
i strong and I realized we need to stop portraying strength in such a limited
portraying strength in such a limited
portraying strength in such a limited scope if our physical locale affects how
scope if our physical locale affects how
scope if our physical locale affects how we view ourselves in relation to the
we view ourselves in relation to the
we view ourselves in relation to the rest of the world then we need to stop
rest of the world then we need to stop
rest of the world then we need to stop focusing on mass alone the extent of one
focusing on mass alone the extent of one
focusing on mass alone the extent of one strength should not be determined solely
strength should not be determined solely
strength should not be determined solely by their size
by their size
by their size why because we are so much more than a
why because we are so much more than a
why because we are so much more than a push or a pull or a fist and a body if
push or a pull or a fist and a body if
push or a pull or a fist and a body if we can teach young boys at an early age
we can teach young boys at an early age
we can teach young boys at an early age to go beyond their physical attributes
to go beyond their physical attributes
to go beyond their physical attributes to look inward to reflect on their
to look inward to reflect on their
to look inward to reflect on their abilities their values their passions
abilities their values their passions
abilities their values their passions and their knowledge we might have a
and their knowledge we might have a
and their knowledge we might have a world full of young boys who are less
world full of young boys who are less
world full of young boys who are less obsessed with proving strength through
obsessed with proving strength through
obsessed with proving strength through how much space they occupy or control or
how much space they occupy or control or
how much space they occupy or control or destroy I viewed myself as this tiny kid
destroy I viewed myself as this tiny kid
destroy I viewed myself as this tiny kid from this tiny island when I should have
from this tiny island when I should have
from this tiny island when I should have been viewing myself as a young man from
been viewing myself as a young man from
been viewing myself as a young man from Micronesia an entire region rich with
Micronesia an entire region rich with
Micronesia an entire region rich with culture and talent and perseverance I
culture and talent and perseverance I
culture and talent and perseverance I should have seen that right next to Guam
should have seen that right next to Guam
should have seen that right next to Guam is the Marianas Trench our trench is the
is the Marianas Trench our trench is the
is the Marianas Trench our trench is the deepest place on this planet it’s a
deepest place on this planet it’s a
deepest place on this planet it’s a world so submerged and unexplored we’re
world so submerged and unexplored we’re
world so submerged and unexplored we’re only just beginning to understand what’s
only just beginning to understand what’s
only just beginning to understand what’s inside of it and I think that’s how we
inside of it and I think that’s how we
inside of it and I think that’s how we should view strength
should view strength
should view strength size is not the final measurement true
size is not the final measurement true
size is not the final measurement true strength is defined by the depth of our
strength is defined by the depth of our
strength is defined by the depth of our character and of our potential I didn’t
character and of our potential I didn’t
character and of our potential I didn’t fully grasp this concept until I wrote
fully grasp this concept until I wrote
fully grasp this concept until I wrote Elijah a letter which eventually turned
Elijah a letter which eventually turned
Elijah a letter which eventually turned into a poem he’s a little too young to
into a poem he’s a little too young to
into a poem he’s a little too young to get any of it but I’d like to perform
get any of it but I’d like to perform
get any of it but I’d like to perform that poem for you tonight
that poem for you tonight
that poem for you tonight [Applause]
dear Eli I know how heavy it gets being
dear Eli I know how heavy it gets being so small you feel the weight one day
so small you feel the weight one day
so small you feel the weight one day when he breaks your nose and tells the
when he breaks your nose and tells the
when he breaks your nose and tells the principal you fell when everybody
principal you fell when everybody
principal you fell when everybody watches but nobody helps and I wish
watches but nobody helps and I wish
watches but nobody helps and I wish others would stop believing violence is
others would stop believing violence is
others would stop believing violence is the only proof of strength but the world
the only proof of strength but the world
the only proof of strength but the world we live in isn’t always so kind I’d
we live in isn’t always so kind I’d
we live in isn’t always so kind I’d rather you be prepared than broken
rather you be prepared than broken
rather you be prepared than broken that’s why I’m teaching you how to throw
that’s why I’m teaching you how to throw
that’s why I’m teaching you how to throw a punch now coz for small kids like us
a punch now coz for small kids like us
a punch now coz for small kids like us poetry will never stop a fist or a bat
poetry will never stop a fist or a bat
poetry will never stop a fist or a bat or a bullet they’ll make you feel like
or a bullet they’ll make you feel like
or a bullet they’ll make you feel like your body is a heavy regret but don’t be
your body is a heavy regret but don’t be
your body is a heavy regret but don’t be sorry for the size of your bones save
sorry for the size of your bones save
sorry for the size of your bones save your apologies for real mistakes you’re
your apologies for real mistakes you’re
your apologies for real mistakes you’re not God’s accident your hands are more
not God’s accident your hands are more
not God’s accident your hands are more than white flags your voice is more than
than white flags your voice is more than
than white flags your voice is more than a helpless plea don’t let anyone tell
a helpless plea don’t let anyone tell
a helpless plea don’t let anyone tell you that you are too small to be
you that you are too small to be
you that you are too small to be powerful
powerful
powerful remember your blood is my blood and our
remember your blood is my blood and our
remember your blood is my blood and our blood is a history of overcoming
blood is a history of overcoming
blood is a history of overcoming conquest
conquest
conquest so enjoins think to rule you like a
so enjoins think to rule you like a
so enjoins think to rule you like a village you call on the fight in your
village you call on the fight in your
village you call on the fight in your veins you bare your knuckles like teeth
veins you bare your knuckles like teeth
veins you bare your knuckles like teeth you defend that valley in your heart you
you defend that valley in your heart you
you defend that valley in your heart you teach them being big as nothing to do
teach them being big as nothing to do
teach them being big as nothing to do with how close we stand to the sky but
with how close we stand to the sky but
with how close we stand to the sky but remember eli there is more to fighting
remember eli there is more to fighting
remember eli there is more to fighting than bruises or blood more to defend
than bruises or blood more to defend
than bruises or blood more to defend than pride and body there is more to
than pride and body there is more to
than pride and body there is more to strength than muscle breaking bone or
strength than muscle breaking bone or
strength than muscle breaking bone or the glory of destruction strength is
the glory of destruction strength is
the glory of destruction strength is love to the capacity to accept others
love to the capacity to accept others
love to the capacity to accept others for who they are the ability to create
for who they are the ability to create
for who they are the ability to create meaning out of thin air
meaning out of thin air
meaning out of thin air remember strength is being a good eldest
remember strength is being a good eldest
remember strength is being a good eldest brother
brother
brother teaching family how to make music from
teaching family how to make music from
teaching family how to make music from all the world Silas
all the world Silas
all the world Silas so you shed your tears Eli but you give
so you shed your tears Eli but you give
so you shed your tears Eli but you give them back to the ocean and don’t you
them back to the ocean and don’t you
them back to the ocean and don’t you ever forget the depth of your fighting
ever forget the depth of your fighting
ever forget the depth of your fighting spirit cannot be caged by the
spirit cannot be caged by the
spirit cannot be caged by the measurements of math thank you
measurements of math thank you
measurements of math thank you [Applause]
”
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