in January I received the invitation to attend my 10-year high school reunion
attend my 10-year high school reunion
attend my 10-year high school reunion and I was shocked high school did not
and I was shocked high school did not
and I was shocked high school did not feel like it was ten years ago
feel like it was ten years ago
feel like it was ten years ago so to be invited to something that was a
so to be invited to something that was a
so to be invited to something that was a celebration of 10 years when it only
celebration of 10 years when it only
celebration of 10 years when it only felt like a couple months maybe a year
felt like a couple months maybe a year
felt like a couple months maybe a year or two really threw me for a loop I
or two really threw me for a loop I
or two really threw me for a loop I began thinking of what reunions meant to
began thinking of what reunions meant to
began thinking of what reunions meant to me and ideas of TV shows and movies
me and ideas of TV shows and movies
me and ideas of TV shows and movies where they depict cheerleaders marrying
where they depict cheerleaders marrying
where they depict cheerleaders marrying deadbeat guys and jocks getting fat and
deadbeat guys and jocks getting fat and
deadbeat guys and jocks getting fat and bald were the only images that I had and
bald were the only images that I had and
bald were the only images that I had and they were very critical and
they were very critical and
they were very critical and condescending and they weren’t very
condescending and they weren’t very
condescending and they weren’t very inviting or warm I began going through
inviting or warm I began going through
inviting or warm I began going through all my accomplishments over the last ten
all my accomplishments over the last ten
all my accomplishments over the last ten years thinking about what I’ve done and
years thinking about what I’ve done and
years thinking about what I’ve done and what I would tell my classmates this
what I would tell my classmates this
what I would tell my classmates this place as I went to school the degrees
place as I went to school the degrees
place as I went to school the degrees I’ve collected the places that I’ve
I’ve collected the places that I’ve
I’ve collected the places that I’ve traveled to where I’ve lived my job but
traveled to where I’ve lived my job but
traveled to where I’ve lived my job but something about that felt really hollow
something about that felt really hollow
something about that felt really hollow like that was not possibly all I’ve done
like that was not possibly all I’ve done
like that was not possibly all I’ve done over the last 10 years so I kept mulling
over the last 10 years so I kept mulling
over the last 10 years so I kept mulling this over in my mind what I’ve
this over in my mind what I’ve
this over in my mind what I’ve accomplished reunions and something
accomplished reunions and something
accomplished reunions and something became clear to me while I was doing
became clear to me while I was doing
became clear to me while I was doing that and that was but the last 10 years
that and that was but the last 10 years
that and that was but the last 10 years of my life my biggest accomplishment
of my life my biggest accomplishment
of my life my biggest accomplishment wasn’t that I’ve gotten degrees and I’ve
wasn’t that I’ve gotten degrees and I’ve
wasn’t that I’ve gotten degrees and I’ve started a great job and I live in a
started a great job and I live in a
started a great job and I live in a fancy condo it was that I’ve grown from
fancy condo it was that I’ve grown from
fancy condo it was that I’ve grown from the person that I was in high school
the person that I was in high school
the person that I was in high school into a confident self-sufficient adult
the ten years after high school are
the ten years after high school are really hard there are a lot of young
really hard there are a lot of young
really hard there are a lot of young people in the room today and this talk
people in the room today and this talk
people in the room today and this talk is catered to you the people who are in
is catered to you the people who are in
is catered to you the people who are in the process of this ten-year journey
the process of this ten-year journey
the process of this ten-year journey you’re gonna learn a lot of hard lessons
you’re gonna learn a lot of hard lessons
you’re gonna learn a lot of hard lessons but heartbreak and failure and picking
but heartbreak and failure and picking
but heartbreak and failure and picking yourself up when you’re when you’ve
yourself up when you’re when you’ve
yourself up when you’re when you’ve fallen down but when you get through
fallen down but when you get through
fallen down but when you get through that and look back you’re gonna have
that and look back you’re gonna have
that and look back you’re gonna have such a sense of fulfillment and relief
such a sense of fulfillment and relief
such a sense of fulfillment and relief and joy and celebration to the person
and joy and celebration to the person
and joy and celebration to the person that you become as you journey through
that you become as you journey through
that you become as you journey through all those really hard lessons you have
all those really hard lessons you have
all those really hard lessons you have to find your path during this time
to find your path during this time
to find your path during this time Carrie
Carrie
Carrie and that’s really scary but you all set
and that’s really scary but you all set
and that’s really scary but you all set to find out who you are as a person and
to find out who you are as a person and
to find out who you are as a person and the lessons that I want to share with
the lessons that I want to share with
the lessons that I want to share with you today there are five are some of the
you today there are five are some of the
you today there are five are some of the things that I really learned over the
things that I really learned over the
things that I really learned over the last couple years that I hope help you
last couple years that I hope help you
last couple years that I hope help you all on your journey as you make your way
all on your journey as you make your way
all on your journey as you make your way through this time period as well so the
through this time period as well so the
through this time period as well so the first lesson that I have is to do what’s
first lesson that I have is to do what’s
first lesson that I have is to do what’s right for you and that sounds really
right for you and that sounds really
right for you and that sounds really simple you’re doing you every day you
simple you’re doing you every day you
simple you’re doing you every day you wake up you brush your teeth you go to
wake up you brush your teeth you go to
wake up you brush your teeth you go to work or school or or whatever it is that
work or school or or whatever it is that
work or school or or whatever it is that you spill your day doing but as you get
you spill your day doing but as you get
you spill your day doing but as you get older the voice is around you become
older the voice is around you become
older the voice is around you become quieter your teachers start giving you
quieter your teachers start giving you
quieter your teachers start giving you less instruction your parents take a
less instruction your parents take a
less instruction your parents take a step back and say no you have to figure
step back and say no you have to figure
step back and say no you have to figure this out and bosses give you even less
this out and bosses give you even less
this out and bosses give you even less feedback than both of them so how do you
feedback than both of them so how do you
feedback than both of them so how do you learn to manage that and navigate that
learn to manage that and navigate that
learn to manage that and navigate that for me this was a lesson that I learned
for me this was a lesson that I learned
for me this was a lesson that I learned in a very impactful moment it was a
in a very impactful moment it was a
in a very impactful moment it was a night and day difference a switch went
night and day difference a switch went
night and day difference a switch went off in my mind in high school I spent a
off in my mind in high school I spent a
off in my mind in high school I spent a lot of time doing performance arts I act
lot of time doing performance arts I act
lot of time doing performance arts I act and I sang I danced and I was involved
and I sang I danced and I was involved
and I sang I danced and I was involved in every single community theater
in every single community theater
in every single community theater production that I could possibly get my
production that I could possibly get my
production that I could possibly get my hands into the photo is actually of me
hands into the photo is actually of me
hands into the photo is actually of me dancing taken by Paul akin so when it
dancing taken by Paul akin so when it
dancing taken by Paul akin so when it came time to go off to a higher
came time to go off to a higher
came time to go off to a higher education it was natural it wasn’t
education it was natural it wasn’t
education it was natural it wasn’t really a question I was gonna go pursue
really a question I was gonna go pursue
really a question I was gonna go pursue performance art I was gonna act and sing
performance art I was gonna act and sing
performance art I was gonna act and sing and dance all day long you know maybe
and dance all day long you know maybe
and dance all day long you know maybe teach maybe if I was really lucky become
teach maybe if I was really lucky become
teach maybe if I was really lucky become a performer and get paid to do this so I
a performer and get paid to do this so I
a performer and get paid to do this so I auditioned and I got into a school and I
auditioned and I got into a school and I
auditioned and I got into a school and I started but something wasn’t quite right
started but something wasn’t quite right
started but something wasn’t quite right I wasn’t as happy as I should have been
I wasn’t as happy as I should have been
I wasn’t as happy as I should have been and the little things would really set
and the little things would really set
and the little things would really set me off and give me a really bad day I
me off and give me a really bad day I
me off and give me a really bad day I finished the first semester went home
finished the first semester went home
finished the first semester went home for Christmas break reconnected with my
for Christmas break reconnected with my
for Christmas break reconnected with my family my friends and my home and when I
family my friends and my home and when I
family my friends and my home and when I went back to school for that second
went back to school for that second
went back to school for that second semester I realized that something was
semester I realized that something was
semester I realized that something was really wrong it wasn’t just kind of off
really wrong it wasn’t just kind of off
really wrong it wasn’t just kind of off it was wrong I called my mom in tears
it was wrong I called my mom in tears
it was wrong I called my mom in tears like I don’t understand I should be so
like I don’t understand I should be so
like I don’t understand I should be so happy right now this is my dream come
happy right now this is my dream come
happy right now this is my dream come true but the subways late and I want to
true but the subways late and I want to
true but the subways late and I want to cry or my classmate says something
cry or my classmate says something
cry or my classmate says something something to me and I’m a mess for the
something to me and I’m a mess for the
something to me and I’m a mess for the rest of the day this isn’t normal and
rest of the day this isn’t normal and
rest of the day this isn’t normal and it’s not healthy what’s wrong with me
it’s not healthy what’s wrong with me
it’s not healthy what’s wrong with me and my mom said well is this right for
and my mom said well is this right for
and my mom said well is this right for you and the answer was no we have to
you and the answer was no we have to
you and the answer was no we have to find a way to listen to that tiny voice
find a way to listen to that tiny voice
find a way to listen to that tiny voice inside of us now while you’re young
inside of us now while you’re young
inside of us now while you’re young before you have kids and a mortgage or
before you have kids and a mortgage or
before you have kids and a mortgage or you’re 30 years into a very established
you’re 30 years into a very established
you’re 30 years into a very established career and you the idea of starting over
career and you the idea of starting over
career and you the idea of starting over again is terrifying
again is terrifying
again is terrifying taking the time to develop that voice
taking the time to develop that voice
taking the time to develop that voice that gut feeling whatever is for you to
that gut feeling whatever is for you to
that gut feeling whatever is for you to navigate major decision is critical and
navigate major decision is critical and
navigate major decision is critical and as you do that and gain confidence in
as you do that and gain confidence in
as you do that and gain confidence in that voice and in that decision-making
that voice and in that decision-making
that voice and in that decision-making process you’re gonna build a life based
process you’re gonna build a life based
process you’re gonna build a life based on decisions that you are so happy with
on decisions that you are so happy with
on decisions that you are so happy with and you’re going to create a life that’s
and you’re going to create a life that’s
and you’re going to create a life that’s so content and amazing and fulfilling
so content and amazing and fulfilling
so content and amazing and fulfilling that you couldn’t imagine it any other
that you couldn’t imagine it any other
that you couldn’t imagine it any other way the second lesson that I have for
way the second lesson that I have for
way the second lesson that I have for you is to accept yourself for who you
you is to accept yourself for who you
you is to accept yourself for who you are every single person on the planet
are every single person on the planet
are every single person on the planet has something about themselves that they
has something about themselves that they
has something about themselves that they don’t like some people are better at
don’t like some people are better at
don’t like some people are better at hiding it than others that’s something
hiding it than others that’s something
hiding it than others that’s something that I’ve learned with my over this last
that I’ve learned with my over this last
that I’ve learned with my over this last 10 years but everyone has that thing it
10 years but everyone has that thing it
10 years but everyone has that thing it could be physical it could be mental it
could be physical it could be mental it
could be physical it could be mental it could be completely made up for me it
could be completely made up for me it
could be completely made up for me it was my height I had my growth spurt when
was my height I had my growth spurt when
was my height I had my growth spurt when I was quite young I was probably 12 13
I was quite young I was probably 12 13
I was quite young I was probably 12 13 when I grew m59
when I grew m59
when I grew m59 so that meant I was about a foot taller
so that meant I was about a foot taller
so that meant I was about a foot taller than all the boys in my class until
than all the boys in my class until
than all the boys in my class until college when they started to grow at
college when they started to grow at
college when they started to grow at ages 17 18 19 so I would float in photos
ages 17 18 19 so I would float in photos
ages 17 18 19 so I would float in photos I’d wear flat shoes I would do
I’d wear flat shoes I would do
I’d wear flat shoes I would do everything I could to create the
everything I could to create the
everything I could to create the illusion on social media that I wasn’t
illusion on social media that I wasn’t
illusion on social media that I wasn’t as tall but then I would look at those
as tall but then I would look at those
as tall but then I would look at those photos and I wouldn’t feel any
photos and I wouldn’t feel any
photos and I wouldn’t feel any satisfaction because I looked
satisfaction because I looked
satisfaction because I looked unattractive because I was loved tching
unattractive because I was loved tching
unattractive because I was loved tching or standing kind of crooked to try and
or standing kind of crooked to try and
or standing kind of crooked to try and make myself the same height as my peers
learning to accept myself for who I was
learning to accept myself for who I was wasn’t an overnight snap of the fingers
wasn’t an overnight snap of the fingers
wasn’t an overnight snap of the fingers moment it was a full 10 year process and
moment it was a full 10 year process and
moment it was a full 10 year process and some days I wake up and I’m looking at
some days I wake up and I’m looking at
some days I wake up and I’m looking at my closet it’s like do I want to be six
my closet it’s like do I want to be six
my closet it’s like do I want to be six foot tall and wear the heels or do I
foot tall and wear the heels or do I
foot tall and wear the heels or do I want to kind of blend in more and wear
want to kind of blend in more and wear
want to kind of blend in more and wear the flat but the point is it’s a
the flat but the point is it’s a
the flat but the point is it’s a decision you have to decide to accept
decision you have to decide to accept
decision you have to decide to accept yourself find one little thing to like a
yourself find one little thing to like a
yourself find one little thing to like a that thing that you don’t like then
that thing that you don’t like then
that thing that you don’t like then build on it slowly create a foundation a
build on it slowly create a foundation a
build on it slowly create a foundation a baseline where you can be find a sense
baseline where you can be find a sense
baseline where you can be find a sense of acceptance for yourself no it could
of acceptance for yourself no it could
of acceptance for yourself no it could be a mental thing it could be maybe the
be a mental thing it could be maybe the
be a mental thing it could be maybe the way you answer questions or the way
way you answer questions or the way
way you answer questions or the way thoughts bounce around in your head or
thoughts bounce around in your head or
thoughts bounce around in your head or it could be the way you laugh
it could be the way you laugh
it could be the way you laugh maybe it’s an ethnicity issue or a
maybe it’s an ethnicity issue or a
maybe it’s an ethnicity issue or a heritage issue where you’ve got
heritage issue where you’ve got
heritage issue where you’ve got multiracial parents everyone has
multiracial parents everyone has
multiracial parents everyone has something that they’re self-conscious
something that they’re self-conscious
something that they’re self-conscious about so find a way just start the
about so find a way just start the
about so find a way just start the acceptance process and work through it
acceptance process and work through it
acceptance process and work through it because it’ll take you places that you
because it’ll take you places that you
because it’ll take you places that you never thought you could have imagined
never thought you could have imagined
never thought you could have imagined now the third lesson is hopefully gonna
now the third lesson is hopefully gonna
now the third lesson is hopefully gonna lighten things up a bit because those
lighten things up a bit because those
lighten things up a bit because those are two kind of heavy thought-provoking
are two kind of heavy thought-provoking
are two kind of heavy thought-provoking ideas and that was to find your sense of
ideas and that was to find your sense of
ideas and that was to find your sense of humor life is gonna throw at you bad
humor life is gonna throw at you bad
humor life is gonna throw at you bad days and you think it’s bad and it’s 12
days and you think it’s bad and it’s 12
days and you think it’s bad and it’s 12 o’clock and you’re like oh god how could
o’clock and you’re like oh god how could
o’clock and you’re like oh god how could it get any worse and then you know what
it get any worse and then you know what
it get any worse and then you know what it does we’ve all had those days where
it does we’ve all had those days where
it does we’ve all had those days where we’re late we spill coffee all over
we’re late we spill coffee all over
we’re late we spill coffee all over ourself you’ve got a big meeting with
ourself you’ve got a big meeting with
ourself you’ve got a big meeting with boss we come in here strafe or if you’re
boss we come in here strafe or if you’re
boss we come in here strafe or if you’re a girl maybe stain or unshaven if you’re
a girl maybe stain or unshaven if you’re
a girl maybe stain or unshaven if you’re a guy it happens now the question is how
a guy it happens now the question is how
a guy it happens now the question is how are you gonna deal with it are you gonna
are you gonna deal with it are you gonna
are you gonna deal with it are you gonna criticize yourself for the rest of the
criticize yourself for the rest of the
criticize yourself for the rest of the day and hold your head down and and
day and hold your head down and and
day and hold your head down and and struggle through or are you gonna find a
struggle through or are you gonna find a
struggle through or are you gonna find a way to laugh it off and move forward and
way to laugh it off and move forward and
way to laugh it off and move forward and be your own cheerleader growing up I
be your own cheerleader growing up I
be your own cheerleader growing up I grew up in a house with three dogs and I
grew up in a house with three dogs and I
grew up in a house with three dogs and I took the stands no being dramatic and
took the stands no being dramatic and
took the stands no being dramatic and having teenage angst that I didn’t like
having teenage angst that I didn’t like
having teenage angst that I didn’t like dogs no logical reason at all just the
dogs no logical reason at all just the
dogs no logical reason at all just the fact that I wanted to probably to annoy
fact that I wanted to probably to annoy
fact that I wanted to probably to annoy my parents and not liking the dogs did
my parents and not liking the dogs did
my parents and not liking the dogs did that so I would make a huge stink about
that so I would make a huge stink about
that so I would make a huge stink about it
it
it complaining about the hair and the
complaining about the hair and the
complaining about the hair and the barking and wouldn’t help out with them
barking and wouldn’t help out with them
barking and wouldn’t help out with them at all but when I moved away to school
at all but when I moved away to school
at all but when I moved away to school something happened that I never expected
something happened that I never expected
something happened that I never expected I missed them I missed the dogs and I
I missed them I missed the dogs and I
I missed them I missed the dogs and I couldn’t tell my parents because of all
couldn’t tell my parents because of all
couldn’t tell my parents because of all the fuss that I had spent making over
the fuss that I had spent making over
the fuss that I had spent making over the last 10 years if I told them that
the last 10 years if I told them that
the last 10 years if I told them that would open the door to teasing that I
would open the door to teasing that I
would open the door to teasing that I did not want to experience but missing
did not want to experience but missing
did not want to experience but missing them didn’t go away and hiding from the
them didn’t go away and hiding from the
them didn’t go away and hiding from the fact that I liked dogs wasn’t helpful
fact that I liked dogs wasn’t helpful
fact that I liked dogs wasn’t helpful either because I was in the process of
either because I was in the process of
either because I was in the process of adopting my own little cutie so one day
adopting my own little cutie so one day
adopting my own little cutie so one day I told them hey guys
I told them hey guys
I told them hey guys I really actually like dogs surprised
I really actually like dogs surprised
I really actually like dogs surprised and accepted the teasing and it still
and accepted the teasing and it still
and accepted the teasing and it still happens to this day they still tease me
happens to this day they still tease me
happens to this day they still tease me about it
about it
about it but the fact is I can laugh it off you
but the fact is I can laugh it off you
but the fact is I can laugh it off you have to find a way to roll it off your
have to find a way to roll it off your
have to find a way to roll it off your shoulder and praise yourself be your own
shoulder and praise yourself be your own
shoulder and praise yourself be your own cheerleader because the world is doing
cheerleader because the world is doing
cheerleader because the world is doing enough criticizing for you already you
enough criticizing for you already you
enough criticizing for you already you don’t need to be adding to that list the
don’t need to be adding to that list the
don’t need to be adding to that list the fourth lesson that I have is to take a
fourth lesson that I have is to take a
fourth lesson that I have is to take a leap of faith we’re all going to be
leap of faith we’re all going to be
leap of faith we’re all going to be given opportunities they might look a
given opportunities they might look a
given opportunities they might look a little different than we expect when I
little different than we expect when I
little different than we expect when I was applying to grad U at schools a
was applying to grad U at schools a
was applying to grad U at schools a professor told me you have to pick a
professor told me you have to pick a
professor told me you have to pick a school based off of the professors and
school based off of the professors and
school based off of the professors and the research outputs of that University
the research outputs of that University
the research outputs of that University don’t pick it off of the name of the
don’t pick it off of the name of the
don’t pick it off of the name of the school the location you really want to
school the location you really want to
school the location you really want to pick it based on the maximum outcome of
pick it based on the maximum outcome of
pick it based on the maximum outcome of education that you can get so taking
education that you can get so taking
education that you can get so taking this information to heart I began my
this information to heart I began my
this information to heart I began my search researching different schools
search researching different schools
search researching different schools being from the Caribbean my scope was
being from the Caribbean my scope was
being from the Caribbean my scope was pointed at the equator and maybe
pointed at the equator and maybe
pointed at the equator and maybe Australia for her surfer dudes but I had
Australia for her surfer dudes but I had
Australia for her surfer dudes but I had no intention of actually going there and
no intention of actually going there and
no intention of actually going there and I wasn’t finding what I was looking for
I wasn’t finding what I was looking for
I wasn’t finding what I was looking for the professors weren’t quite researching
the professors weren’t quite researching
the professors weren’t quite researching the exact area I wanted to be in the
the exact area I wanted to be in the
the exact area I wanted to be in the research outputs weren’t quite as
research outputs weren’t quite as
research outputs weren’t quite as interdisciplinary as I had hoped so I
interdisciplinary as I had hoped so I
interdisciplinary as I had hoped so I kept looking and I kept looking and I
kept looking and I kept looking and I
kept looking and I kept looking and I still wasn’t finding it so one day in a
still wasn’t finding it so one day in a
still wasn’t finding it so one day in a very frustrated mental state I began to
very frustrated mental state I began to
very frustrated mental state I began to slam in key words into Google angry
slam in key words into Google angry
slam in key words into Google angry typing no take up the aggression on your
typing no take up the aggression on your
typing no take up the aggression on your keyboard and I put in words like marine
keyboard and I put in words like marine
keyboard and I put in words like marine and management and interdisciplinary and
and management and interdisciplinary and
and management and interdisciplinary and law and policy and coastal management
law and policy and coastal management
law and policy and coastal management and out pop this program first hit that
and out pop this program first hit that
and out pop this program first hit that seemed almost too good to be true it was
seemed almost too good to be true it was
seemed almost too good to be true it was doing the exact sort of research I was
doing the exact sort of research I was
doing the exact sort of research I was looking for with professors that were
looking for with professors that were
looking for with professors that were with the experience just that I was
with the experience just that I was
with the experience just that I was looking for with alumni and jobs that I
looking for with alumni and jobs that I
looking for with alumni and jobs that I would dream of having the kicker was it
would dream of having the kicker was it
would dream of having the kicker was it was a Nova Scotia Canada not near the
was a Nova Scotia Canada not near the
was a Nova Scotia Canada not near the equator at all a very hard place to get
equator at all a very hard place to get
equator at all a very hard place to get to from the Caribbean so I had to make
to from the Caribbean so I had to make
to from the Caribbean so I had to make the
the
the do I take this opportunity or do I let
do I take this opportunity or do I let
do I take this opportunity or do I let it pass me by I had the financial
it pass me by I had the financial
it pass me by I had the financial resources to go I got accepted into the
resources to go I got accepted into the
resources to go I got accepted into the program and it was exactly what I was
program and it was exactly what I was
program and it was exactly what I was looking for well I made the decision to
looking for well I made the decision to
looking for well I made the decision to go and it was fantastic it opened door
go and it was fantastic it opened door
go and it was fantastic it opened door after door after door research projects
after door after door research projects
after door after door research projects led to jobs which led to the job I have
led to jobs which led to the job I have
led to jobs which led to the job I have today which I love so opportunities are
today which I love so opportunities are
today which I love so opportunities are gonna be presented to you but they may
gonna be presented to you but they may
gonna be presented to you but they may not look what how you’re expecting the
not look what how you’re expecting the
not look what how you’re expecting the timing might be off the location might
timing might be off the location might
timing might be off the location might be off or the person may be off but if
be off or the person may be off but if
be off or the person may be off but if there is no real reason not to do it
there is no real reason not to do it
there is no real reason not to do it there is no block to your safety perhaps
there is no block to your safety perhaps
there is no block to your safety perhaps your finances then take it have
your finances then take it have
your finances then take it have confidence in your ability that you can
confidence in your ability that you can
confidence in your ability that you can master this step because one of two
master this step because one of two
master this step because one of two things can happen you’re either gonna
things can happen you’re either gonna
things can happen you’re either gonna hate it and okay that sounds scary at
hate it and okay that sounds scary at
hate it and okay that sounds scary at first you hate something but think about
first you hate something but think about
first you hate something but think about it
it
it you hate something you’ve just learned
you hate something you’ve just learned
you hate something you’ve just learned about whole new thing about yourself you
about whole new thing about yourself you
about whole new thing about yourself you probably didn’t know before which can
probably didn’t know before which can
probably didn’t know before which can help shape you making better decisions
help shape you making better decisions
help shape you making better decisions in the future or you like it maybe even
in the future or you like it maybe even
in the future or you like it maybe even love it and that opens door after door
love it and that opens door after door
love it and that opens door after door of opportunity and before you know
of opportunity and before you know
of opportunity and before you know you’ve built a life that you are so
you’ve built a life that you are so
you’ve built a life that you are so fulfilled with and so proud of to call
fulfilled with and so proud of to call
fulfilled with and so proud of to call your own so take it take that leap of
your own so take it take that leap of
your own so take it take that leap of faith the final lesson that I have for
faith the final lesson that I have for
faith the final lesson that I have for you is a combination of all the other
you is a combination of all the other
you is a combination of all the other lessons when you start to do what’s
lessons when you start to do what’s
lessons when you start to do what’s right for you you start to hone in on
right for you you start to hone in on
right for you you start to hone in on that inner voice that you have and
that inner voice that you have and
that inner voice that you have and driving your decisions based on what the
driving your decisions based on what the
driving your decisions based on what the best thing for you is and you start to
best thing for you is and you start to
best thing for you is and you start to accept yourself for who you are and stop
accept yourself for who you are and stop
accept yourself for who you are and stop trying to be anybody else and you find
trying to be anybody else and you find
trying to be anybody else and you find your sense of humor and become a
your sense of humor and become a
your sense of humor and become a cheerleader it’s opposed to a critic and
cheerleader it’s opposed to a critic and
cheerleader it’s opposed to a critic and you start embracing the silly things you
you start embracing the silly things you
you start embracing the silly things you do and then you start to have confidence
do and then you start to have confidence
do and then you start to have confidence in your ability and you take advantage
in your ability and you take advantage
in your ability and you take advantage of those opportunities those leaps of
of those opportunities those leaps of
of those opportunities those leaps of faith something starts to happen and you
faith something starts to happen and you
faith something starts to happen and you start to like yourself and that’s
start to like yourself and that’s
start to like yourself and that’s something we as a society don’t talk
something we as a society don’t talk
something we as a society don’t talk about very often is this idea of liking
about very often is this idea of liking
about very often is this idea of liking yourself and developing that like into
yourself and developing that like into
yourself and developing that like into love and I’m not talking about in a
love and I’m not talking about in a
love and I’m not talking about in a cocky way we’ve all seen those people in
cocky way we’ve all seen those people in
cocky way we’ve all seen those people in rooms with their chests up and and you
rooms with their chests up and and you
rooms with their chests up and and you think oh god who do they think
think oh god who do they think
think oh god who do they think they are for you know standing and
they are for you know standing and
they are for you know standing and having that aura about them I’m talking
having that aura about them I’m talking
having that aura about them I’m talking about liking yourself in a very humble
about liking yourself in a very humble
about liking yourself in a very humble and grounded way where you’re so at
and grounded way where you’re so at
and grounded way where you’re so at peace with the person that you are in
peace with the person that you are in
peace with the person that you are in the decisions that you’ve made in the
the decisions that you’ve made in the
the decisions that you’ve made in the life that you’ve created around you so
life that you’ve created around you so
life that you’ve created around you so you want other people to experience that
you want other people to experience that
you want other people to experience that you want to help others when you love
you want to help others when you love
you want to help others when you love yourself all the relationships around
yourself all the relationships around
yourself all the relationships around you start to change you start to build
you start to change you start to build
you start to change you start to build stronger relationships with your family
stronger relationships with your family
stronger relationships with your family with your friends intimate relationships
with your friends intimate relationships
with your friends intimate relationships with lovers it really starts to change
with lovers it really starts to change
with lovers it really starts to change how you interact with the world and how
how you interact with the world and how
how you interact with the world and how the world interacts with you and it’s
the world interacts with you and it’s
the world interacts with you and it’s something that I wish everyone can
something that I wish everyone can
something that I wish everyone can experience so wrapping up the talk and
experience so wrapping up the talk and
experience so wrapping up the talk and the idea of these five lessons I
the idea of these five lessons I
the idea of these five lessons I wouldn’t have got to where I am today
wouldn’t have got to where I am today
wouldn’t have got to where I am today without an incredible support network my
without an incredible support network my
without an incredible support network my family talked to me they told me stories
family talked to me they told me stories
family talked to me they told me stories when I had locked my keys out of my
when I had locked my keys out of my
when I had locked my keys out of my apartment and called them in tears
apartment and called them in tears
apartment and called them in tears because the super was on vacation and I
because the super was on vacation and I
because the super was on vacation and I didn’t know what to do I had no way of
didn’t know what to do I had no way of
didn’t know what to do I had no way of getting in there they consoled me and
getting in there they consoled me and
getting in there they consoled me and they told me stories that they had that
they told me stories that they had that
they told me stories that they had that were equivalent or when I had that big
were equivalent or when I had that big
were equivalent or when I had that big meeting and the coffee cup when draped
meeting and the coffee cup when draped
meeting and the coffee cup when draped down the front of my shirt and of course
down the front of my shirt and of course
down the front of my shirt and of course I was wearing a light color so though
I was wearing a light color so though
I was wearing a light color so though everyone in the conference room could
everyone in the conference room could
everyone in the conference room could see it call it called them and my dad
see it call it called them and my dad
see it call it called them and my dad told me a story of what he did something
told me a story of what he did something
told me a story of what he did something very similar we have to communicate with
very similar we have to communicate with
very similar we have to communicate with each other and talk more because you
each other and talk more because you
each other and talk more because you never know the impact of what something
never know the impact of what something
never know the impact of what something that you think it son significant can
that you think it son significant can
that you think it son significant can have on someone else so my challenge to
have on someone else so my challenge to
have on someone else so my challenge to everybody in this room today is one of
everybody in this room today is one of
everybody in this room today is one of two things and it will depend entirely
two things and it will depend entirely
two things and it will depend entirely on your age for those of you who are out
on your age for those of you who are out
on your age for those of you who are out of this 10-year period I want you to
of this 10-year period I want you to
of this 10-year period I want you to share your stories try and take an
share your stories try and take an
share your stories try and take an opportunity when a young person comes to
opportunity when a young person comes to
opportunity when a young person comes to you and say what’s happened to you what
you and say what’s happened to you what
you and say what’s happened to you what was equivalent help them not feel alone
was equivalent help them not feel alone
was equivalent help them not feel alone and like the world’s gonna end help them
and like the world’s gonna end help them
and like the world’s gonna end help them know that other people have been through
know that other people have been through
know that other people have been through this and that they will survive and
this and that they will survive and
this and that they will survive and young people in the room I want you to
young people in the room I want you to
young people in the room I want you to listen I didn’t I fought this battle
listen I didn’t I fought this battle
listen I didn’t I fought this battle uphill the entire way there until
uphill the entire way there until
uphill the entire way there until literally my only option was to try
literally my only option was to try
literally my only option was to try listening because all my other arguments
listening because all my other arguments
listening because all my other arguments and reason not to have failed they’ll
and reason not to have failed they’ll
and reason not to have failed they’ll listen to the stories in your life
listen to the stories in your life
listen to the stories in your life because there might be a nugget of
because there might be a nugget of
because there might be a nugget of information in there that helps you see
information in there that helps you see
information in there that helps you see something in a different way it might
something in a different way it might
something in a different way it might help you find some way to accept the
help you find some way to accept the
help you find some way to accept the thing about yourself that you don’t like
thing about yourself that you don’t like
thing about yourself that you don’t like this 10-year process is not easy it’s
this 10-year process is not easy it’s
this 10-year process is not easy it’s really hard and you’re faced with real
really hard and you’re faced with real
really hard and you’re faced with real challenges that you’ve never seen before
challenges that you’ve never seen before
challenges that you’ve never seen before financial issues maybe family issues
financial issues maybe family issues
financial issues maybe family issues maybe maybe getting married or having
maybe maybe getting married or having
maybe maybe getting married or having children but as you look back it can be
children but as you look back it can be
children but as you look back it can be so fulfilling and rewarding if you find
so fulfilling and rewarding if you find
so fulfilling and rewarding if you find ways to really love yourself so good
ways to really love yourself so good
ways to really love yourself so good luck to all you guys on the next 10
luck to all you guys on the next 10
luck to all you guys on the next 10 years of your life my reunion is in two
years of your life my reunion is in two
years of your life my reunion is in two weeks so I look forward to seeing how
weeks so I look forward to seeing how
weeks so I look forward to seeing how that goes thank you
that goes thank you
that goes thank you [Applause]
”
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