when I was in grade six I was vying for the gold medal and the annual st. you
the gold medal and the annual st. you
the gold medal and the annual st. you with Catholic school spelling bee in
with Catholic school spelling bee in
with Catholic school spelling bee in these same halls I was up against my
these same halls I was up against my
these same halls I was up against my good friend Danny and the word was femme
good friend Danny and the word was femme
good friend Danny and the word was femme fatale
fatale
fatale I knew this word I had studied it before
I knew this word I had studied it before
I knew this word I had studied it before in my dog ear dictionary I remember
in my dog ear dictionary I remember
in my dog ear dictionary I remember exactly that it meant sexy dangerous
exactly that it meant sexy dangerous
exactly that it meant sexy dangerous lady in French well in my haste and I
lady in French well in my haste and I
lady in French well in my haste and I guess overconfidence however I forgot to
guess overconfidence however I forgot to
guess overconfidence however I forgot to spell it with a letter e at the end
spell it with a letter e at the end
spell it with a letter e at the end needless to say I never quite forgot
needless to say I never quite forgot
needless to say I never quite forgot that it perhaps is the most acute memory
that it perhaps is the most acute memory
that it perhaps is the most acute memory that I have of failure one that remains
that I have of failure one that remains
that I have of failure one that remains vivid under the day when you talk about
vivid under the day when you talk about
vivid under the day when you talk about failure you often do so with much less
failure you often do so with much less
failure you often do so with much less fervor and much less excitement then
fervor and much less excitement then
fervor and much less excitement then it’s more marketed sibling success but
it’s more marketed sibling success but
it’s more marketed sibling success but failure is not Babu failure is not a
failure is not Babu failure is not a
failure is not Babu failure is not a fault to fail is actually to indulge to
fault to fail is actually to indulge to
fault to fail is actually to indulge to the first attempt and learning without
the first attempt and learning without
the first attempt and learning without which he wouldn’t be able to progress
which he wouldn’t be able to progress
which he wouldn’t be able to progress even further when I graduated from st.
even further when I graduated from st.
even further when I graduated from st. Jude I was over the moon to be accepted
Jude I was over the moon to be accepted
Jude I was over the moon to be accepted into my dream school the Ateneo however
into my dream school the Ateneo however
into my dream school the Ateneo however I had nothing to my name I the Merit
I had nothing to my name I the Merit
I had nothing to my name I the Merit Scholar I was an even part of the
Scholar I was an even part of the
Scholar I was an even part of the directors list which has thought 2% of
directors list which has thought 2% of
directors list which has thought 2% of the examinees I had nothing but a
the examinees I had nothing but a
the examinees I had nothing but a pitiful merit English class enrollment
pitiful merit English class enrollment
pitiful merit English class enrollment under my name Lester decorated
under my name Lester decorated
under my name Lester decorated classmates and friends got more got
classmates and friends got more got
classmates and friends got more got farther and in my head yes hashtag first
farther and in my head yes hashtag first
farther and in my head yes hashtag first world problems I felt like was a failure
world problems I felt like was a failure
world problems I felt like was a failure I stare down so many silent questions
I stare down so many silent questions
I stare down so many silent questions from relatives and friends whose eyes
from relatives and friends whose eyes
from relatives and friends whose eyes seemed to bore into my soul asking so
seemed to bore into my soul asking so
seemed to bore into my soul asking so what happened to you I thought you were
what happened to you I thought you were
what happened to you I thought you were smart I felt like my alternative theory
smart I felt like my alternative theory
smart I felt like my alternative theory that intellect and luck was finite was
that intellect and luck was finite was
that intellect and luck was finite was finally coming true and that mind was
finally coming true and that mind was
finally coming true and that mind was running out I started getting low grades
running out I started getting low grades
running out I started getting low grades I got my first test and my biology long
I got my first test and my biology long
I got my first test and my biology long test my mother and the audience would
test my mother and the audience would
test my mother and the audience would remember me crying to her after taking
remember me crying to her after taking
remember me crying to her after taking the other T on the ride home I was
the other T on the ride home I was
the other T on the ride home I was thinking to myself I was such a small
thinking to myself I was such a small
thinking to myself I was such a small fish in a big pond I wish I wish I could
fish in a big pond I wish I wish I could
fish in a big pond I wish I wish I could just
just
just in that time I felt like I just wasn’t
in that time I felt like I just wasn’t
in that time I felt like I just wasn’t good enough that perhaps I never was
good enough that perhaps I never was
good enough that perhaps I never was when people ask me where I graduated
when people ask me where I graduated
when people ask me where I graduated from I would always say st. Jude but I
from I would always say st. Jude but I
from I would always say st. Jude but I would be very careful not to talk about
would be very careful not to talk about
would be very careful not to talk about my past achievements lest they judge me
my past achievements lest they judge me
my past achievements lest they judge me for my current lack of them in the same
for my current lack of them in the same
for my current lack of them in the same way we tend to keep quiet whenever we
way we tend to keep quiet whenever we
way we tend to keep quiet whenever we have a job application coming up or a
have a job application coming up or a
have a job application coming up or a competition in the works I kept quiet
competition in the works I kept quiet
competition in the works I kept quiet because I let my fear of failure
because I let my fear of failure
because I let my fear of failure rumi I’d like to ask the audience to and
rumi I’d like to ask the audience to and
rumi I’d like to ask the audience to and build me for a moment show of hands
build me for a moment show of hands
build me for a moment show of hands please who among you here want to
please who among you here want to
please who among you here want to succeed who among you here want to fail
who among you here fear success and who
who among you here fear success and who among you here fear failure ladies and
among you here fear failure ladies and
among you here fear failure ladies and gentlemen this show of hands is already
gentlemen this show of hands is already
gentlemen this show of hands is already a case in point when we talk about
a case in point when we talk about
a case in point when we talk about failure we often talk about it with
failure we often talk about it with
failure we often talk about it with muchness with a lot of negativity with a
muchness with a lot of negativity with a
muchness with a lot of negativity with a lot of apprehension and a lot of anxiety
lot of apprehension and a lot of anxiety
lot of apprehension and a lot of anxiety but we forget that failure is actually
but we forget that failure is actually
but we forget that failure is actually good people ask me off what have you
good people ask me off what have you
good people ask me off what have you failed that JC and it answered them a
failed that JC and it answered them a
failed that JC and it answered them a lot
lot
lot this is actually an a picture of a
this is actually an a picture of a
this is actually an a picture of a post-it that’s been stuck to my bathroom
post-it that’s been stuck to my bathroom
post-it that’s been stuck to my bathroom wall for the last five years I first put
wall for the last five years I first put
wall for the last five years I first put it up there when I was objective failing
it up there when I was objective failing
it up there when I was objective failing at my first job out of college but if
at my first job out of college but if
at my first job out of college but if you think about it
you think about it
you think about it failure is good because it grounds you
failure is good because it grounds you
failure is good because it grounds you it motivates you to do better it reminds
it motivates you to do better it reminds
it motivates you to do better it reminds you then that you’re not invincible it
you then that you’re not invincible it
you then that you’re not invincible it doesn’t really matter how large your
doesn’t really matter how large your
doesn’t really matter how large your definition of failure is or what how you
definition of failure is or what how you
definition of failure is or what how you define it what matters is your reaction
define it what matters is your reaction
define it what matters is your reaction to this lack of success Dee’s shirt from
to this lack of success Dee’s shirt from
to this lack of success Dee’s shirt from it or do you embrace it do you run away
it or do you embrace it do you run away
it or do you embrace it do you run away from it or do you let yourself be
from it or do you let yourself be
from it or do you let yourself be enveloped by a thief step into the fire
enveloped by a thief step into the fire
enveloped by a thief step into the fire of failure allowing yourself to be
of failure allowing yourself to be
of failure allowing yourself to be forged into a better you it I guess I
forged into a better you it I guess I
forged into a better you it I guess I haven’t failed at the magnitude that
haven’t failed at the magnitude that
haven’t failed at the magnitude that people expect me to or perhaps hope I
people expect me to or perhaps hope I
people expect me to or perhaps hope I would but I have failed quite often
would but I have failed quite often
would but I have failed quite often enough to form this principle which just
enough to form this principle which just
enough to form this principle which just guided me until today fear pointless
guided me until today fear pointless
guided me until today fear pointless failure and fear easy success when I was
failure and fear easy success when I was
failure and fear easy success when I was in the second semester of my fresh
in the second semester of my fresh
in the second semester of my fresh freshman year and at the nail a really
freshman year and at the nail a really
freshman year and at the nail a really smart classmate of mine asked me he’s
smart classmate of mine asked me he’s
smart classmate of mine asked me he’s from Ateneo high a boy he asked me so
from Ateneo high a boy he asked me so
from Ateneo high a boy he asked me so young what UPI did you get so out of 4
young what UPI did you get so out of 4
young what UPI did you get so out of 4 with 4 being the highest rather York UPI
with 4 being the highest rather York UPI
with 4 being the highest rather York UPI or your quality point index and
or your quality point index and
or your quality point index and Compass’s your worth as a human person
Compass’s your worth as a human person
Compass’s your worth as a human person or at least as a student studying and
or at least as a student studying and
or at least as a student studying and they acted even the overachievers in the
they acted even the overachievers in the
they acted even the overachievers in the audience with know exactly what I mean I
audience with know exactly what I mean I
audience with know exactly what I mean I was young I was naive i blithely and
was young I was naive i blithely and
was young I was naive i blithely and even joyfully answered him with it
even joyfully answered him with it
even joyfully answered him with it saying I got 3.16
saying I got 3.16
saying I got 3.16 about you for the record 3.16 is not
about you for the record 3.16 is not
about you for the record 3.16 is not super horrible it’s between bb+ but for
super horrible it’s between bb+ but for
super horrible it’s between bb+ but for my friend who got something close to
my friend who got something close to
my friend who got something close to four he looked me up and down as if
four he looked me up and down as if
four he looked me up and down as if seeming to assess my worthiness to be in
seeming to assess my worthiness to be in
seeming to assess my worthiness to be in his presence and she just replied with a
his presence and she just replied with a
his presence and she just replied with a deadpan voice ah 3.16 Kalam that
deadpan voice ah 3.16 Kalam that
deadpan voice ah 3.16 Kalam that statement stirred so many feelings in me
statement stirred so many feelings in me
statement stirred so many feelings in me that I didn’t know I had that spurred me
that I didn’t know I had that spurred me
that I didn’t know I had that spurred me to do so much better than next semester
to do so much better than next semester
to do so much better than next semester at drove me to get 3.7 3.0 3.9 all the
at drove me to get 3.7 3.0 3.9 all the
at drove me to get 3.7 3.0 3.9 all the way until graduation
way until graduation
way until graduation when it was between me and him for a
when it was between me and him for a
when it was between me and him for a couple of awards and when we were up on
couple of awards and when we were up on
couple of awards and when we were up on that stage and when you’re actually
that stage and when you’re actually
that stage and when you’re actually having her photo taken together he
having her photo taken together he
having her photo taken together he congratulated me and I turned to him and
congratulated me and I turned to him and
congratulated me and I turned to him and seriously and profusely thanked him for
seriously and profusely thanked him for
seriously and profusely thanked him for what he’s done the say he was surprised
what he’s done the say he was surprised
what he’s done the say he was surprised as an understatement he didn’t even
as an understatement he didn’t even
as an understatement he didn’t even remember that he had that encounter four
remember that he had that encounter four
remember that he had that encounter four years ago but that’s what I mean by
years ago but that’s what I mean by
years ago but that’s what I mean by having success or fearing easy success
having success or fearing easy success
having success or fearing easy success because having success come easy doesn’t
because having success come easy doesn’t
because having success come easy doesn’t do you any favors it doesn’t teach you
do you any favors it doesn’t teach you
do you any favors it doesn’t teach you about resilience that muscle that you
about resilience that muscle that you
about resilience that muscle that you need to work on in order to get stronger
need to work on in order to get stronger
need to work on in order to get stronger at it it doesn’t eat you about hard work
at it it doesn’t eat you about hard work
at it it doesn’t eat you about hard work it doesn’t teach you about that what got
it doesn’t teach you about that what got
it doesn’t teach you about that what got you here will not be the same sets of
you here will not be the same sets of
you here will not be the same sets of skills and abilities that will get you
skills and abilities that will get you
skills and abilities that will get you to the next step and worse it teaches
to the next step and worse it teaches
to the next step and worse it teaches you that life is a better process when
you that life is a better process when
you that life is a better process when it’s not look around at all the people
it’s not look around at all the people
it’s not look around at all the people who’ve had life throw them curveballs
who’ve had life throw them curveballs
who’ve had life throw them curveballs wasn’t their motivation higher than the
wasn’t their motivation higher than the
wasn’t their motivation higher than the average fear pointless failure and fear
average fear pointless failure and fear
average fear pointless failure and fear easy success I have an admission to me
easy success I have an admission to me
easy success I have an admission to me I’m actually a very frustrated writer I
I’m actually a very frustrated writer I
I’m actually a very frustrated writer I can’t recall the number of times that
can’t recall the number of times that
can’t recall the number of times that have passed a literary piece to the
have passed a literary piece to the
have passed a literary piece to the publication’s in college only to never
publication’s in college only to never
publication’s in college only to never really realize my dream of seeing my
really realize my dream of seeing my
really realize my dream of seeing my name on print I it wasn’t until I saw
name on print I it wasn’t until I saw
name on print I it wasn’t until I saw the first testament of my first book
the first testament of my first book
the first testament of my first book that the publisher that I realized I had
that the publisher that I realized I had
that the publisher that I realized I had failed because I didn’t give so much of
failed because I didn’t give so much of
failed because I didn’t give so much of myself in it I recycled assignments that
myself in it I recycled assignments that
myself in it I recycled assignments that were written for English class I passed
were written for English class I passed
were written for English class I passed first Jaffe’s written in language
first Jaffe’s written in language
first Jaffe’s written in language transportation
transportation
transportation I never really took the time to hone my
I never really took the time to hone my
I never really took the time to hone my writing cast even further
writing cast even further
writing cast even further unlike the eight months that I spent
unlike the eight months that I spent
unlike the eight months that I spent researching writing greeting editing
researching writing greeting editing
researching writing greeting editing revising and rewriting this labor of
revising and rewriting this labor of
revising and rewriting this labor of love of ours with my co-author in
love of ours with my co-author in
love of ours with my co-author in Monteria which was by no means an easy
Monteria which was by no means an easy
Monteria which was by no means an easy feat for two women who had too little
feat for two women who had too little
feat for two women who had too little time on their hands as it is but even
time on their hands as it is but even
time on their hands as it is but even moments of success are neither perfect
moments of success are neither perfect
moments of success are neither perfect nor permanent this is the actual table
nor permanent this is the actual table
nor permanent this is the actual table of contents that went out to print and
of contents that went out to print and
of contents that went out to print and can you spot the knot it’s a bit small
can you spot the knot it’s a bit small
can you spot the knot it’s a bit small but as a grammar nazi’ I take particular
but as a grammar nazi’ I take particular
but as a grammar nazi’ I take particular pride and everything that I write or
pride and everything that I write or
pride and everything that I write or everything that goes through me it makes
everything that goes through me it makes
everything that goes through me it makes me cringe however every single time that
me cringe however every single time that
me cringe however every single time that I realize her that I remember I
I realize her that I remember I
I realize her that I remember I painstakingly went through every single
painstakingly went through every single
painstakingly went through every single page subsequent to this table of
page subsequent to this table of
page subsequent to this table of contents just to make sure that
contents just to make sure that
contents just to make sure that formatting was perfect
formatting was perfect
formatting was perfect grammar was correct punctuation and
grammar was correct punctuation and
grammar was correct punctuation and spelling were at bar only failing to
spelling were at bar only failing to
spelling were at bar only failing to undergo quality check on the one page
undergo quality check on the one page
undergo quality check on the one page I’m pretty sure everyone who bought my
I’m pretty sure everyone who bought my
I’m pretty sure everyone who bought my book would get two I got I spelled
book would get two I got I spelled
book would get two I got I spelled classification with an extra I the point
classification with an extra I the point
classification with an extra I the point is we will always make mistakes and we
is we will always make mistakes and we
is we will always make mistakes and we will always make failures but the idea
will always make failures but the idea
will always make failures but the idea is not to keep count of how many you
is not to keep count of how many you
is not to keep count of how many you wrapped up in your life no matter how
wrapped up in your life no matter how
wrapped up in your life no matter how long or short it is the idea is to make
long or short it is the idea is to make
long or short it is the idea is to make them count every single time to remember
them count every single time to remember
them count every single time to remember it and to not repeat it to make it work
it and to not repeat it to make it work
it and to not repeat it to make it work for you instead of the other way around
Emma’s fan of code so allow me to share
Emma’s fan of code so allow me to share with you a personal favorite of mine and
with you a personal favorite of mine and
with you a personal favorite of mine and I think sir Odie has already alluded to
I think sir Odie has already alluded to
I think sir Odie has already alluded to it earlier it’s your attitude not your
it earlier it’s your attitude not your
it earlier it’s your attitude not your aptitude that determines your altitude
aptitude that determines your altitude
aptitude that determines your altitude this was spoken by Zig Ziglar for the
this was spoken by Zig Ziglar for the
this was spoken by Zig Ziglar for the longest time I just thought that this
longest time I just thought that this
longest time I just thought that this was the proverbial battle between EQ and
was the proverbial battle between EQ and
was the proverbial battle between EQ and IQ you know how how we placed such a
IQ you know how how we placed such a
IQ you know how how we placed such a huge importance on technical skills over
huge importance on technical skills over
huge importance on technical skills over E overpowering people skills but at the
E overpowering people skills but at the
E overpowering people skills but at the end of the day it’s Feeny our soft
end of the day it’s Feeny our soft
end of the day it’s Feeny our soft skills that went out at the end it
skills that went out at the end it
skills that went out at the end it wasn’t until after five years in the
wasn’t until after five years in the
wasn’t until after five years in the workforce that this adage
workforce that this adage
workforce that this adage this maxim has taken on a completely new
this maxim has taken on a completely new
this maxim has taken on a completely new meaning for me I don’t think I was
meaning for me I don’t think I was
meaning for me I don’t think I was invited to speak before you here today
invited to speak before you here today
invited to speak before you here today because I’m the greatest failure nor
because I’m the greatest failure nor
because I’m the greatest failure nor success st. Jude Catholic school has
success st. Jude Catholic school has
success st. Jude Catholic school has ever produced I do think I’m here to
ever produced I do think I’m here to
ever produced I do think I’m here to tell you however that neither success
tell you however that neither success
tell you however that neither success nor failure is an end state rather
nor failure is an end state rather
nor failure is an end state rather they’re simply the catalysts are the
they’re simply the catalysts are the
they’re simply the catalysts are the pivotal moments from which you must
pivotal moments from which you must
pivotal moments from which you must always ask ourselves so what what now
always ask ourselves so what what now
always ask ourselves so what what now how do I move on or how do I move
how do I move on or how do I move
how do I move on or how do I move forward because the minute you start
forward because the minute you start
forward because the minute you start resting on your laurels for the people
resting on your laurels for the people
resting on your laurels for the people who are enjoying a bit of success at
who are enjoying a bit of success at
who are enjoying a bit of success at this point in their lives
this point in their lives
this point in their lives the minute you rest on your laurels you
the minute you rest on your laurels you
the minute you rest on your laurels you allow your someone else to people behind
allow your someone else to people behind
allow your someone else to people behind you and meet you if on the other hand
you and meet you if on the other hand
you and meet you if on the other hand you feel like you have some improvements
you feel like you have some improvements
you feel like you have some improvements to make and you realize or the second
to make and you realize or the second
to make and you realize or the second that rather that you second-guess
that rather that you second-guess
that rather that you second-guess yourself you don’t allow yourself that
yourself you don’t allow yourself that
yourself you don’t allow yourself that responsibility and that chance to dust
responsibility and that chance to dust
responsibility and that chance to dust yourself off and try again
yourself off and try again
yourself off and try again I implore the youth of the day two
I implore the youth of the day two
I implore the youth of the day two things forget your successes right away
things forget your successes right away
things forget your successes right away but never ever forget your failures
but never ever forget your failures
but never ever forget your failures undocumented unglamorous the staying
undocumented unglamorous the staying
undocumented unglamorous the staying power of your failures far surpasses and
power of your failures far surpasses and
power of your failures far surpasses and is far more potent than any other frame
is far more potent than any other frame
is far more potent than any other frame certificate shiny medal or heavy trophy
certificate shiny medal or heavy trophy
certificate shiny medal or heavy trophy that they bestow upon you as I always
that they bestow upon you as I always
that they bestow upon you as I always tell my kids or the people the people in
tell my kids or the people the people in
tell my kids or the people the people in privilege to mentor you’re only as good
privilege to mentor you’re only as good
privilege to mentor you’re only as good as your last success but you’re already
as your last success but you’re already
as your last success but you’re already always better than your last failure
always better than your last failure
always better than your last failure when I was in grade six
when I was in grade six
when I was in grade six I was vying for the gold medal in the
I was vying for the gold medal in the
I was vying for the gold medal in the annual Spelling Bee and he’s very host I
annual Spelling Bee and he’s very host I
annual Spelling Bee and he’s very host I was just about to spell the word femme
was just about to spell the word femme
was just about to spell the word femme fatale but I forgot to spell it with a
fatale but I forgot to spell it with a
fatale but I forgot to spell it with a letter e at the end I never quite forgot
letter e at the end I never quite forgot
letter e at the end I never quite forgot that because I didn’t get to have my
that because I didn’t get to have my
that because I didn’t get to have my name published on the Chinese yearbook
name published on the Chinese yearbook
name published on the Chinese yearbook as how I would have wanted it to perhaps
as how I would have wanted it to perhaps
as how I would have wanted it to perhaps because it was the most acute failure
because it was the most acute failure
because it was the most acute failure that I remember perhaps more so because
that I remember perhaps more so because
that I remember perhaps more so because I proposed idli made it into my first
I proposed idli made it into my first
I proposed idli made it into my first yahoo email address very much active
yahoo email address very much active
yahoo email address very much active until today
until today
until today just so I never do forget thank you very
just so I never do forget thank you very
just so I never do forget thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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