how a poet becomes a ninja finds balance and tries to save the world
and tries to save the world
and tries to save the world that’s my lofty title and how you can –
that’s my lofty title and how you can –
that’s my lofty title and how you can – so I have a lot of fun with being called
so I have a lot of fun with being called
so I have a lot of fun with being called a ninja poet I love when people show up
a ninja poet I love when people show up
a ninja poet I love when people show up to readings let me back up that’s me
to readings let me back up that’s me
to readings let me back up that’s me poet Inge some of you don’t know me I
poet Inge some of you don’t know me I
poet Inge some of you don’t know me I should have started there I’m a poet
should have started there I’m a poet
should have started there I’m a poet I’m also sometimes a ninja and so that
I’m also sometimes a ninja and so that
I’m also sometimes a ninja and so that makes me a ninja poet you see and I love
makes me a ninja poet you see and I love
makes me a ninja poet you see and I love being a ninja poet it cracks me up and I
being a ninja poet it cracks me up and I
being a ninja poet it cracks me up and I don’t take it too seriously but I love
don’t take it too seriously but I love
don’t take it too seriously but I love what people show up to my readings yeah
what people show up to my readings yeah
what people show up to my readings yeah probably the person who’s wearing that
probably the person who’s wearing that
probably the person who’s wearing that shirt and I may have become a little bit
shirt and I may have become a little bit
shirt and I may have become a little bit obsessed okay I admit it I admit it but
obsessed okay I admit it I admit it but
obsessed okay I admit it I admit it but it’s really fun for me to live in this
it’s really fun for me to live in this
it’s really fun for me to live in this world but what people don’t know is that
world but what people don’t know is that
world but what people don’t know is that this combination of ninja and poet has
this combination of ninja and poet has
this combination of ninja and poet has provided me with some balance in my life
provided me with some balance in my life
provided me with some balance in my life and is precisely what I want to talk
and is precisely what I want to talk
and is precisely what I want to talk about I have this theory that if you can
about I have this theory that if you can
about I have this theory that if you can find balance in your own lives you can
find balance in your own lives you can
find balance in your own lives you can begin to see imbalances in the world
begin to see imbalances in the world
begin to see imbalances in the world around you and then you could start to
around you and then you could start to
around you and then you could start to fix them and so let me back up and tell
fix them and so let me back up and tell
fix them and so let me back up and tell you how I achieved balance that’s my
you how I achieved balance that’s my
you how I achieved balance that’s my family I grew up sort of with balance my
family I grew up sort of with balance my
family I grew up sort of with balance my mother is born in Syria and she raised
mother is born in Syria and she raised
mother is born in Syria and she raised us to be Muslim and she was very strict
us to be Muslim and she was very strict
us to be Muslim and she was very strict and my father was an alcoholic Korean
and my father was an alcoholic Korean
and my father was an alcoholic Korean War veteran a total redneck to be honest
War veteran a total redneck to be honest
War veteran a total redneck to be honest and I was torn between two worlds
and I was torn between two worlds
and I was torn between two worlds between godly and ungodly and and it was
between godly and ungodly and and it was
between godly and ungodly and and it was challenging to say the least
challenging to say the least
challenging to say the least but I had my brother and you’ll notice
but I had my brother and you’ll notice
but I had my brother and you’ll notice his finger there he’s the one in this
his finger there he’s the one in this
his finger there he’s the one in this red and stripes so what looks like a
red and stripes so what looks like a
red and stripes so what looks like a picture-perfect multicultural blended
picture-perfect multicultural blended
picture-perfect multicultural blended family actually we harbored behind this
family actually we harbored behind this
family actually we harbored behind this veneer a great deal of pain and agony
veneer a great deal of pain and agony
veneer a great deal of pain and agony and torture now growing up I had my
and torture now growing up I had my
and torture now growing up I had my brother and I was so happy that I did
brother and I was so happy that I did
brother and I was so happy that I did but the difference between the two of us
but the difference between the two of us
but the difference between the two of us is that I grew up with an American named
is that I grew up with an American named
is that I grew up with an American named Sam and I grew up with lighter skin and
Sam and I grew up with lighter skin and
Sam and I grew up with lighter skin and my brother he had darker skin and his
my brother he had darker skin and his
my brother he had darker skin and his hair was a hot mess man
hair was a hot mess man
hair was a hot mess man any of these huge glasses and he had a
any of these huge glasses and he had a
any of these huge glasses and he had a name that got caught in people’s throats
name that got caught in people’s throats
name that got caught in people’s throats his name was awesome it awesome it and
his name was awesome it awesome it and
his name was awesome it awesome it and he was bullied relentlessly for it
he was bullied relentlessly for it
he was bullied relentlessly for it and I remember you know when our carpet
and I remember you know when our carpet
and I remember you know when our carpet in our apartment complex one day we were
in our apartment complex one day we were
in our apartment complex one day we were riding our bikes and these three kids
riding our bikes and these three kids
riding our bikes and these three kids came up to us and one goes up to my
came up to us and one goes up to my
came up to us and one goes up to my brother and he goes oh and it was kind
brother and he goes oh and it was kind
brother and he goes oh and it was kind of funny for a second then he balled up
of funny for a second then he balled up
of funny for a second then he balled up his fists and sucker-punched my brother
his fists and sucker-punched my brother
his fists and sucker-punched my brother right in the gut my brother fell on the
right in the gut my brother fell on the
right in the gut my brother fell on the ground I just collapsed and I froze man
ground I just collapsed and I froze man
ground I just collapsed and I froze man I should have done something but I
I should have done something but I
I should have done something but I didn’t do anything I just started to cry
didn’t do anything I just started to cry
didn’t do anything I just started to cry then the police turned to me and instead
then the police turned to me and instead
then the police turned to me and instead the hell you crying for man ain’t nobody
the hell you crying for man ain’t nobody
the hell you crying for man ain’t nobody hit you and they’re right nobody hit me
hit you and they’re right nobody hit me
hit you and they’re right nobody hit me but I felt the pain of my brother so
but I felt the pain of my brother so
but I felt the pain of my brother so deeply I don’t feel it today I’d went
deeply I don’t feel it today I’d went
deeply I don’t feel it today I’d went home that day and I started to do
home that day and I started to do
home that day and I started to do push-ups a lot of push-ups I started
push-ups a lot of push-ups I started
push-ups a lot of push-ups I started trying to get stronger and stronger and
trying to get stronger and stronger and
trying to get stronger and stronger and I found this old wait bench in a
I found this old wait bench in a
I found this old wait bench in a neighbor’s garage and I started lifting
neighbor’s garage and I started lifting
neighbor’s garage and I started lifting and lifting by the time I was 13 or 14 I
and lifting by the time I was 13 or 14 I
and lifting by the time I was 13 or 14 I was benching hundreds of pounds and I
was benching hundreds of pounds and I
was benching hundreds of pounds and I realized symbolically now as I look back
realized symbolically now as I look back
realized symbolically now as I look back as a poet I was lifting so much pain
as a poet I was lifting so much pain
as a poet I was lifting so much pain off of my chest it was not about the
off of my chest it was not about the
off of my chest it was not about the weight he was about my family crumbling
weight he was about my family crumbling
weight he was about my family crumbling in divorce and so by the time I got to
in divorce and so by the time I got to
in divorce and so by the time I got to my sophomore year of high school I was
my sophomore year of high school I was
my sophomore year of high school I was strong enough and quick enough to join
strong enough and quick enough to join
strong enough and quick enough to join the football team and that’s began to
the football team and that’s began to
the football team and that’s began to separate me from my family but I needed
separate me from my family but I needed
separate me from my family but I needed that because that family of football
that because that family of football
that because that family of football players was really my team and I
players was really my team and I
players was really my team and I discovered that those coaches were like
discovered that those coaches were like
discovered that those coaches were like fathers and as my home life was
fathers and as my home life was
fathers and as my home life was crumbling that team became everything I
crumbling that team became everything I
crumbling that team became everything I was becoming a jock now I’m not saying I
was becoming a jock now I’m not saying I
was becoming a jock now I’m not saying I was that good
was that good
was that good I mean but I was strong and I was
I mean but I was strong and I was
I mean but I was strong and I was stronger than most linemen but I had
stronger than most linemen but I had
stronger than most linemen but I had lost my balance and then fast forward a
lost my balance and then fast forward a
lost my balance and then fast forward a few years senior year high school
few years senior year high school
few years senior year high school English misses put Gorski she gives us
English misses put Gorski she gives us
English misses put Gorski she gives us this writing assignment she says write
this writing assignment she says write
this writing assignment she says write about something that in a place that
about something that in a place that
about something that in a place that inspired you and people were about
inspired you and people were about
inspired you and people were about Disneyland and I wrote about it whatever
and III instead I wrote about this space
and III instead I wrote about this space underneath my parents bed and it was
underneath my parents bed and it was
underneath my parents bed and it was just big enough that I could go under
just big enough that I could go under
just big enough that I could go under there and hide or read or play and
there and hide or read or play and
there and hide or read or play and sometimes my mom would chase me with a
sometimes my mom would chase me with a
sometimes my mom would chase me with a wooden spoon and I’d dive under there
wooden spoon and I’d dive under there
wooden spoon and I’d dive under there and she couldn’t get me right
and she couldn’t get me right
and she couldn’t get me right I loved that spot and then the teacher
I loved that spot and then the teacher
I loved that spot and then the teacher said would anybody like to share and I
said would anybody like to share and I
said would anybody like to share and I thought I wrote a funny story
thought I wrote a funny story
thought I wrote a funny story and so I raise my hand I didn’t know
and so I raise my hand I didn’t know
and so I raise my hand I didn’t know that that moment would change my life
that that moment would change my life
that that moment would change my life forever I started to read in class I got
forever I started to read in class I got
forever I started to read in class I got to this part in a story where I said my
to this part in a story where I said my
to this part in a story where I said my parents bed is no longer inspiring
parents bed is no longer inspiring
parents bed is no longer inspiring because they don’t sleep in it anymore I
because they don’t sleep in it anymore I
because they don’t sleep in it anymore I totally started to cry kind of like now
totally started to cry kind of like now
totally started to cry kind of like now because you never get over that pain and
because you never get over that pain and
because you never get over that pain and the girls in the class went oh and the
the girls in the class went oh and the
the girls in the class went oh and the boys in the class teased and sneered and
boys in the class teased and sneered and
boys in the class teased and sneered and my teacher she came to me and she could
my teacher she came to me and she could
my teacher she came to me and she could have said anything she could have said
have said anything she could have said
have said anything she could have said I’m sorry it’s gonna be okay but she
I’m sorry it’s gonna be okay but she
I’m sorry it’s gonna be okay but she came to me and she kneeled down and she
came to me and she kneeled down and she
came to me and she kneeled down and she put her hand on my shoulder
put her hand on my shoulder
put her hand on my shoulder said Sam you are a writer and that
said Sam you are a writer and that
said Sam you are a writer and that completely completely catapulted me in
completely completely catapulted me in
completely completely catapulted me in this whole other realm and sorry NFL
this whole other realm and sorry NFL
this whole other realm and sorry NFL okay yes yeah almost had me okay but my
okay yes yeah almost had me okay but my
okay yes yeah almost had me okay but my life went into a different direction I
life went into a different direction I
life went into a different direction I took that very seriously and I started
took that very seriously and I started
took that very seriously and I started to write and read and I went to college
to write and read and I went to college
to write and read and I went to college and I majored in English and I started
and I majored in English and I started
and I majored in English and I started to publish poems and then I got my
to publish poems and then I got my
to publish poems and then I got my master fine arts degree in creative
master fine arts degree in creative
master fine arts degree in creative writing and then I got this glorious
writing and then I got this glorious
writing and then I got this glorious opportunity to come to Modesto Junior
opportunity to come to Modesto Junior
opportunity to come to Modesto Junior College and teach okay what an
College and teach okay what an
College and teach okay what an opportunity what an opportunity to come
opportunity what an opportunity to come
opportunity what an opportunity to come teach here and so I’ve been teaching
teach here and so I’ve been teaching
teach here and so I’ve been teaching poetry for a long time and I started
poetry for a long time and I started
poetry for a long time and I started publishing books and I started hosting
publishing books and I started hosting
publishing books and I started hosting poetry slams
poetry slams
poetry slams and every year 600 people show up to the
and every year 600 people show up to the
and every year 600 people show up to the State Theatre and in a listen to this
State Theatre and in a listen to this
State Theatre and in a listen to this chorus of brilliant diverse voices from
chorus of brilliant diverse voices from
chorus of brilliant diverse voices from all across the country who come here to
all across the country who come here to
all across the country who come here to read to us and I know how these slams
read to us and I know how these slams
read to us and I know how these slams and these readings have elevated our
and these readings have elevated our
and these readings have elevated our community because it gave us things to
community because it gave us things to
community because it gave us things to talk about
talk about
talk about right they challenged us in many ways
right they challenged us in many ways
right they challenged us in many ways and I’ve been a servant of poetry for a
and I’ve been a servant of poetry for a
and I’ve been a servant of poetry for a long time that I’ve helped give young
long time that I’ve helped give young
long time that I’ve helped give young people voices these marginalized young
people voices these marginalized young
people voices these marginalized young people I’ve given them platforms to
people I’ve given them platforms to
people I’ve given them platforms to speak and I know how important poetry
speak and I know how important poetry
speak and I know how important poetry was to me and so I know how important I
was to me and so I know how important I
was to me and so I know how important I could make it to them but in my
could make it to them but in my
could make it to them but in my relentless pursuit of poetry I started
relentless pursuit of poetry I started
relentless pursuit of poetry I started wondering about that little athlete
wondering about that little athlete
wondering about that little athlete inside of me where did he go does he
inside of me where did he go does he
inside of me where did he go does he even lift bra
in it my daughter and I we were home one
in it my daughter and I we were home one day and we were watching television the
day and we were watching television the
day and we were watching television the show comes on it’s called American Ninja
show comes on it’s called American Ninja
show comes on it’s called American Ninja Warrior and all these people are jumping
Warrior and all these people are jumping
Warrior and all these people are jumping around they’re super strong and we’re
around they’re super strong and we’re
around they’re super strong and we’re enthralled and then my daughter turns me
enthralled and then my daughter turns me
enthralled and then my daughter turns me she says dad can you do that and of
she says dad can you do that and of
she says dad can you do that and of course I said yes
course I said yes
course I said yes because nobody no father wants his
because nobody no father wants his
because nobody no father wants his daughter to know that he’s not strong
daughter to know that he’s not strong
daughter to know that he’s not strong enough man and my mind was convinced
enough man and my mind was convinced
enough man and my mind was convinced that I could do all that stuff but but
that I could do all that stuff but but
that I could do all that stuff but but my body my body was like oh hell no
that’s me guy climbing nothing okay so I
that’s me guy climbing nothing okay so I gave up my dreams is what I’m saying
gave up my dreams is what I’m saying
gave up my dreams is what I’m saying but then I find myself one day in a yoga
but then I find myself one day in a yoga
but then I find myself one day in a yoga class and pretty accidental and the
class and pretty accidental and the
class and pretty accidental and the teacher the teacher says I want you to
teacher the teacher says I want you to
teacher the teacher says I want you to get into a tree pose and then she
get into a tree pose and then she
get into a tree pose and then she demonstrated and and so I had to sort of
demonstrated and and so I had to sort of
demonstrated and and so I had to sort of balance on one leg and and try to stand
balance on one leg and and try to stand
balance on one leg and and try to stand and bring my hands up like branches and
and bring my hands up like branches and
and bring my hands up like branches and I was falling and stumbling and I
I was falling and stumbling and I
I was falling and stumbling and I couldn’t do it now staring myself in the
couldn’t do it now staring myself in the
couldn’t do it now staring myself in the mirror like why man and then she said
mirror like why man and then she said
mirror like why man and then she said this she said if you’re having trouble
this she said if you’re having trouble
this she said if you’re having trouble balancing try to focus on something that
balancing try to focus on something that
balancing try to focus on something that is not yourself try to focus on
is not yourself try to focus on
is not yourself try to focus on something that is not so I stopped
something that is not so I stopped
something that is not so I stopped looking at myself in the mirror and all
looking at myself in the mirror and all
looking at myself in the mirror and all the imperfections and I focused on this
the imperfections and I focused on this
the imperfections and I focused on this little crack in the Kong and the floor
little crack in the Kong and the floor
little crack in the Kong and the floor in the parquet floor the yoga studio and
in the parquet floor the yoga studio and
in the parquet floor the yoga studio and I started to feel it right and I found
I started to feel it right and I found
I started to feel it right and I found it I found in that moment I found
it I found in that moment I found
it I found in that moment I found balance and I realize it this is it my
balance and I realize it this is it my
balance and I realize it this is it my mind no excuse me the poet part of me
mind no excuse me the poet part of me
mind no excuse me the poet part of me was like dude you’re a tree man right
was like dude you’re a tree man right
was like dude you’re a tree man right and then the athlete was like oh you’re
and then the athlete was like oh you’re
and then the athlete was like oh you’re strong too and it was this huge aha
strong too and it was this huge aha
strong too and it was this huge aha moment I realized in that moment if I
moment I realized in that moment if I
moment I realized in that moment if I could do both if I could be a servant of
could do both if I could be a servant of
could do both if I could be a servant of poetry and also also work out then I
poetry and also also work out then I
poetry and also also work out then I would find my balance
yeah yeah
yeah yeah but here’s the problem with that here’s
but here’s the problem with that here’s
but here’s the problem with that here’s the problem I was married with three
the problem I was married with three
the problem I was married with three kids and a full-time job and stacks of
kids and a full-time job and stacks of
kids and a full-time job and stacks of papers and I’ll do poetry slams a long
papers and I’ll do poetry slams a long
papers and I’ll do poetry slams a long time not how am i if I tend to work out
time not how am i if I tend to work out
time not how am i if I tend to work out in order to trained it hard enough to be
in order to trained it hard enough to be
in order to trained it hard enough to be a ninja warrior man but I realized after
a ninja warrior man but I realized after
a ninja warrior man but I realized after yoga I felt pretty good and I went home
yoga I felt pretty good and I went home
yoga I felt pretty good and I went home and I felt grateful then I had a family
and I felt grateful then I had a family
and I felt grateful then I had a family to come home to and I think I remember
to come home to and I think I remember
to come home to and I think I remember even doing the dishes like what is wrong
even doing the dishes like what is wrong
even doing the dishes like what is wrong with me what is happening and then I
with me what is happening and then I
with me what is happening and then I thought you know what we don’t do
thought you know what we don’t do
thought you know what we don’t do certain things that we love or want to
certain things that we love or want to
certain things that we love or want to do because it feels selfish we feel
do because it feels selfish we feel
do because it feels selfish we feel guilty so I thought we need to redefine
guilty so I thought we need to redefine
guilty so I thought we need to redefine that okay so here’s my definition it
that okay so here’s my definition it
that okay so here’s my definition it said doing something for yourself is not
said doing something for yourself is not
said doing something for yourself is not selfish if it contributes to you being a
selfish if it contributes to you being a
selfish if it contributes to you being a better person to others and that’s a big
better person to others and that’s a big
better person to others and that’s a big if that’s a big it okay if it doesn’t
if that’s a big it okay if it doesn’t
if that’s a big it okay if it doesn’t contribute you to helping anybody then
contribute you to helping anybody then
contribute you to helping anybody then it is selfish okay but if you take some
it is selfish okay but if you take some
it is selfish okay but if you take some time like this is what happens with life
time like this is what happens with life
time like this is what happens with life we forget we have so many
we forget we have so many
we forget we have so many responsibilities that we forget this
responsibilities that we forget this
responsibilities that we forget this creative wonderful parts of ourselves
creative wonderful parts of ourselves
creative wonderful parts of ourselves that we left behind we stop playing
that we left behind we stop playing
that we left behind we stop playing piano we stop running we stop working
piano we stop running we stop working
piano we stop running we stop working out we stop painting and all these
out we stop painting and all these
out we stop painting and all these wonderful creatine’s we used to do
wonderful creatine’s we used to do
wonderful creatine’s we used to do because we all have time for a man but
because we all have time for a man but
because we all have time for a man but you don’t take time you make time and so
you don’t take time you make time and so
you don’t take time you make time and so I made time I woke up a little early I
I made time I woke up a little early I
I made time I woke up a little early I went to bed a little bit late and I
went to bed a little bit late and I
went to bed a little bit late and I worked out and I worked out and I worked
worked out and I worked out and I worked
worked out and I worked out and I worked out and wouldn’t you know it out of
out and wouldn’t you know it out of
out and wouldn’t you know it out of 77,000 people who applied to the show
77,000 people who applied to the show
77,000 people who applied to the show last year I was one who got on
yeah I’m not saying I won a million
yeah I’m not saying I won a million dollars I’m not saying I was the best
dollars I’m not saying I was the best
dollars I’m not saying I was the best American Ninja poet all I’m so well I am
American Ninja poet all I’m so well I am
American Ninja poet all I’m so well I am the best American Enterprise I just
the best American Enterprise I just
the best American Enterprise I just thought the best American Ninja Warrior
thought the best American Ninja Warrior
thought the best American Ninja Warrior but this is not the pinnacle of my
but this is not the pinnacle of my
but this is not the pinnacle of my career right this was just an awesome
career right this was just an awesome
career right this was just an awesome example of when I found balance I was
example of when I found balance I was
example of when I found balance I was able to write and work out and because I
able to write and work out and because I
able to write and work out and because I achieved this balance I could see
achieved this balance I could see
achieved this balance I could see imbalances in the world more clearly and
imbalances in the world more clearly and
imbalances in the world more clearly and so I started to bring that to my
so I started to bring that to my
so I started to bring that to my teaching right I’m a teacher first and
teaching right I’m a teacher first and
teaching right I’m a teacher first and so I started going into classrooms a
so I started going into classrooms a
so I started going into classrooms a little more relaxed I’d have a little
little more relaxed I’d have a little
little more relaxed I’d have a little bit more fun right and I could notice
bit more fun right and I could notice
bit more fun right and I could notice that students needed help
that students needed help
that students needed help not grammatical help like like real help
not grammatical help like like real help
not grammatical help like like real help like a student would show up and say I
like a student would show up and say I
like a student would show up and say I can’t take the test day because my
can’t take the test day because my
can’t take the test day because my babysitter didn’t show up and because I
babysitter didn’t show up and because I
babysitter didn’t show up and because I was balanced I felt that pain man
was balanced I felt that pain man
was balanced I felt that pain man and I say you bring that baby you bring
and I say you bring that baby you bring
and I say you bring that baby you bring that baby to class right cuz she’s thank
that baby to class right cuz she’s thank
that baby to class right cuz she’s thank you I mean she’s struggling with balance
you I mean she’s struggling with balance
you I mean she’s struggling with balance in her whole life I think this embodies
in her whole life I think this embodies
in her whole life I think this embodies that right and so my teaching started to
that right and so my teaching started to
that right and so my teaching started to change because I felt this glorious
change because I felt this glorious
change because I felt this glorious wonderful balance in my life writing and
wonderful balance in my life writing and
wonderful balance in my life writing and working out I wanted to bring that and
working out I wanted to bring that and
working out I wanted to bring that and share that and I could see the
share that and I could see the
share that and I could see the challenges that students were facing and
challenges that students were facing and
challenges that students were facing and in teaching it’s a fairly imbalance
in teaching it’s a fairly imbalance
in teaching it’s a fairly imbalance power structure right she’s in charge
power structure right she’s in charge
power structure right she’s in charge man
man
man students just do what we want you to do
students just do what we want you to do
students just do what we want you to do and we control you through our grades in
and we control you through our grades in
and we control you through our grades in our red pen and I was a grumpy teacher I
our red pen and I was a grumpy teacher I
our red pen and I was a grumpy teacher I was a very grumpy teacher and I would
was a very grumpy teacher and I would
was a very grumpy teacher and I would get really pissed off when students
get really pissed off when students
get really pissed off when students margins man we’re like an inch and a
margins man we’re like an inch and a
margins man we’re like an inch and a half instead of one inch right and a lot
half instead of one inch right and a lot
half instead of one inch right and a lot of teachers are like this they care more
of teachers are like this they care more
of teachers are like this they care more about the width of students margins than
about the width of students margins than
about the width of students margins than the students living in those margins
the students living in those margins
the students living in those margins right they care they care more about the
right they care they care more about the
right they care they care more about the surface level problems in a paper than
surface level problems in a paper than
surface level problems in a paper than the deep problems of the student who
the deep problems of the student who
the deep problems of the student who wrote those papers man and I’m not
wrote those papers man and I’m not
wrote those papers man and I’m not saying I’m not gonna cover topic
saying I’m not gonna cover topic
saying I’m not gonna cover topic sentences and devout we will but let’s
sentences and devout we will but let’s
sentences and devout we will but let’s look at the whole we’ll get there but
look at the whole we’ll get there but
look at the whole we’ll get there but let’s talk about the whole student first
let’s talk about the whole student first
let’s talk about the whole student first and so I started changing my curriculum
and so I started changing my curriculum
and so I started changing my curriculum I thought you know what let me let me
I thought you know what let me let me
I thought you know what let me let me write letters to my students tell them
write letters to my students tell them
write letters to my students tell them about my life challenges and don’t see
about my life challenges and don’t see
about my life challenges and don’t see if they’ll share back ok and they did
if they’ll share back ok and they did
if they’ll share back ok and they did and and here here are some excerpts
and and here here are some excerpts
and and here here are some excerpts after losing a home we jumped from house
after losing a home we jumped from house
after losing a home we jumped from house to house and at some point we lived in
to house and at some point we lived in
to house and at some point we lived in our truck I still remember the day cops
our truck I still remember the day cops
our truck I still remember the day cops came into my house to arrest my father
came into my house to arrest my father
came into my house to arrest my father in front of me I was in the third grade
in front of me I was in the third grade
in front of me I was in the third grade I did a line of meth now 16 and
I did a line of meth now 16 and
I did a line of meth now 16 and continued until I was 24 before I went
continued until I was 24 before I went
continued until I was 24 before I went to prison for five years that students
to prison for five years that students
to prison for five years that students right there
right there
right there [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] so how can I continue to teach
so how can I continue to teach
so how can I continue to teach punctuation when these students are
punctuation when these students are
punctuation when these students are dealing with so much adversity I will
dealing with so much adversity I will
dealing with so much adversity I will get to punctuation I promise you but but
get to punctuation I promise you but but
get to punctuation I promise you but but I’m going to teach a whole student first
I’m going to teach a whole student first
I’m going to teach a whole student first I’m gonna empower them and encourage
I’m gonna empower them and encourage
I’m gonna empower them and encourage them and inspire them to find their
them and inspire them to find their
them and inspire them to find their balance and even if you’re not a teacher
balance and even if you’re not a teacher
balance and even if you’re not a teacher you are going to find your balance and
you are going to find your balance and
you are going to find your balance and when you do you’re gonna see imbalances
when you do you’re gonna see imbalances
when you do you’re gonna see imbalances in the world and so when you see an old
in the world and so when you see an old
in the world and so when you see an old man on the street you’re gonna say hello
man on the street you’re gonna say hello
man on the street you’re gonna say hello at the leap to maybe by I’m a damn cup
at the leap to maybe by I’m a damn cup
at the leap to maybe by I’m a damn cup of coffee have a conversation you’re
of coffee have a conversation you’re
of coffee have a conversation you’re both gonna benefit from that if you have
both gonna benefit from that if you have
both gonna benefit from that if you have balance you’re gonna love your family
balance you’re gonna love your family
balance you’re gonna love your family more a lot more because you’re not gonna
more a lot more because you’re not gonna
more a lot more because you’re not gonna resent them any more because you’re
resent them any more because you’re
resent them any more because you’re doing what you need to do to be a better
doing what you need to do to be a better
doing what you need to do to be a better person and if you have balance you can
person and if you have balance you can
person and if you have balance you can enjoy your friends and when they call
enjoy your friends and when they call
enjoy your friends and when they call you your cousin you’re busy because
you your cousin you’re busy because
you your cousin you’re busy because you’re gonna realize that they need you
you’re gonna realize that they need you
you’re gonna realize that they need you and you’re gonna rejoice in that if you
and you’re gonna rejoice in that if you
and you’re gonna rejoice in that if you have balance you’re gonna parent better
have balance you’re gonna parent better
have balance you’re gonna parent better you’re gonna parent a lot better and
you’re gonna parent a lot better and
you’re gonna parent a lot better and you’re gonna recognize your kids eyes
you’re gonna recognize your kids eyes
you’re gonna recognize your kids eyes when he says dad I want to play chess
when he says dad I want to play chess
when he says dad I want to play chess it’s not about chess at all he needs his
it’s not about chess at all he needs his
it’s not about chess at all he needs his dad and he wants to hang out and when
dad and he wants to hang out and when
dad and he wants to hang out and when they want to watch movies and it’s a
they want to watch movies and it’s a
they want to watch movies and it’s a Western damn it we’re eating chili out
Western damn it we’re eating chili out
Western damn it we’re eating chili out of some cans and wearing cowboy hats and
of some cans and wearing cowboy hats and
of some cans and wearing cowboy hats and if you if you have Barrett to balance
if you if you have Barrett to balance
if you if you have Barrett to balance your marriage will improve and she will
your marriage will improve and she will
your marriage will improve and she will be the balance that shapes your entire
be the balance that shapes your entire
be the balance that shapes your entire life and you will check in with her and
life and you will check in with her and
life and you will check in with her and you’ll say babe how are you doing in
you’ll say babe how are you doing in
you’ll say babe how are you doing in about me all the time how are you doing
about me all the time how are you doing
about me all the time how are you doing and she’ll say thanks for asking and
and she’ll say thanks for asking and
and she’ll say thanks for asking and you’ll date her and you’ll love her and
you’ll date her and you’ll love her and
you’ll date her and you’ll love her and if you have balance finally your
if you have balance finally your
if you have balance finally your attitude will change we live in Modesto
attitude will change we live in Modesto
attitude will change we live in Modesto hold on this is the murder mess auto
hold on this is the murder mess auto
hold on this is the murder mess auto theft capital of the world okay
theft capital of the world okay
theft capital of the world okay Wayne the least educated city in America
Wayne the least educated city in America
Wayne the least educated city in America but that’s that’s only half the story
but that’s that’s only half the story
but that’s that’s only half the story the other half is we have TED Talks man
we are and culture here we have poetry
we are and culture here we have poetry slams here we have dance and opera here
slams here we have dance and opera here
slams here we have dance and opera here dammit
dammit
dammit Modesto gave birth to George Lucas and
Modesto gave birth to George Lucas and
Modesto gave birth to George Lucas and George Lucas gave us Star Wars so we are
George Lucas gave us Star Wars so we are
George Lucas gave us Star Wars so we are the galaxy far far away so if we have
the galaxy far far away so if we have
the galaxy far far away so if we have balanced our entire attitudes will
balanced our entire attitudes will
balanced our entire attitudes will change and that makes this place better
change and that makes this place better
change and that makes this place better so please when we find our own balance
so please when we find our own balance
so please when we find our own balance and I pray for this for all of you we
and I pray for this for all of you we
and I pray for this for all of you we begin to see imbalances in the world and
begin to see imbalances in the world and
begin to see imbalances in the world and discover that we have the power to make
discover that we have the power to make
discover that we have the power to make things right again thank you
things right again thank you
things right again thank you [Applause]
”
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