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Why I Can’t Be President | Lytzy Rivera | TEDxYouth@iPoly


[Music]

[Music] hello everybody hi my name is Lucy

hello everybody hi my name is Lucy

hello everybody hi my name is Lucy Rivera and I am currently a junior here

Rivera and I am currently a junior here

Rivera and I am currently a junior here at high poly high school so the other

at high poly high school so the other

at high poly high school so the other day I had a conversation with a parent

day I had a conversation with a parent

day I had a conversation with a parent at a school event a mom I had never met

at a school event a mom I had never met

at a school event a mom I had never met before see I was so excited to tell her

before see I was so excited to tell her

before see I was so excited to tell her about my life story and what I want to

about my life story and what I want to

about my life story and what I want to do with my life

do with my life

do with my life it was later relate to me that she said

it was later relate to me that she said

it was later relate to me that she said that my accomplishment or what I thought

that my accomplishment or what I thought

that my accomplishment or what I thought were astonishing or not so astonishing

were astonishing or not so astonishing

were astonishing or not so astonishing accomplishments were amazing

accomplishments were amazing

accomplishments were amazing to her and she said that she may have

to her and she said that she may have

to her and she said that she may have just spoken to the future President of

just spoken to the future President of

just spoken to the future President of the United States at first I was

the United States at first I was

the United States at first I was flattered who doesn’t want to be told

flattered who doesn’t want to be told

flattered who doesn’t want to be told that they are probably the future

that they are probably the future

that they are probably the future President of the United States but see I

President of the United States but see I

President of the United States but see I have bad news for you I can’t be

have bad news for you I can’t be

have bad news for you I can’t be President next slide for the following

President next slide for the following

President next slide for the following reasons I’m female I’m latina and I’m 5

reasons I’m female I’m latina and I’m 5

reasons I’m female I’m latina and I’m 5 to see being female is hard out of the

to see being female is hard out of the

to see being female is hard out of the 45 presidents none or neither are still

45 presidents none or neither are still

45 presidents none or neither are still female there has not been a female voted

female there has not been a female voted

female there has not been a female voted into office and sometimes I think why

into office and sometimes I think why

into office and sometimes I think why because I believe that women are as

because I believe that women are as

because I believe that women are as strong and beautiful and intelligent as

strong and beautiful and intelligent as

strong and beautiful and intelligent as men I believe that we are equally

men I believe that we are equally

men I believe that we are equally created so then why are we in top

created so then why are we in top

created so then why are we in top positions why isn’t there a

positions why isn’t there a

positions why isn’t there a resident that has been female see when I

resident that has been female see when I

resident that has been female see when I chose my topic I had to think really

chose my topic I had to think really

chose my topic I had to think really really hard I didn’t know what I wanted

really hard I didn’t know what I wanted

really hard I didn’t know what I wanted to speak on but growing up I’ve always

to speak on but growing up I’ve always

to speak on but growing up I’ve always told my parents I’m gonna make it big

told my parents I’m gonna make it big

told my parents I’m gonna make it big one day and I told my mom one day you

one day and I told my mom one day you

one day and I told my mom one day you know what I want to be the first female

know what I want to be the first female

know what I want to be the first female president of the United States and she

president of the United States and she

president of the United States and she looked at me and she said you can do it

looked at me and she said you can do it

looked at me and she said you can do it and at first I was it was just an idea I

and at first I was it was just an idea I

and at first I was it was just an idea I didn’t know how to pursue it

didn’t know how to pursue it

didn’t know how to pursue it but then as I got older I started to

but then as I got older I started to

but then as I got older I started to realize that is just wasn’t oh I want to

realize that is just wasn’t oh I want to

realize that is just wasn’t oh I want to be the president of the United States so

be the president of the United States so

be the president of the United States so it’s just gonna magically happen see

it’s just gonna magically happen see

it’s just gonna magically happen see none have been female and people tend to

none have been female and people tend to

none have been female and people tend to think that women don’t possess the same

think that women don’t possess the same

think that women don’t possess the same leadership skills that men do why is

leadership skills that men do why is

leadership skills that men do why is this also men say women aren’t qualified

this also men say women aren’t qualified

this also men say women aren’t qualified for top notch positions why just think

for top notch positions why just think

for top notch positions why just think about it

about it

about it why see women have to work harder to get

why see women have to work harder to get

why see women have to work harder to get the recognition a man gets I have to

the recognition a man gets I have to

the recognition a man gets I have to work ten times harder to even be

work ten times harder to even be

work ten times harder to even be recognized as somebody who did the same

recognized as somebody who did the same

recognized as somebody who did the same thing a man did so easily the pay isn’t

thing a man did so easily the pay isn’t

thing a man did so easily the pay isn’t even fair

even fair

even fair according to one of my sources that I

according to one of my sources that I

according to one of my sources that I was reading females tend to get paid I

was reading females tend to get paid I

was reading females tend to get paid I believe 79 cents and men to get paid to

believe 79 cents and men to get paid to

believe 79 cents and men to get paid to the dollar see that’s that’s something

the dollar see that’s that’s something

the dollar see that’s that’s something that makes you think why next slide

that makes you think why next slide

that makes you think why next slide please

please

please next one I’m latina you guys may be

next one I’m latina you guys may be

next one I’m latina you guys may be thinking what does this have to do with

thinking what does this have to do with

thinking what does this have to do with becoming president well let me tell

becoming president well let me tell

becoming president well let me tell you there has never been a Latino or

you there has never been a Latino or

you there has never been a Latino or latina president in the history of the

latina president in the history of the

latina president in the history of the United States not even a female

United States not even a female

United States not even a female president of Hispanic heritage so how

president of Hispanic heritage so how

president of Hispanic heritage so how will I get there not even ever being a

will I get there not even ever being a

will I get there not even ever being a female president

female president

female president I’m also latina see we’re considered a

I’m also latina see we’re considered a

I’m also latina see we’re considered a minority and minorities aren’t really

minority and minorities aren’t really

minority and minorities aren’t really taken into account here unless we fight

taken into account here unless we fight

taken into account here unless we fight for our right also in my culture it is

for our right also in my culture it is

for our right also in my culture it is considered not disrespectful but it’s

considered not disrespectful but it’s

considered not disrespectful but it’s not common for a woman to go out and

not common for a woman to go out and

not common for a woman to go out and work that’s the man’s job

work that’s the man’s job

work that’s the man’s job the man does everything outside of the

the man does everything outside of the

the man does everything outside of the house the woman cleans kuck and take

house the woman cleans kuck and take

house the woman cleans kuck and take care of the kids see I don’t want to do

care of the kids see I don’t want to do

care of the kids see I don’t want to do that I don’t for me I’m not saying it’s

that I don’t for me I’m not saying it’s

that I don’t for me I’m not saying it’s not necessary because it is but I

not necessary because it is but I

not necessary because it is but I believe that women have so much more

believe that women have so much more

believe that women have so much more potential than just to be stuck in the

potential than just to be stuck in the

potential than just to be stuck in the house don’t you guys think so – of

house don’t you guys think so – of

house don’t you guys think so – of course we’re wonderful I mean look at us

next slide please see another thing that

next slide please see another thing that I have always been made fun of is

I have always been made fun of is

I have always been made fun of is because of my shortness I’m 5 – and when

because of my shortness I’m 5 – and when

because of my shortness I’m 5 – and when I first started this beach I was by one

I first started this beach I was by one

I first started this beach I was by one so I don’t know where that inch came

so I don’t know where that inch came

so I don’t know where that inch came from but don’t let these heels deceive

from but don’t let these heels deceive

from but don’t let these heels deceive you because I’m 5 – but see of the 45

you because I’m 5 – but see of the 45

you because I’m 5 – but see of the 45 people who have been president there

people who have been president there

people who have been president there have only been six who are below average

have only been six who are below average

have only been six who are below average height and by below average high I mean

height and by below average high I mean

height and by below average high I mean 5 4 I’m two inches shorter than that and

5 4 I’m two inches shorter than that and

5 4 I’m two inches shorter than that and at my age I honestly don’t think I’m

at my age I honestly don’t think I’m

at my age I honestly don’t think I’m gonna grow anymore 5 – is where I’m

gonna grow anymore 5 – is where I’m

gonna grow anymore 5 – is where I’m staying

staying

staying see at 5 – people think how is she gonna

see at 5 – people think how is she gonna

see at 5 – people think how is she gonna control the country

control the country

control the country she’s so small so many emotions raging

she’s so small so many emotions raging

she’s so small so many emotions raging through her see it’s just it’s crazy um

through her see it’s just it’s crazy um

through her see it’s just it’s crazy um when I first decided to talk about this

when I first decided to talk about this

when I first decided to talk about this topic I needed three main points and

topic I needed three main points and

topic I needed three main points and those were made through main points and

those were made through main points and

those were made through main points and a lot of people asked me why did you

a lot of people asked me why did you

a lot of people asked me why did you include height but I thought about it

include height but I thought about it

include height but I thought about it and most of our presidents have been

and most of our presidents have been

and most of our presidents have been taller than five eight but taller than

taller than five eight but taller than

taller than five eight but taller than five eight only six out of the forty

five eight only six out of the forty

five eight only six out of the forty five have been shorter than her at five

five have been shorter than her at five

five have been shorter than her at five four so I was just kind of like it blew

four so I was just kind of like it blew

four so I was just kind of like it blew my mind and I was like I might be the

my mind and I was like I might be the

my mind and I was like I might be the first female president but also the

first female president but also the

first female president but also the shortest so there goes that next slide

shortest so there goes that next slide

shortest so there goes that next slide please

next slide please okay so my past

next slide please okay so my past experience is uh last weekend I was at

experience is uh last weekend I was at

experience is uh last weekend I was at mast and my precess something along the

mast and my precess something along the

mast and my precess something along the lines of do you really believe a senator

lines of do you really believe a senator

lines of do you really believe a senator or a president is gonna come out of the

or a president is gonna come out of the

or a president is gonna come out of the city of Pico Rivera do you really

city of Pico Rivera do you really

city of Pico Rivera do you really believe that they are the chosen ones

believe that they are the chosen ones

believe that they are the chosen ones and I looked on my mom and my mom looked

and I looked on my mom and my mom looked

and I looked on my mom and my mom looked at me too and we just kind of laughed at

at me too and we just kind of laughed at

at me too and we just kind of laughed at each other and she said you can use that

each other and she said you can use that

each other and she said you can use that she said because see a lot of people

she said because see a lot of people

she said because see a lot of people don’t believe in you I can tell you

don’t believe in you I can tell you

don’t believe in you I can tell you right now I’m running for president 2036

right now I’m running for president 2036

right now I’m running for president 2036 and I’m going to win how many of you

and I’m going to win how many of you

and I’m going to win how many of you guys will laugh raise your hand to be

guys will laugh raise your hand to be

guys will laugh raise your hand to be honest

honest

honest see I know there’s at least two three of

see I know there’s at least two three of

see I know there’s at least two three of you in the audience that don’t believe

you in the audience that don’t believe

you in the audience that don’t believe in me I’m just a person doing a TED talk

in me I’m just a person doing a TED talk

in me I’m just a person doing a TED talk that in 2036 will probably be doing

that in 2036 will probably be doing

that in 2036 will probably be doing minimum-wage job but that’s not me

minimum-wage job but that’s not me

minimum-wage job but that’s not me I don’t want to do that I want to be

I don’t want to do that I want to be

I don’t want to do that I want to be more I don’t want to be living off

more I don’t want to be living off

more I don’t want to be living off minimum wage and stressing about just

minimum wage and stressing about just

minimum wage and stressing about just things that I have to pay

things that I have to pay

things that I have to pay and running errands I don’t want to be

and running errands I don’t want to be

and running errands I don’t want to be that I don’t want to do that I want to

that I don’t want to do that I want to

that I don’t want to do that I want to be and do so much more

be and do so much more

be and do so much more so in Spanish this was a week ago in

so in Spanish this was a week ago in

so in Spanish this was a week ago in Spanish miss Puckett’s it’s something

Spanish miss Puckett’s it’s something

Spanish miss Puckett’s it’s something that I’ll never forget she said you have

that I’ll never forget she said you have

that I’ll never forget she said you have to make yourself who you want to be and

to make yourself who you want to be and

to make yourself who you want to be and you tell your kids I’m sure you tell

you tell your kids I’m sure you tell

you tell your kids I’m sure you tell your kids follow your dreams

your kids follow your dreams

your kids follow your dreams but when your kids tell you oh one day

but when your kids tell you oh one day

but when your kids tell you oh one day I’m going to run for president you laugh

I’m going to run for president you laugh

I’m going to run for president you laugh it off with a light heart you say yeah

it off with a light heart you say yeah

it off with a light heart you say yeah sweetie you are but you don’t take them

sweetie you are but you don’t take them

sweetie you are but you don’t take them seriously and they may be young but as

seriously and they may be young but as

seriously and they may be young but as you grow older you aspire to be more

you grow older you aspire to be more

you grow older you aspire to be more this is something that I realized as I

this is something that I realized as I

this is something that I realized as I was growing up see the question that

was growing up see the question that

was growing up see the question that always came to me was why is there such

always came to me was why is there such

always came to me was why is there such a stigma around young people pursuing

a stigma around young people pursuing

a stigma around young people pursuing positions of high authoritative power

positions of high authoritative power

positions of high authoritative power see I come from a city that is not very

see I come from a city that is not very

see I come from a city that is not very well known I come from a city where

well known I come from a city where

well known I come from a city where people drop out of high school they’re

people drop out of high school they’re

people drop out of high school they’re involved and a lot of gangs drugs and

involved and a lot of gangs drugs and

involved and a lot of gangs drugs and there were certain people where I told

there were certain people where I told

there were certain people where I told them I’m going to go to Harvard I’m

them I’m going to go to Harvard I’m

them I’m going to go to Harvard I’m going to pursue a career as an attorney

going to pursue a career as an attorney

going to pursue a career as an attorney and I’m going to run for president and

and I’m going to run for president and

and I’m going to run for president and people would look at me my peers would

people would look at me my peers would

people would look at me my peers would look at me my friends you’re crazy

look at me my friends you’re crazy

look at me my friends you’re crazy you’re never gonna get out of here who

you’re never gonna get out of here who

you’re never gonna get out of here who do you think you are you think you’re

do you think you are you think you’re

do you think you are you think you’re better than us and it was never like

better than us and it was never like

better than us and it was never like that I just wanted more I aspired to be

that I just wanted more I aspired to be

that I just wanted more I aspired to be more I wanted more for myself and it

more I wanted more for myself and it

more I wanted more for myself and it really hurts me sometimes when people

really hurts me sometimes when people

really hurts me sometimes when people don’t believe that you can do something

don’t believe that you can do something

don’t believe that you can do something see if you tell me you can’t do your

see if you tell me you can’t do your

see if you tell me you can’t do your homework in two and two hours see my

homework in two and two hours see my

homework in two and two hours see my teachers all the time don’t

teachers all the time don’t

teachers all the time don’t procrastinate you can’t get it done in a

procrastinate you can’t get it done in a

procrastinate you can’t get it done in a day see I’ll prove you wrong I can do it

day see I’ll prove you wrong I can do it

day see I’ll prove you wrong I can do it in a day

in a day

in a day they don’t believe me

they don’t believe me

they don’t believe me I’ll do it in a day and I’ll get that a

I’ll do it in a day and I’ll get that a

I’ll do it in a day and I’ll get that a plus C you have to do and say what you

plus C you have to do and say what you

plus C you have to do and say what you put your mind your stuff your mind to

put your mind your stuff your mind to

put your mind your stuff your mind to and that is the only way that people

and that is the only way that people

and that is the only way that people will start believing in you

will start believing in you

will start believing in you next slide please see I’ll be the

next slide please see I’ll be the

next slide please see I’ll be the exception when I tell you that I’m going

exception when I tell you that I’m going

exception when I tell you that I’m going to run for president and as my title

to run for president and as my title

to run for president and as my title stated I can’t be President I can be

stated I can’t be President I can be

stated I can’t be President I can be with a lot of hard work I can be see I

with a lot of hard work I can be see I

with a lot of hard work I can be see I have self-discipline

have self-discipline

have self-discipline I have self-determination and like I

I have self-determination and like I

I have self-determination and like I said before I’ll prove all of you wrong

said before I’ll prove all of you wrong

said before I’ll prove all of you wrong 20:36 mark it on your calendars I’m

20:36 mark it on your calendars I’m

20:36 mark it on your calendars I’m telling you right now I’m running for

telling you right now I’m running for

telling you right now I’m running for president and you may not hear of me on

president and you may not hear of me on

president and you may not hear of me on the big news because I may not have all

the big news because I may not have all

the big news because I may not have all the money but I’ll figure it out trust

the money but I’ll figure it out trust

the money but I’ll figure it out trust me I’ll figure it out

me I’ll figure it out

me I’ll figure it out not only am i a leader but I’m also a

not only am i a leader but I’m also a

not only am i a leader but I’m also a person who wants to be able to share her

person who wants to be able to share her

person who wants to be able to share her story and tell kids that it is possible

story and tell kids that it is possible

story and tell kids that it is possible go back to my community one day and say

go back to my community one day and say

go back to my community one day and say I did it and you can do it too because

I did it and you can do it too because

I did it and you can do it too because where I come from there’s nothing to

where I come from there’s nothing to

where I come from there’s nothing to aspire to you go to college you get a

aspire to you go to college you get a

aspire to you go to college you get a job to help your parents out and that’s

job to help your parents out and that’s

job to help your parents out and that’s it you get something that can get you

it you get something that can get you

it you get something that can get you through life comfortably and it’s okay

through life comfortably and it’s okay

through life comfortably and it’s okay see but I want so much more than that

see but I want so much more than that

see but I want so much more than that having like previous speakers said

having like previous speakers said

having like previous speakers said before having the opportunity to go to

before having the opportunity to go to

before having the opportunity to go to school for free having an education

school for free having an education

school for free having an education having amazing teachers made amazing

having amazing teachers made amazing

having amazing teachers made amazing advisors like mr. West amazing parents

advisors like mr. West amazing parents

advisors like mr. West amazing parents and brothers and cousins alike it’s it’s

and brothers and cousins alike it’s it’s

and brothers and cousins alike it’s it’s wonderful

wonderful

wonderful that I’m up here right now telling you

that I’m up here right now telling you

that I’m up here right now telling you this because I would have never imagined

this because I would have never imagined

this because I would have never imagined in my whole life that I would want to be

in my whole life that I would want to be

in my whole life that I would want to be president and I would be sharing this

president and I would be sharing this

president and I would be sharing this with you so make sure one more time make

with you so make sure one more time make

with you so make sure one more time make sure to mark your calendars 2036 I’m

sure to mark your calendars 2036 I’m

sure to mark your calendars 2036 I’m telling you I’m going to be the

telling you I’m going to be the

telling you I’m going to be the exception thank you

exception thank you

exception thank you [Applause]

”

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