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You are not the product of your environment | Amna Akhtar | TEDxYouth@Brum


[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] where do you see yourself in the future

when I was 8 I could have gone on to

when I was 8 I could have gone on to play for the England Football team and

play for the England Football team and

play for the England Football team and when I turned 11 I really wanted to join

when I turned 11 I really wanted to join

when I turned 11 I really wanted to join the army when I turned 14 I had an

the army when I turned 14 I had an

the army when I turned 14 I had an opportunity to go and represent Great

opportunity to go and represent Great

opportunity to go and represent Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics and when

Britain at the Beijing Olympics and when

Britain at the Beijing Olympics and when I turned 17 I just really wanted to be a

I turned 17 I just really wanted to be a

I turned 17 I just really wanted to be a police officer but I didn’t go on to

police officer but I didn’t go on to

police officer but I didn’t go on to become any of those things not because I

become any of those things not because I

become any of those things not because I like talent ambition or skill but

like talent ambition or skill but

like talent ambition or skill but because of my environment my environment

because of my environment my environment

because of my environment my environment always told me and showed me play it

always told me and showed me play it

always told me and showed me play it safe do what everybody else is doing

safe do what everybody else is doing

safe do what everybody else is doing live in the box that you’re inside fluff

live in the box that you’re inside fluff

live in the box that you’re inside fluff up the pillows in there and make it

up the pillows in there and make it

up the pillows in there and make it comfortable but that didn’t sit right

comfortable but that didn’t sit right

comfortable but that didn’t sit right with me from a young age I always wanted

with me from a young age I always wanted

with me from a young age I always wanted more I always wanted to explore and know

more I always wanted to explore and know

more I always wanted to explore and know what was out there

it was difficult growing up like this

it was difficult growing up like this and feeling like I was the only one

and feeling like I was the only one

and feeling like I was the only one alone going through these feelings and

alone going through these feelings and

alone going through these feelings and these thoughts and being different and

these thoughts and being different and

these thoughts and being different and if I had to send myself up in a couple

if I had to send myself up in a couple

if I had to send myself up in a couple of pictures this was me from ages 6 7 8

of pictures this was me from ages 6 7 8

of pictures this was me from ages 6 7 8 I was inspired by jazz and blues and

I was inspired by jazz and blues and

I was inspired by jazz and blues and spirituality and I was really connected

spirituality and I was really connected

spirituality and I was really connected to who I was I was the youngest in my

to who I was I was the youngest in my

to who I was I was the youngest in my family and I have a big age gap between

family and I have a big age gap between

family and I have a big age gap between my siblings so I spend a lot of time

my siblings so I spend a lot of time

my siblings so I spend a lot of time alone but I liked it because I got to

alone but I liked it because I got to

alone but I liked it because I got to know who I really was

but when I’d go outside the door it was

but when I’d go outside the door it was different in my mind there was an ocean

different in my mind there was an ocean

different in my mind there was an ocean breeze there were palm trees it looked

breeze there were palm trees it looked

breeze there were palm trees it looked like the perfect picture of Hawaii in my

like the perfect picture of Hawaii in my

like the perfect picture of Hawaii in my mind and I felt like how can I go like

mind and I felt like how can I go like

mind and I felt like how can I go like me from Bosley green have these thoughts

me from Bosley green have these thoughts

me from Bosley green have these thoughts but when I take my bike outside this is

but when I take my bike outside this is

but when I take my bike outside this is what I saw this was a few pictures

what I saw this was a few pictures

what I saw this was a few pictures showing you my street my annual holiday

showing you my street my annual holiday

showing you my street my annual holiday to the local seaside my school my

to the local seaside my school my

to the local seaside my school my weekend park and two years into school

weekend park and two years into school

weekend park and two years into school in the last two years my bullying came

in the last two years my bullying came

in the last two years my bullying came to an end five days a week over over two

to an end five days a week over over two

to an end five days a week over over two years and I was so over the moon when it

years and I was so over the moon when it

years and I was so over the moon when it was the last day and I just took my GCSE

was the last day and I just took my GCSE

was the last day and I just took my GCSE results and left and this was phase one

results and left and this was phase one

results and left and this was phase one of breaking my environment I moved area

of breaking my environment I moved area

of breaking my environment I moved area I joined a new college and it was

I joined a new college and it was

I joined a new college and it was amazing I turned 16 and it was the first

amazing I turned 16 and it was the first

amazing I turned 16 and it was the first time in 16 years where I interacted with

time in 16 years where I interacted with

time in 16 years where I interacted with my first ever white black mixed Chinese

my first ever white black mixed Chinese

my first ever white black mixed Chinese Japanese people ever in England and that

Japanese people ever in England and that

Japanese people ever in England and that really hit me hard and I loved it I

really hit me hard and I loved it I

really hit me hard and I loved it I wanted more of this I wanted more of

wanted more of this I wanted more of

wanted more of this I wanted more of this different feeling this different

this different feeling this different

this different feeling this different life this variety diversity I wanted

life this variety diversity I wanted

life this variety diversity I wanted more of it so begrudgingly I joined

more of it so begrudgingly I joined

more of it so begrudgingly I joined University I felt like I had to do it

University I felt like I had to do it

University I felt like I had to do it out of culture and might you know

out of culture and might you know

out of culture and might you know societal expectations so I went I got

societal expectations so I went I got

societal expectations so I went I got there on the first day and I realized

there on the first day and I realized

there on the first day and I realized that I will not be here for a second day

that I will not be here for a second day

that I will not be here for a second day it just wasn’t for me so I remember I

it just wasn’t for me so I remember I

it just wasn’t for me so I remember I walked up to my tutor and I said I’m

walked up to my tutor and I said I’m

walked up to my tutor and I said I’m really sorry for taking the space of

really sorry for taking the space of

really sorry for taking the space of someone who really wanted this position

someone who really wanted this position

someone who really wanted this position but that person isn’t me and with a

but that person isn’t me and with a

but that person isn’t me and with a disappointed look she signed me off and

disappointed look she signed me off and

disappointed look she signed me off and did I tell my parents tell now that did

did I tell my parents tell now that did

did I tell my parents tell now that did not happen I took three months three

not happen I took three months three

not happen I took three months three months in a cafe in Coventry it was a

months in a cafe in Coventry it was a

months in a cafe in Coventry it was a gray it was like the cafe out of The

gray it was like the cafe out of The

gray it was like the cafe out of The Apprentice that dole won I was sitting

Apprentice that dole won I was sitting

Apprentice that dole won I was sitting there thinking how am I gonna tell my

there thinking how am I gonna tell my

there thinking how am I gonna tell my mom what is she gonna say like what’s my

mom what is she gonna say like what’s my

mom what is she gonna say like what’s my back-up plan

back-up plan

back-up plan and I remember I would after three

and I remember I would after three

and I remember I would after three months I went home and I said mom

months I went home and I said mom

months I went home and I said mom there’s not going to be a dick like

there’s not going to be a dick like

there’s not going to be a dick like you’re not going to

you’re not going to

you’re not going to the graduation picture with me holding

the graduation picture with me holding

the graduation picture with me holding the certificate like it’s not happening

the certificate like it’s not happening

the certificate like it’s not happening I’ve dropped out and I held the cushion

I’ve dropped out and I held the cushion

I’ve dropped out and I held the cushion up to my face but it was fine she was

up to my face but it was fine she was

up to my face but it was fine she was alright she was understanding because

alright she was understanding because

alright she was understanding because she had seen a decline in my behavior I

she had seen a decline in my behavior I

she had seen a decline in my behavior I stopped eating

stopped eating

stopped eating I wasn’t interacting that much and you

I wasn’t interacting that much and you

I wasn’t interacting that much and you know I was really upset I was doing

know I was really upset I was doing

know I was really upset I was doing something that wasn’t right with me that

something that wasn’t right with me that

something that wasn’t right with me that didn’t sit right in my gut so now my

didn’t sit right in my gut so now my

didn’t sit right in my gut so now my next move was what am I going to do

next move was what am I going to do

next move was what am I going to do that’s going to be better than education

that’s going to be better than education

that’s going to be better than education better than getting a degree and making

better than getting a degree and making

better than getting a degree and making my parents proud what is that move going

my parents proud what is that move going

my parents proud what is that move going to be so this is where mom head was born

to be so this is where mom head was born

to be so this is where mom head was born mom head is a fashion brand that I

mom head is a fashion brand that I

mom head is a fashion brand that I started in 2013 I started it with no

started in 2013 I started it with no

started in 2013 I started it with no fashion degree or skill qualification

fashion degree or skill qualification

fashion degree or skill qualification nothing to do with business I had no

nothing to do with business I had no

nothing to do with business I had no qualification in it at all

qualification in it at all

qualification in it at all I started it purely out of passion and I

I started it purely out of passion and I

I started it purely out of passion and I was having the time of my life I was you

was having the time of my life I was you

was having the time of my life I was you know meeting different people over the

know meeting different people over the

know meeting different people over the internet connecting to so many different

internet connecting to so many different

internet connecting to so many different amazing people that were like-minded

amazing people that were like-minded

amazing people that were like-minded like me and it was all going great until

like me and it was all going great until

like me and it was all going great until someone in my family said to me so how

someone in my family said to me so how

someone in my family said to me so how much are you making I’m now how much are

much are you making I’m now how much are

much are you making I’m now how much are you making and I replied with I’ve met

you making and I replied with I’ve met

you making and I replied with I’ve met I’ve made this friend in Bolivia and

I’ve made this friend in Bolivia and

I’ve made this friend in Bolivia and she’s like really cool and and then I

she’s like really cool and and then I

she’s like really cool and and then I realized how stupid I sound and I’d let

realized how stupid I sound and I’d let

realized how stupid I sound and I’d let myself down so badly I set out with a

myself down so badly I set out with a

myself down so badly I set out with a task to build a brand to build a

task to build a brand to build a

task to build a brand to build a business and I was I was far from that

business and I was I was far from that

business and I was I was far from that and then my the lights went out on my

and then my the lights went out on my

and then my the lights went out on my two years of depression begun and I

two years of depression begun and I

two years of depression begun and I spiral downwards downwards downwards

spiral downwards downwards downwards

spiral downwards downwards downwards until I stopped and I said no more so I

until I stopped and I said no more so I

until I stopped and I said no more so I started applying myself I applied myself

started applying myself I applied myself

started applying myself I applied myself so well that I read every book I

so well that I read every book I

so well that I read every book I attended seminars i watch youtube videos

attended seminars i watch youtube videos

attended seminars i watch youtube videos everything was free around me and I

everything was free around me and I

everything was free around me and I thought why have I not used this before

thought why have I not used this before

thought why have I not used this before so I’ve read everything I’ve found out

so I’ve read everything I’ve found out

so I’ve read everything I’ve found out for SEO Manoir digital marketing but men

for SEO Manoir digital marketing but men

for SEO Manoir digital marketing but men how to engage with customers and I built

how to engage with customers and I built

how to engage with customers and I built myself and this led me to kickstart my

myself and this led me to kickstart my

myself and this led me to kickstart my second company which was girl dreamer

second company which was girl dreamer

second company which was girl dreamer that I have Co launched with my best

that I have Co launched with my best

that I have Co launched with my best friend and you know girl dream is that

friend and you know girl dream is that

friend and you know girl dream is that platform that’s there for young girls

platform that’s there for young girls

platform that’s there for young girls that didn’t

that didn’t

that didn’t of anything in school for them just like

of anything in school for them just like

of anything in school for them just like I didn’t and I’ve worked throughout the

I didn’t and I’ve worked throughout the

I didn’t and I’ve worked throughout the years with different girl gamers getting

years with different girl gamers getting

years with different girl gamers getting them from their current state into their

them from their current state into their

them from their current state into their desired state and now we do things like

desired state and now we do things like

desired state and now we do things like setting up the UK’s first all-female

setting up the UK’s first all-female

setting up the UK’s first all-female black and Asian boarders crew which is

black and Asian boarders crew which is

black and Asian boarders crew which is like longboarding for girls around

like longboarding for girls around

like longboarding for girls around Birmingham you may see some of us in

Birmingham you may see some of us in

Birmingham you may see some of us in canonical Park

canonical Park

canonical Park we set up safe spaces for girls in in

we set up safe spaces for girls in in

we set up safe spaces for girls in in the community where they come and kick

the community where they come and kick

the community where they come and kick it with other girls

it with other girls

it with other girls where there’s non-alcoholic drinks we

where there’s non-alcoholic drinks we

where there’s non-alcoholic drinks we listen to music watch movies play pool

listen to music watch movies play pool

listen to music watch movies play pool do all the things that girls also want

do all the things that girls also want

do all the things that girls also want to do but there’s not a space for after

to do but there’s not a space for after

to do but there’s not a space for after replying myself in such a manner

replying myself in such a manner

replying myself in such a manner I started doors started opening for me

I started doors started opening for me

I started doors started opening for me because I started going to open the

because I started going to open the

because I started going to open the doors and successes started coming I was

doors and successes started coming I was

doors and successes started coming I was featured in vogue British Vogue I was

featured in vogue British Vogue I was

featured in vogue British Vogue I was selling on Asus and I woke up to tweets

selling on Asus and I woke up to tweets

selling on Asus and I woke up to tweets by the amazing youtuber Lilly Singh

by the amazing youtuber Lilly Singh

by the amazing youtuber Lilly Singh known as superwoman and that’s when my

known as superwoman and that’s when my

known as superwoman and that’s when my website crashed and people thought I

website crashed and people thought I

website crashed and people thought I became a millionaire bitch I didn’t not

became a millionaire bitch I didn’t not

became a millionaire bitch I didn’t not yet but it was amazing and I felt like

yet but it was amazing and I felt like

yet but it was amazing and I felt like now that I’ve have really applied myself

now that I’ve have really applied myself

now that I’ve have really applied myself I’ve actually done something I’ve gotten

I’ve actually done something I’ve gotten

I’ve actually done something I’ve gotten results and people were tapping me on

results and people were tapping me on

results and people were tapping me on the back saying Walden people are

the back saying Walden people are

the back saying Walden people are wearing your clothes all over the world

wearing your clothes all over the world

wearing your clothes all over the world now you’re empowering girls locally and

now you’re empowering girls locally and

now you’re empowering girls locally and you’re rippling outwards so throughout

you’re rippling outwards so throughout

you’re rippling outwards so throughout my adventurous journey I’ve learnt so

my adventurous journey I’ve learnt so

my adventurous journey I’ve learnt so many things I’ve learnt how to live how

many things I’ve learnt how to live how

many things I’ve learnt how to live how you live in your mind and how to bring

you live in your mind and how to bring

you live in your mind and how to bring that out into your reality by applying

that out into your reality by applying

that out into your reality by applying yourself just because you’re not in your

yourself just because you’re not in your

yourself just because you’re not in your ideal environment does not change your

ideal environment does not change your

ideal environment does not change your potential create the environment you

potential create the environment you

potential create the environment you want to see don’t wait for me and don’t

want to see don’t wait for me and don’t

want to see don’t wait for me and don’t wait for somebody else to come along and

wait for somebody else to come along and

wait for somebody else to come along and do it for you do it yourself

do it for you do it yourself

do it for you do it yourself ask yourself what your what your

ask yourself what your what your

ask yourself what your what your potential is so I ask you again where do

potential is so I ask you again where do

potential is so I ask you again where do you see yourself in the future thank you

”

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