hola hello everyone first of all thank you so much for giving the honor to
you so much for giving the honor to
you so much for giving the honor to speak here when I first began to start
speak here when I first began to start
speak here when I first began to start to make my speech I was going to write
to make my speech I was going to write
to make my speech I was going to write about choice and adversities and
about choice and adversities and
about choice and adversities and experiences and then I figured that all
experiences and then I figured that all
experiences and then I figured that all of you have probably gone through some
of you have probably gone through some
of you have probably gone through some sort of adversity in your life or some
sort of adversity in your life or some
sort of adversity in your life or some sort of experiences in your life that
sort of experiences in your life that
sort of experiences in your life that you have gone through you’ve had support
you have gone through you’ve had support
you have gone through you’ve had support and because because you probably
and because because you probably
and because because you probably wouldn’t be here today so after months
wouldn’t be here today so after months
wouldn’t be here today so after months of writing that speech I decided to
of writing that speech I decided to
of writing that speech I decided to throw it out so I decided that I’m going
throw it out so I decided that I’m going
throw it out so I decided that I’m going to tell you a story instead so I first
to tell you a story instead so I first
to tell you a story instead so I first want to tell you about when I was 13
want to tell you about when I was 13
want to tell you about when I was 13 years old as a grade seven at that time
years old as a grade seven at that time
years old as a grade seven at that time I had a great seven teacher his name is
I had a great seven teacher his name is
I had a great seven teacher his name is mr. kijima he was an average height man
mr. kijima he was an average height man
mr. kijima he was an average height man with dark hair and he was Caucasian he
with dark hair and he was Caucasian he
with dark hair and he was Caucasian he took his wife’s last name after he got
took his wife’s last name after he got
took his wife’s last name after he got married so hence his name is mr. kijima
married so hence his name is mr. kijima
married so hence his name is mr. kijima and it was in grade seven that I
and it was in grade seven that I
and it was in grade seven that I realized at that pivotal moment that I
realized at that pivotal moment that I
realized at that pivotal moment that I was able to pursue and reach any dream
was able to pursue and reach any dream
was able to pursue and reach any dream that I dreamt of and I’ll tell you that
that I dreamt of and I’ll tell you that
that I dreamt of and I’ll tell you that story so first let me paint a picture
story so first let me paint a picture
story so first let me paint a picture for you and I’d like you to go on a
for you and I’d like you to go on a
for you and I’d like you to go on a journey with me so picture it’s 1991 I
journey with me so picture it’s 1991 I
journey with me so picture it’s 1991 I don’t know maybe some of you are not
don’t know maybe some of you are not
don’t know maybe some of you are not even born yet but tried to picture it’s
even born yet but tried to picture it’s
even born yet but tried to picture it’s 1991 and it’s a I went to a school that
1991 and it’s a I went to a school that
1991 and it’s a I went to a school that has it’s long to floor it has two floors
has it’s long to floor it has two floors
has it’s long to floor it has two floors and my classroom was on the second floor
and my classroom was on the second floor
and my classroom was on the second floor and to get to my classroom you had to
and to get to my classroom you had to
and to get to my classroom you had to walk up these stairs and with every step
walk up these stairs and with every step
walk up these stairs and with every step that you took you can hear the creek in
that you took you can hear the creek in
that you took you can hear the creek in the stairs and as you look down there
the stairs and as you look down there
the stairs and as you look down there was this brown 1960s tile linoleum on
was this brown 1960s tile linoleum on
was this brown 1960s tile linoleum on the ground and there were cracks and
the ground and there were cracks and
the ground and there were cracks and holes everywhere that you walked and in
holes everywhere that you walked and in
holes everywhere that you walked and in the hallway you can almost hear
the hallway you can almost hear
the hallway you can almost hear the chatter of students talking about
the chatter of students talking about
the chatter of students talking about what other than a half a lunch who their
what other than a half a lunch who their
what other than a half a lunch who their latest crush was and then you appear
latest crush was and then you appear
latest crush was and then you appear into my classroom so my classroom was an
into my classroom so my classroom was an
into my classroom so my classroom was an average classroom had big bright windows
average classroom had big bright windows
average classroom had big bright windows that overlooked a feel and feel was
that overlooked a feel and feel was
that overlooked a feel and feel was gravel not grass and in front of the
gravel not grass and in front of the
gravel not grass and in front of the classroom there were this big black
classroom there were this big black
classroom there were this big black blackboards and on the ledge of the
blackboards and on the ledge of the
blackboards and on the ledge of the blackboard I want you to imagine that
blackboard I want you to imagine that
blackboard I want you to imagine that there’s a thick dust of chalk dust right
there’s a thick dust of chalk dust right
there’s a thick dust of chalk dust right at the bottom and as you looked up to
at the bottom and as you looked up to
at the bottom and as you looked up to the ceiling you can see industrial
the ceiling you can see industrial
the ceiling you can see industrial fluorescent lights and with a whole maze
fluorescent lights and with a whole maze
fluorescent lights and with a whole maze of plumbing pipes and I can still
of plumbing pipes and I can still
of plumbing pipes and I can still remember my desk I walked to my desk and
remember my desk I walked to my desk and
remember my desk I walked to my desk and there were one of those green ones that
there were one of those green ones that
there were one of those green ones that have the little cubby space underneath
have the little cubby space underneath
have the little cubby space underneath way right I could I could I can’t fit it
way right I could I could I can’t fit it
way right I could I could I can’t fit it in now but at that time I could fit in
in now but at that time I could fit in
in now but at that time I could fit in it and you could also hear friends
it and you could also hear friends
it and you could also hear friends talking there were about 23 of us in
talking there were about 23 of us in
talking there were about 23 of us in that classroom and I remembered a time
that classroom and I remembered a time
that classroom and I remembered a time of us early in the school year when mr.
of us early in the school year when mr.
of us early in the school year when mr. Kashima told us that we had to work on a
Kashima told us that we had to work on a
Kashima told us that we had to work on a project pick a topic that interests you
project pick a topic that interests you
project pick a topic that interests you he says so I decided to pick planes
he says so I decided to pick planes
he says so I decided to pick planes planes and jets because I think I picked
planes and jets because I think I picked
planes and jets because I think I picked that because I thought they were great
that because I thought they were great
that because I thought they were great human inventions and perhaps I picked
human inventions and perhaps I picked
human inventions and perhaps I picked them also because they were a great
them also because they were a great
them also because they were a great interest of my dad and I wanted to like
interest of my dad and I wanted to like
interest of my dad and I wanted to like the same things as my father at that
the same things as my father at that
the same things as my father at that time and so what I decide to do for that
time and so what I decide to do for that
time and so what I decide to do for that project is I decide to make a model of a
project is I decide to make a model of a
project is I decide to make a model of a plane so I used toothpicks skewers paint
plane so I used toothpicks skewers paint
plane so I used toothpicks skewers paint tissue paper and a-that’s decide to make
tissue paper and a-that’s decide to make
tissue paper and a-that’s decide to make I decide to paint the plane gray and
I decide to paint the plane gray and
I decide to paint the plane gray and white and after I worked on it at home I
white and after I worked on it at home I
white and after I worked on it at home I decided to bring it to class and hand it
decided to bring it to class and hand it
decided to bring it to class and hand it in
in
in and it was raining at that time and if
and it was raining at that time and if
and it was raining at that time and if you’ve ever been to Vancouver it’s
you’ve ever been to Vancouver it’s
you’ve ever been to Vancouver it’s always raining and I had my umbrella and
always raining and I had my umbrella and
always raining and I had my umbrella and that’s a kid it was really hard to avoid
that’s a kid it was really hard to avoid
that’s a kid it was really hard to avoid puddles in the ground right so I arrived
puddles in the ground right so I arrived
puddles in the ground right so I arrived in class the plane was a little bit wet
in class the plane was a little bit wet
in class the plane was a little bit wet I was a little bit wet and I looked at
I was a little bit wet and I looked at
I was a little bit wet and I looked at my plane I looked at it I was like it’s
my plane I looked at it I was like it’s
my plane I looked at it I was like it’s not perfect it can’t fly it’s not to
not perfect it can’t fly it’s not to
not perfect it can’t fly it’s not to scale so I walked across my classroom to
scale so I walked across my classroom to
scale so I walked across my classroom to my desk and I was a little bit
my desk and I was a little bit
my desk and I was a little bit disappointed
disappointed
disappointed I put the plan onto my desk and I said
I put the plan onto my desk and I said
I put the plan onto my desk and I said mr. cash my here’s my clean and so it’s
mr. cash my here’s my clean and so it’s
mr. cash my here’s my clean and so it’s like okay good that’s for clean so the
like okay good that’s for clean so the
like okay good that’s for clean so the next morning I came to class the same
next morning I came to class the same
next morning I came to class the same way walked up those stairs through the
way walked up those stairs through the
way walked up those stairs through the hallways into the class hung my coat up
hallways into the class hung my coat up
hallways into the class hung my coat up and then as I want as I was walking
and then as I want as I was walking
and then as I want as I was walking towards my desk in the field vision of
towards my desk in the field vision of
towards my desk in the field vision of my in the periphery of my vision I
my in the periphery of my vision I
my in the periphery of my vision I noticed there was something grey and
noticed there was something grey and
noticed there was something grey and white hanging from a really thin wire
white hanging from a really thin wire
white hanging from a really thin wire that span the classroom so I looked up
that span the classroom so I looked up
that span the classroom so I looked up and I saw my plane hanging there mr.
and I saw my plane hanging there mr.
and I saw my plane hanging there mr. kijima had decided to hang my imperfect
kijima had decided to hang my imperfect
kijima had decided to hang my imperfect plane up on the wire for everyone to see
plane up on the wire for everyone to see
plane up on the wire for everyone to see and whoever that walked in and for that
and whoever that walked in and for that
and whoever that walked in and for that brief moment it almost looked like it
brief moment it almost looked like it
brief moment it almost looked like it was flying maybe it’s because of a
was flying maybe it’s because of a
was flying maybe it’s because of a little bit of gust of wind from the bent
little bit of gust of wind from the bent
little bit of gust of wind from the bent in the class and also at that moment I
in the class and also at that moment I
in the class and also at that moment I felt that he was proud of me and that he
felt that he was proud of me and that he
felt that he was proud of me and that he cared for a student and to tell her that
cared for a student and to tell her that
cared for a student and to tell her that she was the he was proud of he was proud
she was the he was proud of he was proud
she was the he was proud of he was proud of me and so a couple days later mr.
of me and so a couple days later mr.
of me and so a couple days later mr. kijima says okay you made a model so now
kijima says okay you made a model so now
kijima says okay you made a model so now it’s time to talk about it give a
it’s time to talk about it give a
it’s time to talk about it give a presentation about it how did you do it
presentation about it how did you do it
presentation about it how did you do it and I would say presentation
do presentations I was so nervous so I
do presentations I was so nervous so I didn’t want to do it and so what I
didn’t want to do it and so what I
didn’t want to do it and so what I decided to do was I told mr. Castro like
decided to do was I told mr. Castro like
decided to do was I told mr. Castro like do I have to do this presentation I
do I have to do this presentation I
do I have to do this presentation I didn’t like I make the model isn’t that
didn’t like I make the model isn’t that
didn’t like I make the model isn’t that good enough so I know it’s important to
good enough so I know it’s important to
good enough so I know it’s important to be able to communicate what you do and
be able to communicate what you do and
be able to communicate what you do and like why we can just see it so so he
like why we can just see it so so he
like why we can just see it so so he says nope oh it’s important to be able
says nope oh it’s important to be able
says nope oh it’s important to be able to communicate your intent because then
to communicate your intent because then
to communicate your intent because then change can happen and when I was 13 I
change can happen and when I was 13 I
change can happen and when I was 13 I didn’t really understand what that meant
didn’t really understand what that meant
didn’t really understand what that meant and so I still didn’t want to do the
and so I still didn’t want to do the
and so I still didn’t want to do the presentation and I wrote about how I
presentation and I wrote about how I
presentation and I wrote about how I felt about doing that presentation in my
felt about doing that presentation in my
felt about doing that presentation in my class Journal and it’s these journals
class Journal and it’s these journals
class Journal and it’s these journals I’ve been holding in my hand they’re
I’ve been holding in my hand they’re
I’ve been holding in my hand they’re from when I’m 13 years old over 25 years
from when I’m 13 years old over 25 years
from when I’m 13 years old over 25 years ago and I still keep my teaching and in
ago and I still keep my teaching and in
ago and I still keep my teaching and in it I talk about how I don’t want it I
it I talk about how I don’t want it I
it I talk about how I don’t want it I don’t want to express any presentation
don’t want to express any presentation
don’t want to express any presentation because people will think it’s stupid
because people will think it’s stupid
because people will think it’s stupid people will think that I’m not good
people will think that I’m not good
people will think that I’m not good enough when things weren’t good enough
enough when things weren’t good enough
enough when things weren’t good enough and I handed that journal in and the
and I handed that journal in and the
and I handed that journal in and the next morning when I came in I picked
next morning when I came in I picked
next morning when I came in I picked that up again because we write in it
that up again because we write in it
that up again because we write in it every day
every day
every day and as I was turning to the blank page I
and as I was turning to the blank page I
and as I was turning to the blank page I saw a little bit of red writing in the
saw a little bit of red writing in the
saw a little bit of red writing in the journal and there was a reply from mr.
journal and there was a reply from mr.
journal and there was a reply from mr. kijima and I’m gonna read the quote that
kijima and I’m gonna read the quote that
kijima and I’m gonna read the quote that he wrote to me he says Cole it is
he wrote to me he says Cole it is
he wrote to me he says Cole it is through mistakes that we make that we
through mistakes that we make that we
through mistakes that we make that we learn we are all a bit nervous in front
learn we are all a bit nervous in front
learn we are all a bit nervous in front of other people
of other people
of other people me too the more you do it the better you
me too the more you do it the better you
me too the more you do it the better you will get I was very proud of you when
will get I was very proud of you when
will get I was very proud of you when you did your speech I was very proud of
you did your speech I was very proud of
you did your speech I was very proud of you so that particular three words four
you so that particular three words four
you so that particular three words four words I was very proud of you made a
words I was very proud of you made a
words I was very proud of you made a different
different
different my life because these journals I didn’t
my life because these journals I didn’t
my life because these journals I didn’t know what mr. casually had in mind when
know what mr. casually had in mind when
know what mr. casually had in mind when he had us write this I don’t know if
he had us write this I don’t know if
he had us write this I don’t know if it’s because he was trying to evaluate
it’s because he was trying to evaluate
it’s because he was trying to evaluate our writing maybe he’s just trying to
our writing maybe he’s just trying to
our writing maybe he’s just trying to find something was to do but these
find something was to do but these
find something was to do but these journals are unspoken support
journals are unspoken support
journals are unspoken support encouragement and belief in a student in
encouragement and belief in a student in
encouragement and belief in a student in his classroom I mean in grade seven and
his classroom I mean in grade seven and
his classroom I mean in grade seven and when you know thirteen years old you’re
when you know thirteen years old you’re
when you know thirteen years old you’re all always under pressure you’re under
all always under pressure you’re under
all always under pressure you’re under pressure to do well in school you’re
pressure to do well in school you’re
pressure to do well in school you’re under pressure to live up to your
under pressure to live up to your
under pressure to live up to your parents expectations you’re under
parents expectations you’re under
parents expectations you’re under pressure to fit in with your friends and
pressure to fit in with your friends and
pressure to fit in with your friends and for me at that time in in addition to
for me at that time in in addition to
for me at that time in in addition to challenges as a great seven thirteen
challenges as a great seven thirteen
challenges as a great seven thirteen year olds I was also a child survivor of
year olds I was also a child survivor of
year olds I was also a child survivor of domestic violence in my family every day
domestic violence in my family every day
domestic violence in my family every day there was violence in my family for the
there was violence in my family for the
there was violence in my family for the 18 years that I grew up I never spoke
18 years that I grew up I never spoke
18 years that I grew up I never spoke about this from my journal and it’s
about this from my journal and it’s
about this from my journal and it’s through these journals that I realized
through these journals that I realized
through these journals that I realized that mr. kijima is not only a teacher
that mr. kijima is not only a teacher
that mr. kijima is not only a teacher he’s a teacher that teaches beyond the
he’s a teacher that teaches beyond the
he’s a teacher that teaches beyond the subject he’s a teacher that teaches
subject he’s a teacher that teaches
subject he’s a teacher that teaches beyond discipline he’s a teacher that
beyond discipline he’s a teacher that
beyond discipline he’s a teacher that cared cared for every student in his
cared cared for every student in his
cared cared for every student in his classroom and especially cared for an
classroom and especially cared for an
classroom and especially cared for an immigrant child that just immigrated to
immigrant child that just immigrated to
immigrant child that just immigrated to Canada who didn’t really fit in the
Canada who didn’t really fit in the
Canada who didn’t really fit in the culture and if he did and he cared to
culture and if he did and he cared to
culture and if he did and he cared to ask how I was every day so he was a
ask how I was every day so he was a
ask how I was every day so he was a teacher that taught from the heart and
teacher that taught from the heart and
teacher that taught from the heart and more importantly with the heart so I’m
more importantly with the heart so I’m
more importantly with the heart so I’m all grown up now as you can see I’m not
all grown up now as you can see I’m not
all grown up now as you can see I’m not 13 and I take what Mr Cashman has taught
13 and I take what Mr Cashman has taught
13 and I take what Mr Cashman has taught me to heart and through him he he taught
me to heart and through him he he taught
me to heart and through him he he taught us a lot of things he taught us how to
us a lot of things he taught us how to
us a lot of things he taught us how to make changes in the world and I won
make changes in the world and I won
make changes in the world and I won students one of his students that want
students one of his students that want
students one of his students that want to change the world I’m pursuing my
to change the world I’m pursuing my
to change the world I’m pursuing my second PhD in education my first PhD is
second PhD in education my first PhD is
second PhD in education my first PhD is in stem cell biology I’m an entrepreneur
in stem cell biology I’m an entrepreneur
in stem cell biology I’m an entrepreneur a mother of two I I mentor students in
a mother of two I I mentor students in
a mother of two I I mentor students in business and volunteer and I do all this
business and volunteer and I do all this
business and volunteer and I do all this because it was at that pivotal moment
because it was at that pivotal moment
because it was at that pivotal moment that he told me that I can do the things
that he told me that I can do the things
that he told me that I can do the things that I want to do mr. kijima is a
that I want to do mr. kijima is a
that I want to do mr. kijima is a teacher that inspires teachers is a
teacher that inspires teachers is a
teacher that inspires teachers is a teacher that inspires students he
teacher that inspires students he
teacher that inspires students he generated a ripple in the water that
generated a ripple in the water that
generated a ripple in the water that touched so many lives and as I end my
touched so many lives and as I end my
touched so many lives and as I end my speech I think everyone in our lives
speech I think everyone in our lives
speech I think everyone in our lives here in this audience here needs a mr.
here in this audience here needs a mr.
here in this audience here needs a mr. kijima in their lives
kijima in their lives
kijima in their lives choose the care choose to care for each
choose the care choose to care for each
choose the care choose to care for each other
other
other even though we’re different in our with
even though we’re different in our with
even though we’re different in our with our skin colour or what we believe in
our skin colour or what we believe in
our skin colour or what we believe in choose to care for each other even
choose to care for each other even
choose to care for each other even though how subtle it is thank you
though how subtle it is thank you
though how subtle it is thank you [Applause]
”
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