so I didn’t exactly have a typical childhood every two years or so it would
childhood every two years or so it would
childhood every two years or so it would be a different city a different group of
be a different city a different group of
be a different city a different group of friends a completely different home the
friends a completely different home the
friends a completely different home the u.s. England Norway China and eventually
u.s. England Norway China and eventually
u.s. England Norway China and eventually India but as I moved around I came to
India but as I moved around I came to
India but as I moved around I came to realize an underlying truth about my
realize an underlying truth about my
realize an underlying truth about my life I am what people call privileged
life I am what people call privileged
life I am what people call privileged but privilege shouldn’t always be talked
but privilege shouldn’t always be talked
but privilege shouldn’t always be talked about in a negative light in fact
about in a negative light in fact
about in a negative light in fact tonight I want to share with all of you
tonight I want to share with all of you
tonight I want to share with all of you how privileged gave me the power to help
how privileged gave me the power to help
how privileged gave me the power to help elevate the people around me so to get
elevate the people around me so to get
elevate the people around me so to get started let’s take you back I grew up in
started let’s take you back I grew up in
started let’s take you back I grew up in the u.s. England and Norway largely
the u.s. England and Norway largely
the u.s. England and Norway largely sheltered from the harsh realities of
sheltered from the harsh realities of
sheltered from the harsh realities of the world and I took my comfortable life
the world and I took my comfortable life
the world and I took my comfortable life for granted in 2011 I moved to Beijing
for granted in 2011 I moved to Beijing
for granted in 2011 I moved to Beijing China where this bubble popped and I saw
China where this bubble popped and I saw
China where this bubble popped and I saw a drastically different world in front
a drastically different world in front
a drastically different world in front of me family shared shacks in severely
of me family shared shacks in severely
of me family shared shacks in severely underdeveloped communities just minutes
underdeveloped communities just minutes
underdeveloped communities just minutes away men cycled tens of kilometres
away men cycled tens of kilometres
away men cycled tens of kilometres through the Beijing smog to get to work
through the Beijing smog to get to work
through the Beijing smog to get to work and here and there I’d see children
and here and there I’d see children
and here and there I’d see children running on the streets barefoot the
running on the streets barefoot the
running on the streets barefoot the situation was even worse in Mumbai India
situation was even worse in Mumbai India
situation was even worse in Mumbai India where millions of people lived in slums
where millions of people lived in slums
where millions of people lived in slums just kilometers away from location
just kilometers away from location
just kilometers away from location Bonnie’s 27 story home this stark
Bonnie’s 27 story home this stark
Bonnie’s 27 story home this stark dichotomy was eye-opening to me it made
dichotomy was eye-opening to me it made
dichotomy was eye-opening to me it made me appreciate the privileges I had from
me appreciate the privileges I had from
me appreciate the privileges I had from living in decent homes to having loving
living in decent homes to having loving
living in decent homes to having loving parents to attending awesome schools but
parents to attending awesome schools but
parents to attending awesome schools but more importantly it also bothered me I
more importantly it also bothered me I
more importantly it also bothered me I began to really consciously understand
began to really consciously understand
began to really consciously understand that just being born in a certain family
that just being born in a certain family
that just being born in a certain family or in a certain place put you on a
or in a certain place put you on a
or in a certain place put you on a drastically different trajectory and
drastically different trajectory and
drastically different trajectory and this realization kindled the strong
this realization kindled the strong
this realization kindled the strong urging me to help elevate others so I
urging me to help elevate others so I
urging me to help elevate others so I thought about how I could do that and
thought about how I could do that and
thought about how I could do that and the most obvious way to me was through
the most obvious way to me was through
the most obvious way to me was through community service so in Mumbai I started
community service so in Mumbai I started
community service so in Mumbai I started volunteering at an NGO that helped to
volunteering at an NGO that helped to
volunteering at an NGO that helped to educate underprivileged children so day
educate underprivileged children so day
educate underprivileged children so day one I arrived at this worn down building
one I arrived at this worn down building
one I arrived at this worn down building with a small sign above the ground floor
with a small sign above the ground floor
with a small sign above the ground floor entrance reading Asha for education
entrance reading Asha for education
entrance reading Asha for education name of the NGO I got out of the car and
name of the NGO I got out of the car and
name of the NGO I got out of the car and I walked into the building and was
I walked into the building and was
I walked into the building and was shocked the center was basically the
shocked the center was basically the
shocked the center was basically the size of a small apartment no bigger than
size of a small apartment no bigger than
size of a small apartment no bigger than a four bedroom suite and Charles Commons
a four bedroom suite and Charles Commons
a four bedroom suite and Charles Commons for instance forget watermarks or
for instance forget watermarks or
for instance forget watermarks or chipping paint the walls look like they
chipping paint the walls look like they
chipping paint the walls look like they had been beaten with a hammer and there
had been beaten with a hammer and there
had been beaten with a hammer and there are only two teachers there both of whom
are only two teachers there both of whom
are only two teachers there both of whom also lived there to teach full-time 50
also lived there to teach full-time 50
also lived there to teach full-time 50 or so children had been crammed into two
or so children had been crammed into two
or so children had been crammed into two 20 by 15 foot and makeshift classrooms
20 by 15 foot and makeshift classrooms
20 by 15 foot and makeshift classrooms and they sat there on the ground in
and they sat there on the ground in
and they sat there on the ground in their starched school uniforms in the
their starched school uniforms in the
their starched school uniforms in the summer heat they sat on the ground
summer heat they sat on the ground
summer heat they sat on the ground because there were hardly any chairs and
because there were hardly any chairs and
because there were hardly any chairs and very few desks for that matter and in
very few desks for that matter and in
very few desks for that matter and in their notebooks many wrote with pencils
their notebooks many wrote with pencils
their notebooks many wrote with pencils that were probably too small to be
that were probably too small to be
that were probably too small to be sharpened and I couldn’t believe it
sharpened and I couldn’t believe it
sharpened and I couldn’t believe it I mean just think about it here we are
I mean just think about it here we are
I mean just think about it here we are in the 21st century and in a city like
in the 21st century and in a city like
in the 21st century and in a city like Mumbai India kids didn’t have pencils
Mumbai India kids didn’t have pencils
Mumbai India kids didn’t have pencils kids didn’t have access to pencils to
kids didn’t have access to pencils to
kids didn’t have access to pencils to write with and it made me sad but when
write with and it made me sad but when
write with and it made me sad but when these kids looked at me that smiles on
these kids looked at me that smiles on
these kids looked at me that smiles on their faces and they greeted me with
their faces and they greeted me with
their faces and they greeted me with excitement hi byah byah meaning elder
excitement hi byah byah meaning elder
excitement hi byah byah meaning elder brother and hindi so when I introduced
brother and hindi so when I introduced
brother and hindi so when I introduced myself and told them that I’d be
myself and told them that I’d be
myself and told them that I’d be teaching them English regularly they
teaching them English regularly they
teaching them English regularly they were excited they were thrilled there
were excited they were thrilled there
were excited they were thrilled there was this one kid in particular
was this one kid in particular
was this one kid in particular Rizwan who just he had this sheer
Rizwan who just he had this sheer
Rizwan who just he had this sheer determination to learn as much as he
determination to learn as much as he
determination to learn as much as he could I remember every time I would go
could I remember every time I would go
could I remember every time I would go to Asha where as Juan would be standing
to Asha where as Juan would be standing
to Asha where as Juan would be standing at the door waiting for me he would come
at the door waiting for me he would come
at the door waiting for me he would come up to me and shake my hand or give me a
up to me and shake my hand or give me a
up to me and shake my hand or give me a high-five and try greeting me in English
high-five and try greeting me in English
high-five and try greeting me in English I remember this one time he came up to
I remember this one time he came up to
I remember this one time he came up to me he ran up to me and he told me yoshua
me he ran up to me and he told me yoshua
me he ran up to me and he told me yoshua yesterday I watched fast and furious in
yesterday I watched fast and furious in
yesterday I watched fast and furious in English and he was so excited but all I
English and he was so excited but all I
English and he was so excited but all I can remember thinking is this kid is
can remember thinking is this kid is
can remember thinking is this kid is doing everything in his power to learn
doing everything in his power to learn
doing everything in his power to learn as much as he can
as much as he can
as much as he can attending a municipal school rose Juan
attending a municipal school rose Juan
attending a municipal school rose Juan didn’t have the opportunity to learn
didn’t have the opportunity to learn
didn’t have the opportunity to learn English well and the teachers at Asha
English well and the teachers at Asha
English well and the teachers at Asha could hardly speak English either when I
could hardly speak English either when I
could hardly speak English either when I came along he suddenly had a chance to
came along he suddenly had a chance to
came along he suddenly had a chance to learn and he wanted to get as much out
learn and he wanted to get as much out
learn and he wanted to get as much out of me as he possibly could and it dawned
of me as he possibly could and it dawned
of me as he possibly could and it dawned on me that my education and experiences
on me that my education and experiences
on me that my education and experiences put me in a position to inspire and
put me in a position to inspire and
put me in a position to inspire and motivate Rizwan and others like him and
motivate Rizwan and others like him and
motivate Rizwan and others like him and support them in achieving their goals
support them in achieving their goals
support them in achieving their goals but I also realized that I wasn’t unique
but I also realized that I wasn’t unique
but I also realized that I wasn’t unique in this capacity so many people from the
in this capacity so many people from the
in this capacity so many people from the other kids at school to my neighbors to
other kids at school to my neighbors to
other kids at school to my neighbors to the shop owner of the small stationery
the shop owner of the small stationery
the shop owner of the small stationery store down the street all had unique
store down the street all had unique
store down the street all had unique privileges and experiences that could be
privileges and experiences that could be
privileges and experiences that could be leveraged to help these kids privilege
leveraged to help these kids privilege
leveraged to help these kids privilege as we know puts us in a position of
as we know puts us in a position of
as we know puts us in a position of power for many of us we were fortunate
power for many of us we were fortunate
power for many of us we were fortunate to start off with certain privileges
to start off with certain privileges
to start off with certain privileges often owing to our parents hard work for
often owing to our parents hard work for
often owing to our parents hard work for others this power could be gained
others this power could be gained
others this power could be gained through the opportunities offered to
through the opportunities offered to
through the opportunities offered to them by the people in their communities
them by the people in their communities
them by the people in their communities such as teachers and mentors but for all
such as teachers and mentors but for all
such as teachers and mentors but for all of us here tonight we have gained
of us here tonight we have gained
of us here tonight we have gained incredible power through our efforts and
incredible power through our efforts and
incredible power through our efforts and perseverance that have led us to where
perseverance that have led us to where
perseverance that have led us to where we are today just think about it we are
we are today just think about it we are
we are today just think about it we are here at Hopkins a top 10 global
here at Hopkins a top 10 global
here at Hopkins a top 10 global University now let me ask who cares
University now let me ask who cares
University now let me ask who cares about national rankings right so we have
about national rankings right so we have
about national rankings right so we have access to so much now let me ask you a
access to so much now let me ask you a
access to so much now let me ask you a question how many of you are taking
question how many of you are taking
question how many of you are taking advantage of all the resources that we
advantage of all the resources that we
advantage of all the resources that we have here and how does that translate
have here and how does that translate
have here and how does that translate into helping the people around you
into helping the people around you
into helping the people around you everything we learn the physical
everything we learn the physical
everything we learn the physical resources we have the experiences we
resources we have the experiences we
resources we have the experiences we collect the networks we build all of it
collect the networks we build all of it
collect the networks we build all of it can be leveraged to help others climb up
can be leveraged to help others climb up
can be leveraged to help others climb up that’s the key your power can be shared
that’s the key your power can be shared
that’s the key your power can be shared you just need to offer your hand but I
you just need to offer your hand but I
you just need to offer your hand but I know all of this is easier said than
know all of this is easier said than
know all of this is easier said than done I remember when I got into Hopkins
done I remember when I got into Hopkins
done I remember when I got into Hopkins I thought wow I’m going to be Johns
I thought wow I’m going to be Johns
I thought wow I’m going to be Johns Hopkins University I was I was ecstatic
Hopkins University I was I was ecstatic
Hopkins University I was I was ecstatic I told myself that I’d do everything
I told myself that I’d do everything
I told myself that I’d do everything from awesome research full disclosure
from awesome research full disclosure
from awesome research full disclosure I’m your typical pre-med to community
I’m your typical pre-med to community
I’m your typical pre-med to community service to maybe working on a start-up
service to maybe working on a start-up
service to maybe working on a start-up because you know why not but probably
because you know why not but probably
because you know why not but probably three weeks into freshman year I became
three weeks into freshman year I became
three weeks into freshman year I became lost in the noise of stress work and
lost in the noise of stress work and
lost in the noise of stress work and other commitments and all the reasons
other commitments and all the reasons
other commitments and all the reasons that had excited me
that had excited me
that had excited me about coming to Hopkins seem to have
about coming to Hopkins seem to have
about coming to Hopkins seem to have faded away Hopkins no longer seems
faded away Hopkins no longer seems
faded away Hopkins no longer seems special it was just a fact of life and
special it was just a fact of life and
special it was just a fact of life and with this change in attitude came a loss
with this change in attitude came a loss
with this change in attitude came a loss in perspective I lost sight of what it
in perspective I lost sight of what it
in perspective I lost sight of what it is that I had access to and what that
is that I had access to and what that
is that I had access to and what that enabled me to do and it’s easy to forget
enabled me to do and it’s easy to forget
enabled me to do and it’s easy to forget to look beyond yourself
to look beyond yourself
to look beyond yourself I was certainly guilty of that and
I was certainly guilty of that and
I was certainly guilty of that and that’s why it’s necessary to really take
that’s why it’s necessary to really take
that’s why it’s necessary to really take a step back and recalibrate I had to
a step back and recalibrate I had to
a step back and recalibrate I had to remind myself take a step back and I
remind myself take a step back and I
remind myself take a step back and I urge you to do the same regard the city
urge you to do the same regard the city
urge you to do the same regard the city observe the people and consider your
observe the people and consider your
observe the people and consider your place in all of this get out of the
place in all of this get out of the
place in all of this get out of the Hopkins bubble and go speak to someone
Hopkins bubble and go speak to someone
Hopkins bubble and go speak to someone you’ve never met before
you’ve never met before
you’ve never met before ask yourself how are you contributing to
ask yourself how are you contributing to
ask yourself how are you contributing to something greater than yourself and in
something greater than yourself and in
something greater than yourself and in the process how are you enhancing the
the process how are you enhancing the
the process how are you enhancing the lives of others so far tonight I have
lives of others so far tonight I have
lives of others so far tonight I have talked about my experiences through
talked about my experiences through
talked about my experiences through community service but the way that I
community service but the way that I
community service but the way that I approached is certainly not the only way
approached is certainly not the only way
approached is certainly not the only way in which you can support others if I
in which you can support others if I
in which you can support others if I encourage you to find whatever it is
encourage you to find whatever it is
encourage you to find whatever it is that you are passionate about and pursue
that you are passionate about and pursue
that you are passionate about and pursue it but in the process elevate others if
it but in the process elevate others if
it but in the process elevate others if you are passionate about computers then
you are passionate about computers then
you are passionate about computers then if you are passionate about computers
if you are passionate about computers
if you are passionate about computers then go out into your community and help
then go out into your community and help
then go out into your community and help the unemployed become computer literate
the unemployed become computer literate
the unemployed become computer literate so that they can get jobs if you love
so that they can get jobs if you love
so that they can get jobs if you love writing go teach kids how to express
writing go teach kids how to express
writing go teach kids how to express themselves so they can have a voice if
themselves so they can have a voice if
themselves so they can have a voice if you are like my if you’re like my
you are like my if you’re like my
you are like my if you’re like my younger brother and you’re perpetually
younger brother and you’re perpetually
younger brother and you’re perpetually hungry and all you can think about is
hungry and all you can think about is
hungry and all you can think about is food then go eat to your heart’s content
food then go eat to your heart’s content
food then go eat to your heart’s content but at the same time do work that helps
but at the same time do work that helps
but at the same time do work that helps somebody else have a decent meal too if
somebody else have a decent meal too if
somebody else have a decent meal too if I’m going to be completely honest I
I’m going to be completely honest I
I’m going to be completely honest I probably learned more from Rizwan than
probably learned more from Rizwan than
probably learned more from Rizwan than he learned from me he showed me the
he learned from me he showed me the
he learned from me he showed me the power that I have and I hope tonight
power that I have and I hope tonight
power that I have and I hope tonight I’ve been able to convince you of the
I’ve been able to convince you of the
I’ve been able to convince you of the power that you all share too so here’s
power that you all share too so here’s
power that you all share too so here’s my note to self never forget the power
my note to self never forget the power
my note to self never forget the power that you have and use it to help the
that you have and use it to help the
that you have and use it to help the people around you thank you
”
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