[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] okay so to start I want everybody to
okay so to start I want everybody to
okay so to start I want everybody to closer us
closer us
closer us I know super awkward but close your eyes
I know super awkward but close your eyes
I know super awkward but close your eyes I want you to imagine that you just won
I want you to imagine that you just won
I want you to imagine that you just won a really important award you’re standing
a really important award you’re standing
a really important award you’re standing on stage it’s streaming live so millions
on stage it’s streaming live so millions
on stage it’s streaming live so millions of people are watching you this is your
of people are watching you this is your
of people are watching you this is your first huge reward and everyone saying
first huge reward and everyone saying
first huge reward and everyone saying you’ve made it who is the first person
you’ve made it who is the first person
you’ve made it who is the first person you think now open your eyes now I’m
you think now open your eyes now I’m
you think now open your eyes now I’m going to add some strange question I
going to add some strange question I
going to add some strange question I want you to raise your hand if the
want you to raise your hand if the
want you to raise your hand if the person you said you would think was
person you said you would think was
person you said you would think was yourself well you see I asked that
yourself well you see I asked that
yourself well you see I asked that question because often times when we see
question because often times when we see
question because often times when we see someone who we feel is successful we
someone who we feel is successful we
someone who we feel is successful we wonder hmm
wonder hmm
wonder hmm I wonder what they did to get to where
I wonder what they did to get to where
I wonder what they did to get to where they are but when we are awarded for our
they are but when we are awarded for our
they are but when we are awarded for our accomplishments our first instinct is to
accomplishments our first instinct is to
accomplishments our first instinct is to thank those who helped us along the way
thank those who helped us along the way
thank those who helped us along the way so let me tell you a little bit about
so let me tell you a little bit about
so let me tell you a little bit about myself I’m a 24 year old undergraduate
myself I’m a 24 year old undergraduate
myself I’m a 24 year old undergraduate student I’m older than most everyone in
student I’m older than most everyone in
student I’m older than most everyone in my classes I don’t really feel
my classes I don’t really feel
my classes I don’t really feel successful however statistics will say
successful however statistics will say
successful however statistics will say that I definitely am I grew up in
that I definitely am I grew up in
that I definitely am I grew up in poverty fatherless and the daughter of
poverty fatherless and the daughter of
poverty fatherless and the daughter of an incarcerated mother my grandmother
an incarcerated mother my grandmother
an incarcerated mother my grandmother who raised me as a young child was
who raised me as a young child was
who raised me as a young child was crippled with arthritis and incredibly
crippled with arthritis and incredibly
crippled with arthritis and incredibly poor though I really didn’t realize it
poor though I really didn’t realize it
poor though I really didn’t realize it at the time many of my relatives were
at the time many of my relatives were
at the time many of my relatives were arrested fights were normal death was –
arrested fights were normal death was –
arrested fights were normal death was – my oldest sister was murdered in 2001 I
my oldest sister was murdered in 2001 I
my oldest sister was murdered in 2001 I was eight years old when they found her
was eight years old when they found her
was eight years old when they found her body in the Arkansas River after she’d
body in the Arkansas River after she’d
body in the Arkansas River after she’d been strangled to death by a man who
been strangled to death by a man who
been strangled to death by a man who worked in the apartment complex where
worked in the apartment complex where
worked in the apartment complex where she lived many of the women I knew had
she lived many of the women I knew had
she lived many of the women I knew had been sexually assaulted and most either
been sexually assaulted and most either
been sexually assaulted and most either never married or were divorced stability
never married or were divorced stability
never married or were divorced stability was abnormal to me I was used to dis fun
was abnormal to me I was used to dis fun
was abnormal to me I was used to dis fun and brokenness nobody in my immediate
and brokenness nobody in my immediate
and brokenness nobody in my immediate family graduated from college I thought
family graduated from college I thought
family graduated from college I thought success was making $15,000 a year at
success was making $15,000 a year at
success was making $15,000 a year at some blue-collar job I never had loving
some blue-collar job I never had loving
some blue-collar job I never had loving parents I never knew what that felt like
parents I never knew what that felt like
parents I never knew what that felt like and for a long time that was normal to
and for a long time that was normal to
and for a long time that was normal to me the strange thing is is I’ve had
me the strange thing is is I’ve had
me the strange thing is is I’ve had people tell me they’re inspired by me
people tell me they’re inspired by me
people tell me they’re inspired by me but when they do I think of the people
but when they do I think of the people
but when they do I think of the people who helped me get to where I am because
who helped me get to where I am because
who helped me get to where I am because I can’t take full responsibility for
I can’t take full responsibility for
I can’t take full responsibility for getting here so to talk about where I am
getting here so to talk about where I am
getting here so to talk about where I am I guess I should tell you a little bit
I guess I should tell you a little bit
I guess I should tell you a little bit about where I’ve been so when I first
about where I’ve been so when I first
about where I’ve been so when I first entered elementary school a woman named
entered elementary school a woman named
entered elementary school a woman named Gabriel and her husband adopted our
Gabriel and her husband adopted our
Gabriel and her husband adopted our family so Gabriel and her husband would
family so Gabriel and her husband would
family so Gabriel and her husband would choose a low-income family to help each
choose a low-income family to help each
choose a low-income family to help each year and for that entire year they would
year and for that entire year they would
year and for that entire year they would buy everything that family needed so for
buy everything that family needed so for
buy everything that family needed so for every holiday in every changing season
every holiday in every changing season
every holiday in every changing season Gabriel would come when all of the
Gabriel would come when all of the
Gabriel would come when all of the things that she bought for our family at
things that she bought for our family at
things that she bought for our family at the time my grandmother was raised in my
the time my grandmother was raised in my
the time my grandmother was raised in my younger sister and I alone
younger sister and I alone
younger sister and I alone my grandfather had previously helped her
my grandfather had previously helped her
my grandfather had previously helped her but he disappeared I never knew why but
but he disappeared I never knew why but
but he disappeared I never knew why but I have my suspicions she was crippled
I have my suspicions she was crippled
I have my suspicions she was crippled with arthritis so walking was becoming
with arthritis so walking was becoming
with arthritis so walking was becoming difficult for her so caring for her
difficult for her so caring for her
difficult for her so caring for her caring for us alone was hard for her
caring for us alone was hard for her
caring for us alone was hard for her especially with such little income the
especially with such little income the
especially with such little income the year that Gabriel decided to adopt our
year that Gabriel decided to adopt our
year that Gabriel decided to adopt our family we lived in this tiny
family we lived in this tiny
family we lived in this tiny roach-infested one-bedroom home I
roach-infested one-bedroom home I
roach-infested one-bedroom home I remember times where I ate bread with
remember times where I ate bread with
remember times where I ate bread with butter and corn syrup I didn’t think
butter and corn syrup I didn’t think
butter and corn syrup I didn’t think anything of it until Gabriel came with
anything of it until Gabriel came with
anything of it until Gabriel came with all of these things things I didn’t even
all of these things things I didn’t even
all of these things things I didn’t even realize we needed she brought things
realize we needed she brought things
realize we needed she brought things like school supplies and seasonal foods
like school supplies and seasonal foods
like school supplies and seasonal foods I remember Christmas that year being one
I remember Christmas that year being one
I remember Christmas that year being one of the best holidays from our early
of the best holidays from our early
of the best holidays from our early childhood because we got so many gifts I
childhood because we got so many gifts I
childhood because we got so many gifts I used to think Gabriel was literally an
used to think Gabriel was literally an
used to think Gabriel was literally an angel and I still do today I haven’t
angel and I still do today I haven’t
angel and I still do today I haven’t seen her since I was young
seen her since I was young
seen her since I was young but I still remember everything she did
but I still remember everything she did
but I still remember everything she did to help our family that year so some
to help our family that year so some
to help our family that year so some years later during my senior year of
years later during my senior year of
years later during my senior year of high school I was physically assaulted
high school I was physically assaulted
high school I was physically assaulted by my mother this was nothing new as
by my mother this was nothing new as
by my mother this was nothing new as this type of behavior happened
this type of behavior happened
this type of behavior happened throughout my adolescence but this time
throughout my adolescence but this time
throughout my adolescence but this time was different because we were in public
was different because we were in public
was different because we were in public in a her car right down the street from
in a her car right down the street from
in a her car right down the street from my school
my school
my school two years prior to that my appendix
two years prior to that my appendix
two years prior to that my appendix ruptured and the doctors waited five
ruptured and the doctors waited five
ruptured and the doctors waited five months before they took it out talk
months before they took it out talk
months before they took it out talk about a near-death experience I
about a near-death experience I
about a near-death experience I literally almost died
literally almost died
literally almost died the toxins affected my intestines and I
the toxins affected my intestines and I
the toxins affected my intestines and I still have sensitivities to this day
still have sensitivities to this day
still have sensitivities to this day neither she nor I realized it at the
neither she nor I realized it at the
neither she nor I realized it at the time and on that specific day she was
time and on that specific day she was
time and on that specific day she was called to pick me up from school because
called to pick me up from school because
called to pick me up from school because I was sick and I wasn’t feeling well
I was sick and I wasn’t feeling well
I was sick and I wasn’t feeling well well when she arrived at school she was
well when she arrived at school she was
well when she arrived at school she was angry with me she told me it was my
angry with me she told me it was my
angry with me she told me it was my fault I was sick because I ate too much
fault I was sick because I ate too much
fault I was sick because I ate too much out of anger and frustration that she
out of anger and frustration that she
out of anger and frustration that she didn’t seem to care about my well-being
didn’t seem to care about my well-being
didn’t seem to care about my well-being I swore at her see normally I would just
I swore at her see normally I would just
I swore at her see normally I would just keep my mouth shut but the resentment
keep my mouth shut but the resentment
keep my mouth shut but the resentment that I was having toward her was slowly
that I was having toward her was slowly
that I was having toward her was slowly building and at the time I felt like she
building and at the time I felt like she
building and at the time I felt like she would not understand how I felt if I
would not understand how I felt if I
would not understand how I felt if I didn’t well she stopped her car and
didn’t well she stopped her car and
didn’t well she stopped her car and started attacking me I opened the door
started attacking me I opened the door
started attacking me I opened the door and ran out leaving my jacket that she
and ran out leaving my jacket that she
and ran out leaving my jacket that she was clinging on to with her fists she
was clinging on to with her fists she
was clinging on to with her fists she didn’t open her door and started to yell
didn’t open her door and started to yell
didn’t open her door and started to yell threats at me she told me not to come
threats at me she told me not to come
threats at me she told me not to come home or else needless to say I didn’t go
home or else needless to say I didn’t go
home or else needless to say I didn’t go home that day so I ran to my school
home that day so I ran to my school
home that day so I ran to my school counselor where I was told I needed to
counselor where I was told I needed to
counselor where I was told I needed to follow a police report I was still
follow a police report I was still
follow a police report I was still pretty sick and now I had nowhere to go
pretty sick and now I had nowhere to go
pretty sick and now I had nowhere to go I remember sitting in the counselor’s
I remember sitting in the counselor’s
I remember sitting in the counselor’s office for hours before they just gave
office for hours before they just gave
office for hours before they just gave up and decided to send me back to class
up and decided to send me back to class
up and decided to send me back to class until they could find me a place to say
until they could find me a place to say
until they could find me a place to say one of my best friends at the time was
one of my best friends at the time was
one of my best friends at the time was living in a foster home I knew their
living in a foster home I knew their
living in a foster home I knew their parents because they preached at the
parents because they preached at the
parents because they preached at the church I’d just begun visiting they
church I’d just begun visiting they
church I’d just begun visiting they offered me their home temporarily and I
offered me their home temporarily and I
offered me their home temporarily and I stayed with them until I graduated from
stayed with them until I graduated from
stayed with them until I graduated from Highschool my mom did not help me
Highschool my mom did not help me
Highschool my mom did not help me prepare for my high school graduation
prepare for my high school graduation
prepare for my high school graduation they did my mom did not attend the
they did my mom did not attend the
they did my mom did not attend the scholarship award ceremony at my school
scholarship award ceremony at my school
scholarship award ceremony at my school they did they helped me pick out clothes
they did they helped me pick out clothes
they did they helped me pick out clothes and they cheered for me at my high
and they cheered for me at my high
and they cheered for me at my high school graduation I don’t know what
school graduation I don’t know what
school graduation I don’t know what would have happened if they hadn’t taken
would have happened if they hadn’t taken
would have happened if they hadn’t taken the time to help me I’m not sure if I
the time to help me I’m not sure if I
the time to help me I’m not sure if I would have been able to walk across the
would have been able to walk across the
would have been able to walk across the stage and get my high school diploma and
stage and get my high school diploma and
stage and get my high school diploma and to this day I’m not sure they even know
to this day I’m not sure they even know
to this day I’m not sure they even know how much that means to me those stories
how much that means to me those stories
how much that means to me those stories are just two of many many stories I can
are just two of many many stories I can
are just two of many many stories I can tell you about the people who’ve helped
tell you about the people who’ve helped
tell you about the people who’ve helped me become Who I am today there’s this
me become Who I am today there’s this
me become Who I am today there’s this thing about success people think that
thing about success people think that
thing about success people think that it’s something everyone can get but for
it’s something everyone can get but for
it’s something everyone can get but for me my opportunities were always limited
it’s important that I say that because
it’s important that I say that because people use stories like mine as
people use stories like mine as
people use stories like mine as justification they might say things like
justification they might say things like
justification they might say things like well look at her she came from this
well look at her she came from this
well look at her she came from this poorer african-american home so what’s
poorer african-american home so what’s
poorer african-american home so what’s your Excuse well let me tell you they
your Excuse well let me tell you they
your Excuse well let me tell you they didn’t have help I was lucky because
didn’t have help I was lucky because
didn’t have help I was lucky because someone reached out to me and that made
someone reached out to me and that made
someone reached out to me and that made all of the difference
all of the difference
all of the difference thanks to the people who’ve helped me in
thanks to the people who’ve helped me in
thanks to the people who’ve helped me in my life I’m now able to see the world
my life I’m now able to see the world
my life I’m now able to see the world from a totally new perspective as I
from a totally new perspective as I
from a totally new perspective as I approach graduation I get to see the
approach graduation I get to see the
approach graduation I get to see the world through professional lenses now
world through professional lenses now
world through professional lenses now but still I see evidence of the
but still I see evidence of the
but still I see evidence of the importance of helping people and how
importance of helping people and how
importance of helping people and how that not only shapes lives and gets
that not only shapes lives and gets
that not only shapes lives and gets people like me to places like Harding
people like me to places like Harding
people like me to places like Harding University but also how vital that is in
University but also how vital that is in
University but also how vital that is in the workplace so this past summer I
the workplace so this past summer I
the workplace so this past summer I interned at Ketchum Ketchum is one of
interned at Ketchum Ketchum is one of
interned at Ketchum Ketchum is one of the largest public relations agencies in
the largest public relations agencies in
the largest public relations agencies in the world and if you would have told me
the world and if you would have told me
the world and if you would have told me at 18 when I was sitting in that
at 18 when I was sitting in that
at 18 when I was sitting in that counselor’s office that I would have
counselor’s office that I would have
counselor’s office that I would have spent a summer in San Francisco working
spent a summer in San Francisco working
spent a summer in San Francisco working with some of the best in communications
with some of the best in communications
with some of the best in communications I wouldn’t have believed
I wouldn’t have believed
I wouldn’t have believed you to be honest I didn’t even know what
you to be honest I didn’t even know what
you to be honest I didn’t even know what public relations was when I was 18 years
public relations was when I was 18 years
public relations was when I was 18 years old but if it’s one thing that I learned
old but if it’s one thing that I learned
old but if it’s one thing that I learned from that summer is that even the best
from that summer is that even the best
from that summer is that even the best and brightest need help
and brightest need help
and brightest need help Ketchum has some of the best campaigns
Ketchum has some of the best campaigns
Ketchum has some of the best campaigns and public relations but that’s not the
and public relations but that’s not the
and public relations but that’s not the result of one person one person cannot
result of one person one person cannot
result of one person one person cannot take full responsibility for check their
take full responsibility for check their
take full responsibility for check their achievements but many people working
achievements but many people working
achievements but many people working together can create something incredible
together can create something incredible
together can create something incredible and often do our success stories are not
and often do our success stories are not
and often do our success stories are not a one-man show they feature all of the
a one-man show they feature all of the
a one-man show they feature all of the people who’ve helped us along the way
people who’ve helped us along the way
people who’ve helped us along the way you may not realize it now but you are
you may not realize it now but you are
you may not realize it now but you are part of somebody else’s success story so
part of somebody else’s success story so
part of somebody else’s success story so next month when I get ready to graduate
next month when I get ready to graduate
next month when I get ready to graduate and walk across that stage I have you
and walk across that stage I have you
and walk across that stage I have you and you and you to credit as well
and you and you to credit as well
and you and you to credit as well because I didn’t get here on my own I
because I didn’t get here on my own I
because I didn’t get here on my own I had a little help
had a little help
had a little help thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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