but I am the founder of the compelling lie organization nonprofit organization
lie organization nonprofit organization
lie organization nonprofit organization based here in Dallas where we aim to
based here in Dallas where we aim to
based here in Dallas where we aim to motivate and inspire students of promise
motivate and inspire students of promise
motivate and inspire students of promise young people like you to create your
young people like you to create your
young people like you to create your best reality you see I’ve had tremendous
best reality you see I’ve had tremendous
best reality you see I’ve had tremendous experiences and opportunities in my life
experiences and opportunities in my life
experiences and opportunities in my life tremendous number some may say I may
tremendous number some may say I may
tremendous number some may say I may have had even a or having a halfway
have had even a or having a halfway
have had even a or having a halfway decent career and that’s what I want for
decent career and that’s what I want for
decent career and that’s what I want for all of you that’s what I want for all of
all of you that’s what I want for all of
all of you that’s what I want for all of you you see I grew up in Paterson New
you you see I grew up in Paterson New
you you see I grew up in Paterson New Jersey
Jersey
Jersey it’s a city just 30 minutes outside of
it’s a city just 30 minutes outside of
it’s a city just 30 minutes outside of New York City I’m the son of two high
New York City I’m the son of two high
New York City I’m the son of two high school teachers who grew up in the
school teachers who grew up in the
school teachers who grew up in the segregated south but raised three
segregated south but raised three
segregated south but raised three children all of whom earned their
children all of whom earned their
children all of whom earned their college degrees now don’t get me wrong
college degrees now don’t get me wrong
college degrees now don’t get me wrong we didn’t grow up with everything that
we didn’t grow up with everything that
we didn’t grow up with everything that we wanted we did but we had everything
we wanted we did but we had everything
we wanted we did but we had everything that we needed one of the things I want
that we needed one of the things I want
that we needed one of the things I want to share with you I had the same
to share with you I had the same
to share with you I had the same insecurities that many of you are facing
insecurities that many of you are facing
insecurities that many of you are facing right now and probably even more
right now and probably even more
right now and probably even more intensified because of social media you
intensified because of social media you
intensified because of social media you know I was trying to figure out am I am
know I was trying to figure out am I am
know I was trying to figure out am I am i smart enough am i good-looking enough
i smart enough am i good-looking enough
i smart enough am i good-looking enough am i rearing the right clothes and I’ll
am i rearing the right clothes and I’ll
am i rearing the right clothes and I’ll tell you the nervousness I felt asking
tell you the nervousness I felt asking
tell you the nervousness I felt asking for that girl for her number is she
for that girl for her number is she
for that girl for her number is she gonna laugh in my face is she gonna go
gonna laugh in my face is she gonna go
gonna laugh in my face is she gonna go back and tell her friends and they’re
back and tell her friends and they’re
back and tell her friends and they’re gonna laugh at me I mean those same
gonna laugh at me I mean those same
gonna laugh at me I mean those same insecurities that many of you may be
insecurities that many of you may be
insecurities that many of you may be facing today but the other thing that I
facing today but the other thing that I
facing today but the other thing that I remember and that I know for a fact is
remember and that I know for a fact is
remember and that I know for a fact is that it’s important to be active engaged
that it’s important to be active engaged
that it’s important to be active engaged in what you do so in terms of being
in what you do so in terms of being
in what you do so in terms of being engaged and focusing on your on your
engaged and focusing on your on your
engaged and focusing on your on your activities that here’s another message I
activities that here’s another message I
activities that here’s another message I want to share with you and let me do
want to share with you and let me do
want to share with you and let me do this because I wanted to make sure I
this because I wanted to make sure I
this because I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss some important points for
didn’t miss some important points for
didn’t miss some important points for you you know being a shy kid and
you you know being a shy kid and
you you know being a shy kid and introvert
introvert
introvert and I know we’re gonna have hear from a
and I know we’re gonna have hear from a
and I know we’re gonna have hear from a speaker later today that’s going to talk
speaker later today that’s going to talk
speaker later today that’s going to talk to you about some tips of overcoming
to you about some tips of overcoming
to you about some tips of overcoming some of that but the other thing that I
some of that but the other thing that I
some of that but the other thing that I want to share with you the compelling
want to share with you the compelling
want to share with you the compelling why it’s my side hustle right what I
why it’s my side hustle right what I
why it’s my side hustle right what I mean by that my day job my day job is
mean by that my day job my day job is
mean by that my day job my day job is that senior director of global community
that senior director of global community
that senior director of global community affairs for fluor corporation I also
affairs for fluor corporation I also
affairs for fluor corporation I also serve as the president of the floor
serve as the president of the floor
serve as the president of the floor foundation right so what I have to do is
foundation right so what I have to do is
foundation right so what I have to do is in terms of floor and for some of you
in terms of floor and for some of you
in terms of floor and for some of you you probably don’t realize or recognize
you probably don’t realize or recognize
you probably don’t realize or recognize what floor is because we’re not a
what floor is because we’re not a
what floor is because we’re not a household name but we work with
household name but we work with
household name but we work with governments and clients from around the
governments and clients from around the
governments and clients from around the world to design build and maintain
world to design build and maintain
world to design build and maintain challenging complex capital projects so
challenging complex capital projects so
challenging complex capital projects so what does he mean by capital projects
what does he mean by capital projects
what does he mean by capital projects think oil refineries for Exxon Mobil or
think oil refineries for Exxon Mobil or
think oil refineries for Exxon Mobil or Chevron Phillips we help build those
Chevron Phillips we help build those
Chevron Phillips we help build those think roadways and bridges one of our
think roadways and bridges one of our
think roadways and bridges one of our signature projects the San Francisco
signature projects the San Francisco
signature projects the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge in Northern
Oakland Bay Bridge in Northern
Oakland Bay Bridge in Northern California think the Tappan Zee Bridge
California think the Tappan Zee Bridge
California think the Tappan Zee Bridge just north of New York City that’s when
just north of New York City that’s when
just north of New York City that’s when we’re actively building now or think
we’re actively building now or think
we’re actively building now or think about just right here in Dallas what’s
about just right here in Dallas what’s
about just right here in Dallas what’s called the horseshoe project that’s the
called the horseshoe project that’s the
called the horseshoe project that’s the roadway and bridge work that’s happening
roadway and bridge work that’s happening
roadway and bridge work that’s happening along I 30 and 35 across the Trinity
along I 30 and 35 across the Trinity
along I 30 and 35 across the Trinity River now that’s a floor project and
River now that’s a floor project and
River now that’s a floor project and I’ve had like I said earlier many
I’ve had like I said earlier many
I’ve had like I said earlier many experiences working with floor but some
experiences working with floor but some
experiences working with floor but some of the things that I enjoyed the most is
of the things that I enjoyed the most is
of the things that I enjoyed the most is being able to travel because I have
being able to travel because I have
being able to travel because I have global responsibilities I have global
global responsibilities I have global
global responsibilities I have global responsibility and managing our
responsibility and managing our
responsibility and managing our community footprint doing good in the
community footprint doing good in the
community footprint doing good in the community grants to nonprofit
community grants to nonprofit
community grants to nonprofit organizations like Mary or sac story
organizations like Mary or sac story
organizations like Mary or sac story power that you hear a little bit later
power that you hear a little bit later
power that you hear a little bit later like our community corporate volunteer
like our community corporate volunteer
like our community corporate volunteer efforts those are the things I manage
efforts those are the things I manage
efforts those are the things I manage and I’ve had opportunities over the past
and I’ve had opportunities over the past
and I’ve had opportunities over the past 30 years
30 years
30 years to travel internationally one of my
to travel internationally one of my
to travel internationally one of my favorite trips
favorite trips
favorite trips favorite trips is one I made to the
favorite trips is one I made to the
favorite trips is one I made to the Middle East
Middle East
Middle East visit Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabia and Dubai
visit Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabia and Dubai
visit Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabia and Dubai and then the next week we ended up going
and then the next week we ended up going
and then the next week we ended up going to Johannesburg South Africa and while
to Johannesburg South Africa and while
to Johannesburg South Africa and while in the Middle East I had the chance to
in the Middle East I had the chance to
in the Middle East I had the chance to visit the Burj Khalifa tower the tallest
visit the Burj Khalifa tower the tallest
visit the Burj Khalifa tower the tallest building in the world and when in
building in the world and when in
building in the world and when in Johannesburg had the opportunity after
Johannesburg had the opportunity after
Johannesburg had the opportunity after spending the week doing the floor work
spending the week doing the floor work
spending the week doing the floor work my colleagues took me out and we had an
my colleagues took me out and we had an
my colleagues took me out and we had an opportunity to go on a cultural tour of
opportunity to go on a cultural tour of
opportunity to go on a cultural tour of Johannesburg where we visited two homes
Johannesburg where we visited two homes
Johannesburg where we visited two homes of Nelson Mandela which were now museums
of Nelson Mandela which were now museums
of Nelson Mandela which were now museums we visit a Constitution Hill where which
we visit a Constitution Hill where which
we visit a Constitution Hill where which was the the location and where melt
was the the location and where melt
was the the location and where melt mandela was jailed prior to him being
mandela was jailed prior to him being
mandela was jailed prior to him being sent to Robben Island for prison for a
sent to Robben Island for prison for a
sent to Robben Island for prison for a couple decades so those type of cultural
couple decades so those type of cultural
couple decades so those type of cultural experience and opportunities that a
experience and opportunities that a
experience and opportunities that a young kid from Paterson New Jersey son
young kid from Paterson New Jersey son
young kid from Paterson New Jersey son of two high school teachers would not
of two high school teachers would not
of two high school teachers would not have had the opportunity or be prepared
have had the opportunity or be prepared
have had the opportunity or be prepared to take advantage of if I didn’t have
to take advantage of if I didn’t have
to take advantage of if I didn’t have the secret formula the secret formula
the secret formula the secret formula
the secret formula the secret formula and that’s what I want to share with you
and that’s what I want to share with you
and that’s what I want to share with you today the secret formula tell the truth
today the secret formula tell the truth
today the secret formula tell the truth it’s not that secret number one you have
it’s not that secret number one you have
it’s not that secret number one you have to value your education education is the
to value your education education is the
to value your education education is the new currency of the 21st century it is
new currency of the 21st century it is
new currency of the 21st century it is the great equalizer in America it’s your
the great equalizer in America it’s your
the great equalizer in America it’s your ticket into the games of Commerce career
ticket into the games of Commerce career
ticket into the games of Commerce career and opportunity so what does valuing
and opportunity so what does valuing
and opportunity so what does valuing your education look like today in middle
your education look like today in middle
your education look like today in middle school what does it look like how many
school what does it look like how many
school what does it look like how many of you show of hands how many you are in
of you show of hands how many you are in
of you show of hands how many you are in eighth grade a good number of you over
eighth grade a good number of you over
eighth grade a good number of you over the next couple of months you’re gonna
the next couple of months you’re gonna
the next couple of months you’re gonna sit down with your counselor and you’re
sit down with your counselor and you’re
sit down with your counselor and you’re gonna map out your high school courses
gonna map out your high school courses
gonna map out your high school courses for that freshman year what you need to
for that freshman year what you need to
for that freshman year what you need to do is seek out those honors courses
do is seek out those honors courses
do is seek out those honors courses those pre advanced placement courses
those pre advanced placement courses
those pre advanced placement courses those AP courses if you’re at a school
those AP courses if you’re at a school
those AP courses if you’re at a school that offers international baccalaureate
that offers international baccalaureate
that offers international baccalaureate those IB courses those are the courses
those IB courses those are the courses
those IB courses those are the courses that are going to prepare you for
that are going to prepare you for
that are going to prepare you for success prepare you to pursue and
success prepare you to pursue and
success prepare you to pursue and achieve those dreams that you have it’s
achieve those dreams that you have it’s
achieve those dreams that you have it’s your education what else does it look
your education what else does it look
your education what else does it look like for you to value and pursue your
like for you to value and pursue your
like for you to value and pursue your education it’s being actively engaged in
education it’s being actively engaged in
education it’s being actively engaged in classroom discussions are you doing
classroom discussions are you doing
classroom discussions are you doing sitting in the background waiting for
sitting in the background waiting for
sitting in the background waiting for everyone else to answer are you raising
everyone else to answer are you raising
everyone else to answer are you raising your hand being engaged being part of
your hand being engaged being part of
your hand being engaged being part of that conversation after engagement looks
that conversation after engagement looks
that conversation after engagement looks like raising your hand being engaged
are you putting as much time energy and
are you putting as much time energy and effort in the courses that you don’t
effort in the courses that you don’t
effort in the courses that you don’t like as in the courses that you do it’s
like as in the courses that you do it’s
like as in the courses that you do it’s that type of commitment that’s type of
that type of commitment that’s type of
that type of commitment that’s type of commitment that will prepare you for
commitment that will prepare you for
commitment that will prepare you for success so education new currency of the
success so education new currency of the
success so education new currency of the 21st century you have to value it number
21st century you have to value it number
21st century you have to value it number two this idea of self motivation that
two this idea of self motivation that
two this idea of self motivation that organization we call it your compelling
organization we call it your compelling
organization we call it your compelling why and Mark Twain reminds us that the
why and Mark Twain reminds us that the
why and Mark Twain reminds us that the two most important days in your life
two most important days in your life
two most important days in your life listen to this now the two most
listen to this now the two most
listen to this now the two most important days in your life are the day
important days in your life are the day
important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out
you were born and the day you find out
you were born and the day you find out why what’s your purpose what’s your
why what’s your purpose what’s your
why what’s your purpose what’s your purpose why are you here why are you
purpose why are you here why are you
purpose why are you here why are you here because if you’re compelling why
here because if you’re compelling why
here because if you’re compelling why your purpose that will help sustain you
your purpose that will help sustain you
your purpose that will help sustain you in times of difficulty in doubt and I
in times of difficulty in doubt and I
in times of difficulty in doubt and I don’t care if you’re in middle school
don’t care if you’re in middle school
don’t care if you’re in middle school whether you’re in high school we are a
whether you’re in high school we are a
whether you’re in high school we are a dean of an engineering department
dean of an engineering department
dean of an engineering department whether you’re an executive at a fortune
whether you’re an executive at a fortune
whether you’re an executive at a fortune 250 company there will be times of
250 company there will be times of
250 company there will be times of difficulty in doubt and you use that
difficulty in doubt and you use that
difficulty in doubt and you use that purpose to help anchor you you use your
purpose to help anchor you you use your
purpose to help anchor you you use your purpose to help gird you when that peer
purpose to help gird you when that peer
purpose to help gird you when that peer pressure comes in and your friends that
pressure comes in and your friends that
pressure comes in and your friends that are trying to suggest that you do what
are trying to suggest that you do what
are trying to suggest that you do what you know is not the right thing but you
you know is not the right thing but you
you know is not the right thing but you have that purpose you’re thinking in the
have that purpose you’re thinking in the
have that purpose you’re thinking in the future what do I want to be what do I
future what do I want to be what do I
future what do I want to be what do I want to do perhaps that will help you
want to do perhaps that will help you
want to do perhaps that will help you make even better decisions now for me my
make even better decisions now for me my
make even better decisions now for me my compelling why when I was your age is
compelling why when I was your age is
compelling why when I was your age is real simple I just didn’t want to
real simple I just didn’t want to
real simple I just didn’t want to disappoint my parents you know they had
disappoint my parents you know they had
disappoint my parents you know they had high expectations for myself and my two
high expectations for myself and my two
high expectations for myself and my two sisters I just didn’t want to disappoint
sisters I just didn’t want to disappoint
sisters I just didn’t want to disappoint also I did
also I did
also I did to be cold what does he mean you didn’t
to be cold what does he mean you didn’t
to be cold what does he mean you didn’t want to be cold now remember I grew up
want to be cold now remember I grew up
want to be cold now remember I grew up in Paterson New Jersey in the Northeast
in Paterson New Jersey in the Northeast
in Paterson New Jersey in the Northeast it gets cold in the wintertime I’m not
it gets cold in the wintertime I’m not
it gets cold in the wintertime I’m not talking about for one week or two weeks
talking about for one week or two weeks
talking about for one week or two weeks I’m talking about frigid temperatures
I’m talking about frigid temperatures
I’m talking about frigid temperatures for months at a time and because we my
for months at a time and because we my
for months at a time and because we my parents were teachers you know not the
parents were teachers you know not the
parents were teachers you know not the highest income in the world we had to
highest income in the world we had to
highest income in the world we had to live on a budget so when the temperature
live on a budget so when the temperature
live on a budget so when the temperature got cold we just didn’t just turn up the
got cold we just didn’t just turn up the
got cold we just didn’t just turn up the heat we had to keep it down
heat we had to keep it down
heat we had to keep it down you know we had on layers in the house
you know we had on layers in the house
you know we had on layers in the house you know so I wanted to get a good
you know so I wanted to get a good
you know so I wanted to get a good education to get a good job so I could
education to get a good job so I could
education to get a good job so I could turn up the heat when I wanted to and my
turn up the heat when I wanted to and my
turn up the heat when I wanted to and my dad God rest his soul I wanted to drive
dad God rest his soul I wanted to drive
dad God rest his soul I wanted to drive a car that I was proud of driving he
a car that I was proud of driving he
a car that I was proud of driving he owned in 1966 powder blue Chrysler with
owned in 1966 powder blue Chrysler with
owned in 1966 powder blue Chrysler with fishtails
fishtails
fishtails now for those of you who don’t know what
now for those of you who don’t know what
now for those of you who don’t know what fish tails are fins are on a car google
fish tails are fins are on a car google
fish tails are fins are on a car google it and you’ll see how hideous those
it and you’ll see how hideous those
it and you’ll see how hideous those things are it was embarrassing ride
things are it was embarrassing ride
things are it was embarrassing ride around in that car so I wanted to get a
around in that car so I wanted to get a
around in that car so I wanted to get a good education so I can get a good job
good education so I can get a good job
good education so I can get a good job so I can ride around in a ethan car
so I can ride around in a ethan car
so I can ride around in a ethan car that’s the high end just a decent car
that’s the high end just a decent car
that’s the high end just a decent car now your purpose your compelling why I
now your purpose your compelling why I
now your purpose your compelling why I may not just be always materialistic but
may not just be always materialistic but
may not just be always materialistic but as you grow and mature your compelling
as you grow and mature your compelling
as you grow and mature your compelling while your purpose can change and that’s
while your purpose can change and that’s
while your purpose can change and that’s okay it’s to be expected you know for me
okay it’s to be expected you know for me
okay it’s to be expected you know for me at my age today I just want to make my
at my age today I just want to make my
at my age today I just want to make my family proud just want to make my family
family proud just want to make my family
family proud just want to make my family proud
proud
proud my wife Yvette who’s here today a vet my
my wife Yvette who’s here today a vet my
my wife Yvette who’s here today a vet my children and you realized that you know
children and you realized that you know
children and you realized that you know what we’re not going to be here I’m not
what we’re not going to be here I’m not
what we’re not going to be here I’m not gonna be here forever when it’s all said
gonna be here forever when it’s all said
gonna be here forever when it’s all said and done I wanted to leave something
and done I wanted to leave something
and done I wanted to leave something behind that’s important that’s
behind that’s important that’s
behind that’s important that’s meaningful and what better way what
meaningful and what better way what
meaningful and what better way what better way then help to equip young
better way then help to equip young
better way then help to equip young people like you
people like you
people like you students of promise with the knowledge
students of promise with the knowledge
students of promise with the knowledge the awareness of the things you need to
the awareness of the things you need to
the awareness of the things you need to do so you can create your best reality
do so you can create your best reality
do so you can create your best reality so that’s my purpose today and I am very
so that’s my purpose today and I am very
so that’s my purpose today and I am very fortunate to work for a company that
fortunate to work for a company that
fortunate to work for a company that allows me to
allows me to
allows me to mash up and marry my personal passion
mash up and marry my personal passion
mash up and marry my personal passion with a compelling wife with my corporate
with a compelling wife with my corporate
with a compelling wife with my corporate work within corporate social
work within corporate social
work within corporate social responsibility so self-motivation your
responsibility so self-motivation your
responsibility so self-motivation your compelling why your purpose number three
compelling why your purpose number three
compelling why your purpose number three this idea of personal responsibility now
this idea of personal responsibility now
this idea of personal responsibility now this is an important one now you can
this is an important one now you can
this is an important one now you can have all the advantages in the world all
have all the advantages in the world all
have all the advantages in the world all the advantages in the world to parents
the advantages in the world to parents
the advantages in the world to parents that love you and care about you two in
that love you and care about you two in
that love you and care about you two in the household siblings that have your
the household siblings that have your
the household siblings that have your back yeah your brother may get on your
back yeah your brother may get on your
back yeah your brother may get on your nerves yeah your sister can’t stand it
nerves yeah your sister can’t stand it
nerves yeah your sister can’t stand it but at the end of the day you know they
but at the end of the day you know they
but at the end of the day you know they have your back and they care about you
have your back and they care about you
have your back and they care about you you can have great school leadership
you can have great school leadership
you can have great school leadership teachers that have your back in care
teachers that have your back in care
teachers that have your back in care about you like the ones that accompanied
about you like the ones that accompanied
about you like the ones that accompanied you today to make sure you got here the
you today to make sure you got here the
you today to make sure you got here the ones that ask perhaps and pushed you
ones that ask perhaps and pushed you
ones that ask perhaps and pushed you encourage you to attend today you can
encourage you to attend today you can
encourage you to attend today you can have all those things all of it but you
have all those things all of it but you
have all those things all of it but you know it’s not going to matter it’s not
know it’s not going to matter it’s not
know it’s not going to matter it’s not going to matter unless you take personal
going to matter unless you take personal
going to matter unless you take personal responsibility to do the work did you
responsibility to do the work did you
responsibility to do the work did you hear me do take responsibility to do the
hear me do take responsibility to do the
hear me do take responsibility to do the work so what does taking personal
work so what does taking personal
work so what does taking personal responsibility look like well it looks
responsibility look like well it looks
responsibility look like well it looks like taking the most rigorous courses
like taking the most rigorous courses
like taking the most rigorous courses that your school has to offer as well
that your school has to offer as well
that your school has to offer as well that’s what it looks like it looks like
that’s what it looks like it looks like
that’s what it looks like it looks like having the courage to stand up to peer
having the courage to stand up to peer
having the courage to stand up to peer pressure or to speak up for that
pressure or to speak up for that
pressure or to speak up for that classmate who’s being bully
classmate who’s being bully
classmate who’s being bully that’s what personal responsibility
that’s what personal responsibility
that’s what personal responsibility looks like
it looks like not being it looks like
it looks like not being it looks like being unsatisfied with the mediocre and
being unsatisfied with the mediocre and
being unsatisfied with the mediocre and doing less than your best I know it’s
doing less than your best I know it’s
doing less than your best I know it’s difficult at times and I know we’ll push
difficult at times and I know we’ll push
difficult at times and I know we’ll push you as adults but if you take it upon
you as adults but if you take it upon
you as adults but if you take it upon yourself to always try to do your best
yourself to always try to do your best
yourself to always try to do your best that will put you in great position
that will put you in great position
that will put you in great position great position to create your best
great position to create your best
great position to create your best reality now the last one I’ll share with
reality now the last one I’ll share with
reality now the last one I’ll share with you is this idea of active engagement
you is this idea of active engagement
you is this idea of active engagement and really started out with that
and really started out with that
and really started out with that question you see what will further
question you see what will further
question you see what will further differentiate you from the competition
differentiate you from the competition
differentiate you from the competition and prepare you to create your best
and prepare you to create your best
and prepare you to create your best reality is meaningful participation in
reality is meaningful participation in
reality is meaningful participation in extracurricular activities whether in
extracurricular activities whether in
extracurricular activities whether in your school or in community let me be
your school or in community let me be
your school or in community let me be clear I’ve spent 30 years in corporate
clear I’ve spent 30 years in corporate
clear I’ve spent 30 years in corporate America I’ve sat in the c-suite
America I’ve sat in the c-suite
America I’ve sat in the c-suite when executives are talking about the
when executives are talking about the
when executives are talking about the workforce of the future and white what
workforce of the future and white what
workforce of the future and white what type of talent that we need I’ve been in
type of talent that we need I’ve been in
type of talent that we need I’ve been in those rooms I know what my company needs
those rooms I know what my company needs
those rooms I know what my company needs I know what various industries require
I know what various industries require
I know what various industries require and one thing is indisputable to me is
and one thing is indisputable to me is
and one thing is indisputable to me is clear without question without doubt in
clear without question without doubt in
clear without question without doubt in my mind you need more more than what’s
my mind you need more more than what’s
my mind you need more more than what’s being taught to you between 8:00 and
being taught to you between 8:00 and
being taught to you between 8:00 and 3:00 Monday through Friday between
3:00 Monday through Friday between
3:00 Monday through Friday between August and June in other words how you
August and June in other words how you
August and June in other words how you spend your time after school how you
spend your time after school how you
spend your time after school how you spend your time on weekends how you
spend your time on weekends how you
spend your time on weekends how you spend your time during the summer all
spend your time during the summer all
spend your time during the summer all that matters it matters immensely
that matters it matters immensely
that matters it matters immensely immensely so let me start or go to where
immensely so let me start or go to where
immensely so let me start or go to where we’ve started out how many of you are
we’ve started out how many of you are
we’ve started out how many of you are involved in student government show of
involved in student government show of
involved in student government show of hands how many involved in student
hands how many involved in student
hands how many involved in student government excellent excellent
government excellent excellent
government excellent excellent that’s what active engagement looks like
that’s what active engagement looks like
that’s what active engagement looks like how many of you are involved with youth
how many of you are involved with youth
how many of you are involved with youth serving organizations like boys and
serving organizations like boys and
serving organizations like boys and girls clubs or girls Inc or Girl Scouts
girls clubs or girls Inc or Girl Scouts
girls clubs or girls Inc or Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts outstanding Rives yes I
and Boy Scouts outstanding Rives yes I
and Boy Scouts outstanding Rives yes I like that Reeves I see some hands there
like that Reeves I see some hands there
like that Reeves I see some hands there excellent those are the types of things
excellent those are the types of things
excellent those are the types of things you have to do how many of them involve
you have to do how many of them involve
you have to do how many of them involve involved with your your schools with
involved with your your schools with
involved with your your schools with your school’s Robotics Club oh I love
your school’s Robotics Club oh I love
your school’s Robotics Club oh I love that I love that stem great skillsets to
that I love that stem great skillsets to
that I love that stem great skillsets to have outstanding you know what in
have outstanding you know what in
have outstanding you know what in closing I know I need to wrap up you’re
closing I know I need to wrap up you’re
closing I know I need to wrap up you’re gonna hear a lot of great speakers this
gonna hear a lot of great speakers this
gonna hear a lot of great speakers this morning a lot of great speakers the rest
morning a lot of great speakers the rest
morning a lot of great speakers the rest of the day but on your time on your way
of the day but on your time on your way
of the day but on your time on your way home in car in the car in the bus when
home in car in the car in the bus when
home in car in the car in the bus when you’re speaking with your parents or
you’re speaking with your parents or
you’re speaking with your parents or your teachers or your friends I want you
your teachers or your friends I want you
your teachers or your friends I want you to do me this favor
to do me this favor
to do me this favor now you listening to me do me this favor
now you listening to me do me this favor
now you listening to me do me this favor I want you to take a moment close your
I want you to take a moment close your
I want you to take a moment close your eyes and envision your life in five
eyes and envision your life in five
eyes and envision your life in five years 10 years 15 years what do you want
years 10 years 15 years what do you want
years 10 years 15 years what do you want to be what do you want to be doing in
to be what do you want to be doing in
to be what do you want to be doing in order for you to have as many options as
order for you to have as many options as
order for you to have as many options as possible so that you can create your
possible so that you can create your
possible so that you can create your best reality not your parents not your
best reality not your parents not your
best reality not your parents not your teachers but your best reality got to
teachers but your best reality got to
teachers but your best reality got to remember they’ve got a value that
remember they’ve got a value that
remember they’ve got a value that education got to begin trying to figure
education got to begin trying to figure
education got to begin trying to figure out your purpose why are you here what
out your purpose why are you here what
out your purpose why are you here what gets you jazz you have to remember the
gets you jazz you have to remember the
gets you jazz you have to remember the idea of personal responsibility you have
idea of personal responsibility you have
idea of personal responsibility you have to own it you got to own it in the
to own it you got to own it in the
to own it you got to own it in the fourth one obviously you have to get
fourth one obviously you have to get
fourth one obviously you have to get actively engaged because that’s the
actively engaged because that’s the
actively engaged because that’s the secret sauce that’s the seasoning that
secret sauce that’s the seasoning that
secret sauce that’s the seasoning that what makes a regular meal stand out was
what makes a regular meal stand out was
what makes a regular meal stand out was when you had that extra seasoning that’s
when you had that extra seasoning that’s
when you had that extra seasoning that’s how you get exposed to new ideas new
how you get exposed to new ideas new
how you get exposed to new ideas new experiences you have to take that risk
experiences you have to take that risk
experiences you have to take that risk and as a middle school student it’s
and as a middle school student it’s
and as a middle school student it’s challenging taking risk because all
challenging taking risk because all
challenging taking risk because all about being part of the group but you
about being part of the group but you
about being part of the group but you need to surround yourself with peers
need to surround yourself with peers
need to surround yourself with peers that share that of like mine that have
that share that of like mine that have
that share that of like mine that have goals for themselves so with that I
goals for themselves so with that I
goals for themselves so with that I appreciate your time and attention thank
appreciate your time and attention thank
appreciate your time and attention thank you much
you much
you much [Applause]
”
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