maybe okay there we go there we go now the Mike thought well my name is Grace
the Mike thought well my name is Grace
the Mike thought well my name is Grace and as you heard I’m missing a C I will
and as you heard I’m missing a C I will
and as you heard I’m missing a C I will give up my crown actually in just a few
give up my crown actually in just a few
give up my crown actually in just a few months but I am really excited to be
months but I am really excited to be
months but I am really excited to be here first of all I do want to apologize
here first of all I do want to apologize
here first of all I do want to apologize for my voice and my stuffy nose I’ve
for my voice and my stuffy nose I’ve
for my voice and my stuffy nose I’ve been a little bit sick but I am just
been a little bit sick but I am just
been a little bit sick but I am just pushing right through and I’m excited to
pushing right through and I’m excited to
pushing right through and I’m excited to be here
be here
be here you know TED talks are kind of what
you know TED talks are kind of what
you know TED talks are kind of what provided me encouragement every day and
provided me encouragement every day and
provided me encouragement every day and got me through my college years so this
got me through my college years so this
got me through my college years so this is a very surreal moment for me to have
is a very surreal moment for me to have
is a very surreal moment for me to have the opportunity to be up here in this
the opportunity to be up here in this
the opportunity to be up here in this red carpet circle right now I want to
red carpet circle right now I want to
red carpet circle right now I want to talk to you guys about a few different
talk to you guys about a few different
talk to you guys about a few different things today I want to start off with
things today I want to start off with
things today I want to start off with talking about something a topic that I
talking about something a topic that I
talking about something a topic that I feel like we’re all pretty familiar with
feel like we’re all pretty familiar with
feel like we’re all pretty familiar with and that is stereotypes everybody know
and that is stereotypes everybody know
and that is stereotypes everybody know what a stereotype is yeah I think it’s
what a stereotype is yeah I think it’s
what a stereotype is yeah I think it’s kind of us humans in our DNA to judge a
kind of us humans in our DNA to judge a
kind of us humans in our DNA to judge a book by its cover we judge people based
book by its cover we judge people based
book by its cover we judge people based on their race their ethnicity by titles
on their race their ethnicity by titles
on their race their ethnicity by titles that they holds by their backgrounds by
that they holds by their backgrounds by
that they holds by their backgrounds by their socio-economic association we
their socio-economic association we
their socio-economic association we judge them it’s just natural but I take
judge them it’s just natural but I take
judge them it’s just natural but I take on a lot of roles as Miss Tennessee I do
on a lot of roles as Miss Tennessee I do
on a lot of roles as Miss Tennessee I do and you heard just a few of them you can
and you heard just a few of them you can
and you heard just a few of them you can google and you’ll see that I’m the
google and you’ll see that I’m the
google and you’ll see that I’m the spokesperson for character education I
spokesperson for character education I
spokesperson for character education I am the goodwill ambassador for
am the goodwill ambassador for
am the goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network across our
Children’s Miracle Network across our
Children’s Miracle Network across our state
state
state I hold all of these titles but when I
I hold all of these titles but when I
I hold all of these titles but when I came into the position of Miss Tennessee
came into the position of Miss Tennessee
came into the position of Miss Tennessee I didn’t realize all of the roles and
I didn’t realize all of the roles and
I didn’t realize all of the roles and responsibilities that I would be taking
responsibilities that I would be taking
responsibilities that I would be taking on now run one role that I chose that I
on now run one role that I chose that I
on now run one role that I chose that I kind of put upon myself was that to
kind of put upon myself was that to
kind of put upon myself was that to strive to break down the stereotypes of
strive to break down the stereotypes of
strive to break down the stereotypes of pageantry of pageant girls because what
pageantry of pageant girls because what
pageantry of pageant girls because what do you think about when you hear Miss
do you think about when you hear Miss
do you think about when you hear Miss Tennessee or when you hear pageant girl
Tennessee or when you hear pageant girl
Tennessee or when you hear pageant girl Miss America anything anybody want to
Miss America anything anybody want to
Miss America anything anybody want to suggest what are what are some things
suggest what are what are some things
suggest what are what are some things you hear some things you think maybe you
you hear some things you think maybe you
you hear some things you think maybe you think hair and makeup right maybe you
think hair and makeup right maybe you
think hair and makeup right maybe you think wealthy family maybe you think
think wealthy family maybe you think
think wealthy family maybe you think spoiled brat maybe you think not very
spoiled brat maybe you think not very
spoiled brat maybe you think not very intelligent maybe you think mean girl
intelligent maybe you think mean girl
intelligent maybe you think mean girl maybe you think all of these things
maybe you think all of these things
maybe you think all of these things maybe you think self-obsessed
maybe you think self-obsessed
maybe you think self-obsessed what’s my job I feel like is Miss
what’s my job I feel like is Miss
what’s my job I feel like is Miss Tennessee to break down those
Tennessee to break down those
Tennessee to break down those stereotypes because I don’t feel like
stereotypes because I don’t feel like
stereotypes because I don’t feel like any of those were true for me now I
any of those were true for me now I
any of those were true for me now I didn’t grow up competing in pageants I
didn’t grow up competing in pageants I
didn’t grow up competing in pageants I also didn’t grow up in a wealthy family
also didn’t grow up in a wealthy family
also didn’t grow up in a wealthy family I am from right here in the Memphis area
I am from right here in the Memphis area
I am from right here in the Memphis area I’m from Bartlett Tennessee I am the
I’m from Bartlett Tennessee I am the
I’m from Bartlett Tennessee I am the middle sister of three girls my father
middle sister of three girls my father
middle sister of three girls my father is a plumber my mother is a nurse at one
is a plumber my mother is a nurse at one
is a plumber my mother is a nurse at one point my father tried to start his own
point my father tried to start his own
point my father tried to start his own business and failed and we were going on
business and failed and we were going on
business and failed and we were going on just my mom’s salary for a couple years
just my mom’s salary for a couple years
just my mom’s salary for a couple years so I by no means came from a wealthy
so I by no means came from a wealthy
so I by no means came from a wealthy family I’m very much middle-class
family I’m very much middle-class
family I’m very much middle-class homegrown girl I went to Bartlett high
homegrown girl I went to Bartlett high
homegrown girl I went to Bartlett high school I was always very involved in
school I was always very involved in
school I was always very involved in high school and it wasn’t until I was in
high school and it wasn’t until I was in
high school and it wasn’t until I was in high school my freshman or sophomore
high school my freshman or sophomore
high school my freshman or sophomore year that I decided that I wanted to
year that I decided that I wanted to
year that I decided that I wanted to compete in a pageant now I didn’t want
compete in a pageant now I didn’t want
compete in a pageant now I didn’t want to compete in the pageant because of the
to compete in the pageant because of the
to compete in the pageant because of the fame that’s associated with it I wanted
fame that’s associated with it I wanted
fame that’s associated with it I wanted to compete in the pageant because of the
to compete in the pageant because of the
to compete in the pageant because of the job the job that’s associated with Miss
job the job that’s associated with Miss
job the job that’s associated with Miss Tennessee now I told you guys about a
Tennessee now I told you guys about a
Tennessee now I told you guys about a few different roles that I take on and a
few different roles that I take on and a
few different roles that I take on and a couple that I didn’t expect another one
couple that I didn’t expect another one
couple that I didn’t expect another one that I didn’t expect to take on was the
that I didn’t expect to take on was the
that I didn’t expect to take on was the role of this mystical magical imaginary
role of this mystical magical imaginary
role of this mystical magical imaginary creature that lives in a child’s brain
creature that lives in a child’s brain
creature that lives in a child’s brain sounds a little weird right but as my
sounds a little weird right but as my
sounds a little weird right but as my ears Miss Tennessee I travel over 80
ears Miss Tennessee I travel over 80
ears Miss Tennessee I travel over 80 thousand miles and speak to over 50,000
thousand miles and speak to over 50,000
thousand miles and speak to over 50,000 students about a character trait of my
students about a character trait of my
students about a character trait of my choice and we’ll get to that in a minute
choice and we’ll get to that in a minute
choice and we’ll get to that in a minute but first of all I want to tell you
but first of all I want to tell you
but first of all I want to tell you about how when I walk into a room is
about how when I walk into a room is
about how when I walk into a room is grace kids will listen to me I have a
grace kids will listen to me I have a
grace kids will listen to me I have a passion for children I love children I’m
passion for children I love children I’m
passion for children I love children I’m not afraid to get down on my knees to
not afraid to get down on my knees to
not afraid to get down on my knees to play with them to talk to them and make
play with them to talk to them and make
play with them to talk to them and make them feel comfortable but when I walk in
them feel comfortable but when I walk in
them feel comfortable but when I walk in as Miss Tennessee these kids see me as
as Miss Tennessee these kids see me as
as Miss Tennessee these kids see me as this magical fairy princess that they
this magical fairy princess that they
this magical fairy princess that they can tell anything to they don’t see me
can tell anything to they don’t see me
can tell anything to they don’t see me as grace they don’t see me as an adult
as grace they don’t see me as an adult
as grace they don’t see me as an adult they don’t see me as a friend or a
they don’t see me as a friend or a
they don’t see me as a friend or a student a fellow student they see me as
student a fellow student they see me as
student a fellow student they see me as this magical imaginary figure and I’ve
this magical imaginary figure and I’ve
this magical imaginary figure and I’ve learned to really play that up this year
learned to really play that up this year
learned to really play that up this year majority of the schools that I go into
majority of the schools that I go into
majority of the schools that I go into are low-income schools I don’t know
are low-income schools I don’t know
are low-income schools I don’t know which kids are going home
which kids are going home
which kids are going home you foster families I don’t know which
you foster families I don’t know which
you foster families I don’t know which kids are going home to people who never
kids are going home to people who never
kids are going home to people who never tell them I love you or you’re special
tell them I love you or you’re special
tell them I love you or you’re special or you’re capable I don’t know if I’m
or you’re capable I don’t know if I’m
or you’re capable I don’t know if I’m going into a classroom with children who
going into a classroom with children who
going into a classroom with children who will go home and not have dinner or not
will go home and not have dinner or not
will go home and not have dinner or not wake up and eat breakfast in the morning
wake up and eat breakfast in the morning
wake up and eat breakfast in the morning but when I walk in as Miss Ennis II they
but when I walk in as Miss Ennis II they
but when I walk in as Miss Ennis II they listen to me they’re like sponges they
listen to me they’re like sponges they
listen to me they’re like sponges they soak up everything that I say
soak up everything that I say
soak up everything that I say there was actually a Miss Tennessee a
there was actually a Miss Tennessee a
there was actually a Miss Tennessee a couple years ago that went into a school
couple years ago that went into a school
couple years ago that went into a school and was getting to have some one-on-one
and was getting to have some one-on-one
and was getting to have some one-on-one time with the children and uh I don’t
time with the children and uh I don’t
time with the children and uh I don’t know if it was a little boy or a little
know if it was a little boy or a little
know if it was a little boy or a little girl but they told her that they were
girl but they told her that they were
girl but they told her that they were being abused at home they didn’t choose
being abused at home they didn’t choose
being abused at home they didn’t choose to tell their teacher they didn’t choose
to tell their teacher they didn’t choose
to tell their teacher they didn’t choose to tell a classmate or a friend this had
to tell a classmate or a friend this had
to tell a classmate or a friend this had been an ongoing situation but they chose
been an ongoing situation but they chose
been an ongoing situation but they chose to tell Miss Tennessee and I think a lot
to tell Miss Tennessee and I think a lot
to tell Miss Tennessee and I think a lot of times people don’t realize the weight
of times people don’t realize the weight
of times people don’t realize the weight that comes along with this tool this is
that comes along with this tool this is
that comes along with this tool this is my tool my crown is my tool I think a
my tool my crown is my tool I think a
my tool my crown is my tool I think a lot of times we think of Miss Tennessee
lot of times we think of Miss Tennessee
lot of times we think of Miss Tennessee and this crown as being superficial and
and this crown as being superficial and
and this crown as being superficial and that’s not true in my case and that
that’s not true in my case and that
that’s not true in my case and that example of a child pouring out their
example of a child pouring out their
example of a child pouring out their heart to this like I said mystical
heart to this like I said mystical
heart to this like I said mystical creature of Princess Land Miss Tennessee
creature of Princess Land Miss Tennessee
creature of Princess Land Miss Tennessee it made a big difference in their life I
it made a big difference in their life I
it made a big difference in their life I feel silly sometimes walking into a room
feel silly sometimes walking into a room
feel silly sometimes walking into a room full of adults in a crown and sash
full of adults in a crown and sash
full of adults in a crown and sash pretending to be a princess I feel silly
pretending to be a princess I feel silly
pretending to be a princess I feel silly sometimes to think that I took off a
sometimes to think that I took off a
sometimes to think that I took off a full year of school and work and pause
full year of school and work and pause
full year of school and work and pause my life to be a princess for a year but
my life to be a princess for a year but
my life to be a princess for a year but then I realized just how important this
then I realized just how important this
then I realized just how important this tool is in the lives of the children
tool is in the lives of the children
tool is in the lives of the children that I get to touch and deaths that’s
that I get to touch and deaths that’s
that I get to touch and deaths that’s what makes all the difference and then
what makes all the difference and then
what makes all the difference and then all of that silliness in my mind it goes
all of that silliness in my mind it goes
all of that silliness in my mind it goes away okay so going back I want to talk
away okay so going back I want to talk
away okay so going back I want to talk to you guys about what I speak to my
to you guys about what I speak to my
to you guys about what I speak to my kids on my school visits I speak to them
kids on my school visits I speak to them
kids on my school visits I speak to them about perseverance I had the choice to
about perseverance I had the choice to
about perseverance I had the choice to choose any character trait that I wanted
choose any character trait that I wanted
choose any character trait that I wanted to focus on throughout my school tour
to focus on throughout my school tour
to focus on throughout my school tour and I chose perseverance for a lot of
and I chose perseverance for a lot of
and I chose perseverance for a lot of reasons in thinking it kind of seemed
reasons in thinking it kind of seemed
reasons in thinking it kind of seemed like the most common theme throughout my
like the most common theme throughout my
like the most common theme throughout my life so I set two goals for myself
life so I set two goals for myself
life so I set two goals for myself growing up
growing up
growing up I set my first goal to go to college and
I set my first goal to go to college and
I set my first goal to go to college and to be able to graduate and not have
to be able to graduate and not have
to be able to graduate and not have thousands of dollars of loans and debts
thousands of dollars of loans and debts
thousands of dollars of loans and debts holding me down when I was trying to
holding me down when I was trying to
holding me down when I was trying to start my career I knew that my parents
start my career I knew that my parents
start my career I knew that my parents wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for me
wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for me
wouldn’t be able to afford to pay for me and both my sisters to go to a four-year
and both my sisters to go to a four-year
and both my sisters to go to a four-year university so I made the most
university so I made the most
university so I made the most financially responsible decision to stay
financially responsible decision to stay
financially responsible decision to stay and go to the University of Memphis
and go to the University of Memphis
and go to the University of Memphis which I do not regret I’m proud to be a
which I do not regret I’m proud to be a
which I do not regret I’m proud to be a tiger got any Tiger fans in here by the
tiger got any Tiger fans in here by the
tiger got any Tiger fans in here by the way there we go okay yeah so I did that
way there we go okay yeah so I did that
way there we go okay yeah so I did that because it was financially the most
because it was financially the most
because it was financially the most responsible thing to do for my family I
responsible thing to do for my family I
responsible thing to do for my family I also sought out scholarship
also sought out scholarship
also sought out scholarship opportunities and one of them was the
opportunities and one of them was the
opportunities and one of them was the Miss America Organization throughout the
Miss America Organization throughout the
Miss America Organization throughout the three years that I’ve competed for Miss
three years that I’ve competed for Miss
three years that I’ve competed for Miss Tennessee and competing at Miss America
Tennessee and competing at Miss America
Tennessee and competing at Miss America I’ve earned over 39 thousand dollars in
I’ve earned over 39 thousand dollars in
I’ve earned over 39 thousand dollars in scholarship money so my school is paid
scholarship money so my school is paid
scholarship money so my school is paid for that wasn’t an easy road though it
for that wasn’t an easy road though it
for that wasn’t an easy road though it wasn’t an easy process and when I set
wasn’t an easy process and when I set
wasn’t an easy process and when I set the goal to be Miss Tennessee my second
the goal to be Miss Tennessee my second
the goal to be Miss Tennessee my second goal I didn’t expect it to be easy
goal I didn’t expect it to be easy
goal I didn’t expect it to be easy either a lot of times people think it’s
either a lot of times people think it’s
either a lot of times people think it’s all about having a nice dress and a semi
all about having a nice dress and a semi
all about having a nice dress and a semi okay talent and a good body and that’s
okay talent and a good body and that’s
okay talent and a good body and that’s how you win Miss Tennessee but what they
how you win Miss Tennessee but what they
how you win Miss Tennessee but what they don’t know is all of the community
don’t know is all of the community
don’t know is all of the community service work that goes into it for seven
service work that goes into it for seven
service work that goes into it for seven years I developed my platform of
years I developed my platform of
years I developed my platform of childhood literacy and worked hard and I
childhood literacy and worked hard and I
childhood literacy and worked hard and I tried my best to live the job of Miss
tried my best to live the job of Miss
tried my best to live the job of Miss Tennessee on the local level because it
Tennessee on the local level because it
Tennessee on the local level because it is a job it’s a full-time job
is a job it’s a full-time job
is a job it’s a full-time job being mrs. Tennessee is a full-time job
being mrs. Tennessee is a full-time job
being mrs. Tennessee is a full-time job and a lot of people don’t know that so I
and a lot of people don’t know that so I
and a lot of people don’t know that so I worked really really hard so that I
worked really really hard so that I
worked really really hard so that I could do my best to know the job to be
could do my best to know the job to be
could do my best to know the job to be independent to have an impressive resume
independent to have an impressive resume
independent to have an impressive resume for the judges and I go my very first
for the judges and I go my very first
for the judges and I go my very first year at Miss Tennessee and I didn’t make
year at Miss Tennessee and I didn’t make
year at Miss Tennessee and I didn’t make the top 15
the top 15
the top 15 so what did I do I picked myself back up
so what did I do I picked myself back up
so what did I do I picked myself back up and I said okay you got this so I worked
and I said okay you got this so I worked
and I said okay you got this so I worked harder than I’d ever thought in my I had
harder than I’d ever thought in my I had
harder than I’d ever thought in my I had worked in my entire life and I came in
worked in my entire life and I came in
worked in my entire life and I came in first runner up my second year I’m a
first runner up my second year I’m a
first runner up my second year I’m a Tennessee now I want you to raise your
Tennessee now I want you to raise your
Tennessee now I want you to raise your hand if you have ever set a goal for
hand if you have ever set a goal for
hand if you have ever set a goal for yourself worked really hard felt like
yourself worked really hard felt like
yourself worked really hard felt like you did everything right and then fallen
you did everything right and then fallen
you did everything right and then fallen just short of it yeah and if that hasn’t
just short of it yeah and if that hasn’t
just short of it yeah and if that hasn’t happened to you I promise you it will
happened to you I promise you it will
happened to you I promise you it will happen to you at some point in your life
happen to you at some point in your life
happen to you at some point in your life now I was very proud of myself my family
now I was very proud of myself my family
now I was very proud of myself my family was proud of myself proud of me for
was proud of myself proud of me for
was proud of myself proud of me for reaching that goal of first runner-up
reaching that goal of first runner-up
reaching that goal of first runner-up but I still felt like I failed because I
but I still felt like I failed because I
but I still felt like I failed because I didn’t get what I sought out for so from
didn’t get what I sought out for so from
didn’t get what I sought out for so from there I made the decision after my
there I made the decision after my
there I made the decision after my parents told me that we probably
parents told me that we probably
parents told me that we probably wouldn’t be able to afford it
wouldn’t be able to afford it
wouldn’t be able to afford it that I should maybe take a year off I
that I should maybe take a year off I
that I should maybe take a year off I wouldn’t be able to buy a new wardrobe
wouldn’t be able to buy a new wardrobe
wouldn’t be able to buy a new wardrobe or anything like that because my sister
or anything like that because my sister
or anything like that because my sister was getting married it was probably best
was getting married it was probably best
was getting married it was probably best for me to just sit out a year but I said
for me to just sit out a year but I said
for me to just sit out a year but I said no I didn’t want to sit out a year I
no I didn’t want to sit out a year I
no I didn’t want to sit out a year I wanted to keep pushing so I persevered
wanted to keep pushing so I persevered
wanted to keep pushing so I persevered every paycheck that I earned went to
every paycheck that I earned went to
every paycheck that I earned went to vocal lessons I wore the exact same
vocal lessons I wore the exact same
vocal lessons I wore the exact same wardrobe that I wore the year before
wardrobe that I wore the year before
wardrobe that I wore the year before which is a no-no in pageant land just
which is a no-no in pageant land just
which is a no-no in pageant land just like it’s a no-no to wear the same dress
like it’s a no-no to wear the same dress
like it’s a no-no to wear the same dress two years in a row to prom but I broke
two years in a row to prom but I broke
two years in a row to prom but I broke that because it was something that it
that because it was something that it
that because it was something that it was important to me because of the job
was important to me because of the job
was important to me because of the job because of the job because of the chance
because of the job because of the chance
because of the job because of the chance and the opportunity to reach children
and the opportunity to reach children
and the opportunity to reach children all across our state
all across our state
all across our state I pushed I persevered and my third year
I pushed I persevered and my third year
I pushed I persevered and my third year of competing I was very very blessed and
of competing I was very very blessed and
of competing I was very very blessed and honored to receive the job that I’ve
honored to receive the job that I’ve
honored to receive the job that I’ve been working so hard for for seven years
been working so hard for for seven years
been working so hard for for seven years I became Miss Tennessee and I thought oh
I became Miss Tennessee and I thought oh
I became Miss Tennessee and I thought oh my goodness this is it this is the easy
my goodness this is it this is the easy
my goodness this is it this is the easy part not just to go on no this year I
part not just to go on no this year I
part not just to go on no this year I have learned more about myself than I
have learned more about myself than I
have learned more about myself than I thought that I ever could I’ve also
thought that I ever could I’ve also
thought that I ever could I’ve also learned so much about our state and
learned so much about our state and
learned so much about our state and about all of the incredible people that
about all of the incredible people that
about all of the incredible people that are interstate and I’ve also had the
are interstate and I’ve also had the
are interstate and I’ve also had the opportunity to share my story of
opportunity to share my story of
opportunity to share my story of perseverance with children across our
perseverance with children across our
perseverance with children across our state because I think it’s important to
state because I think it’s important to
state because I think it’s important to have perseverance or what I like to call
have perseverance or what I like to call
have perseverance or what I like to call it grit I think it’s important to have
it grit I think it’s important to have
it grit I think it’s important to have grit
grit
grit whether you’re three years old 35 years
whether you’re three years old 35 years
whether you’re three years old 35 years old or 95 years old it’s important that
old or 95 years old it’s important that
old or 95 years old it’s important that when you’re setting goals for yourself
when you’re setting goals for yourself
when you’re setting goals for yourself that you’re working hard and you don’t
that you’re working hard and you don’t
that you’re working hard and you don’t let people bring you down so when I talk
let people bring you down so when I talk
let people bring you down so when I talk to kids of all ages I made up an acronym
to kids of all ages I made up an acronym
to kids of all ages I made up an acronym for the word grit I’ll start with G G
for the word grit I’ll start with G G
for the word grit I’ll start with G G sands forgive it you’re all in any
sands forgive it you’re all in any
sands forgive it you’re all in any situation that you’re in whether your
situation that you’re in whether your
situation that you’re in whether your goal is to make an a on a test or your
goal is to make an a on a test or your
goal is to make an a on a test or your goal is to grow up and be a rocket
goal is to grow up and be a rocket
goal is to grow up and be a rocket scientist you don’t want to walk away
scientist you don’t want to walk away
scientist you don’t want to walk away and say man I wish I’d tried a little
and say man I wish I’d tried a little
and say man I wish I’d tried a little harder so I encourage kids to give it
harder so I encourage kids to give it
harder so I encourage kids to give it your all give it all your effort no
your all give it all your effort no
your all give it all your effort no matter what our stands for reach high
matter what our stands for reach high
matter what our stands for reach high okay when we’re younger we have this
okay when we’re younger we have this
okay when we’re younger we have this mentality of invincibility that we can
mentality of invincibility that we can
mentality of invincibility that we can accomplish any goal that we want we can
accomplish any goal that we want we can
accomplish any goal that we want we can grow up and be whatever we want even if
grow up and be whatever we want even if
grow up and be whatever we want even if it isn’t really possible I know for a
it isn’t really possible I know for a
it isn’t really possible I know for a long time I wanted to grow up and be a
long time I wanted to grow up and be a
long time I wanted to grow up and be a superhero you know these are things that
superhero you know these are things that
superhero you know these are things that we really truly believe and then as we
we really truly believe and then as we
we really truly believe and then as we get older we kind of start to let
get older we kind of start to let
get older we kind of start to let reality weigh on us and we don’t think
reality weigh on us and we don’t think
reality weigh on us and we don’t think that we’re capable of reaching those
that we’re capable of reaching those
that we’re capable of reaching those goals but I don’t think we should do
goals but I don’t think we should do
goals but I don’t think we should do that I think that we should keep pushing
that I think that we should keep pushing
that I think that we should keep pushing dream big reach high i stands for ignore
dream big reach high i stands for ignore
dream big reach high i stands for ignore negatives now I want you to raise your
negatives now I want you to raise your
negatives now I want you to raise your hand if you’ve ever been told that
hand if you’ve ever been told that
hand if you’ve ever been told that you’re not smart enough cool enough
you’re not smart enough cool enough
you’re not smart enough cool enough pretty enough fun enough nice enough
pretty enough fun enough nice enough
pretty enough fun enough nice enough strong enough to do something anyone
strong enough to do something anyone
strong enough to do something anyone been told that before yeah people will
been told that before yeah people will
been told that before yeah people will continue to try and bring you down but I
continue to try and bring you down but I
continue to try and bring you down but I think that we have a choice we have a
think that we have a choice we have a
think that we have a choice we have a choice too
I learned that grit and perseverance
I learned that grit and perseverance were very prominent in my life but
were very prominent in my life but
were very prominent in my life but throughout this year speaking to
throughout this year speaking to
throughout this year speaking to children not pre-k children if you think
children not pre-k children if you think
children not pre-k children if you think if you believe in yourself and you
if you believe in yourself and you
if you believe in yourself and you ignore those negativities you don’t let
ignore those negativities you don’t let
ignore those negativities you don’t let other people drag you down and your
other people drag you down and your
other people drag you down and your persevere you persevere through life’s
persevere you persevere through life’s
persevere you persevere through life’s adversities you can reach your goals
adversities you can reach your goals
adversities you can reach your goals thank you all so much for having me
thank you all so much for having me
thank you all so much for having me today
”
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