[Applause] potato chips good fun or so I had hoped
potato chips good fun or so I had hoped
potato chips good fun or so I had hoped everyday people around the world consume
everyday people around the world consume
everyday people around the world consume millions of bags potato chips little did
millions of bags potato chips little did
millions of bags potato chips little did I know that one in knockos bag of chips
I know that one in knockos bag of chips
I know that one in knockos bag of chips would define my transition from
would define my transition from
would define my transition from childhood to adulthood in my high school
childhood to adulthood in my high school
childhood to adulthood in my high school no iPods allowed no outside food and no
no iPods allowed no outside food and no
no iPods allowed no outside food and no launching science pervade the crammed
launching science pervade the crammed
launching science pervade the crammed colored walls of the institution rules
colored walls of the institution rules
colored walls of the institution rules define life at school
define life at school
define life at school unforeseen monthly bad checks were the
unforeseen monthly bad checks were the
unforeseen monthly bad checks were the norm in the words of my principal
norm in the words of my principal
norm in the words of my principal success followed those who obeyed
success followed those who obeyed
success followed those who obeyed willingly I came up with a small nifty
willingly I came up with a small nifty
willingly I came up with a small nifty math equation doesn’t make too much
math equation doesn’t make too much
math equation doesn’t make too much sense does it let me explain
sense does it let me explain
sense does it let me explain it was a sultry August morning in
it was a sultry August morning in
it was a sultry August morning in Kolkata a small metropolitan city on the
Kolkata a small metropolitan city on the
Kolkata a small metropolitan city on the southeast coast of India where I was
southeast coast of India where I was
southeast coast of India where I was born and raised a school head boy it
born and raised a school head boy it
born and raised a school head boy it fell upon me to conduct the monthly bag
fell upon me to conduct the monthly bag
fell upon me to conduct the monthly bag check the prefect body and I spread out
check the prefect body and I spread out
check the prefect body and I spread out across the school checking bags and
across the school checking bags and
across the school checking bags and lockers while the students lined the
lockers while the students lined the
lockers while the students lined the corridors outside the classrooms amidst
corridors outside the classrooms amidst
corridors outside the classrooms amidst all the muffled voices one suddenly
all the muffled voices one suddenly
all the muffled voices one suddenly stood out the boring question was all of
stood out the boring question was all of
stood out the boring question was all of 16 years old she quietly stood next to
16 years old she quietly stood next to
16 years old she quietly stood next to me and confessed on having a bag of
me and confessed on having a bag of
me and confessed on having a bag of potato chips in his locker against my
potato chips in his locker against my
potato chips in his locker against my better judgment I did not convey the bag
better judgment I did not convey the bag
better judgment I did not convey the bag of chips later word in the air was that
of chips later word in the air was that
of chips later word in the air was that something wrong was not confiscated in
something wrong was not confiscated in
something wrong was not confiscated in the classroom that I had checked the
the classroom that I had checked the
the classroom that I had checked the class was rechecked by school officials
class was rechecked by school officials
class was rechecked by school officials following the official inspection I was
following the official inspection I was
following the official inspection I was summoned to the principal’s office and
summoned to the principal’s office and
summoned to the principal’s office and was accused of forgiving the presence of
was accused of forgiving the presence of
was accused of forgiving the presence of an iPod I was shocked
an iPod I was shocked
an iPod I was shocked I honestly confessed or not having
I honestly confessed or not having
I honestly confessed or not having confiscated a bag of potato chips but
confiscated a bag of potato chips but
confiscated a bag of potato chips but the authorities insisted on the
the authorities insisted on the
the authorities insisted on the existence of an iPod the presence of
existence of an iPod the presence of
existence of an iPod the presence of which till date has not been
which till date has not been
which till date has not been conclusively proved
conclusively proved
conclusively proved an avalanche of unpleasant circumstances
an avalanche of unpleasant circumstances
an avalanche of unpleasant circumstances followed my parents were called to
followed my parents were called to
followed my parents were called to school in an emergency prefab body
school in an emergency prefab body
school in an emergency prefab body meeting I was berated and II badged I
meeting I was berated and II badged I
meeting I was berated and II badged I such humiliated it felt like a Martin
such humiliated it felt like a Martin
such humiliated it felt like a Martin was being made out of a molehill and
was being made out of a molehill and
was being made out of a molehill and adding himself to the injury they
adding himself to the injury they
adding himself to the injury they offered to return the bash to me if I
offered to return the bash to me if I
offered to return the bash to me if I honestly confessed on having carelessly
honestly confessed on having carelessly
honestly confessed on having carelessly left the iPod I refused to confess to a
left the iPod I refused to confess to a
left the iPod I refused to confess to a crime I had not committed she was in to
crime I had not committed she was in to
crime I had not committed she was in to keep the remnants of my pride over that
keep the remnants of my pride over that
keep the remnants of my pride over that once coveted hard-won badge I have
once coveted hard-won badge I have
once coveted hard-won badge I have always been rather idealistic this
always been rather idealistic this
always been rather idealistic this incident taught me to have an unwavering
incident taught me to have an unwavering
incident taught me to have an unwavering commitment to my conscience it taught me
commitment to my conscience it taught me
commitment to my conscience it taught me the value of resilience but most
the value of resilience but most
the value of resilience but most importantly it taught me how to bear up
importantly it taught me how to bear up
importantly it taught me how to bear up to failure and disappointment my parents
to failure and disappointment my parents
to failure and disappointment my parents did give me the option of switching
did give me the option of switching
did give me the option of switching schools while I was having a difficult
schools while I was having a difficult
schools while I was having a difficult time at school I decided that quitting
time at school I decided that quitting
time at school I decided that quitting was not an option it was hard too at
was not an option it was hard too at
was not an option it was hard too at first but I submitted to the stares and
first but I submitted to the stares and
first but I submitted to the stares and whispers telling myself it would all
whispers telling myself it would all
whispers telling myself it would all pass away I saw the change in myself
pass away I saw the change in myself
pass away I saw the change in myself through the change in the way I was
through the change in the way I was
through the change in the way I was treated at home choosing to remain at
treated at home choosing to remain at
treated at home choosing to remain at school was the first big decision that
school was the first big decision that
school was the first big decision that was left completely up to me from there
was left completely up to me from there
was left completely up to me from there on bigger decisions began rolling in it
on bigger decisions began rolling in it
on bigger decisions began rolling in it wasn’t this time that I had the
wasn’t this time that I had the
wasn’t this time that I had the conversation with my parents about
conversation with my parents about
conversation with my parents about studying abroad again the final decision
studying abroad again the final decision
studying abroad again the final decision was left completely up to me I was
was left completely up to me I was
was left completely up to me I was trusted with taking my little sister and
trusted with taking my little sister and
trusted with taking my little sister and 12 of her friends out on a birthday
12 of her friends out on a birthday
12 of her friends out on a birthday lunch think about the number of things
lunch think about the number of things
lunch think about the number of things that could have gone wrong with 13 12
that could have gone wrong with 13 12
that could have gone wrong with 13 12 year olds in a public restaurant but
year olds in a public restaurant but
year olds in a public restaurant but more importantly for the first time ever
more importantly for the first time ever
more importantly for the first time ever my father began asking for my opinions I
my father began asking for my opinions I
my father began asking for my opinions I have never been afraid responsibility
have never been afraid responsibility
have never been afraid responsibility but I realized that I was now way more
but I realized that I was now way more
but I realized that I was now way more willing to hold myself accountable and
willing to hold myself accountable and
willing to hold myself accountable and to me accountability had become the
to me accountability had become the
to me accountability had become the definition of adulthood a month later I
definition of adulthood a month later I
definition of adulthood a month later I was reinstated head boy and was told
was reinstated head boy and was told
was reinstated head boy and was told that the decision was prompted by the
that the decision was prompted by the
that the decision was prompted by the majority with which
majority with which
majority with which I handled the situation I accepted the
I handled the situation I accepted the
I handled the situation I accepted the badge knowing that was the closest I
badge knowing that was the closest I
badge knowing that was the closest I would get to an apology but by then that
would get to an apology but by then that
would get to an apology but by then that badge meant way less than it would have
badge meant way less than it would have
badge meant way less than it would have and a bag of potato chips or an iPod
and a bag of potato chips or an iPod
and a bag of potato chips or an iPod meant way more than it should have
meant way more than it should have
meant way more than it should have this incident formed the Grant is my
this incident formed the Grant is my
this incident formed the Grant is my common application essay and got me in
common application essay and got me in
common application essay and got me in to Carnegie Mellon for architecture
to Carnegie Mellon for architecture
to Carnegie Mellon for architecture coming to freshman year I always assumed
coming to freshman year I always assumed
coming to freshman year I always assumed myself an extrovert and thought that
myself an extrovert and thought that
myself an extrovert and thought that fitting in would not be the slightest of
fitting in would not be the slightest of
fitting in would not be the slightest of my problems well I was wrong very wrong
my problems well I was wrong very wrong
my problems well I was wrong very wrong and it was hard and amidst my desperate
and it was hard and amidst my desperate
and it was hard and amidst my desperate struggle of trying to fit in what did I
struggle of trying to fit in what did I
struggle of trying to fit in what did I do
do
do I joined Greek life you know how they
I joined Greek life you know how they
I joined Greek life you know how they all say that if you wanna have a fun
all say that if you wanna have a fun
all say that if you wanna have a fun life a social life you want to fit in
life a social life you want to fit in
life a social life you want to fit in all you have to do is join Greek life
all you have to do is join Greek life
all you have to do is join Greek life well I can tell you they are absolutely
well I can tell you they are absolutely
well I can tell you they are absolutely wrong it was a great one year at my
wrong it was a great one year at my
wrong it was a great one year at my fraternity until I saw the very people
fraternity until I saw the very people
fraternity until I saw the very people for whom I joined graduate in front of
for whom I joined graduate in front of
for whom I joined graduate in front of my eyes it made me realize that I was in
my eyes it made me realize that I was in
my eyes it made me realize that I was in love with meeting new people but not any
love with meeting new people but not any
love with meeting new people but not any other aspect of it so I went inactive
other aspect of it so I went inactive
other aspect of it so I went inactive but I did not lose hope and sooner than
but I did not lose hope and sooner than
but I did not lose hope and sooner than I do I got an offer to be an auntie
I do I got an offer to be an auntie
I do I got an offer to be an auntie ambassador for Carnegie Mellon as an
ambassador for Carnegie Mellon as an
ambassador for Carnegie Mellon as an ambassador of a gift campus tours sit on
ambassador of a gift campus tours sit on
ambassador of a gift campus tours sit on student panels represent CMU my heart
student panels represent CMU my heart
student panels represent CMU my heart would shop up and down showing off the
would shop up and down showing off the
would shop up and down showing off the pride I had for this amazing institution
pride I had for this amazing institution
pride I had for this amazing institution I was honored to be a part of this one
I was honored to be a part of this one
I was honored to be a part of this one time a student even sent me a postcard
time a student even sent me a postcard
time a student even sent me a postcard in my mailbox saying that she loved my
in my mailbox saying that she loved my
in my mailbox saying that she loved my campus tour and that I played a huge
campus tour and that I played a huge
campus tour and that I played a huge role in him deciding to come to Carnegie
role in him deciding to come to Carnegie
role in him deciding to come to Carnegie Mellon I could not help but get teary
Mellon I could not help but get teary
Mellon I could not help but get teary eyed this is when I finally started
eyed this is when I finally started
eyed this is when I finally started feeling like I had bought in the grass
feeling like I had bought in the grass
feeling like I had bought in the grass over university life in the United
over university life in the United
over university life in the United States one fine day over the spring
States one fine day over the spring
States one fine day over the spring semester of my freshman year as I sat
semester of my freshman year as I sat
semester of my freshman year as I sat and thought I realized that all I had
and thought I realized that all I had
and thought I realized that all I had done all your was spread new ideas and
done all your was spread new ideas and
done all your was spread new ideas and connect people on intellectual grounds
connect people on intellectual grounds
connect people on intellectual grounds it was nothing more than me with two of
it was nothing more than me with two of
it was nothing more than me with two of my friends sitting in a room and
my friends sitting in a room and
my friends sitting in a room and exclaiming you know what we should start
exclaiming you know what we should start
exclaiming you know what we should start a TEDx CMU on campus and you know what
a TEDx CMU on campus and you know what
a TEDx CMU on campus and you know what we did there i sat as a co-founder of
we did there i sat as a co-founder of
we did there i sat as a co-founder of TEDx
TEDx
TEDx you coming to sophomore 3 huge things
you coming to sophomore 3 huge things
you coming to sophomore 3 huge things happen number one I started getting
happen number one I started getting
happen number one I started getting conscious about my looks and lost a
conscious about my looks and lost a
conscious about my looks and lost a hundred pounds in just eight months
hundred pounds in just eight months
hundred pounds in just eight months number two my personality growth got me
number two my personality growth got me
number two my personality growth got me the position of the coordinator of the
the position of the coordinator of the
the position of the coordinator of the and ambassador program Brevard the
and ambassador program Brevard the
and ambassador program Brevard the health of three of my other co-workers
health of three of my other co-workers
health of three of my other co-workers we oversaw and led the team of 40
we oversaw and led the team of 40
we oversaw and led the team of 40 ambassadors and number three we
ambassadors and number three we
ambassadors and number three we successfully executed a first TEDx cm
successfully executed a first TEDx cm
successfully executed a first TEDx cm event it was a limited capacity 100%
event it was a limited capacity 100%
event it was a limited capacity 100% event which we had spent one year
event which we had spent one year
event which we had spent one year planning slogging fighting struggling
planning slogging fighting struggling
planning slogging fighting struggling but what disappointed us the most was
but what disappointed us the most was
but what disappointed us the most was that even after all this effort we had
that even after all this effort we had
that even after all this effort we had somehow not sold out we were really
somehow not sold out we were really
somehow not sold out we were really upset but we refused to give up and we
upset but we refused to give up and we
upset but we refused to give up and we were ready to take on the new year with
were ready to take on the new year with
were ready to take on the new year with a lot of stride and ready to do this
a lot of stride and ready to do this
a lot of stride and ready to do this event even better the next time during
event even better the next time during
event even better the next time during my junior year I realized that losing
my junior year I realized that losing
my junior year I realized that losing weight had gone to my head I was
weight had gone to my head I was
weight had gone to my head I was malnourished skinny would faint at least
malnourished skinny would faint at least
malnourished skinny would faint at least once a week and would feel dizzy a
once a week and would feel dizzy a
once a week and would feel dizzy a couple of times every day for that past
couple of times every day for that past
couple of times every day for that past year I had deprived myself of any form
year I had deprived myself of any form
year I had deprived myself of any form of fat fried sugar or anything that
of fat fried sugar or anything that
of fat fried sugar or anything that would make my weight go up by even a
would make my weight go up by even a
would make my weight go up by even a single gram my doctors told me that my
single gram my doctors told me that my
single gram my doctors told me that my blood tests were all haywire and if I
blood tests were all haywire and if I
blood tests were all haywire and if I did not fix my life it would have
did not fix my life it would have
did not fix my life it would have consequences on my coming future this
consequences on my coming future this
consequences on my coming future this scared me a lot after that I start going
scared me a lot after that I start going
scared me a lot after that I start going to the gym but not for cardio to lift
to the gym but not for cardio to lift
to the gym but not for cardio to lift weights and Here I am in front of you
weights and Here I am in front of you
weights and Here I am in front of you not malnourished gaining 20 more pounds
not malnourished gaining 20 more pounds
not malnourished gaining 20 more pounds in just pure muscle during that year we
in just pure muscle during that year we
in just pure muscle during that year we also scaled up TEDx CMU to a 600 person
also scaled up TEDx CMU to a 600 person
also scaled up TEDx CMU to a 600 person event and this time we sold out in just
event and this time we sold out in just
event and this time we sold out in just one week keep in mind this is only the
one week keep in mind this is only the
one week keep in mind this is only the second time the steam was pulling
second time the steam was pulling
second time the steam was pulling together a TEDx event the sheer scale of
together a TEDx event the sheer scale of
together a TEDx event the sheer scale of the event did not hit us till the day
the event did not hit us till the day
the event did not hit us till the day off but what I can tell you is that when
off but what I can tell you is that when
off but what I can tell you is that when you see 445 people walking out the
you see 445 people walking out the
you see 445 people walking out the double doors of a packed auditorium
double doors of a packed auditorium
double doors of a packed auditorium you’d know that the hard work has paid
you’d know that the hard work has paid
you’d know that the hard work has paid off
off
off this because in September of 2017
this because in September of 2017
this because in September of 2017 my senior fall scared that being a
my senior fall scared that being a
my senior fall scared that being a fourth year or Kotecha student I did not
fourth year or Kotecha student I did not
fourth year or Kotecha student I did not get the professional development I
get the professional development I
get the professional development I needed to succeed in the industry I felt
needed to succeed in the industry I felt
needed to succeed in the industry I felt ashamed that I could not distinguish a
ashamed that I could not distinguish a
ashamed that I could not distinguish a business formal attire from a business
business formal attire from a business
business formal attire from a business casual attire I would have to
casual attire I would have to
casual attire I would have to double-check Dita’s with someone every
double-check Dita’s with someone every
double-check Dita’s with someone every time I dressed up so I decided to rush a
time I dressed up so I decided to rush a
time I dressed up so I decided to rush a professional on-campus couette business
professional on-campus couette business
professional on-campus couette business organization it was a two-week
organization it was a two-week
organization it was a two-week commitment rush in this business
commitment rush in this business
commitment rush in this business organization turns out I did not get an
organization turns out I did not get an
organization turns out I did not get an invitation to join I was disheartened
invitation to join I was disheartened
invitation to join I was disheartened but in the process made a lot of great
but in the process made a lot of great
but in the process made a lot of great friends what stuck with me the most was
friends what stuck with me the most was
friends what stuck with me the most was there during the fine art of interviews
there during the fine art of interviews
there during the fine art of interviews when I showed my resume to the panel the
when I showed my resume to the panel the
when I showed my resume to the panel the comments they made whether the the
comments they made whether the the
comments they made whether the the resume was unprofessional not up to the
resume was unprofessional not up to the
resume was unprofessional not up to the mark and was not worthy of industry
mark and was not worthy of industry
mark and was not worthy of industry standard this was the same resume that
standard this was the same resume that
standard this was the same resume that have been reviewed and assessed by my
have been reviewed and assessed by my
have been reviewed and assessed by my mentors advisors professors etc etc what
mentors advisors professors etc etc what
mentors advisors professors etc etc what this taught me was that you never let
this taught me was that you never let
this taught me was that you never let anyone decide for you whether you’re
anyone decide for you whether you’re
anyone decide for you whether you’re worth it or not
worth it or not
worth it or not that is one decision you make for
that is one decision you make for
that is one decision you make for yourself and the answer should always be
yourself and the answer should always be
yourself and the answer should always be that yes you are worth it I refuse to
that yes you are worth it I refuse to
that yes you are worth it I refuse to give up hope and a couple of days later
give up hope and a couple of days later
give up hope and a couple of days later I got an offer to be on the working
I got an offer to be on the working
I got an offer to be on the working committee of stat X Pittsburgh people
committee of stat X Pittsburgh people
committee of stat X Pittsburgh people often tell you that hard work is the
often tell you that hard work is the
often tell you that hard work is the only thing you need to succeed they are
only thing you need to succeed they are
only thing you need to succeed they are yet again wrong friends and family are
yet again wrong friends and family are
yet again wrong friends and family are as important as hard work is in high
as important as hard work is in high
as important as hard work is in high school I was that popular kid I knew
school I was that popular kid I knew
school I was that popular kid I knew everyone everyone knew me but amidst
everyone everyone knew me but amidst
everyone everyone knew me but amidst that desperate struggle of trying to be
that desperate struggle of trying to be
that desperate struggle of trying to be popular I lost all my true friends
popular I lost all my true friends
popular I lost all my true friends friends who had been there for me no
friends who had been there for me no
friends who had been there for me no matter what when it came to college I
matter what when it came to college I
matter what when it came to college I did flip my life but for the worse not
did flip my life but for the worse not
did flip my life but for the worse not for the better I became someone who
for the better I became someone who
for the better I became someone who started using sarcasm as a defense
started using sarcasm as a defense
started using sarcasm as a defense mechanism and of course who other than
mechanism and of course who other than
mechanism and of course who other than Shanna being inspired me it just somehow
Shanna being inspired me it just somehow
Shanna being inspired me it just somehow seemed easier to be funny and sarcastic
seemed easier to be funny and sarcastic
seemed easier to be funny and sarcastic then have myself open up to people and
then have myself open up to people and
then have myself open up to people and then go to the emotional pain I’ve seen
then go to the emotional pain I’ve seen
then go to the emotional pain I’ve seen them slip away in front of my eyes
them slip away in front of my eyes
them slip away in front of my eyes I stand here today with no regrets
I stand here today with no regrets
I stand here today with no regrets I am nothing but a collage of mistakes
I am nothing but a collage of mistakes
I am nothing but a collage of mistakes even though I keep people away from
even though I keep people away from
even though I keep people away from getting close to me I proudly have
getting close to me I proudly have
getting close to me I proudly have friends from almost every country in
friends from almost every country in
friends from almost every country in this world even though I didn’t lose 100
this world even though I didn’t lose 100
this world even though I didn’t lose 100 pounds and got malnourished I gained 20
pounds and got malnourished I gained 20
pounds and got malnourished I gained 20 more back in pure muscle even though
more back in pure muscle even though
more back in pure muscle even though I’ve been denied memberships and either
I’ve been denied memberships and either
I’ve been denied memberships and either ships to a bunch of on-campus and
ships to a bunch of on-campus and
ships to a bunch of on-campus and off-campus organizations today I am
off-campus organizations today I am
off-campus organizations today I am proud that I’ve been to 40 countries and
proud that I’ve been to 40 countries and
proud that I’ve been to 40 countries and met people from all over and picked up a
met people from all over and picked up a
met people from all over and picked up a new language this summer working out the
new language this summer working out the
new language this summer working out the Guatemalan streets I will not tell you
Guatemalan streets I will not tell you
Guatemalan streets I will not tell you that it’s going to be easy because it’s
that it’s going to be easy because it’s
that it’s going to be easy because it’s not but what I can tell you is that it
not but what I can tell you is that it
not but what I can tell you is that it will not be impossible Steve Jobs is one
will not be impossible Steve Jobs is one
will not be impossible Steve Jobs is one individual I have always looked up to
individual I have always looked up to
individual I have always looked up to any August he always said you can never
any August he always said you can never
any August he always said you can never connect the dots looking forward you can
connect the dots looking forward you can
connect the dots looking forward you can only connect them looking backwards and
only connect them looking backwards and
only connect them looking backwards and that’s what makes all the difference in
that’s what makes all the difference in
that’s what makes all the difference in hindsight everything I just told you in
hindsight everything I just told you in
hindsight everything I just told you in the past ten minutes would sound like
the past ten minutes would sound like
the past ten minutes would sound like random stories until they were seen in a
random stories until they were seen in a
random stories until they were seen in a series of one action informing the other
series of one action informing the other
series of one action informing the other Einstein he hadn’t Eureka moment I had
Einstein he hadn’t Eureka moment I had
Einstein he hadn’t Eureka moment I had my potato chip moment and trust me you
my potato chip moment and trust me you
my potato chip moment and trust me you will have yours too so I want to end
will have yours too so I want to end
will have yours too so I want to end with three quick life lessons number one
with three quick life lessons number one
with three quick life lessons number one you will make mistakes but embrace them
you will make mistakes but embrace them
you will make mistakes but embrace them with passion and overcome them two
with passion and overcome them two
with passion and overcome them two through four the world that you as
through four the world that you as
through four the world that you as humanity as an individual as a society
humanity as an individual as a society
humanity as an individual as a society are capable of doing the best number to
are capable of doing the best number to
are capable of doing the best number to you you make mistakes but you fight and
you you make mistakes but you fight and
you you make mistakes but you fight and struggle you do not sit around waiting
struggle you do not sit around waiting
struggle you do not sit around waiting because opportunities do not come in a
because opportunities do not come in a
because opportunities do not come in a silver platter and number three you can
silver platter and number three you can
silver platter and number three you can either choose to focus on wall staring
either choose to focus on wall staring
either choose to focus on wall staring you down or what’s keeping you together
you down or what’s keeping you together
you down or what’s keeping you together I made my decision and it’s time for all
I made my decision and it’s time for all
I made my decision and it’s time for all of you to make yours all you have to do
of you to make yours all you have to do
of you to make yours all you have to do is find your potato chip and iPod thank
is find your potato chip and iPod thank
is find your potato chip and iPod thank you
”
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