I’m gonna ask you to be honest with me if I were to ask you if your mind is
if I were to ask you if your mind is
if I were to ask you if your mind is truly free would you be able to tell me
truly free would you be able to tell me
truly free would you be able to tell me yes or would you have to say no you see
yes or would you have to say no you see
yes or would you have to say no you see the mind is a powerful tool indeed it is
the mind is a powerful tool indeed it is
the mind is a powerful tool indeed it is what houses our childhood memories and
what houses our childhood memories and
what houses our childhood memories and those fears we had it is what allows us
those fears we had it is what allows us
those fears we had it is what allows us to be able to process facts and most
to be able to process facts and most
to be able to process facts and most importantly to develop and understand
importantly to develop and understand
importantly to develop and understand ideas you see an open mind it’s very
ideas you see an open mind it’s very
ideas you see an open mind it’s very important to anyone who wishes to have
important to anyone who wishes to have
important to anyone who wishes to have an impact in this world it has even more
an impact in this world it has even more
an impact in this world it has even more so important to those of you who are
so important to those of you who are
so important to those of you who are passionate about health care about
passionate about health care about
passionate about health care about making a difference in people’s lives
making a difference in people’s lives
making a difference in people’s lives about community service and giving back
about community service and giving back
about community service and giving back and as a result tonight I’m going to
and as a result tonight I’m going to
and as a result tonight I’m going to share with you the power of an open mind
share with you the power of an open mind
share with you the power of an open mind for me it started 22 years ago when I
for me it started 22 years ago when I
for me it started 22 years ago when I was born under the incomparable West
was born under the incomparable West
was born under the incomparable West African Sun in Accra Ghana to be exact
African Sun in Accra Ghana to be exact
African Sun in Accra Ghana to be exact and after living there for but a few
and after living there for but a few
and after living there for but a few months I transitioned with my family to
months I transitioned with my family to
months I transitioned with my family to Botswana where I live for only five
Botswana where I live for only five
Botswana where I live for only five years before coming to the United States
years before coming to the United States
years before coming to the United States and while it took me almost 17 years to
and while it took me almost 17 years to
and while it took me almost 17 years to return back to my motherland I believed
return back to my motherland I believed
return back to my motherland I believed I knew what it was to be gone in after
I knew what it was to be gone in after
I knew what it was to be gone in after all I was the child of African parents
all I was the child of African parents
all I was the child of African parents who came to America in their 40s so the
who came to America in their 40s so the
who came to America in their 40s so the only way they knew how to raise me was
only way they knew how to raise me was
only way they knew how to raise me was the African Ghanaian way and my parents
the African Ghanaian way and my parents
the African Ghanaian way and my parents made it extremely clear it didn’t matter
made it extremely clear it didn’t matter
made it extremely clear it didn’t matter what my friends did what they were able
what my friends did what they were able
what my friends did what they were able to wear or where they were able to go
to wear or where they were able to go
to wear or where they were able to go they would always say Julia you are not
they would always say Julia you are not
they would always say Julia you are not freaking girl your parents are not your
freaking girl your parents are not your
freaking girl your parents are not your parents until you only do what I say you
parents until you only do what I say you
parents until you only do what I say you are allowed to do and so while in the
are allowed to do and so while in the
are allowed to do and so while in the four walls of my house I was indeed a
four walls of my house I was indeed a
four walls of my house I was indeed a Ghanian child I didn’t realize until
Ghanian child I didn’t realize until
Ghanian child I didn’t realize until last summer when I began my
last summer when I began my
last summer when I began my turn ship in Accra Ghana then my
turn ship in Accra Ghana then my
turn ship in Accra Ghana then my experience with Ghana was not much
experience with Ghana was not much
experience with Ghana was not much different from many of you all sitting
different from many of you all sitting
different from many of you all sitting in this audience in fact most of what I
in this audience in fact most of what I
in this audience in fact most of what I knew about Ghana came secondhand it was
knew about Ghana came secondhand it was
knew about Ghana came secondhand it was through the experiences that my parents
through the experiences that my parents
through the experiences that my parents had shared with me it was through seeing
had shared with me it was through seeing
had shared with me it was through seeing the black-and-white photographs of them
the black-and-white photographs of them
the black-and-white photographs of them in grade school uniforms or the fact
in grade school uniforms or the fact
in grade school uniforms or the fact that my closet thankfully is filled with
that my closet thankfully is filled with
that my closet thankfully is filled with so many can take clause or infamous
so many can take clause or infamous
so many can take clause or infamous effectually known as the cloth of Kings
effectually known as the cloth of Kings
effectually known as the cloth of Kings beside being born in Ghana Ghana was a
beside being born in Ghana Ghana was a
beside being born in Ghana Ghana was a mere title page in my life and outside
mere title page in my life and outside
mere title page in my life and outside the perimeter of my household without
the perimeter of my household without
the perimeter of my household without the fact that people had access to my
the fact that people had access to my
the fact that people had access to my typical African name and knowing that an
typical African name and knowing that an
typical African name and knowing that an accent is something I can’t end on and
accent is something I can’t end on and
accent is something I can’t end on and off as I please many people didn’t know
off as I please many people didn’t know
off as I please many people didn’t know about my African origin so why Ghana why
about my African origin so why Ghana why
about my African origin so why Ghana why go back there what was I going to learn
go back there what was I going to learn
go back there what was I going to learn or gain from going there and I say a
or gain from going there and I say a
or gain from going there and I say a better question is what wasn’t I going
better question is what wasn’t I going
better question is what wasn’t I going to learn as a college graduate on the
to learn as a college graduate on the
to learn as a college graduate on the pathway to becoming a physician I cannot
pathway to becoming a physician I cannot
pathway to becoming a physician I cannot wait to be able to intertwine my love
wait to be able to intertwine my love
wait to be able to intertwine my love for medicine and culture and diversity
for medicine and culture and diversity
for medicine and culture and diversity with that of different experiences and
with that of different experiences and
with that of different experiences and Ghana allowed me to do just that and so
Ghana allowed me to do just that and so
Ghana allowed me to do just that and so going to Ghana I had three key
going to Ghana I had three key
going to Ghana I had three key expectations I wanted the experience I
expectations I wanted the experience I
expectations I wanted the experience I wanted to feel authentic and being a
wanted to feel authentic and being a
wanted to feel authentic and being a Ghanaian and that came by volunteering
Ghanaian and that came by volunteering
Ghanaian and that came by volunteering and shadowing in places like the Focus
and shadowing in places like the Focus
and shadowing in places like the Focus Hospital I also wanted to be educated
Hospital I also wanted to be educated
Hospital I also wanted to be educated what would it be like if I was a woman
what would it be like if I was a woman
what would it be like if I was a woman living in Ghana and that came through my
living in Ghana and that came through my
living in Ghana and that came through my experience through my internship with
experience through my internship with
experience through my internship with the Alpha Medical Center where I
the Alpha Medical Center where I
the Alpha Medical Center where I specifically worked in the labor and
specifically worked in the labor and
specifically worked in the labor and delivery section caring for women during
delivery section caring for women during
delivery section caring for women during their pregnancy and the last thing I
their pregnancy and the last thing I
their pregnancy and the last thing I wanted to gain was exposure exposure in
wanted to gain was exposure exposure in
wanted to gain was exposure exposure in any way shape and form and it came by
any way shape and form and it came by
any way shape and form and it came by talking to taxi drivers on my way to a
talking to taxi drivers on my way to a
talking to taxi drivers on my way to a crowd Kumasi it came from eating meals
crowd Kumasi it came from eating meals
crowd Kumasi it came from eating meals with my grandparents who had so much
with my grandparents who had so much
with my grandparents who had so much knowledge to share
knowledge to share
knowledge to share about the country it didn’t just come
about the country it didn’t just come
about the country it didn’t just come from looking on the internet and
from looking on the internet and
from looking on the internet and realizing what people said it was more
realizing what people said it was more
realizing what people said it was more than that and in addition to the fact
than that and in addition to the fact
than that and in addition to the fact that I also had expectations there were
that I also had expectations there were
that I also had expectations there were challenges it was hard to adapt to a
challenges it was hard to adapt to a
challenges it was hard to adapt to a life in Ghana other than the fact that
life in Ghana other than the fact that
life in Ghana other than the fact that I’m a night person and Ghana’s about
I’m a night person and Ghana’s about
I’m a night person and Ghana’s about four hours ahead I also had to get used
four hours ahead I also had to get used
four hours ahead I also had to get used to the traffic to paint you a picture
to the traffic to paint you a picture
to the traffic to paint you a picture traveling was sometimes like New York
traveling was sometimes like New York
traveling was sometimes like New York City traffic during rush hour during a
City traffic during rush hour during a
City traffic during rush hour during a parade it went absolutely nowhere I also
parade it went absolutely nowhere I also
parade it went absolutely nowhere I also had to come to the terms with the fact
had to come to the terms with the fact
had to come to the terms with the fact that I was ignorant yes I was ignorant I
that I was ignorant yes I was ignorant I
that I was ignorant yes I was ignorant I didn’t know a lot about Ghana I knew I
didn’t know a lot about Ghana I knew I
didn’t know a lot about Ghana I knew I wanted to go there and make a difference
wanted to go there and make a difference
wanted to go there and make a difference in help and I knew I wanted to learn
in help and I knew I wanted to learn
in help and I knew I wanted to learn about the healthcare system specifically
about the healthcare system specifically
about the healthcare system specifically so that as a physician I can truly be
so that as a physician I can truly be
so that as a physician I can truly be able to take us in the next level but
able to take us in the next level but
able to take us in the next level but other than that I was ignorant about how
other than that I was ignorant about how
other than that I was ignorant about how things truly worked on a day to day
things truly worked on a day to day
things truly worked on a day to day basis I also had to get over my
basis I also had to get over my
basis I also had to get over my assumptions assumptions I made as to
assumptions assumptions I made as to
assumptions assumptions I made as to what people needed I didn’t really know
what people needed I didn’t really know
what people needed I didn’t really know after all I was living a seven hour
after all I was living a seven hour
after all I was living a seven hour airplane ride away but one of the
airplane ride away but one of the
airplane ride away but one of the hardest things I had to go against was
hardest things I had to go against was
hardest things I had to go against was my mindset you see the thing about
my mindset you see the thing about
my mindset you see the thing about people who have caged minds is they
people who have caged minds is they
people who have caged minds is they often don’t know it they are stuck
often don’t know it they are stuck
often don’t know it they are stuck living in their ignorance and
living in their ignorance and
living in their ignorance and assumptions and it makes it seem as if
assumptions and it makes it seem as if
assumptions and it makes it seem as if everyone around them is the one who
everyone around them is the one who
everyone around them is the one who actually has the caged mind but
actually has the caged mind but
actually has the caged mind but themselves you see growing up Ghana was
themselves you see growing up Ghana was
themselves you see growing up Ghana was never mentioned as a vacation spot and
never mentioned as a vacation spot and
never mentioned as a vacation spot and it definitely wasn’t somewhere you
it definitely wasn’t somewhere you
it definitely wasn’t somewhere you wanted to go and learn Ghana was only a
wanted to go and learn Ghana was only a
wanted to go and learn Ghana was only a place that she went for service all of
place that she went for service all of
place that she went for service all of my friends wanted to go to Dubai or Peru
my friends wanted to go to Dubai or Peru
my friends wanted to go to Dubai or Peru or Jamaica no one understood why I would
or Jamaica no one understood why I would
or Jamaica no one understood why I would want to go back to Ghana but I’m
want to go back to Ghana but I’m
want to go back to Ghana but I’m thankful that when I went to Ghana I was
thankful that when I went to Ghana I was
thankful that when I went to Ghana I was able to experience pieces that were able
able to experience pieces that were able
able to experience pieces that were able to help me dispel those myths I was able
to help me dispel those myths I was able
to help me dispel those myths I was able to walk alongside the national parks and
to walk alongside the national parks and
to walk alongside the national parks and see sculptures of the first president I
see sculptures of the first president I
see sculptures of the first president I was
was
was to go to the mall that was not much
to go to the mall that was not much
to go to the mall that was not much different from King of Prussia actually
different from King of Prussia actually
different from King of Prussia actually I was also able to learn about history
I was also able to learn about history
I was also able to learn about history by visiting the slave castles that were
by visiting the slave castles that were
by visiting the slave castles that were housed there I remember looking up for
housed there I remember looking up for
housed there I remember looking up for an assignment 20 ways to describe Africa
an assignment 20 ways to describe Africa
an assignment 20 ways to describe Africa and I remember the top five things I saw
and I remember the top five things I saw
and I remember the top five things I saw were disease famine genocide malaria and
were disease famine genocide malaria and
were disease famine genocide malaria and sickness those were the top five things
sickness those were the top five things
sickness those were the top five things that people had to say there was nothing
that people had to say there was nothing
that people had to say there was nothing positive about it so I realized going on
positive about it so I realized going on
positive about it so I realized going on I had to change my mindset I had to be
I had to change my mindset I had to be
I had to change my mindset I had to be open to realizing and understanding the
open to realizing and understanding the
open to realizing and understanding the truth I wasn’t just going there to help
truth I wasn’t just going there to help
truth I wasn’t just going there to help them I was going there to help me and I
them I was going there to help me and I
them I was going there to help me and I came across this quote that read if you
came across this quote that read if you
came across this quote that read if you have come to help me you are wasting
have come to help me you are wasting
have come to help me you are wasting your time but if you are here because
your time but if you are here because
your time but if you are here because your liberation is bound up with mine
your liberation is bound up with mine
your liberation is bound up with mine then let us work together and this is a
then let us work together and this is a
then let us work together and this is a quote by Lila Watson who is an advocate
quote by Lila Watson who is an advocate
quote by Lila Watson who is an advocate and educator for women rights and also
and educator for women rights and also
and educator for women rights and also those of Aboriginal people so what I
those of Aboriginal people so what I
those of Aboriginal people so what I want you all to do today is move forward
want you all to do today is move forward
want you all to do today is move forward and erase the savior complex you may be
and erase the savior complex you may be
and erase the savior complex you may be part of the solution when you try to
part of the solution when you try to
part of the solution when you try to help but you are not the solution itself
help but you are not the solution itself
help but you are not the solution itself we must be humble when we go to
we must be humble when we go to
we must be humble when we go to different places and say we want to help
different places and say we want to help
different places and say we want to help people so many times we’re so focused on
people so many times we’re so focused on
people so many times we’re so focused on the problem we’re trying to change we
the problem we’re trying to change we
the problem we’re trying to change we forget that the real reason we want to
forget that the real reason we want to
forget that the real reason we want to work on the problem is because of the
work on the problem is because of the
work on the problem is because of the people that it affects so it’s not
people that it affects so it’s not
people that it affects so it’s not always that you help but rather how you
always that you help but rather how you
always that you help but rather how you help what difference are you truly
help what difference are you truly
help what difference are you truly making what example are you setting for
making what example are you setting for
making what example are you setting for those who will come after you and with
those who will come after you and with
those who will come after you and with that mindset I was truly able to explore
that mindset I was truly able to explore
that mindset I was truly able to explore and learn how the Ghana healthcare
and learn how the Ghana healthcare
and learn how the Ghana healthcare system works it’s broken into being
system works it’s broken into being
system works it’s broken into being helped by the government but also with
helped by the government but also with
helped by the government but also with the Ghana Health Service which is able
the Ghana Health Service which is able
the Ghana Health Service which is able to allow us now as of 2004
to allow us now as of 2004
to allow us now as of 2004 move away from the cash-and-carry method
move away from the cash-and-carry method
move away from the cash-and-carry method the cash-and-carry method basically
the cash-and-carry method basically
the cash-and-carry method basically meant you carried your money with you
meant you carried your money with you
meant you carried your money with you emergency or not if you went to a
emergency or not if you went to a
emergency or not if you went to a hospital and did not carry your dough
hospital and did not carry your dough
hospital and did not carry your dough you are not getting treated simple as
you are not getting treated simple as
you are not getting treated simple as that now with this new National Health
that now with this new National Health
that now with this new National Health Insurance Scheme we are able to at least
Insurance Scheme we are able to at least
Insurance Scheme we are able to at least be moving and making progress into
be moving and making progress into
be moving and making progress into universal coverage this NH is system
universal coverage this NH is system
universal coverage this NH is system does not cover all treatments and care
does not cover all treatments and care
does not cover all treatments and care but it’s a step in the right direction
but it’s a step in the right direction
but it’s a step in the right direction also in Ghana many of their health care
also in Ghana many of their health care
also in Ghana many of their health care centres are funded through missionary
centres are funded through missionary
centres are funded through missionary work the religious organizations like
work the religious organizations like
work the religious organizations like the Christian Health Association that
the Christian Health Association that
the Christian Health Association that seeks to be able to provide health care
seeks to be able to provide health care
seeks to be able to provide health care to the country lastly there are three
to the country lastly there are three
to the country lastly there are three primary levels of health care in Ghana
primary levels of health care in Ghana
primary levels of health care in Ghana the primary level basically associates
the primary level basically associates
the primary level basically associates with those of the regional hospitals the
with those of the regional hospitals the
with those of the regional hospitals the polyclinics the secondary are more of
polyclinics the secondary are more of
polyclinics the secondary are more of the specialized hospitals and the
the specialized hospitals and the
the specialized hospitals and the tertiary are the teaching hospitals
tertiary are the teaching hospitals
tertiary are the teaching hospitals having an open mind allowed me to
having an open mind allowed me to
having an open mind allowed me to realize that as many problems as they
realize that as many problems as they
realize that as many problems as they are in the Ghanaian healthcare system
are in the Ghanaian healthcare system
are in the Ghanaian healthcare system there are also strengths that they have
there are also strengths that they have
there are also strengths that they have benefit packages the international
benefit packages the international
benefit packages the international collaborations with countries like Cuba
collaborations with countries like Cuba
collaborations with countries like Cuba to ensure that they were allowing other
to ensure that they were allowing other
to ensure that they were allowing other people to come and be able to teach
people to come and be able to teach
people to come and be able to teach their expertise to Ghanian doctors so
their expertise to Ghanian doctors so
their expertise to Ghanian doctors so when they left their expect he’s didn’t
when they left their expect he’s didn’t
when they left their expect he’s didn’t leave but what they were able to teach
leave but what they were able to teach
leave but what they were able to teach was able to stay in Ghana and actually
was able to stay in Ghana and actually
was able to stay in Ghana and actually help its citizens amongst the strengths
help its citizens amongst the strengths
help its citizens amongst the strengths were many difficulties culture versus
were many difficulties culture versus
were many difficulties culture versus medicine was a big one
medicine was a big one
medicine was a big one the fact that many people in Ghana had
the fact that many people in Ghana had
the fact that many people in Ghana had Geographic issues and were living too
Geographic issues and were living too
Geographic issues and were living too far away from a hospital to get care
far away from a hospital to get care
far away from a hospital to get care they went to the over 45,000 traditional
they went to the over 45,000 traditional
they went to the over 45,000 traditional healers they were scared of medicine
healers they were scared of medicine
healers they were scared of medicine they didn’t trust doctors and even if
they didn’t trust doctors and even if
they didn’t trust doctors and even if they did how are they going to travel
they did how are they going to travel
they did how are they going to travel their technology was also a big issue so
their technology was also a big issue so
their technology was also a big issue so was electricity in Ghana we have
was electricity in Ghana we have
was electricity in Ghana we have something that they called doom so the
something that they called doom so the
something that they called doom so the light literally turns on and off and
light literally turns on and off and
light literally turns on and off and some
some
some days you’re there for three days and
days you’re there for three days and
days you’re there for three days and there’s no electricity in your household
there’s no electricity in your household
there’s no electricity in your household imagine that in a hospital that doesn’t
imagine that in a hospital that doesn’t
imagine that in a hospital that doesn’t have a good enough generator money of
have a good enough generator money of
have a good enough generator money of course is always an issue when you’re
course is always an issue when you’re
course is always an issue when you’re dealing with healthcare as we know even
dealing with healthcare as we know even
dealing with healthcare as we know even in America but in Ghana where one
in America but in Ghana where one
in America but in Ghana where one American dollar it’s four of their
American dollar it’s four of their
American dollar it’s four of their currency it becomes even harder the
currency it becomes even harder the
currency it becomes even harder the average life expectancy in Ghana at
average life expectancy in Ghana at
average life expectancy in Ghana at birth is 66 while in America is a 78 and
birth is 66 while in America is a 78 and
birth is 66 while in America is a 78 and while that doesn’t seem like much
while that doesn’t seem like much
while that doesn’t seem like much imagine 12 years ago what were you doing
imagine 12 years ago what were you doing
imagine 12 years ago what were you doing were you the same how do you achieved
were you the same how do you achieved
were you the same how do you achieved all the things that you wanted to
all the things that you wanted to
all the things that you wanted to achieve and it was through maternal and
achieve and it was through maternal and
achieve and it was through maternal and child health that I wanted to make my
child health that I wanted to make my
child health that I wanted to make my impact and I learned that even though a
impact and I learned that even though a
impact and I learned that even though a lot of people are at the age where
lot of people are at the age where
lot of people are at the age where they’re able to utilize contraception
they’re able to utilize contraception
they’re able to utilize contraception only 30% of the people do imagine how
only 30% of the people do imagine how
only 30% of the people do imagine how many unwanted children are as a result
many unwanted children are as a result
many unwanted children are as a result being given birth – and that is a reason
being given birth – and that is a reason
being given birth – and that is a reason why women break down shredded glass and
why women break down shredded glass and
why women break down shredded glass and drink it in order to get rid of births
drink it in order to get rid of births
drink it in order to get rid of births that they didn’t want to have in the
that they didn’t want to have in the
that they didn’t want to have in the first place so what are we gonna do are
first place so what are we gonna do are
first place so what are we gonna do are we gonna be close-minded and ignore that
we gonna be close-minded and ignore that
we gonna be close-minded and ignore that those facts happen or are we truly gonna
those facts happen or are we truly gonna
those facts happen or are we truly gonna make an impact
make an impact
make an impact I learned this while at my internship at
I learned this while at my internship at
I learned this while at my internship at the Alpha Medical Center and I had the
the Alpha Medical Center and I had the
the Alpha Medical Center and I had the best opportunity of delivering a baby
best opportunity of delivering a baby
best opportunity of delivering a baby girl and in that situation I remember
girl and in that situation I remember
girl and in that situation I remember sweating so much because there was no
sweating so much because there was no
sweating so much because there was no there was no air system so we had to
there was no air system so we had to
there was no air system so we had to turn off the fans to ensure that the
turn off the fans to ensure that the
turn off the fans to ensure that the baby was kept safe the last thing I did
baby was kept safe the last thing I did
baby was kept safe the last thing I did was be able to volunteer at the
was be able to volunteer at the
was be able to volunteer at the foundation of orthopedics and complex
foundation of orthopedics and complex
foundation of orthopedics and complex spine this hospital was started by a
spine this hospital was started by a
spine this hospital was started by a doctor who was gone in who went to
doctor who was gone in who went to
doctor who was gone in who went to America and graduated from Columbia
America and graduated from Columbia
America and graduated from Columbia Medical School from there he knew he had
Medical School from there he knew he had
Medical School from there he knew he had a specific aim he wanted to go back and
a specific aim he wanted to go back and
a specific aim he wanted to go back and help the health care system there for
help the health care system there for
help the health care system there for eight years eight years he went on
eight years eight years he went on
eight years eight years he went on mission trips to Ghana four times a year
mission trips to Ghana four times a year
mission trips to Ghana four times a year and he took people and when he went
and he took people and when he went
and he took people and when he went there he learned
there he learned
there he learned how the system operate he learned how
how the system operate he learned how
how the system operate he learned how Ghana was changing living in America he
Ghana was changing living in America he
Ghana was changing living in America he was getting removed and he knew that he
was getting removed and he knew that he
was getting removed and he knew that he had to be able to realize how the system
had to be able to realize how the system
had to be able to realize how the system worked to be able to truly make a
worked to be able to truly make a
worked to be able to truly make a difference and so I started my
difference and so I started my
difference and so I started my presentation telling you all about my
presentation telling you all about my
presentation telling you all about my expectations but now I want to share the
expectations but now I want to share the
expectations but now I want to share the realities that I discovered I learned
realities that I discovered I learned
realities that I discovered I learned that we have to apply the realities of
that we have to apply the realities of
that we have to apply the realities of the community in which we want to make a
the community in which we want to make a
the community in which we want to make a difference not everything that works in
difference not everything that works in
difference not everything that works in one area will work in the next you can’t
one area will work in the next you can’t
one area will work in the next you can’t just bring technology over to Ghana and
just bring technology over to Ghana and
just bring technology over to Ghana and dump it there and say use it they might
dump it there and say use it they might
dump it there and say use it they might have never seen that technology before
have never seen that technology before
have never seen that technology before how are they actually going to
how are they actually going to
how are they actually going to incorporate it into their system and the
incorporate it into their system and the
incorporate it into their system and the wisdom gained from those in the
wisdom gained from those in the
wisdom gained from those in the community can often be what helps you
community can often be what helps you
community can often be what helps you find the solution stop trying to be the
find the solution stop trying to be the
find the solution stop trying to be the savior as I said earlier erase that
savior as I said earlier erase that
savior as I said earlier erase that savior complex and realize that people
savior complex and realize that people
savior complex and realize that people living there will often know much about
living there will often know much about
living there will often know much about the problems then you do as an outsider
the problems then you do as an outsider
the problems then you do as an outsider so let’s move away from the band-aid
so let’s move away from the band-aid
so let’s move away from the band-aid solutions to sustainability so that when
solutions to sustainability so that when
solutions to sustainability so that when you leave that place your talent doesn’t
you leave that place your talent doesn’t
you leave that place your talent doesn’t leave your hard work doesn’t leave with
leave your hard work doesn’t leave with
leave your hard work doesn’t leave with you but they’re able to continue for the
you but they’re able to continue for the
you but they’re able to continue for the better
better
better specificity and direction equal
specificity and direction equal
specificity and direction equal achievable dreams so many of us want to
achievable dreams so many of us want to
achievable dreams so many of us want to do so many things we want to be teachers
do so many things we want to be teachers
do so many things we want to be teachers we want to help mom and dad we want to
we want to help mom and dad we want to
we want to help mom and dad we want to be great well how are you gonna do that
be great well how are you gonna do that
be great well how are you gonna do that let’s move away from just saying we want
let’s move away from just saying we want
let’s move away from just saying we want to help and say how we’re gonna be
to help and say how we’re gonna be
to help and say how we’re gonna be helping how much money is it gonna take
helping how much money is it gonna take
helping how much money is it gonna take which population specifically is the
which population specifically is the
which population specifically is the children as it men is that woman and
children as it men is that woman and
children as it men is that woman and said elderly people and what direction
said elderly people and what direction
said elderly people and what direction how are we gonna get there successful
how are we gonna get there successful
how are we gonna get there successful goals are ones that adequately address
goals are ones that adequately address
goals are ones that adequately address the specific needs of the population
the specific needs of the population
the specific needs of the population involved and so to sum up I went to
involved and so to sum up I went to
involved and so to sum up I went to Ghana with an open mind and I left with
Ghana with an open mind and I left with
Ghana with an open mind and I left with an inspired heart and inspired how I was
an inspired heart and inspired how I was
an inspired heart and inspired how I was able to stand here today and share with
able to stand here today and share with
able to stand here today and share with you this idea of an opened mind and so
you this idea of an opened mind and so
you this idea of an opened mind and so if I ask you to be honest with
if I ask you to be honest with
if I ask you to be honest with me again hopefully this time you will be
me again hopefully this time you will be
me again hopefully this time you will be it’s your mind truly free or is it caged
it’s your mind truly free or is it caged
it’s your mind truly free or is it caged thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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