[Music] you ever worry about the future if you
you ever worry about the future if you
you ever worry about the future if you could be younger again when things were
could be younger again when things were
could be younger again when things were nearly as complicated and the future
nearly as complicated and the future
nearly as complicated and the future wasn’t nearly as frightening would you
wasn’t nearly as frightening would you
wasn’t nearly as frightening would you go back you see the automatic answer for
go back you see the automatic answer for
go back you see the automatic answer for most people is yes and there’s a part of
most people is yes and there’s a part of
most people is yes and there’s a part of me the timid part that says yes also
me the timid part that says yes also
me the timid part that says yes also she’s saying stick to what you know do
she’s saying stick to what you know do
she’s saying stick to what you know do what you do best and you’ll always
what you do best and you’ll always
what you do best and you’ll always succeed if you try too many new things
succeed if you try too many new things
succeed if you try too many new things you might fail and then what but then
you might fail and then what but then
you might fail and then what but then there’s also another part of me
there’s also another part of me
there’s also another part of me the more adventurous side that says no
the more adventurous side that says no
the more adventurous side that says no I’m ready to try new things I’m ready to
I’m ready to try new things I’m ready to
I’m ready to try new things I’m ready to do things that scare me and I’m ready to
do things that scare me and I’m ready to
do things that scare me and I’m ready to go into the future with all of my heart
go into the future with all of my heart
go into the future with all of my heart no matter what but you see even though
no matter what but you see even though
no matter what but you see even though those two sides of me are so drastically
those two sides of me are so drastically
those two sides of me are so drastically different the reality is that when I
different the reality is that when I
different the reality is that when I walk outside every single day both of
walk outside every single day both of
walk outside every single day both of them shapes all of my actions and for
them shapes all of my actions and for
them shapes all of my actions and for that reason I’m not feuless you see the
that reason I’m not feuless you see the
that reason I’m not feuless you see the wise Ralph Waldo Emerson once said to
wise Ralph Waldo Emerson once said to
wise Ralph Waldo Emerson once said to always do what you’re afraid to do well
always do what you’re afraid to do well
always do what you’re afraid to do well I disagree these if we take the word
I disagree these if we take the word
I disagree these if we take the word fearless and break it up and do it’s two
fearless and break it up and do it’s two
fearless and break it up and do it’s two parts you’ll get the same thing that a
parts you’ll get the same thing that a
parts you’ll get the same thing that a dictionary definition will tell you
dictionary definition will tell you
dictionary definition will tell you you’ll get the same thing that a quick
you’ll get the same thing that a quick
you’ll get the same thing that a quick Google search will tell you it all comes
Google search will tell you it all comes
Google search will tell you it all comes down to a singular definition and that
down to a singular definition and that
down to a singular definition and that is without fear what I mean fears inside
is without fear what I mean fears inside
is without fear what I mean fears inside of us for a reason right
of us for a reason right
of us for a reason right you feel it I feel it what’s it there
you feel it I feel it what’s it there
you feel it I feel it what’s it there for well it’s there to keep us from
for well it’s there to keep us from
for well it’s there to keep us from doing the stupid things you know the
doing the stupid things you know the
doing the stupid things you know the types of things that I’m talking about
types of things that I’m talking about
types of things that I’m talking about and it’s there to keep you from making
and it’s there to keep you from making
and it’s there to keep you from making bad decisions so that’s why to me being
bad decisions so that’s why to me being
bad decisions so that’s why to me being fearless is actually just being reckless
fearless is actually just being reckless
fearless is actually just being reckless and these days I’ve learned how to
and these days I’ve learned how to
and these days I’ve learned how to distinguish between the two types of
distinguish between the two types of
distinguish between the two types of fear the good type of fear
fear the good type of fear
fear the good type of fear the one that’s keeping me from doing all
the one that’s keeping me from doing all
the one that’s keeping me from doing all those dumb things and the bad type the
those dumb things and the bad type the
those dumb things and the bad type the one that’s trying to hold me back from
one that’s trying to hold me back from
one that’s trying to hold me back from trying all the new things that I want to
trying all the new things that I want to
trying all the new things that I want to try but it wasn’t actually that long ago
try but it wasn’t actually that long ago
try but it wasn’t actually that long ago when I was a timid freshman who used to
when I was a timid freshman who used to
when I was a timid freshman who used to like to sit in the band room during
like to sit in the band room during
like to sit in the band room during lunch and watch his friends play video
lunch and watch his friends play video
lunch and watch his friends play video games for him it’s hard to try new types
games for him it’s hard to try new types
games for him it’s hard to try new types of food in a restaurant for him heck it
of food in a restaurant for him heck it
of food in a restaurant for him heck it was even hard for him to try new flavor
was even hard for him to try new flavor
was even hard for him to try new flavor of ice cream and I’ve come a long way
of ice cream and I’ve come a long way
of ice cream and I’ve come a long way since then because now I’m ready to go
since then because now I’m ready to go
since then because now I’m ready to go into the future even though I’m scared
into the future even though I’m scared
into the future even though I’m scared and I’m ready to do the things that
and I’m ready to do the things that
and I’m ready to do the things that terrify me most but giving a TED talk
terrify me most but giving a TED talk
terrify me most but giving a TED talk but how did I get from that timid
but how did I get from that timid
but how did I get from that timid freshman to where I am today you see it
freshman to where I am today you see it
freshman to where I am today you see it was actually both sides of me that
was actually both sides of me that
was actually both sides of me that shaped me and one of the most pivotal
shaped me and one of the most pivotal
shaped me and one of the most pivotal moments of my life just a couple years
moments of my life just a couple years
moments of my life just a couple years back in the summer after my freshman
back in the summer after my freshman
back in the summer after my freshman year I was going on for my family
year I was going on for my family
year I was going on for my family vacation to visit relatives in Kenzie
vacation to visit relatives in Kenzie
vacation to visit relatives in Kenzie and China population fifteen point five
and China population fifteen point five
and China population fifteen point five million it’s the fourth largest city in
million it’s the fourth largest city in
million it’s the fourth largest city in the country and it was like any other
the country and it was like any other
the country and it was like any other vacation but I do remember that as we
vacation but I do remember that as we
vacation but I do remember that as we were coming down in the plane I noticed
were coming down in the plane I noticed
were coming down in the plane I noticed something strange
something strange
something strange I saw a thick layer of fog I mean didn’t
I saw a thick layer of fog I mean didn’t
I saw a thick layer of fog I mean didn’t bother me because I see fog occasionally
bother me because I see fog occasionally
bother me because I see fog occasionally around here so I thought if I waited a
around here so I thought if I waited a
around here so I thought if I waited a no more than two they didn’t clear right
no more than two they didn’t clear right
no more than two they didn’t clear right but in the plane kept going down and it
but in the plane kept going down and it
but in the plane kept going down and it hit the ground and that’s when it hit me
hit the ground and that’s when it hit me
hit the ground and that’s when it hit me you see because that wasn’t fog that was
you see because that wasn’t fog that was
you see because that wasn’t fog that was smog and it was smothering the city I
smog and it was smothering the city I
smog and it was smothering the city I was lucky that I had my inhaler for my
was lucky that I had my inhaler for my
was lucky that I had my inhaler for my anona asthma but the people around me
anona asthma but the people around me
anona asthma but the people around me weren’t so fortunate I saw people
weren’t so fortunate I saw people
weren’t so fortunate I saw people coughing I saw people wheezing I saw
coughing I saw people wheezing I saw
coughing I saw people wheezing I saw people wearing masks just so that they
people wearing masks just so that they
people wearing masks just so that they can breathe a little bit better and
can breathe a little bit better and
can breathe a little bit better and seeing that smoke scared me it scared me
seeing that smoke scared me it scared me
seeing that smoke scared me it scared me that the blue skies that I see outside
that the blue skies that I see outside
that the blue skies that I see outside right now might actually become a rarity
right now might actually become a rarity
right now might actually become a rarity in the future
in the future
in the future it scared me that the carnivorous plants
it scared me that the carnivorous plants
it scared me that the carnivorous plants that I grow home yeah I grow carnivorous
that I grow home yeah I grow carnivorous
that I grow home yeah I grow carnivorous plants might actually die one day and it
plants might actually die one day and it
plants might actually die one day and it scared me that the ridiculous types of
scared me that the ridiculous types of
scared me that the ridiculous types of bottled air that you see being sold in
bottled air that you see being sold in
bottled air that you see being sold in the Lorax might actually become a major
the Lorax might actually become a major
the Lorax might actually become a major commodity one day but the fear that I
commodity one day but the fear that I
commodity one day but the fear that I felt then was something slightly
felt then was something slightly
felt then was something slightly different from what I normally felt you
different from what I normally felt you
different from what I normally felt you see the timid side of me was so saying
see the timid side of me was so saying
see the timid side of me was so saying no don’t do anything about it you hate
no don’t do anything about it you hate
no don’t do anything about it you hate trying new things why would you do
trying new things why would you do
trying new things why would you do anything about it but at the same time
anything about it but at the same time
anything about it but at the same time when I thought about it a little bit
when I thought about it a little bit
when I thought about it a little bit more it didn’t seem dangerous what was
more it didn’t seem dangerous what was
more it didn’t seem dangerous what was the harm in trying something new so when
the harm in trying something new so when
the harm in trying something new so when I got back from China I dove into
I got back from China I dove into
I got back from China I dove into environmentalism through camps
environmentalism through camps
environmentalism through camps internships nonprofit work I did
internships nonprofit work I did
internships nonprofit work I did everything that I could to actually make
everything that I could to actually make
everything that I could to actually make a difference and one of the things that
a difference and one of the things that
a difference and one of the things that I did was help teach a summer camp
I did was help teach a summer camp
I did was help teach a summer camp called nature way it was led by a local
called nature way it was led by a local
called nature way it was led by a local nonprofit called the student
nonprofit called the student
nonprofit called the student environmental education coalition but I
environmental education coalition but I
environmental education coalition but I remember throughout the course of the
remember throughout the course of the
remember throughout the course of the week I watched as my students I watched
week I watched as my students I watched
week I watched as my students I watched as David Declan Madison
as David Declan Madison
as David Declan Madison I watched they learned about
I watched they learned about
I watched they learned about conservation biology marine sciences in
conservation biology marine sciences in
conservation biology marine sciences in ecology I watch as they built
ecology I watch as they built
ecology I watch as they built sustainable houses at a popsicle sticks
sustainable houses at a popsicle sticks
sustainable houses at a popsicle sticks i watch to say built ecosystems
i watch to say built ecosystems
i watch to say built ecosystems out of just plants and dirt and I
out of just plants and dirt and I
out of just plants and dirt and I watched as one group even wrote a letter
watched as one group even wrote a letter
watched as one group even wrote a letter to the Governor on a local environmental
to the Governor on a local environmental
to the Governor on a local environmental justice issue and he responded it was
justice issue and he responded it was
justice issue and he responded it was pretty cool but I what I actually
pretty cool but I what I actually
pretty cool but I what I actually remember most at the end was after we’d
remember most at the end was after we’d
remember most at the end was after we’d give them out superlatives I remember
give them out superlatives I remember
give them out superlatives I remember them all hugging us one last time and I
them all hugging us one last time and I
them all hugging us one last time and I remember that at the beginning of the
remember that at the beginning of the
remember that at the beginning of the camp when I’d asked one of them what she
camp when I’d asked one of them what she
camp when I’d asked one of them what she wanted to do when she grew up she had no
wanted to do when she grew up she had no
wanted to do when she grew up she had no idea but at the end of the camp when I
idea but at the end of the camp when I
idea but at the end of the camp when I asked that exact same question she told
asked that exact same question she told
asked that exact same question she told me she wanted to be an environmental
me she wanted to be an environmental
me she wanted to be an environmental engineering and that meant something to
engineering and that meant something to
engineering and that meant something to me because I felt like I had actually
me because I felt like I had actually
me because I felt like I had actually made a difference you see those kids
made a difference you see those kids
made a difference you see those kids they finally gave me a reason to maybe
they finally gave me a reason to maybe
they finally gave me a reason to maybe not fear as much and so from that plane
not fear as much and so from that plane
not fear as much and so from that plane ride which led to nature wave which led
ride which led to nature wave which led
ride which led to nature wave which led to now I’ve done everything that I could
to now I’ve done everything that I could
to now I’ve done everything that I could to help protect the planet but like I
to help protect the planet but like I
to help protect the planet but like I said at the beginning I mean if yours
said at the beginning I mean if yours
said at the beginning I mean if yours inside was for a reason right well so
inside was for a reason right well so
inside was for a reason right well so actually every single step of the way
actually every single step of the way
actually every single step of the way the timid side of me helps helped me
the timid side of me helps helped me
the timid side of me helps helped me it’s those situations where it’s just
it’s those situations where it’s just
it’s those situations where it’s just days before an event and hardly any
days before an event and hardly any
days before an event and hardly any planning has gone on that’s when you
planning has gone on that’s when you
planning has gone on that’s when you start to think you know maybe just maybe
start to think you know maybe just maybe
start to think you know maybe just maybe we should do something about it and
we should do something about it and
we should do something about it and that’s exactly what I’ve done because I
that’s exactly what I’ve done because I
that’s exactly what I’ve done because I was scared because it was keeping me
was scared because it was keeping me
was scared because it was keeping me from making all those bad decisions I’ve
from making all those bad decisions I’ve
from making all those bad decisions I’ve had to postpone events I’ve had to
had to postpone events I’ve had to
had to postpone events I’ve had to cancel them all because I was afraid and
cancel them all because I was afraid and
cancel them all because I was afraid and being scared also made me realize that
being scared also made me realize that
being scared also made me realize that the planet is connected to all of us
the planet is connected to all of us
the planet is connected to all of us it’s not just about me it’s not just
it’s not just about me it’s not just
it’s not just about me it’s not just about you it’s about all of us caring
about you it’s about all of us caring
about you it’s about all of us caring about the little things like just
about the little things like just
about the little things like just flipping off the light switch and the
flipping off the light switch and the
flipping off the light switch and the big things like enacting political
big things like enacting political
big things like enacting political change and so through cleanups speaker
change and so through cleanups speaker
change and so through cleanups speaker talks tutoring rather than sitting back
talks tutoring rather than sitting back
talks tutoring rather than sitting back watching and being scared by the news
watching and being scared by the news
watching and being scared by the news that I see every single day I decided to
that I see every single day I decided to
that I see every single day I decided to do something about it but I am still
do something about it but I am still
do something about it but I am still scared I’m scared for my future I’m
scared I’m scared for my future I’m
scared I’m scared for my future I’m scared for their future and I’m scared
scared for their future and I’m scared
scared for their future and I’m scared for a planet’s future I mean that’s why
for a planet’s future I mean that’s why
for a planet’s future I mean that’s why I do what I do you see even though I’ve
I do what I do you see even though I’ve
I do what I do you see even though I’ve come such a long way since that timid
come such a long way since that timid
come such a long way since that timid freshman in the band room the only real
freshman in the band room the only real
freshman in the band room the only real difference is that the adventurous side
difference is that the adventurous side
difference is that the adventurous side of me has grown I’ve seen my fears as a
of me has grown I’ve seen my fears as a
of me has grown I’ve seen my fears as a challenge to be overcome and I’ve used
challenge to be overcome and I’ve used
challenge to be overcome and I’ve used my fears to make the change that I want
my fears to make the change that I want
my fears to make the change that I want to see but how can you
to see but how can you
to see but how can you use your fears to change the world today
use your fears to change the world today
use your fears to change the world today you see the first step is to learn the
you see the first step is to learn the
you see the first step is to learn the difference between two types of fear the
difference between two types of fear the
difference between two types of fear the good type and the bad type sometimes
good type and the bad type sometimes
good type and the bad type sometimes it’s gonna try to help you sometimes try
it’s gonna try to help you sometimes try
it’s gonna try to help you sometimes try to gonna try to hurt you ask yourself
to gonna try to hurt you ask yourself
to gonna try to hurt you ask yourself what’s the worst that can happen I mean
what’s the worst that can happen I mean
what’s the worst that can happen I mean that’s why even though that timid little
that’s why even though that timid little
that’s why even though that timid little voice in your head might never actually
voice in your head might never actually
voice in your head might never actually leave it’s not about being fearless it’s
leave it’s not about being fearless it’s
leave it’s not about being fearless it’s about knowing what it’s telling you
about knowing what it’s telling you
about knowing what it’s telling you and then the second step is to try new
and then the second step is to try new
and then the second step is to try new things I mean yeah saving the
things I mean yeah saving the
things I mean yeah saving the environment is my mission but this is a
environment is my mission but this is a
environment is my mission but this is a big world and there’s a lot of other
big world and there’s a lot of other
big world and there’s a lot of other problems out there they’re just waiting
problems out there they’re just waiting
problems out there they’re just waiting for you to find them and they’re waiting
for you to find them and they’re waiting
for you to find them and they’re waiting for you to solve them and once you’ve
for you to solve them and once you’ve
for you to solve them and once you’ve learned that difference once you’ve
learned that difference once you’ve
learned that difference once you’ve started to try new things the third and
started to try new things the third and
started to try new things the third and final step is to use your fear change
final step is to use your fear change
final step is to use your fear change the way that you think about it
the way that you think about it
the way that you think about it sometimes it might be that challenge so
sometimes it might be that challenge so
sometimes it might be that challenge so be overcome either way it’s not your
be overcome either way it’s not your
be overcome either way it’s not your enemy whether you’re teaching a summer
enemy whether you’re teaching a summer
enemy whether you’re teaching a summer camp or taking a plane ride or doing
camp or taking a plane ride or doing
camp or taking a plane ride or doing whatever else it is that you do I want
whatever else it is that you do I want
whatever else it is that you do I want you to listen to it I want you to
you to listen to it I want you to
you to listen to it I want you to harness it and I want you to overcome
I mean yeah the future is scary and none
I mean yeah the future is scary and none of us have any idea what it holds and
of us have any idea what it holds and
of us have any idea what it holds and sometimes I do really wish that I were a
sometimes I do really wish that I were a
sometimes I do really wish that I were a freshman again sitting in the band room
freshman again sitting in the band room
freshman again sitting in the band room watching his friends play video games
watching his friends play video games
watching his friends play video games during lunch but then I realize that if
during lunch but then I realize that if
during lunch but then I realize that if I am nothing in the world will change so
I am nothing in the world will change so
I am nothing in the world will change so the next time life throws something new
the next time life throws something new
the next time life throws something new at you and both those voices the timid
at you and both those voices the timid
at you and both those voices the timid and the adventurous one are sitting on
and the adventurous one are sitting on
and the adventurous one are sitting on your shoulders
your shoulders
your shoulders shouting completely off semesters at you
shouting completely off semesters at you
shouting completely off semesters at you at the exact same time what will you do
at the exact same time what will you do
at the exact same time what will you do [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
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