Let them know who you are | Nayem Alam | TEDxMarianopolisCollege

I’ve got so much to say but when it

I’ve got so much to say but when it comes to the pen and the paper my mind

comes to the pen and the paper my mind

comes to the pen and the paper my mind trembles in every way I cannot speak nor

trembles in every way I cannot speak nor

trembles in every way I cannot speak nor think and I’m quite quiet which is not

think and I’m quite quiet which is not

think and I’m quite quiet which is not usually me see I remember back when we

usually me see I remember back when we

usually me see I remember back when we were young everything was simple

were young everything was simple

were young everything was simple watching Squidward screaming a spongebob

watching Squidward screaming a spongebob

watching Squidward screaming a spongebob where’s Zach playing with Cody man my

where’s Zach playing with Cody man my

where’s Zach playing with Cody man my responsibilities were so little now I’m

responsibilities were so little now I’m

responsibilities were so little now I’m surrounded by different faces going

surrounded by different faces going

surrounded by different faces going through the same situations on a daily

through the same situations on a daily

through the same situations on a daily basis they told me that I go different

basis they told me that I go different

basis they told me that I go different places but I’m still trying to figure

places but I’m still trying to figure

places but I’m still trying to figure out where my place is and as a pace to

out where my place is and as a pace to

out where my place is and as a pace to the stage the shadows keep following me

the stage the shadows keep following me

the stage the shadows keep following me till this age and it won’t ever leave me

till this age and it won’t ever leave me

till this age and it won’t ever leave me see I was told that I couldn’t make

see I was told that I couldn’t make

see I was told that I couldn’t make anything possible I was looked as a

anything possible I was looked as a

anything possible I was looked as a failure that I would never be possible

failure that I would never be possible

failure that I would never be possible where are the opportunities when you’re

where are the opportunities when you’re

where are the opportunities when you’re all alone trying to figure this out on

all alone trying to figure this out on

all alone trying to figure this out on your own see my life is like a TV

your own see my life is like a TV

your own see my life is like a TV station with corrupted channels and I’m

station with corrupted channels and I’m

station with corrupted channels and I’m scrolling for better but when I find a

scrolling for better but when I find a

scrolling for better but when I find a good channel it eventually loses signal

good channel it eventually loses signal

good channel it eventually loses signal and I’m just trying to realize my goals

and I’m just trying to realize my goals

and I’m just trying to realize my goals this ambition and hard work keeps me in

this ambition and hard work keeps me in

this ambition and hard work keeps me in control psycho continues and goes around

control psycho continues and goes around

control psycho continues and goes around and around once more for getting

and around once more for getting

and around once more for getting acceptance behind closed doors listen

acceptance behind closed doors listen

acceptance behind closed doors listen I’ve seen the rich and I’ve lived the

I’ve seen the rich and I’ve lived the

I’ve seen the rich and I’ve lived the poor I’ve been through predicaments I

poor I’ve been through predicaments I

poor I’ve been through predicaments I could not afford and I’ve been taken

could not afford and I’ve been taken

could not afford and I’ve been taken away from the depths of happiness – the

away from the depths of happiness – the

away from the depths of happiness – the untold were all the broken souls and so

untold were all the broken souls and so

untold were all the broken souls and so take a glance of my story you see all

take a glance of my story you see all

take a glance of my story you see all these pressures in society all these

these pressures in society all these

these pressures in society all these problems all these expectations all

problems all these expectations all

problems all these expectations all these underestimations got me clogged up

these underestimations got me clogged up

these underestimations got me clogged up and confined in my small room back home

and confined in my small room back home

and confined in my small room back home and inside a white light flashing bright

and inside a white light flashing bright

and inside a white light flashing bright converging rays into my eyes and I see a

converging rays into my eyes and I see a

converging rays into my eyes and I see a lonely boy trying to run and hide from

lonely boy trying to run and hide from

lonely boy trying to run and hide from all this pain and misery left behind

all this pain and misery left behind

all this pain and misery left behind getting judged constantly from left to

getting judged constantly from left to

getting judged constantly from left to right and so many nights all depressed

right and so many nights all depressed

right and so many nights all depressed wondering how far I go see you always

wondering how far I go see you always

wondering how far I go see you always got to keep moving on you always got to

got to keep moving on you always got to

got to keep moving on you always got to keep grinding because life won’t come at

keep grinding because life won’t come at

keep grinding because life won’t come at you with obstacles and you got to stay

you with obstacles and you got to stay

you with obstacles and you got to stay strong for four years for four years I

strong for four years for four years I

strong for four years for four years I was bullied for my appearance from her

was bullied for my appearance from her

was bullied for my appearance from her height for my weight I was pushed around

height for my weight I was pushed around

height for my weight I was pushed around and I couldn’t fight they called me fat

and I couldn’t fight they called me fat

and I couldn’t fight they called me fat ass ugly piece of shit they told me that

ass ugly piece of shit they told me that

ass ugly piece of shit they told me that I was never going to go far in life I’ve

I was never going to go far in life I’ve

I was never going to go far in life I’ve got people putting my face in

got people putting my face in

got people putting my face in pushing me over the railings and beating

pushing me over the railings and beating

pushing me over the railings and beating me up at a Community Center and slowly I

me up at a Community Center and slowly I

me up at a Community Center and slowly I became ashamed of who I was I used to

became ashamed of who I was I used to

became ashamed of who I was I used to wear my pants low must not back back and

wear my pants low must not back back and

wear my pants low must not back back and exhale close cuz a large layer will keep

exhale close cuz a large layer will keep

exhale close cuz a large layer will keep me close from all my insecurities I was

me close from all my insecurities I was

me close from all my insecurities I was depressed and I couldn’t voice how I

depressed and I couldn’t voice how I

depressed and I couldn’t voice how I felt

felt

felt trust me I know how it feels it’s as if

trust me I know how it feels it’s as if

trust me I know how it feels it’s as if your heart is being squeezed by an

your heart is being squeezed by an

your heart is being squeezed by an external force and you’re trying your

external force and you’re trying your

external force and you’re trying your best to fight it but the pain is so deep

best to fight it but the pain is so deep

best to fight it but the pain is so deep that it stings and you begin to

that it stings and you begin to

that it stings and you begin to suffocate left with no words simply

suffocate left with no words simply

suffocate left with no words simply tears dripping down the sides of your

tears dripping down the sides of your

tears dripping down the sides of your cheeks and as the clock tick tocks you

cheeks and as the clock tick tocks you

cheeks and as the clock tick tocks you remain motionless thinking you’re

remain motionless thinking you’re

remain motionless thinking you’re worthless listen I was on the brink of

worthless listen I was on the brink of

worthless listen I was on the brink of suicide but I’m still standing here

suicide but I’m still standing here

suicide but I’m still standing here aren’t I everybody here has a story you

aren’t I everybody here has a story you

aren’t I everybody here has a story you see we live our lives with stereotypes

see we live our lives with stereotypes

see we live our lives with stereotypes double standards gigabytes and slang

double standards gigabytes and slang

double standards gigabytes and slang type grammars and while we are trying

type grammars and while we are trying

type grammars and while we are trying our best to become like him or her we

our best to become like him or her we

our best to become like him or her we under forgetting ourselves just constant

under forgetting ourselves just constant

under forgetting ourselves just constant demise I want to tell you the truth

demise I want to tell you the truth

demise I want to tell you the truth about our youth we are the leaders of

about our youth we are the leaders of

about our youth we are the leaders of this generation and it is up to us to do

this generation and it is up to us to do

this generation and it is up to us to do the separation we are students

the separation we are students

the separation we are students innovators fighters teachers brothers

innovators fighters teachers brothers

innovators fighters teachers brothers sisters we are one nation and I know you

sisters we are one nation and I know you

sisters we are one nation and I know you hear this on a daily basis but you got

hear this on a daily basis but you got

hear this on a daily basis but you got to face it that we are not perfect and

to face it that we are not perfect and

to face it that we are not perfect and it takes time to embrace our perfect

it takes time to embrace our perfect

it takes time to embrace our perfect imperfections see I I got a dream yeah

imperfections see I I got a dream yeah

imperfections see I I got a dream yeah we all got dreams but our self-esteem is

we all got dreams but our self-esteem is

we all got dreams but our self-esteem is so pulverized that we poured a cup of

so pulverized that we poured a cup of

so pulverized that we poured a cup of truth with a bunch of lies

truth with a bunch of lies

truth with a bunch of lies listen I’m no different from you I’ve

listen I’m no different from you I’ve

listen I’m no different from you I’ve made many mistakes in my life I felt

made many mistakes in my life I felt

made many mistakes in my life I felt countless times and countless places

countless times and countless places

countless times and countless places growing up we were taught that we should

growing up we were taught that we should

growing up we were taught that we should not fail well if we keep succeeding then

not fail well if we keep succeeding then

not fail well if we keep succeeding then this room for nothing new we just

this room for nothing new we just

this room for nothing new we just continue but once we fail that’s when we

continue but once we fail that’s when we

continue but once we fail that’s when we realized to work harder in fact you need

realized to work harder in fact you need

realized to work harder in fact you need to fall down in order to

to fall down in order to

to fall down in order to back up stronger clearly life isn’t easy

back up stronger clearly life isn’t easy

back up stronger clearly life isn’t easy so it isn’t about oh I should have done

so it isn’t about oh I should have done

so it isn’t about oh I should have done this or I could have done that don’t get

this or I could have done that don’t get

this or I could have done that don’t get caught up in the following trend if you

caught up in the following trend if you

caught up in the following trend if you want to change there’s still time

want to change there’s still time

want to change there’s still time it’s not too late but one day one day

it’s not too late but one day one day

it’s not too late but one day one day it’ll be too late and you will regret

it’ll be too late and you will regret

it’ll be too late and you will regret all the opportunities that you did not

all the opportunities that you did not

all the opportunities that you did not take so it doesn’t matter how old you

take so it doesn’t matter how old you

take so it doesn’t matter how old you are you can still make a difference but

are you can still make a difference but

are you can still make a difference but do not live your life by accomplishing

do not live your life by accomplishing

do not live your life by accomplishing someone else’s goals you got a dream

someone else’s goals you got a dream

someone else’s goals you got a dream take it you got a dream chase it with

take it you got a dream chase it with

take it you got a dream chase it with all you’ve got so dream dream the

all you’ve got so dream dream the

all you’ve got so dream dream the biggest dream you’ve ever dreamt and

biggest dream you’ve ever dreamt and

biggest dream you’ve ever dreamt and make that dream into reality to the

make that dream into reality to the

make that dream into reality to the furthest extent I know it’s easier said

furthest extent I know it’s easier said

furthest extent I know it’s easier said than done but you got to start walking

than done but you got to start walking

than done but you got to start walking up the steps because before you even

up the steps because before you even

up the steps because before you even know it your friends will be walking up

know it your friends will be walking up

know it your friends will be walking up the stairs while you stay standing

the stairs while you stay standing

the stairs while you stay standing waiting for it to move on its own after

waiting for it to move on its own after

waiting for it to move on its own after being bullied I made a decision I got

being bullied I made a decision I got

being bullied I made a decision I got into boot camps I got into the gym and I

into boot camps I got into the gym and I

into boot camps I got into the gym and I lost over 30 pounds see that is my past

lost over 30 pounds see that is my past

lost over 30 pounds see that is my past but let me tell you that these problems

but let me tell you that these problems

but let me tell you that these problems pass because pain is temporary so know

pass because pain is temporary so know

pass because pain is temporary so know that pain needs to be felt not denied so

that pain needs to be felt not denied so

that pain needs to be felt not denied so lift through your demise lift through

lift through your demise lift through

lift through your demise lift through this pain with eyes wide but do not ever

this pain with eyes wide but do not ever

this pain with eyes wide but do not ever let this pain control you inside because

let this pain control you inside because

let this pain control you inside because these are just figments of our

these are just figments of our

these are just figments of our imagination honestly we need to look at

imagination honestly we need to look at

imagination honestly we need to look at life and embrace every single moment

life and embrace every single moment

life and embrace every single moment we’ve got everybody here has greatness

we’ve got everybody here has greatness

we’ve got everybody here has greatness in them and we just got to find it in

in them and we just got to find it in

in them and we just got to find it in ourselves though nothing will ever

ourselves though nothing will ever

ourselves though nothing will ever happen by sitting down hard work will

happen by sitting down hard work will

happen by sitting down hard work will get you your goals don’t you see that

get you your goals don’t you see that

get you your goals don’t you see that there are amazing people in this world

there are amazing people in this world

there are amazing people in this world of course you’ll hear people telling you

of course you’ll hear people telling you

of course you’ll hear people telling you that there’s someone having worse than

that there’s someone having worse than

that there’s someone having worse than you and that is true but there are times

you and that is true but there are times

you and that is true but there are times in life where we have to worse than us

in life where we have to worse than us

in life where we have to worse than us we are the save the past in fact embrace

we are the save the past in fact embrace

we are the save the past in fact embrace this negativity I understand these

this negativity I understand these

this negativity I understand these dualities of life imposes on us our

dualities of life imposes on us our

dualities of life imposes on us our insane

insane

insane shooting us up from left to right may I

shooting us up from left to right may I

shooting us up from left to right may I add like the yin-yang where the good

add like the yin-yang where the good

add like the yin-yang where the good needs to batter the happiness

needs to batter the happiness

needs to batter the happiness because these cars will never start

because these cars will never start

because these cars will never start healing but don’t you ever tell me that

healing but don’t you ever tell me that

healing but don’t you ever tell me that you got no talent because deep down

you got no talent because deep down

you got no talent because deep down within you got hopes you got dreams you

within you got hopes you got dreams you

within you got hopes you got dreams you got words that could take mainstream to

got words that could take mainstream to

got words that could take mainstream to its extremes listen do not let it

its extremes listen do not let it

its extremes listen do not let it corrupt a society corrupt you they’ll

corrupt a society corrupt you they’ll

corrupt a society corrupt you they’ll say our generation is crazy filled with

say our generation is crazy filled with

say our generation is crazy filled with Technology and laziness but don’t let

Technology and laziness but don’t let

Technology and laziness but don’t let that get to you don’t be afraid to make

that get to you don’t be afraid to make

that get to you don’t be afraid to make mistakes because these mistakes make us

mistakes because these mistakes make us

mistakes because these mistakes make us who we are to remake the moments and not

who we are to remake the moments and not

who we are to remake the moments and not remember them and live by the past I

remember them and live by the past I

remember them and live by the past I want you to as they say change your cans

want you to as they say change your cans

want you to as they say change your cans into cans and your dreams into plans you

into cans and your dreams into plans you

into cans and your dreams into plans you are not alone in society we all got our

are not alone in society we all got our

are not alone in society we all got our battles so let’s make this a joint

battles so let’s make this a joint

battles so let’s make this a joint endeavor grab each other’s hands we can

endeavor grab each other’s hands we can

endeavor grab each other’s hands we can get through this together

get through this together

get through this together though though there are many who talk

though though there are many who talk

though though there are many who talk and very few who do and slowly Society

and very few who do and slowly Society

and very few who do and slowly Society is teaching us to be afraid of those who

is teaching us to be afraid of those who

is teaching us to be afraid of those who are different from you you shouldn’t be

are different from you you shouldn’t be

are different from you you shouldn’t be scared to make a difference you

scared to make a difference you

scared to make a difference you shouldn’t be scared to leave a mark we

shouldn’t be scared to leave a mark we

shouldn’t be scared to leave a mark we only know the real value of something

only know the real value of something

only know the real value of something when it’s gone so from this day forward

when it’s gone so from this day forward

when it’s gone so from this day forward we will go out there we will embrace

we will go out there we will embrace

we will go out there we will embrace ourselves for who we are and not for who

ourselves for who we are and not for who

ourselves for who we are and not for who we should be stand out in front the

we should be stand out in front the

we should be stand out in front the crowd let them know who you are it’s

crowd let them know who you are it’s

crowd let them know who you are it’s your story your words now it’s time to

your story your words now it’s time to

your story your words now it’s time to let your voices voices be heard

let your voices voices be heard

let your voices voices be heard [Applause]