when you walked in today you sat down did you say hi to the person next to you
did you say hi to the person next to you
did you say hi to the person next to you did you ask them how they were I imagine
did you ask them how they were I imagine
did you ask them how they were I imagine for many of you the answer is probably
for many of you the answer is probably
for many of you the answer is probably no and today’s day and age approaching a
no and today’s day and age approaching a
no and today’s day and age approaching a stranger and saying hi to them can feel
stranger and saying hi to them can feel
stranger and saying hi to them can feel a little bit like asking them for their
a little bit like asking them for their
a little bit like asking them for their firstborn child and I felt that and
firstborn child and I felt that and
firstborn child and I felt that and that’s why as my senior project I
that’s why as my senior project I
that’s why as my senior project I decided to set a goal for myself before
decided to set a goal for myself before
decided to set a goal for myself before I left high school I want him to talk to
I left high school I want him to talk to
I left high school I want him to talk to every single person in my high school
every single person in my high school
every single person in my high school community teachers students kitchen
community teachers students kitchen
community teachers students kitchen staff everyone I ended up having 237
staff everyone I ended up having 237
staff everyone I ended up having 237 conversations 15 minutes each and here’s
conversations 15 minutes each and here’s
conversations 15 minutes each and here’s why I did it and here’s what I learned
why I did it and here’s what I learned
why I did it and here’s what I learned you see we don’t talk to strangers we
you see we don’t talk to strangers we
you see we don’t talk to strangers we live in times characterized by an
live in times characterized by an
live in times characterized by an obsession with instant gratification
obsession with instant gratification
obsession with instant gratification plotting our next steps
plotting our next steps
plotting our next steps connecting often online and look I’m not
connecting often online and look I’m not
connecting often online and look I’m not here to hate on social media I love
here to hate on social media I love
here to hate on social media I love social medias next as much as the next
social medias next as much as the next
social medias next as much as the next person the connections that I formed on
person the connections that I formed on
person the connections that I formed on the internet online have benefited me so
the internet online have benefited me so
the internet online have benefited me so profoundly and I’ve benefited Society so
profoundly and I’ve benefited Society so
profoundly and I’ve benefited Society so profoundly but there is something to be
profoundly but there is something to be
profoundly but there is something to be said about the fact that there are
said about the fact that there are
said about the fact that there are people that I follow on Instagram
people that I follow on Instagram
people that I follow on Instagram snapchat etc and I learn intimate
snapchat etc and I learn intimate
snapchat etc and I learn intimate details about their life basically
details about their life basically
details about their life basically everything and I see those same people
everything and I see those same people
everything and I see those same people in town some of them where I live I see
in town some of them where I live I see
in town some of them where I live I see them in person and I want to ask them
them in person and I want to ask them
them in person and I want to ask them how are those red velvet pancakes
how are those red velvet pancakes
how are those red velvet pancakes you had 2.75 hours ago but instead I
you had 2.75 hours ago but instead I
you had 2.75 hours ago but instead I keep walking
keep walking
keep walking as if I don’t know them I don’t even say
as if I don’t know them I don’t even say
as if I don’t know them I don’t even say hi because there’s a whole category for
hi because there’s a whole category for
hi because there’s a whole category for many of us a friends that are only for
many of us a friends that are only for
many of us a friends that are only for social media it’s fine to know their
social media it’s fine to know their
social media it’s fine to know their secrets their truths they are
secrets their truths they are
secrets their truths they are performative selves but it’s not cool
performative selves but it’s not cool
performative selves but it’s not cool it’s uncomfortable it’s awkward to
it’s uncomfortable it’s awkward to
it’s uncomfortable it’s awkward to approach them in person to say hi how
approach them in person to say hi how
approach them in person to say hi how are you and while I think that this lack
are you and while I think that this lack
are you and while I think that this lack of conversation this this
of conversation this this
of conversation this this uncomfortableness has stemmed in part
uncomfortableness has stemmed in part
uncomfortableness has stemmed in part from the rise the digital age I think
from the rise the digital age I think
from the rise the digital age I think it’s part of something larger political
it’s part of something larger political
it’s part of something larger political phenomena cultural phenomena we live in
phenomena cultural phenomena we live in
phenomena cultural phenomena we live in times characterized by polarization I
times characterized by polarization I
times characterized by polarization I don’t need to name names of candidates
don’t need to name names of candidates
don’t need to name names of candidates of parties of movements for you to know
of parties of movements for you to know
of parties of movements for you to know that all around the world we are seeing
that all around the world we are seeing
that all around the world we are seeing the rise of ideologies that seek to
the rise of ideologies that seek to
the rise of ideologies that seek to divide we are seeing the propagation of
divide we are seeing the propagation of
divide we are seeing the propagation of narratives that use us versus them for
narratives that use us versus them for
narratives that use us versus them for the political agenda and gain of a few
the political agenda and gain of a few
the political agenda and gain of a few but good people against one another but
but good people against one another but
but good people against one another but you see the thing is us versus them only
you see the thing is us versus them only
you see the thing is us versus them only works is only legitimate when the US and
works is only legitimate when the US and
works is only legitimate when the US and the vehm are separable but what if we
the vehm are separable but what if we
the vehm are separable but what if we start asking them how they are who they
start asking them how they are who they
start asking them how they are who they are if we see the light illuminate in
are if we see the light illuminate in
are if we see the light illuminate in their eyes and the fire in their stomach
their eyes and the fire in their stomach
their eyes and the fire in their stomach ignite and we feel their humanity I feel
ignite and we feel their humanity I feel
ignite and we feel their humanity I feel but soon the van starts feeling a lot
but soon the van starts feeling a lot
but soon the van starts feeling a lot more like the US and isn’t that what we
more like the US and isn’t that what we
more like the US and isn’t that what we need these days to feel a little bit
need these days to feel a little bit
need these days to feel a little bit more like us so why aren’t we doing that
more like us so why aren’t we doing that
more like us so why aren’t we doing that why are the Austin of them so separable
why are the Austin of them so separable
why are the Austin of them so separable because we live in these things called
because we live in these things called
because we live in these things called silos bubbles if you will echo chambers
silos bubbles if you will echo chambers
silos bubbles if you will echo chambers so much so to the extent that some are
so much so to the extent that some are
so much so to the extent that some are calling the times that we’re living in
calling the times that we’re living in
calling the times that we’re living in post truth what does that even mean post
post truth what does that even mean post
post truth what does that even mean post truth that were so silenced or deeply in
truth that were so silenced or deeply in
truth that were so silenced or deeply in French in our desperate
French in our desperate
French in our desperate oh geez that when anyone says something
oh geez that when anyone says something
oh geez that when anyone says something within our silo within our bubble we
within our silo within our bubble we
within our silo within our bubble we agree with it but from other bubbles
agree with it but from other bubbles
agree with it but from other bubbles they can use alternative box and maybe
they can use alternative box and maybe
they can use alternative box and maybe that’s funny but it’s not because we’re
that’s funny but it’s not because we’re
that’s funny but it’s not because we’re not talking to each other we’re pitting
not talking to each other we’re pitting
not talking to each other we’re pitting ourselves against each other and how can
ourselves against each other and how can
ourselves against each other and how can we thrive if that’s the case this past
we thrive if that’s the case this past
we thrive if that’s the case this past fall I lay on the floor of my room and I
fall I lay on the floor of my room and I
fall I lay on the floor of my room and I wept as I realized that ideology the
wept as I realized that ideology the
wept as I realized that ideology the parties that kids were winning people
parties that kids were winning people
parties that kids were winning people were voting and succeeding who didn’t
were voting and succeeding who didn’t
were voting and succeeding who didn’t want me alive
want me alive
want me alive my name is the odd Ahmed Ahmed I’m an 18
my name is the odd Ahmed Ahmed I’m an 18
my name is the odd Ahmed Ahmed I’m an 18 year old progressive activist student
year old progressive activist student
year old progressive activist student from Princeton New Jersey I’m American
from Princeton New Jersey I’m American
from Princeton New Jersey I’m American Muslim and I’m unapologetic about it and
Muslim and I’m unapologetic about it and
Muslim and I’m unapologetic about it and for that whether it’s how I pray the
for that whether it’s how I pray the
for that whether it’s how I pray the fact that I’m fasting right now and
fact that I’m fasting right now and
fact that I’m fasting right now and that’s my worship the fact that’s my
that’s my worship the fact that’s my
that’s my worship the fact that’s my last name whatever it might be what I
last name whatever it might be what I
last name whatever it might be what I believe who I vote for there are people
believe who I vote for there are people
believe who I vote for there are people who don’t want me to exist don’t want me
who don’t want me to exist don’t want me
who don’t want me to exist don’t want me to thrive there are people who will
to thrive there are people who will
to thrive there are people who will actively do things to prevent me from
actively do things to prevent me from
actively do things to prevent me from thriving that I cried as I’ve realized
thriving that I cried as I’ve realized
thriving that I cried as I’ve realized those people there were a lot of them
those people there were a lot of them
those people there were a lot of them that’s a hard thing to swallow but I
that’s a hard thing to swallow but I
that’s a hard thing to swallow but I realized I didn’t hate them all I was
realized I didn’t hate them all I was
realized I didn’t hate them all I was angry sure but how could I blame someone
angry sure but how could I blame someone
angry sure but how could I blame someone in a bubble whether it’s the West
in a bubble whether it’s the West
in a bubble whether it’s the West Virginia coal miner your Daily Mail
Virginia coal miner your Daily Mail
Virginia coal miner your Daily Mail reader whoever it might be how can I
reader whoever it might be how can I
reader whoever it might be how can I blame them for not knowing me in the
blame them for not knowing me in the
blame them for not knowing me in the same way that I don’t know them
same way that I don’t know them
same way that I don’t know them you see I’ve just painted them with a
you see I’ve just painted them with a
you see I’ve just painted them with a broad brush I evokes an image of a West
broad brush I evokes an image of a West
broad brush I evokes an image of a West Virginia coal miner a Daily Mail reader
Virginia coal miner a Daily Mail reader
Virginia coal miner a Daily Mail reader and assumed that political ideology I
and assumed that political ideology I
and assumed that political ideology I assumed what they might think of me the
assumed what they might think of me the
assumed what they might think of me the same way that they might paint me with a
same way that they might paint me with a
same way that they might paint me with a broad brush because of my name because
broad brush because of my name because
broad brush because of my name because of where I live because of how I
of where I live because of how I
of where I live because of how I practice this were so entrenched in
practice this were so entrenched in
practice this were so entrenched in these bubbles so as I realized this
these bubbles so as I realized this
these bubbles so as I realized this example to the gravity of the question
example to the gravity of the question
example to the gravity of the question where do I even start having these
where do I even start having these
where do I even start having these conversations what we’re seeing is that
conversations what we’re seeing is that
conversations what we’re seeing is that disagreement challenging opinions
disagreement challenging opinions
disagreement challenging opinions discourse is happening in facebook
discourse is happening in facebook
discourse is happening in facebook comment threads Twitter whores where are
comment threads Twitter whores where are
comment threads Twitter whores where are we challenging each other really
we challenging each other really
we challenging each other really engaging in productive dialogue in
engaging in productive dialogue in
engaging in productive dialogue in person I’m not here to save you all need
person I’m not here to save you all need
person I’m not here to save you all need to sit around in a circle and hold hands
to sit around in a circle and hold hands
to sit around in a circle and hold hands and sing Kumbaya I’m not here for that
and sing Kumbaya I’m not here for that
and sing Kumbaya I’m not here for that we should be disagreeing with one
we should be disagreeing with one
we should be disagreeing with one another there are things I believe and I
another there are things I believe and I
another there are things I believe and I will stand up for and I will defend them
will stand up for and I will defend them
will stand up for and I will defend them but I shouldn’t just be echoing them to
but I shouldn’t just be echoing them to
but I shouldn’t just be echoing them to people who already agree with me I
people who already agree with me I
people who already agree with me I should be bringing my idea what I’m
should be bringing my idea what I’m
should be bringing my idea what I’m spreading my idea worth spreading
spreading my idea worth spreading
spreading my idea worth spreading is that how can I call myself an
is that how can I call myself an
is that how can I call myself an activist how can I stand for humanity if
activist how can I stand for humanity if
activist how can I stand for humanity if I haven’t burst my bubble how can I
I haven’t burst my bubble how can I
I haven’t burst my bubble how can I advocate for a community if I don’t know
advocate for a community if I don’t know
advocate for a community if I don’t know my community how can I advocate for
my community how can I advocate for
my community how can I advocate for equality if I myself am buying into
equality if I myself am buying into
equality if I myself am buying into us-versus-them narratives so I say I ask
us-versus-them narratives so I say I ask
us-versus-them narratives so I say I ask myself these questions I realized I
myself these questions I realized I
myself these questions I realized I needed to start smaller so I decided to
needed to start smaller so I decided to
needed to start smaller so I decided to start with my high school and for me
start with my high school and for me
start with my high school and for me that was possible and I want to ground
that was possible and I want to ground
that was possible and I want to ground this conversation in the fact that it
this conversation in the fact that it
this conversation in the fact that it was possible for me because of my
was possible for me because of my
was possible for me because of my intersecting privileges I go to a small
intersecting privileges I go to a small
intersecting privileges I go to a small school it was possible for me my
school it was possible for me my
school it was possible for me my intersecting privileges allowed it for
intersecting privileges allowed it for
intersecting privileges allowed it for me that I was never unsafe in my
me that I was never unsafe in my
me that I was never unsafe in my conversations those two things alone
conversations those two things alone
conversations those two things alone that is not true for the majority of
that is not true for the majority of
that is not true for the majority of people around the world so I recognized
people around the world so I recognized
people around the world so I recognized that for me it was my high school but
that for me it was my high school but
that for me it was my high school but for you it can be your homeroom your
for you it can be your homeroom your
for you it can be your homeroom your knitting circle your old friends that
knitting circle your old friends that
knitting circle your old friends that you made on Club Penguin I don’t care
you made on Club Penguin I don’t care
you made on Club Penguin I don’t care but it has to be someone that person
but it has to be someone that person
but it has to be someone that person next to you we have to be looking each
next to you we have to be looking each
next to you we have to be looking each other in the eye and asking each other
other in the eye and asking each other
other in the eye and asking each other how we are who we are
how we are who we are
how we are who we are you see I shouldn’t have to remind you
you see I shouldn’t have to remind you
you see I shouldn’t have to remind you again that high school sucks for a lot
again that high school sucks for a lot
again that high school sucks for a lot of us it’s a time that many of us would
of us it’s a time that many of us would
of us it’s a time that many of us would cut out we’d be categorized as being a
cut out we’d be categorized as being a
cut out we’d be categorized as being a time of misunderstanding I’m development
time of misunderstanding I’m development
time of misunderstanding I’m development sure and a lot of my fondest memories I
sure and a lot of my fondest memories I
sure and a lot of my fondest memories I just graduated high school so granted a
just graduated high school so granted a
just graduated high school so granted a lot of my fondest memory
lot of my fondest memory
lot of my fondest memory from high school but I think that’s true
from high school but I think that’s true
from high school but I think that’s true for a lot of people it’s a time when we
for a lot of people it’s a time when we
for a lot of people it’s a time when we asked ourselves do I belong am i worth
asked ourselves do I belong am i worth
asked ourselves do I belong am i worth it am I good enough
it am I good enough
it am I good enough even those questions we learn a lot
even those questions we learn a lot
even those questions we learn a lot about ourselves but in those hallways
about ourselves but in those hallways
about ourselves but in those hallways there’s also a lot that hurts
there’s also a lot that hurts
there’s also a lot that hurts you see I decided to become a public
you see I decided to become a public
you see I decided to become a public person at a young age and what does that
person at a young age and what does that
person at a young age and what does that even mean I founded an organization when
even mean I founded an organization when
even mean I founded an organization when I was in eighth grade I made headlines I
I was in eighth grade I made headlines I
I was in eighth grade I made headlines I advocated I ruffled feathers I called
advocated I ruffled feathers I called
advocated I ruffled feathers I called people out and people started to talk as
people out and people started to talk as
people out and people started to talk as they do right high school life
they do right high school life
they do right high school life rumors spread quickly and there are a
rumors spread quickly and there are a
rumors spread quickly and there are a few resources or recourses to set the
few resources or recourses to set the
few resources or recourses to set the record straight
record straight
record straight that was hard
that was hard
that was hard these are nights when I asked myself
these are nights when I asked myself
these are nights when I asked myself it’s what I’m doing doing anything why
it’s what I’m doing doing anything why
it’s what I’m doing doing anything why do they hate me and it wasn’t that
do they hate me and it wasn’t that
do they hate me and it wasn’t that everyone hated me but people oftentimes
everyone hated me but people oftentimes
everyone hated me but people oftentimes didn’t get me it’s easy to reduce people
didn’t get me it’s easy to reduce people
didn’t get me it’s easy to reduce people to a flat perception of what you think
to a flat perception of what you think
to a flat perception of what you think they are based on rumors based on
they are based on rumors based on
they are based on rumors based on snippets of information that you might
snippets of information that you might
snippets of information that you might have heard about them if we do it all
have heard about them if we do it all
have heard about them if we do it all the time and that made high school hard
the time and that made high school hard
the time and that made high school hard often because I wanted to engage with
often because I wanted to engage with
often because I wanted to engage with people I wanted for people to understand
people I wanted for people to understand
people I wanted for people to understand my genuine passion I wanted to dialogue
my genuine passion I wanted to dialogue
my genuine passion I wanted to dialogue but there were few opportunities to do
but there were few opportunities to do
but there were few opportunities to do that so I decided to have these
that so I decided to have these
that so I decided to have these conversations because what better way to
conversations because what better way to
conversations because what better way to set the record straight to dispel
set the record straight to dispel
set the record straight to dispel preconceived notions that I have about
preconceived notions that I have about
preconceived notions that I have about others and also there’s about me than
others and also there’s about me than
others and also there’s about me than sitting down and asking them questions
sitting down and asking them questions
sitting down and asking them questions like if you could change one thing about
like if you could change one thing about
like if you could change one thing about the school what would it be and why
the school what would it be and why
the school what would it be and why questions like what are your greatest
questions like what are your greatest
questions like what are your greatest hopes and fears for the world questions
hopes and fears for the world questions
hopes and fears for the world questions like what do you look forward to what
like what do you look forward to what
like what do you look forward to what are you passionate about do you have any
are you passionate about do you have any
are you passionate about do you have any questions for me I had 15-minute
questions for me I had 15-minute
questions for me I had 15-minute conversation the 237 people and I
conversation the 237 people and I
conversation the 237 people and I learned more in those conversations than
learned more in those conversations than
learned more in those conversations than I could have in many classrooms but high
I could have in many classrooms but high
I could have in many classrooms but high school is a time when we assume that
school is a time when we assume that
school is a time when we assume that lectures
lectures
lectures or the mode of learning I think we can
or the mode of learning I think we can
or the mode of learning I think we can all agree that that isn’t the case we
all agree that that isn’t the case we
all agree that that isn’t the case we learn leaders are born in the
learn leaders are born in the
learn leaders are born in the uncomfortable when we dare to question
uncomfortable when we dare to question
uncomfortable when we dare to question when we dare to oppose the status quo so
when we dare to oppose the status quo so
when we dare to oppose the status quo so why is it that in high school so often
why is it that in high school so often
why is it that in high school so often the apathetic student who propagates and
the apathetic student who propagates and
the apathetic student who propagates and perpetuates problematic ideals is
perpetuates problematic ideals is
perpetuates problematic ideals is glorified while the student pushing for
glorified while the student pushing for
glorified while the student pushing for structural changes vilified you see I
structural changes vilified you see I
structural changes vilified you see I don’t believe in breaking rules
don’t believe in breaking rules
don’t believe in breaking rules I believe in changing them and that’s
I believe in changing them and that’s
I believe in changing them and that’s why I engaged in this project I wrote a
why I engaged in this project I wrote a
why I engaged in this project I wrote a piece for Teen Vogue at the end I
piece for Teen Vogue at the end I
piece for Teen Vogue at the end I submitted a policy paper to my school
submitted a policy paper to my school
submitted a policy paper to my school putting an amalgam idiots information
putting an amalgam idiots information
putting an amalgam idiots information presenting it saying this is what we
presenting it saying this is what we
presenting it saying this is what we need to change this is what the people
need to change this is what the people
need to change this is what the people are feeling and my most profound lesson
are feeling and my most profound lesson
are feeling and my most profound lesson that I learned was if I could do it all
that I learned was if I could do it all
that I learned was if I could do it all over again identify as an activist first
over again identify as an activist first
over again identify as an activist first sure but I should have talked to
sure but I should have talked to
sure but I should have talked to everyone and then activate it because
everyone and then activate it because
everyone and then activate it because who am i advocating for the 15 30 people
who am i advocating for the 15 30 people
who am i advocating for the 15 30 people that I talk to every day at school oh my
that I talk to every day at school oh my
that I talk to every day at school oh my advocating for the larger community and
advocating for the larger community and
advocating for the larger community and if I’m interested and advocating for the
if I’m interested and advocating for the
if I’m interested and advocating for the broader community I need to be talking
broader community I need to be talking
broader community I need to be talking to them and as I talk to them I heard
to them and as I talk to them I heard
to them and as I talk to them I heard from people who just want more
from people who just want more
from people who just want more conversation whether it’s custodians who
conversation whether it’s custodians who
conversation whether it’s custodians who want the public announcements is to be
want the public announcements is to be
want the public announcements is to be used more effectively so they can do
used more effectively so they can do
used more effectively so they can do their jobs more efficiently or whether
their jobs more efficiently or whether
their jobs more efficiently or whether it’s the kitchen staff who wants the
it’s the kitchen staff who wants the
it’s the kitchen staff who wants the school newspaper to be given to them so
school newspaper to be given to them so
school newspaper to be given to them so they can franchise in the community
they can franchise in the community
they can franchise in the community people want to be heard and franchise
people want to be heard and franchise
people want to be heard and franchise communicated to and that’s what I
communicated to and that’s what I
communicated to and that’s what I learned people are human they want to be
learned people are human they want to be
learned people are human they want to be happy they want to feel they want to
happy they want to feel they want to
happy they want to feel they want to feel like us and the way that we feel
feel like us and the way that we feel
feel like us and the way that we feel that is by looking in the eye and
that is by looking in the eye and
that is by looking in the eye and talking to them and I felt that humanity
talking to them and I felt that humanity
talking to them and I felt that humanity in every person that I talked to her
in every person that I talked to her
in every person that I talked to her brother’s a political Yahoo ecology i
brother’s a political Yahoo ecology i
brother’s a political Yahoo ecology i sat across with people that I knew hated
sat across with people that I knew hated
sat across with people that I knew hated me me because my politics what they
me me because my politics what they
me me because my politics what they heard about me but it’s hard to hate
heard about me but it’s hard to hate
heard about me but it’s hard to hate somebody you know and when you look them
somebody you know and when you look them
somebody you know and when you look them across the table and you just see them
across the table and you just see them
across the table and you just see them as that person they’re just a person who
as that person they’re just a person who
as that person they’re just a person who wants the same things that you do and
wants the same things that you do and
wants the same things that you do and there are certainly moments that I was
there are certainly moments that I was
there are certainly moments that I was discouraged there were moments when I
discouraged there were moments when I
discouraged there were moments when I asked people what do you want to change
asked people what do you want to change
asked people what do you want to change about the world and they would say under
about the world and they would say under
about the world and they would say under landing they want more people to be
landing they want more people to be
landing they want more people to be understanding but then I would ask them
understanding but then I would ask them
understanding but then I would ask them do you have any questions for me and
do you have any questions for me and
do you have any questions for me and they would say no no it’s a hard took
they would say no no it’s a hard took
they would say no no it’s a hard took the position to swallow but I swallowed
the position to swallow but I swallowed
the position to swallow but I swallowed it because I realized we’re all on our
it because I realized we’re all on our
it because I realized we’re all on our own path and I’m not here to judge where
own path and I’m not here to judge where
own path and I’m not here to judge where we are I am here to say let’s start
we are I am here to say let’s start
we are I am here to say let’s start somewhere because too many students are
somewhere because too many students are
somewhere because too many students are navigating hallways and feeling unsafe
navigating hallways and feeling unsafe
navigating hallways and feeling unsafe I talked to black students who felt that
I talked to black students who felt that
I talked to black students who felt that in my predominantly white school they
in my predominantly white school they
in my predominantly white school they can only feel safe around other black
can only feel safe around other black
can only feel safe around other black students a nice talk to students who
students a nice talk to students who
students a nice talk to students who never felt safe anywhere because we’re
never felt safe anywhere because we’re
never felt safe anywhere because we’re neglecting key conversations around
neglecting key conversations around
neglecting key conversations around minority experience sexual assault
minority experience sexual assault
minority experience sexual assault mental health current events standard of
mental health current events standard of
mental health current events standard of excellence how are we expecting to
excellence how are we expecting to
excellence how are we expecting to cultivate to educate leaders of tomorrow
cultivate to educate leaders of tomorrow
cultivate to educate leaders of tomorrow let alone leaders of today if we aren’t
let alone leaders of today if we aren’t
let alone leaders of today if we aren’t talking about today let alone tomorrow
talking about today let alone tomorrow
talking about today let alone tomorrow we are avoiding conversations that are
we are avoiding conversations that are
we are avoiding conversations that are hard there are difficult that are
hard there are difficult that are
hard there are difficult that are uncomfortable but that’s what we need to
uncomfortable but that’s what we need to
uncomfortable but that’s what we need to be having because how are we expecting
be having because how are we expecting
be having because how are we expecting Muslim students to go to school and
Muslim students to go to school and
Muslim students to go to school and perform at the same level on the field
perform at the same level on the field
perform at the same level on the field in a classroom when Muslims are being
in a classroom when Muslims are being
in a classroom when Muslims are being killed for praying how are we expecting
killed for praying how are we expecting
killed for praying how are we expecting black students to go into the school and
black students to go into the school and
black students to go into the school and perform on the field in the classroom
perform on the field in the classroom
perform on the field in the classroom when everyday they turn on TV and see
when everyday they turn on TV and see
when everyday they turn on TV and see another black body brutalized how are we
another black body brutalized how are we
another black body brutalized how are we expecting survivors of sexual assault to
expecting survivors of sexual assault to
expecting survivors of sexual assault to navigate hallways that are supposed to
navigate hallways that are supposed to
navigate hallways that are supposed to make them feel safe when this was to
make them feel safe when this was to
make them feel safe when this was to learn when we think we’ve done our job
learn when we think we’ve done our job
learn when we think we’ve done our job when we mentioned no means no once let
when we mentioned no means no once let
when we mentioned no means no once let alone an affirmative consent model of
alone an affirmative consent model of
alone an affirmative consent model of yes means yes how are we expecting to
yes means yes how are we expecting to
yes means yes how are we expecting to cultivate leaders of today let alone
cultivate leaders of today let alone
cultivate leaders of today let alone tomorrow if we are taught to know minut
tomorrow if we are taught to know minut
tomorrow if we are taught to know minut details of a world war two but to know
details of a world war two but to know
details of a world war two but to know nothing about the Iraq and Afghanistan
nothing about the Iraq and Afghanistan
nothing about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that happened during our lifetime
wars that happened during our lifetime
wars that happened during our lifetime it should not be the case that when my
it should not be the case that when my
it should not be the case that when my kids ask me the kids that I hope to one
kids ask me the kids that I hope to one
kids ask me the kids that I hope to one day have asked me daddy
day have asked me daddy
day have asked me daddy what were those Wars like I should not
what were those Wars like I should not
what were those Wars like I should not answer I don’t know we are letting down
answer I don’t know we are letting down
answer I don’t know we are letting down students we are letting down each other
students we are letting down each other
students we are letting down each other we don’t demand that we engage in hard
we don’t demand that we engage in hard
we don’t demand that we engage in hard conversations we don’t demand that we
conversations we don’t demand that we
conversations we don’t demand that we are uncomfortable that we approach these
are uncomfortable that we approach these
are uncomfortable that we approach these topics with nuance because there is a
topics with nuance because there is a
topics with nuance because there is a lack of objectivity of the way that we
lack of objectivity of the way that we
lack of objectivity of the way that we feel objectivity the way we feel close
feel objectivity the way we feel close
feel objectivity the way we feel close your clarity is by talking to people
your clarity is by talking to people
your clarity is by talking to people learning from
learning from
learning from it’s because the oppressed are the
it’s because the oppressed are the
it’s because the oppressed are the experts on their oppression so let’s
experts on their oppression so let’s
experts on their oppression so let’s hear from them
hear from them
hear from them let’s elderly beat those boys who looks
let’s elderly beat those boys who looks
let’s elderly beat those boys who looks past the microphone let’s talk to one
past the microphone let’s talk to one
past the microphone let’s talk to one another so I did that 237 times and I
another so I did that 237 times and I
another so I did that 237 times and I learned so much and I felt so much
learned so much and I felt so much
learned so much and I felt so much humanity and I was moved and I was
humanity and I was moved and I was
humanity and I was moved and I was changed but this is just a starting
changed but this is just a starting
changed but this is just a starting point 237 people it’s about how much a
point 237 people it’s about how much a
point 237 people it’s about how much a small airplane holds maybe one that you
small airplane holds maybe one that you
small airplane holds maybe one that you traveled on to get here today there are
traveled on to get here today there are
traveled on to get here today there are seven billion people in the world though
seven billion people in the world though
seven billion people in the world though that’s a lot of people and this was my
that’s a lot of people and this was my
that’s a lot of people and this was my first starting point because they’re
first starting point because they’re
first starting point because they’re talking at least 237 people it changed
talking at least 237 people it changed
talking at least 237 people it changed my life they’re talking to people in my
my life they’re talking to people in my
my life they’re talking to people in my school but it doesn’t have to be your
school but it doesn’t have to be your
school but it doesn’t have to be your school you can start with that person
school you can start with that person
school you can start with that person next to you you can look at them in the
next to you you can look at them in the
next to you you can look at them in the eye you can ask them how they are you
eye you can ask them how they are you
eye you can ask them how they are you can feel their truth you can spread that
can feel their truth you can spread that
can feel their truth you can spread that message you can dismantle us-versus-them
message you can dismantle us-versus-them
message you can dismantle us-versus-them by embracing this idea that we are all
by embracing this idea that we are all
by embracing this idea that we are all us that we all need to feel us and be us
us that we all need to feel us and be us
us that we all need to feel us and be us together and thrive together forward and
together and thrive together forward and
together and thrive together forward and disagree in person in challenge and ask
disagree in person in challenge and ask
disagree in person in challenge and ask questions and ask hard questions
questions and ask hard questions
questions and ask hard questions these are for doing that we can burst
these are for doing that we can burst
these are for doing that we can burst our bubbles we can resist through
our bubbles we can resist through
our bubbles we can resist through conversation because most people who
conversation because most people who
conversation because most people who want us to be divided who want us to
want us to be divided who want us to
want us to be divided who want us to hate one another to scapegoat one
hate one another to scapegoat one
hate one another to scapegoat one another because it’s convenient because
another because it’s convenient because
another because it’s convenient because it’s easy because it’s expedient it’s
it’s easy because it’s expedient it’s
it’s easy because it’s expedient it’s easier to count the number of likes on a
easier to count the number of likes on a
easier to count the number of likes on a tweet than it is to quantify the number
tweet than it is to quantify the number
tweet than it is to quantify the number of hearts and minds changed but I’m
of hearts and minds changed but I’m
of hearts and minds changed but I’m asking you today let’s change some minds
asking you today let’s change some minds
asking you today let’s change some minds and hearts let’s get to know some minds
and hearts let’s get to know some minds
and hearts let’s get to know some minds and hearts because that’s what’s
and hearts because that’s what’s
and hearts because that’s what’s beautiful in this world that’s what gets
beautiful in this world that’s what gets
beautiful in this world that’s what gets me excited I hope it gets you excited
me excited I hope it gets you excited
me excited I hope it gets you excited too because 237 people changed my life
too because 237 people changed my life
too because 237 people changed my life and I did that that was my bold move my
and I did that that was my bold move my
and I did that that was my bold move my bold move was daring to talk to the
bold move was daring to talk to the
bold move was daring to talk to the people in my very hallways to peep
people in my very hallways to peep
people in my very hallways to peep who make myspace liveable the people
who make myspace liveable the people
who make myspace liveable the people that I shared community with for so long
that I shared community with for so long
that I shared community with for so long but it doesn’t have to be your hallway
but it doesn’t have to be your hallway
but it doesn’t have to be your hallway because that was my bold moves but now
because that was my bold moves but now
because that was my bold moves but now it’s your move
”
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