so there’s a few things that all of us have heard since we were very young
have heard since we were very young
have heard since we were very young always listen to your parents don’t
always listen to your parents don’t
always listen to your parents don’t fight with your brother and sister and
fight with your brother and sister and
fight with your brother and sister and what do you want to be when you grow up
what do you want to be when you grow up
what do you want to be when you grow up well the first few are pretty simple for
well the first few are pretty simple for
well the first few are pretty simple for us to understand that last one can be a
us to understand that last one can be a
us to understand that last one can be a bit more complicated being in grade 12 I
bit more complicated being in grade 12 I
bit more complicated being in grade 12 I know firsthand just how unsure a lot of
know firsthand just how unsure a lot of
know firsthand just how unsure a lot of us can be about our futures but really
us can be about our futures but really
us can be about our futures but really who can blame you you know whether it’s
who can blame you you know whether it’s
who can blame you you know whether it’s homework or your part-time job or your
homework or your part-time job or your
homework or your part-time job or your extracurricular activities you rarely
extracurricular activities you rarely
extracurricular activities you rarely have enough time to sit down and think
have enough time to sit down and think
have enough time to sit down and think about big issues like this that will
about big issues like this that will
about big issues like this that will impact the rest of your life in a recent
impact the rest of your life in a recent
impact the rest of your life in a recent poll from a Toronto high school found
poll from a Toronto high school found
poll from a Toronto high school found that of roughly 50% of students knew
that of roughly 50% of students knew
that of roughly 50% of students knew what they wanted to do after they left
what they wanted to do after they left
what they wanted to do after they left high school another 25% weren’t totally
high school another 25% weren’t totally
high school another 25% weren’t totally sure and another 25 hadn’t given it a
sure and another 25 hadn’t given it a
sure and another 25 hadn’t given it a second thought
second thought
second thought now what’s scariest to me about this
now what’s scariest to me about this
now what’s scariest to me about this stat is that a roughly half of that
stat is that a roughly half of that
stat is that a roughly half of that group that said that they do know was
group that said that they do know was
group that said that they do know was actually told what they were gonna do by
actually told what they were gonna do by
actually told what they were gonna do by a parent or guardian now parents always
a parent or guardian now parents always
a parent or guardian now parents always want the best for us and I don’t want to
want the best for us and I don’t want to
want the best for us and I don’t want to blame them for that obviously that’s a
blame them for that obviously that’s a
blame them for that obviously that’s a great thing but they’ll often tell you
great thing but they’ll often tell you
great thing but they’ll often tell you that you need to go to college
that you need to go to college
that you need to go to college University get your degree and then
University get your degree and then
University get your degree and then magically you’ll have interviews lined
magically you’ll have interviews lined
magically you’ll have interviews lined up for a great career that will provide
up for a great career that will provide
up for a great career that will provide you with the same quality of life that
you with the same quality of life that
you with the same quality of life that they had however this path is becoming
they had however this path is becoming
they had however this path is becoming increasingly hard to find let alone
increasingly hard to find let alone
increasingly hard to find let alone traverse the job field is becoming
traverse the job field is becoming
traverse the job field is becoming increasingly filled with part-time and
increasingly filled with part-time and
increasingly filled with part-time and temporary work while the field as a
temporary work while the field as a
temporary work while the field as a whole is actually shrinking each and
whole is actually shrinking each and
whole is actually shrinking each and every day now let’s also look at
every day now let’s also look at
every day now let’s also look at university tuition rates which are
university tuition rates which are
university tuition rates which are actually the highest they’ve ever been
actually the highest they’ve ever been
actually the highest they’ve ever been in our country’s history and a roughly
in our country’s history and a roughly
in our country’s history and a roughly 350 percent higher than when our parents
350 percent higher than when our parents
350 percent higher than when our parents were in school right now the average
were in school right now the average
were in school right now the average student finishing an undergraduate
student finishing an undergraduate
student finishing an undergraduate program will actually finish with
program will actually finish with
program will actually finish with roughly $25,000 in debt now I don’t say
roughly $25,000 in debt now I don’t say
roughly $25,000 in debt now I don’t say any of this to scare anyone but I do
any of this to scare anyone but I do
any of this to scare anyone but I do want to highlight the main issue here
want to highlight the main issue here
want to highlight the main issue here and that is at this college or
and that is at this college or
and that is at this college or university route that we’ve all heard so
university route that we’ve all heard so
university route that we’ve all heard so much about in our lives I actually
much about in our lives I actually
much about in our lives I actually cannot support the same number of people
cannot support the same number of people
cannot support the same number of people that it might once have in the past and
that it might once have in the past and
that it might once have in the past and that’s the main problem I want to focus
that’s the main problem I want to focus
that’s the main problem I want to focus on today now how do we address this
on today now how do we address this
on today now how do we address this that’s the main problem if most of us
that’s the main problem if most of us
that’s the main problem if most of us aren’t going to find success going
aren’t going to find success going
aren’t going to find success going directly from school to the
directly from school to the
directly from school to the workplace that what are we supposed to
workplace that what are we supposed to
workplace that what are we supposed to do well through the work I’ve done
do well through the work I’ve done
do well through the work I’ve done regarding this issue been able to break
regarding this issue been able to break
regarding this issue been able to break down the new emerging career paths into
down the new emerging career paths into
down the new emerging career paths into two categories those are
two categories those are
two categories those are entrepreneurship and leadership now I’m
entrepreneurship and leadership now I’m
entrepreneurship and leadership now I’m going to start by tackling
going to start by tackling
going to start by tackling entrepreneurship the one you’re probably
entrepreneurship the one you’re probably
entrepreneurship the one you’re probably most familiar with this just refers to
most familiar with this just refers to
most familiar with this just refers to the act of running the day-to-day
the act of running the day-to-day
the act of running the day-to-day operations of a business which on paper
operations of a business which on paper
operations of a business which on paper sounds quite simple but in practice this
sounds quite simple but in practice this
sounds quite simple but in practice this can easily be one of the most dangerous
can easily be one of the most dangerous
can easily be one of the most dangerous job fields that you can get into great
job fields that you can get into great
job fields that you can get into great example of one of the earlier
example of one of the earlier
example of one of the earlier entrepreneurs is Henry Ford the founder
entrepreneurs is Henry Ford the founder
entrepreneurs is Henry Ford the founder of the Ford Motor Company who was
of the Ford Motor Company who was
of the Ford Motor Company who was instrumental in the creation of the
instrumental in the creation of the
instrumental in the creation of the first automobile that was available for
first automobile that was available for
first automobile that was available for the average person to buy now this
the average person to buy now this
the average person to buy now this revolutionary breakthrough in that field
revolutionary breakthrough in that field
revolutionary breakthrough in that field led to one of the biggest economic booms
led to one of the biggest economic booms
led to one of the biggest economic booms in North American history and ultimately
in North American history and ultimately
in North American history and ultimately created thousands of jobs here in Canada
created thousands of jobs here in Canada
created thousands of jobs here in Canada and in the United States some more
and in the United States some more
and in the United States some more modern entrepreneurs that have made
modern entrepreneurs that have made
modern entrepreneurs that have made similar impacts in our society are Jeff
similar impacts in our society are Jeff
similar impacts in our society are Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon Elon Musk
Bezos the founder of Amazon Elon Musk
Bezos the founder of Amazon Elon Musk and Steve Jobs and they will continue to
and Steve Jobs and they will continue to
and Steve Jobs and they will continue to do so in the future now what does this
do so in the future now what does this
do so in the future now what does this have to do with young people though well
have to do with young people though well
have to do with young people though well it’s quite simple we need to be more
it’s quite simple we need to be more
it’s quite simple we need to be more willing to pursue careers as
willing to pursue careers as
willing to pursue careers as entrepreneurs moving forward this past
entrepreneurs moving forward this past
entrepreneurs moving forward this past summer I was part of a youth
summer I was part of a youth
summer I was part of a youth entrepreneurship program called summer
entrepreneurship program called summer
entrepreneurship program called summer company this is a really great
company this is a really great
company this is a really great opportunity they provided me with the
opportunity they provided me with the
opportunity they provided me with the initial funding connections in the
initial funding connections in the
initial funding connections in the business world and personal guidance on
business world and personal guidance on
business world and personal guidance on how to run my graphic design business
how to run my graphic design business
how to run my graphic design business now while this was a very fulfilling
now while this was a very fulfilling
now while this was a very fulfilling experience it was also quite humbling to
experience it was also quite humbling to
experience it was also quite humbling to say the least but in what I lacked in
say the least but in what I lacked in
say the least but in what I lacked in the money that I made from that summer I
the money that I made from that summer I
the money that I made from that summer I gained in the personal experience and
gained in the personal experience and
gained in the personal experience and the opportunity to build important
the opportunity to build important
the opportunity to build important character traits like leadership
character traits like leadership
character traits like leadership organization and communication all
organization and communication all
organization and communication all things that have led to my growth to
things that have led to my growth to
things that have led to my growth to becoming a self-starter in my life and
becoming a self-starter in my life and
becoming a self-starter in my life and taking control of my future something
taking control of my future something
taking control of my future something that I recommend everyone here today do
that I recommend everyone here today do
that I recommend everyone here today do in whatever way works for them now the
in whatever way works for them now the
in whatever way works for them now the other category I mentioned was
other category I mentioned was
other category I mentioned was leadership which is also incredibly
leadership which is also incredibly
leadership which is also incredibly important much like entrepreneurship
important much like entrepreneurship
important much like entrepreneurship though this might be less familiar to
though this might be less familiar to
though this might be less familiar to you by that broader title so I actually
you by that broader title so I actually
you by that broader title so I actually break it down into two further
break it down into two further
break it down into two further categories public leadership refers to
categories public leadership refers to
categories public leadership refers to government work in politics and activism
government work in politics and activism
government work in politics and activism which has a bit more of a community
which has a bit more of a community
which has a bit more of a community organizational grassroots approach
organizational grassroots approach
organizational grassroots approach so important public leaders and
so important public leaders and
so important public leaders and activists of our time include Nelson
activists of our time include Nelson
activists of our time include Nelson Mandela Martin Luther King jr. and
Mandela Martin Luther King jr. and
Mandela Martin Luther King jr. and Malala yousufzai all of whom have
Malala yousufzai all of whom have
Malala yousufzai all of whom have sparked massive social and political
sparked massive social and political
sparked massive social and political change in their countries and around the
change in their countries and around the
change in their countries and around the world with the prevalence of the
world with the prevalence of the
world with the prevalence of the Internet in today’s world has really
Internet in today’s world has really
Internet in today’s world has really opened up a new market for leaders and
opened up a new market for leaders and
opened up a new market for leaders and activists that involves online media and
activists that involves online media and
activists that involves online media and this has gone on to connect every corner
this has gone on to connect every corner
this has gone on to connect every corner of the world in pursuit of climate
of the world in pursuit of climate
of the world in pursuit of climate justice gender equity racial equity
justice gender equity racial equity
justice gender equity racial equity among other things if you have a unique
among other things if you have a unique
among other things if you have a unique background in topics like animal rights
background in topics like animal rights
background in topics like animal rights or human rights or the environment
or human rights or the environment
or human rights or the environment you already lend yourself a particular
you already lend yourself a particular
you already lend yourself a particular credibility in this field and through
credibility in this field and through
credibility in this field and through more individual research through
more individual research through
more individual research through involving yourself in causes that matter
involving yourself in causes that matter
involving yourself in causes that matter to you and meeting with pillars in those
to you and meeting with pillars in those
to you and meeting with pillars in those communities you can build a foundational
communities you can build a foundational
communities you can build a foundational knowledge that can work for a great
knowledge that can work for a great
knowledge that can work for a great career further in political and social
career further in political and social
career further in political and social action you shouldn’t be turned off from
action you shouldn’t be turned off from
action you shouldn’t be turned off from pursuing a career as a spark for change
pursuing a career as a spark for change
pursuing a career as a spark for change in your community your country or around
in your community your country or around
in your community your country or around the world so moving forward I think our
the world so moving forward I think our
the world so moving forward I think our generation has to remember that we face
generation has to remember that we face
generation has to remember that we face incredibly unique issues to those of our
incredibly unique issues to those of our
incredibly unique issues to those of our parents as we live in a much more
parents as we live in a much more
parents as we live in a much more complicated economic time the world is
complicated economic time the world is
complicated economic time the world is connected through economic markets all
connected through economic markets all
connected through economic markets all over the place and this has prompted our
over the place and this has prompted our
over the place and this has prompted our country with a laundry list of tough
country with a laundry list of tough
country with a laundry list of tough decisions to make however at the moment
decisions to make however at the moment
decisions to make however at the moment I think that we’re making the wrong ones
I think that we’re making the wrong ones
I think that we’re making the wrong ones our government continues to invest in
our government continues to invest in
our government continues to invest in dyeing industries while young people and
dyeing industries while young people and
dyeing industries while young people and entrepreneurs are consistently left out
entrepreneurs are consistently left out
entrepreneurs are consistently left out to dry this clinging to the past of a
to dry this clinging to the past of a
to dry this clinging to the past of a previous economic order is going to cost
previous economic order is going to cost
previous economic order is going to cost our generation our livelihood if it’s
our generation our livelihood if it’s
our generation our livelihood if it’s not stopped and redirected as soon as
not stopped and redirected as soon as
not stopped and redirected as soon as possible you shouldn’t be quick to hold
possible you shouldn’t be quick to hold
possible you shouldn’t be quick to hold onto onto tradition and expect that
onto onto tradition and expect that
onto onto tradition and expect that you’re gonna find the same quality of
you’re gonna find the same quality of
you’re gonna find the same quality of life and quality of work that your
life and quality of work that your
life and quality of work that your parents did going directly from school
parents did going directly from school
parents did going directly from school to the workplace because this is
to the workplace because this is
to the workplace because this is becoming increasingly rare the people
becoming increasingly rare the people
becoming increasingly rare the people that find the most success are not those
that find the most success are not those
that find the most success are not those that follow the status quo they’re the
that follow the status quo they’re the
that follow the status quo they’re the ones that lead the way for the rest of
ones that lead the way for the rest of
ones that lead the way for the rest of us and I think more people in our
us and I think more people in our
us and I think more people in our generation needs to be willing to put it
generation needs to be willing to put it
generation needs to be willing to put it all on the table in pursuit of becoming
all on the table in pursuit of becoming
all on the table in pursuit of becoming trailblazers now most importantly I want
trailblazers now most importantly I want
trailblazers now most importantly I want you to go
you to go
you to go with this and that is that the next time
with this and that is that the next time
with this and that is that the next time somebody asks you what you want to be
somebody asks you what you want to be
somebody asks you what you want to be when you grow up you can give them an
when you grow up you can give them an
when you grow up you can give them an honest answer because that question
honest answer because that question
honest answer because that question means more now today than ever before
means more now today than ever before
means more now today than ever before thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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