the shoulder shrug as a high school teacher I see it dozens of times every
teacher I see it dozens of times every
teacher I see it dozens of times every day
day
day why didn’t you study what possessed you
why didn’t you study what possessed you
why didn’t you study what possessed you to stay up to 3:00 in the morning the
to stay up to 3:00 in the morning the
to stay up to 3:00 in the morning the night before a test why didn’t you get
night before a test why didn’t you get
night before a test why didn’t you get your college application in before the
your college application in before the
your college application in before the deadlines I hate the shoulder shrug not
deadlines I hate the shoulder shrug not
deadlines I hate the shoulder shrug not the person giving it not even the
the person giving it not even the
the person giving it not even the reasons behind it so much I hate it
reasons behind it so much I hate it
reasons behind it so much I hate it because of what it represents apathy the
because of what it represents apathy the
because of what it represents apathy the choice not to invest in yourself and I
choice not to invest in yourself and I
choice not to invest in yourself and I have come to believe that we have an
have come to believe that we have an
have come to believe that we have an epidemic of apathy in our society the
epidemic of apathy in our society the
epidemic of apathy in our society the theme for this TEDx Erie event is
theme for this TEDx Erie event is
theme for this TEDx Erie event is bridges over barriers and it’s true we
bridges over barriers and it’s true we
bridges over barriers and it’s true we all have barriers in our lives that can
all have barriers in our lives that can
all have barriers in our lives that can hold us back from our potential apathy
hold us back from our potential apathy
hold us back from our potential apathy can be a critical obstacle inhibiting a
can be a critical obstacle inhibiting a
can be a critical obstacle inhibiting a person from building the bridges to
person from building the bridges to
person from building the bridges to traverse life’s barriers for the last
traverse life’s barriers for the last
traverse life’s barriers for the last nine years I have found my passion and
nine years I have found my passion and
nine years I have found my passion and have worked as a public school teacher
have worked as a public school teacher
have worked as a public school teacher College adjunct professor church youth
College adjunct professor church youth
College adjunct professor church youth director and various other roles working
director and various other roles working
director and various other roles working with young people and in that time I
with young people and in that time I
with young people and in that time I have found that the majority of students
have found that the majority of students
have found that the majority of students struggled to both see and ultimately
struggled to both see and ultimately
struggled to both see and ultimately achieve the potential within themselves
achieve the potential within themselves
achieve the potential within themselves and this leads me to the biggest
and this leads me to the biggest
and this leads me to the biggest obstacle that both myself and my
obstacle that both myself and my
obstacle that both myself and my colleagues battle every single day and
colleagues battle every single day and
colleagues battle every single day and that is the continual fight against
that is the continual fight against
that is the continual fight against student apathy and to make matters worse
student apathy and to make matters worse
student apathy and to make matters worse the structure of our society places a
the structure of our society places a
the structure of our society places a disproportionate somewhat unfair
disproportionate somewhat unfair
disproportionate somewhat unfair emphasis on the decisions made and the
emphasis on the decisions made and the
emphasis on the decisions made and the skills game between 14 and 22 years old
skills game between 14 and 22 years old
skills game between 14 and 22 years old the daily choices made during this time
the daily choices made during this time
the daily choices made during this time can greatly impact how easy or difficult
can greatly impact how easy or difficult
can greatly impact how easy or difficult a person’s
a person’s
a person’s life will be for the next 40 or 50 years
life will be for the next 40 or 50 years
life will be for the next 40 or 50 years barring tragedy the more that I work
barring tragedy the more that I work
barring tragedy the more that I work with people the more that I suspect that
with people the more that I suspect that
with people the more that I suspect that many people allow their circumstances to
many people allow their circumstances to
many people allow their circumstances to control them which causes them to feel
control them which causes them to feel
control them which causes them to feel helpless in their ability to change
helpless in their ability to change
helpless in their ability to change their fate my message to all people but
their fate my message to all people but
their fate my message to all people but especially to young people is that
especially to young people is that
especially to young people is that success and Happiness can be attained if
success and Happiness can be attained if
success and Happiness can be attained if you invest in yourself
you invest in yourself
you invest in yourself with a balanced approach that allows you
with a balanced approach that allows you
with a balanced approach that allows you to rise above your circumstances and
to rise above your circumstances and
to rise above your circumstances and these barriers that we often allow to
these barriers that we often allow to
these barriers that we often allow to define us who invest
define us who invest
define us who invest put money or effort into something to
put money or effort into something to
put money or effort into something to make a profit or achieve a result but
make a profit or achieve a result but
make a profit or achieve a result but here’s the thing investment requires
here’s the thing investment requires
here’s the thing investment requires sacrifice and it also requires a certain
sacrifice and it also requires a certain
sacrifice and it also requires a certain amount of risk to invest in something or
amount of risk to invest in something or
amount of risk to invest in something or someone means to put in money or time or
someone means to put in money or time or
someone means to put in money or time or energy or all of those things in the
energy or all of those things in the
energy or all of those things in the hopes of making a return on your
hopes of making a return on your
hopes of making a return on your investment again to me apathy is the
investment again to me apathy is the
investment again to me apathy is the choice not to invest in yourself you can
choice not to invest in yourself you can
choice not to invest in yourself you can either choose to invest or you can
either choose to invest or you can
either choose to invest or you can choose to be apathetic
choose to be apathetic
choose to be apathetic you can choose to care or not to care
you can choose to care or not to care
you can choose to care or not to care you can choose to improve or to ignore
you can choose to improve or to ignore
you can choose to improve or to ignore you can choose to define your life or to
you can choose to define your life or to
you can choose to define your life or to allow life to define you it is my idea
allow life to define you it is my idea
allow life to define you it is my idea that success and Happiness can be
that success and Happiness can be
that success and Happiness can be achieved by making a choice to invest in
achieved by making a choice to invest in
achieved by making a choice to invest in yourself equally in four different but
yourself equally in four different but
yourself equally in four different but overlapping areas of life physical
overlapping areas of life physical
overlapping areas of life physical intellectual emotional and spiritual
intellectual emotional and spiritual
intellectual emotional and spiritual investment four pillars that can build
investment four pillars that can build
investment four pillars that can build the bridges to overcome life’s barriers
the bridges to overcome life’s barriers
the bridges to overcome life’s barriers so how do we begin most of you already
so how do we begin most of you already
so how do we begin most of you already know that a healthy physical lifestyle
know that a healthy physical lifestyle
know that a healthy physical lifestyle is worth investing in but as any of us
is worth investing in but as any of us
is worth investing in but as any of us who have ever dieted and then diet it
who have ever dieted and then diet it
who have ever dieted and then diet it again and then diet it again can tell
again and then diet it again can tell
again and then diet it again can tell you the sacrifice it’s real
you the sacrifice it’s real
you the sacrifice it’s real committing to making healthy long-term
committing to making healthy long-term
committing to making healthy long-term physical lifestyle chasin choices can
physical lifestyle chasin choices can
physical lifestyle chasin choices can give pay returns on investment for an
give pay returns on investment for an
give pay returns on investment for an entire lifetime developing positive
entire lifetime developing positive
entire lifetime developing positive consumption habits with food as well as
consumption habits with food as well as
consumption habits with food as well as avoiding negative habits with drugs and
avoiding negative habits with drugs and
avoiding negative habits with drugs and alcohol use will undoubtedly pay off
alcohol use will undoubtedly pay off
alcohol use will undoubtedly pay off later the Center for Disease Control
later the Center for Disease Control
later the Center for Disease Control predicts that by 2050 when my current
predicts that by 2050 when my current
predicts that by 2050 when my current 17-year old students are 50 years old
17-year old students are 50 years old
17-year old students are 50 years old one in three of all adult Americans
one in three of all adult Americans
one in three of all adult Americans could have type 2 diabetes and that
could have type 2 diabetes and that
could have type 2 diabetes and that number is even higher for minority
number is even higher for minority
number is even higher for minority populations 1 in 3 look around and I
populations 1 in 3 look around and I
populations 1 in 3 look around and I think of this prediction when I see some
think of this prediction when I see some
think of this prediction when I see some of my students who I care so much about
of my students who I care so much about
of my students who I care so much about rolling the class in the morning
rolling the class in the morning
rolling the class in the morning pounding 2 or 3 energy drinks before
pounding 2 or 3 energy drinks before
pounding 2 or 3 energy drinks before school it’s obvious right
school it’s obvious right
school it’s obvious right this isn’t healthy behavior but they
this isn’t healthy behavior but they
this isn’t healthy behavior but they continue to do it anyway and the reason
continue to do it anyway and the reason
continue to do it anyway and the reason that they do this is because they’re
that they do this is because they’re
that they do this is because they’re tired and many of them are tired because
tired and many of them are tired because
tired and many of them are tired because of their poor sleep cycles so they go
of their poor sleep cycles so they go
of their poor sleep cycles so they go home from school and they take a nap
home from school and they take a nap
home from school and they take a nap and when I inquire about the length of
and when I inquire about the length of
and when I inquire about the length of these so-called naps of theirs I often
these so-called naps of theirs I often
these so-called naps of theirs I often get replies of 2 to 3 hours in which I
get replies of 2 to 3 hours in which I
get replies of 2 to 3 hours in which I usually respond that isn’t a nap that’s
usually respond that isn’t a nap that’s
usually respond that isn’t a nap that’s a coma right and then they wake up and
a coma right and then they wake up and
a coma right and then they wake up and then they stay up to 3:00 or 4:00 in the
then they stay up to 3:00 or 4:00 in the
then they stay up to 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning because then they are not tired
morning because then they are not tired
morning because then they are not tired knowing full well that they got to be up
knowing full well that they got to be up
knowing full well that they got to be up by 7:30 the next day ready to learn it’s
by 7:30 the next day ready to learn it’s
by 7:30 the next day ready to learn it’s craziness sleep is such a vital
craziness sleep is such a vital
craziness sleep is such a vital component to healthy living and not just
component to healthy living and not just
component to healthy living and not just sleep but deep sleep is when your body
sleep but deep sleep is when your body
sleep but deep sleep is when your body repairs itself so if you don’t achieve
repairs itself so if you don’t achieve
repairs itself so if you don’t achieve deep sleep on a very regular basis and
deep sleep on a very regular basis and
deep sleep on a very regular basis and it hits your ability in all areas of
it hits your ability in all areas of
it hits your ability in all areas of your life including your ability to
your life including your ability to
your life including your ability to manage stress and be assured we will all
manage stress and be assured we will all
manage stress and be assured we will all face stressful situations we will all at
face stressful situations we will all at
face stressful situations we will all at some point lose a loved one we will all
some point lose a loved one we will all
some point lose a loved one we will all overextend ourselves to obligations we
overextend ourselves to obligations we
overextend ourselves to obligations we will all have families
will all have families
will all have families and we will all have relationships that
and we will all have relationships that
and we will all have relationships that end but part of investing in yourself
end but part of investing in yourself
end but part of investing in yourself physically is creating a body that can
physically is creating a body that can
physically is creating a body that can endure life’s of the stresses sure boss
endure life’s of the stresses sure boss
endure life’s of the stresses sure boss is difficult but compounding that stress
is difficult but compounding that stress
is difficult but compounding that stress with physical inactivity and poor eating
with physical inactivity and poor eating
with physical inactivity and poor eating and sleeping habits that can be
and sleeping habits that can be
and sleeping habits that can be devastating
devastating
devastating so pillar number one we have a choice to
so pillar number one we have a choice to
so pillar number one we have a choice to either invest in ourselves physically
either invest in ourselves physically
either invest in ourselves physically and improve or to ignore and allow our
and improve or to ignore and allow our
and improve or to ignore and allow our bodies to deteriorate but I put this
bodies to deteriorate but I put this
bodies to deteriorate but I put this pillar first because without physical
pillar first because without physical
pillar first because without physical investment it is next to impossible to
investment it is next to impossible to
investment it is next to impossible to achieve our potential in other areas of
achieve our potential in other areas of
achieve our potential in other areas of our life filler to our intellectual
our life filler to our intellectual
our life filler to our intellectual investment and no matter your age your
investment and no matter your age your
investment and no matter your age your ability your race your socioeconomic
ability your race your socioeconomic
ability your race your socioeconomic status or any other characteristic the
status or any other characteristic the
status or any other characteristic the ability to invest in ourselves
ability to invest in ourselves
ability to invest in ourselves intellectually is literally at our
intellectually is literally at our
intellectually is literally at our fingertips we now live in an age where
fingertips we now live in an age where
fingertips we now live in an age where we have almost unlimited access to
we have almost unlimited access to
we have almost unlimited access to information about everything you want to
information about everything you want to
information about everything you want to learn how to build a solar heater there
learn how to build a solar heater there
learn how to build a solar heater there you go need to know how to replace the
you go need to know how to replace the
you go need to know how to replace the fuel pump on your 1996 Honda Civic 3
fuel pump on your 1996 Honda Civic 3
fuel pump on your 1996 Honda Civic 3 minute video away anybody care to learn
minute video away anybody care to learn
minute video away anybody care to learn to make their own dentures this
to make their own dentures this
to make their own dentures this afternoon you tube to the rescue for the
afternoon you tube to the rescue for the
afternoon you tube to the rescue for the first time in human history we have an
first time in human history we have an
first time in human history we have an infinite amount of knowledge and skills
infinite amount of knowledge and skills
infinite amount of knowledge and skills a click of a button away all you need is
a click of a button away all you need is
a click of a button away all you need is motivation and a little discernment
motivation and a little discernment
motivation and a little discernment discernment to sort through that
discernment to sort through that
discernment to sort through that information to figure out what is good
information to figure out what is good
information to figure out what is good and helpful and truthful and motivation
and helpful and truthful and motivation
and helpful and truthful and motivation to overcome the apathy of the potential
to overcome the apathy of the potential
to overcome the apathy of the potential of knowledge and to invest in the
of knowledge and to invest in the
of knowledge and to invest in the acquisition of knowledge sometimes I
acquisition of knowledge sometimes I
acquisition of knowledge sometimes I think that knowing that Google is there
think that knowing that Google is there
think that knowing that Google is there it might actually inhibit us from
it might actually inhibit us from
it might actually inhibit us from learning in the first place and of
learning in the first place and of
learning in the first place and of course any talk about intellectual
course any talk about intellectual
course any talk about intellectual investment certainly means talking about
investment certainly means talking about
investment certainly means talking about education and I have been around
education and I have been around
education and I have been around students long enough to know that the
students long enough to know that the
students long enough to know that the vast majority of high school and
vast majority of high school and
vast majority of high school and college students have an unbeneficial
college students have an unbeneficial
college students have an unbeneficial mindsets of their education
mindsets of their education
mindsets of their education you see typical students view their day
you see typical students view their day
you see typical students view their day as a sequence of unrelated singularities
as a sequence of unrelated singularities
as a sequence of unrelated singularities it’s just one test just one stupid
it’s just one test just one stupid
it’s just one test just one stupid assignment it’s just one silly
assignment it’s just one silly
assignment it’s just one silly presentation if students could shift
presentation if students could shift
presentation if students could shift their perspective to understand that
their perspective to understand that
their perspective to understand that these daily tasks are not in fact
these daily tasks are not in fact
these daily tasks are not in fact singularities but rather view them as an
singularities but rather view them as an
singularities but rather view them as an opportunity to acquire and compile
opportunity to acquire and compile
opportunity to acquire and compile skills then they would drastically
skills then they would drastically
skills then they would drastically improve their return on investment and
improve their return on investment and
improve their return on investment and this shift is just as important for
this shift is just as important for
this shift is just as important for adults it starts by asking the question
adults it starts by asking the question
adults it starts by asking the question what can I get out of this moment right
what can I get out of this moment right
what can I get out of this moment right now regardless of what that moment is I
now regardless of what that moment is I
now regardless of what that moment is I get the joy of seeing what happens when
get the joy of seeing what happens when
get the joy of seeing what happens when students stop going through the motions
students stop going through the motions
students stop going through the motions of school and start to invest in their
of school and start to invest in their
of school and start to invest in their learnings and they’re going off and
learnings and they’re going off and
learnings and they’re going off and they’re becoming leaders in their fields
they’re becoming leaders in their fields
they’re becoming leaders in their fields and sure some of them are now doctors
and sure some of them are now doctors
and sure some of them are now doctors and scientists but others have become
and scientists but others have become
and scientists but others have become such good machinists their companies are
such good machinists their companies are
such good machinists their companies are now paying them to go for engineering
now paying them to go for engineering
now paying them to go for engineering degrees but the thing that they have in
degrees but the thing that they have in
degrees but the thing that they have in common is these students have this sense
common is these students have this sense
common is these students have this sense of peace and pride and fulfillment then
of peace and pride and fulfillment then
of peace and pride and fulfillment then unfortunately I just do not see in
unfortunately I just do not see in
unfortunately I just do not see in students that make the choice of
students that make the choice of
students that make the choice of intellectual apathy and intellectual
intellectual apathy and intellectual
intellectual apathy and intellectual development on its own is great right
development on its own is great right
development on its own is great right but what’s the more practical reason for
but what’s the more practical reason for
but what’s the more practical reason for educating ourselves for the opportunity
educating ourselves for the opportunity
educating ourselves for the opportunity to earn enough money to live a balanced
to earn enough money to live a balanced
to earn enough money to live a balanced life and the statistics are clear on
life and the statistics are clear on
life and the statistics are clear on average the higher the educational
average the higher the educational
average the higher the educational degree earned the higher the earning
degree earned the higher the earning
degree earned the higher the earning potential and the lower the unemployment
potential and the lower the unemployment
potential and the lower the unemployment rate money may not lead to happiness but
rate money may not lead to happiness but
rate money may not lead to happiness but financial stability and not having to
financial stability and not having to
financial stability and not having to worry about having a job certainly do
worry about having a job certainly do
worry about having a job certainly do did you know that the American
did you know that the American
did you know that the American Psychological Association reports the
Psychological Association reports the
Psychological Association reports the historically financial stability is the
historically financial stability is the
historically financial stability is the number one cause of stress in our
number one cause of stress in our
number one cause of stress in our country learning sound financial
country learning sound financial
country learning sound financial practices as soon as possible
practices as soon as possible
practices as soon as possible a vital part of being emotionally well
a vital part of being emotionally well
a vital part of being emotionally well balanced and healthy there was a study
balanced and healthy there was a study
balanced and healthy there was a study done out of Princeton University that
done out of Princeton University that
done out of Princeton University that actually shows there’s a relationship
actually shows there’s a relationship
actually shows there’s a relationship between salary and happiness but only
between salary and happiness but only
between salary and happiness but only until that salary reaches $75,000 a year
until that salary reaches $75,000 a year
until that salary reaches $75,000 a year above that an increase in money no
above that an increase in money no
above that an increase in money no longer improves a person’s happiness the
longer improves a person’s happiness the
longer improves a person’s happiness the results suggest that $75,000 a year is a
results suggest that $75,000 a year is a
results suggest that $75,000 a year is a threshold of sorts beyond which a person
threshold of sorts beyond which a person
threshold of sorts beyond which a person has the means to live a balanced life
has the means to live a balanced life
has the means to live a balanced life now what I am not saying is that
now what I am not saying is that
now what I am not saying is that everybody should go and pursue a
everybody should go and pursue a
everybody should go and pursue a four-year college degree I absolutely
four-year college degree I absolutely
four-year college degree I absolutely don’t believe that to be true but I do
don’t believe that to be true but I do
don’t believe that to be true but I do believe that every person should go and
believe that every person should go and
believe that every person should go and become highly trained in something
become highly trained in something
become highly trained in something students need to invest the time to
students need to invest the time to
students need to invest the time to truly research potential careers they’re
truly research potential careers they’re
truly research potential careers they’re earning potentials their unemployment
earning potentials their unemployment
earning potentials their unemployment rates as well as the financial and
rates as well as the financial and
rates as well as the financial and schooling burdens that go along with
schooling burdens that go along with
schooling burdens that go along with them becoming a financially stable adult
them becoming a financially stable adult
them becoming a financially stable adult it’s a critical part of investing in
it’s a critical part of investing in
it’s a critical part of investing in yourself emotionally and there’s other
yourself emotionally and there’s other
yourself emotionally and there’s other ways as well part of living a balanced
ways as well part of living a balanced
ways as well part of living a balanced life is pursuing your passions and
life is pursuing your passions and
life is pursuing your passions and that’s a question that I always ask
that’s a question that I always ask
that’s a question that I always ask young people what are you passionate
young people what are you passionate
young people what are you passionate about what makes you feel alive making
about what makes you feel alive making
about what makes you feel alive making time for your passions and the hustle
time for your passions and the hustle
time for your passions and the hustle and bustle of everyday life is
and bustle of everyday life is
and bustle of everyday life is exceedingly important doing what you
exceedingly important doing what you
exceedingly important doing what you love to do best is healthy and
love to do best is healthy and
love to do best is healthy and investment in your well-being and
investment in your well-being and
investment in your well-being and probably at the core of emotional
probably at the core of emotional
probably at the core of emotional well-being is our primal need for
well-being is our primal need for
well-being is our primal need for relationships deliberately investing the
relationships deliberately investing the
relationships deliberately investing the time and the energy to nurture positive
time and the energy to nurture positive
time and the energy to nurture positive relationships whether romantic or social
relationships whether romantic or social
relationships whether romantic or social or family or other and truly interacting
or family or other and truly interacting
or family or other and truly interacting with people in a way that goes far
with people in a way that goes far
with people in a way that goes far beyond social media is fundamental to
beyond social media is fundamental to
beyond social media is fundamental to what it means to be human
what it means to be human
what it means to be human cultivating relationships with people
cultivating relationships with people
cultivating relationships with people who have have different life experiences
who have have different life experiences
who have have different life experiences different beliefs and dare I say it
different beliefs and dare I say it
different beliefs and dare I say it different politics will expand our
different politics will expand our
different politics will expand our worldview increase our empathy and allow
worldview increase our empathy and allow
worldview increase our empathy and allow us the ability to become agents of
us the ability to become agents of
us the ability to become agents of change in our society it starts by
change in our society it starts by
change in our society it starts by taking out your ear buttons when you’re
taking out your ear buttons when you’re
taking out your ear buttons when you’re walking down the hallway and asking the
walking down the hallway and asking the
walking down the hallway and asking the question what can I learn from this
question what can I learn from this
question what can I learn from this person each and every time you interact
person each and every time you interact
person each and every time you interact with someone investing in yourself
with someone investing in yourself
with someone investing in yourself emotionally it provides stability and
emotionally it provides stability and
emotionally it provides stability and fulfilment and balance to your life
fulfilment and balance to your life
fulfilment and balance to your life however living in a way of being
however living in a way of being
however living in a way of being emotionally apathetic leads to declining
emotionally apathetic leads to declining
emotionally apathetic leads to declining mental health depression and lack of
mental health depression and lack of
mental health depression and lack of motivation the last pillar of investment
motivation the last pillar of investment
motivation the last pillar of investment to overcome our barriers is spiritual
to overcome our barriers is spiritual
to overcome our barriers is spiritual investment and when I use the word
investment and when I use the word
investment and when I use the word spirituality today I’m really talking
spirituality today I’m really talking
spirituality today I’m really talking about three things a connection to
about three things a connection to
about three things a connection to something greater than ourselves a
something greater than ourselves a
something greater than ourselves a connection the creation in the
connection the creation in the
connection the creation in the environment and all tourism in the
environment and all tourism in the
environment and all tourism in the Christian tradition it is said do to
Christian tradition it is said do to
Christian tradition it is said do to others as you would have them do to you
others as you would have them do to you
others as you would have them do to you and this idea known as the golden rule
and this idea known as the golden rule
and this idea known as the golden rule of treating others in ways that you want
of treating others in ways that you want
of treating others in ways that you want to be treated or not treating others in
to be treated or not treating others in
to be treated or not treating others in ways that you don’t want to be treated
ways that you don’t want to be treated
ways that you don’t want to be treated is evident in almost every religion and
is evident in almost every religion and
is evident in almost every religion and worldview that it’s ever existed and out
worldview that it’s ever existed and out
worldview that it’s ever existed and out of this comes the idea of all tourism
of this comes the idea of all tourism
of this comes the idea of all tourism and there’s this abundance of research
and there’s this abundance of research
and there’s this abundance of research out there that relates all tourism and
out there that relates all tourism and
out there that relates all tourism and volunteer work and service work and the
volunteer work and service work and the
volunteer work and service work and the strong correlation between those things
strong correlation between those things
strong correlation between those things and increases in physical health mental
and increases in physical health mental
and increases in physical health mental health emotional health and ultimately
health emotional health and ultimately
health emotional health and ultimately increases in happiness if you live more
increases in happiness if you live more
increases in happiness if you live more generously with your time and your money
generously with your time and your money
generously with your time and your money in your talents you will be happier and
in your talents you will be happier and
in your talents you will be happier and more successful and no matter if you are
more successful and no matter if you are
more successful and no matter if you are called to serve the sick or the poor or
called to serve the sick or the poor or
called to serve the sick or the poor or they imprisoned are called to care after
they imprisoned are called to care after
they imprisoned are called to care after the environment investing in yourself
the environment investing in yourself
the environment investing in yourself spiritually leads to abundant life
spiritually leads to abundant life
spiritually leads to abundant life spiritual apathy however leads to
spiritual apathy however leads to
spiritual apathy however leads to isolation loneliness and despair so as I
isolation loneliness and despair so as I
isolation loneliness and despair so as I leave you today I would like you to know
leave you today I would like you to know
leave you today I would like you to know that my experiences have
that my experiences have
that my experiences have me to believe that we have an epidemic
me to believe that we have an epidemic
me to believe that we have an epidemic of apathy in our society I interact with
of apathy in our society I interact with
of apathy in our society I interact with students every day that truly believe
students every day that truly believe
students every day that truly believe that they are not worth investing in I
that they are not worth investing in I
that they are not worth investing in I interact with students every day that
interact with students every day that
interact with students every day that lack vision for their futures and I
lack vision for their futures and I
lack vision for their futures and I interact with students every day that
interact with students every day that
interact with students every day that define themselves by their circumstances
define themselves by their circumstances
define themselves by their circumstances and their barriers rather than by their
and their barriers rather than by their
and their barriers rather than by their potential more than anything I want my
potential more than anything I want my
potential more than anything I want my students to know but I want all people
students to know but I want all people
students to know but I want all people to know that they are valuable and worth
to know that they are valuable and worth
to know that they are valuable and worth investing in I want them to understand
investing in I want them to understand
investing in I want them to understand that apathy cannot lead to happiness but
that apathy cannot lead to happiness but
that apathy cannot lead to happiness but balanced investment in yourself
balanced investment in yourself
balanced investment in yourself physically intellectually emotionally
physically intellectually emotionally
physically intellectually emotionally and spiritually will lead to success and
and spiritually will lead to success and
and spiritually will lead to success and happiness I want them to realize that
happiness I want them to realize that
happiness I want them to realize that every moment every task and every
every moment every task and every
every moment every task and every interaction comes with it a choice and a
interaction comes with it a choice and a
interaction comes with it a choice and a consequence and I want them to ask the
consequence and I want them to ask the
consequence and I want them to ask the question how can I invest in myself
question how can I invest in myself
question how can I invest in myself right now regardless of what that moment
right now regardless of what that moment
right now regardless of what that moment is investment requires sacrifice but
is investment requires sacrifice but
is investment requires sacrifice but your returns on investment will be
your returns on investment will be
your returns on investment will be greater than you can dream it’s our
greater than you can dream it’s our
greater than you can dream it’s our responsibility as adults to teach our
responsibility as adults to teach our
responsibility as adults to teach our young people and model this behavior and
young people and model this behavior and
young people and model this behavior and to show them that they have a continuous
to show them that they have a continuous
to show them that they have a continuous choice to make between investment and
choice to make between investment and
choice to make between investment and apathy it’s true we all have barriers in
apathy it’s true we all have barriers in
apathy it’s true we all have barriers in our lives that can hold us back from our
our lives that can hold us back from our
our lives that can hold us back from our potential it is my idea that these four
potential it is my idea that these four
potential it is my idea that these four pillars of investment can build the
pillars of investment can build the
pillars of investment can build the bridges to overcome and that is an idea
bridges to overcome and that is an idea
bridges to overcome and that is an idea worth spreading thank you very much
worth spreading thank you very much
worth spreading thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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