hey guys how you doing so these days I’ve been thinking a lot I’ve been
I’ve been thinking a lot I’ve been
I’ve been thinking a lot I’ve been thinking about life quite a bit more
thinking about life quite a bit more
thinking about life quite a bit more life it’s a great Drake album that was
life it’s a great Drake album that was
life it’s a great Drake album that was just released a few days ago and in it
just released a few days ago and in it
just released a few days ago and in it no I’m serious I’m serious it’s a great
no I’m serious I’m serious it’s a great
no I’m serious I’m serious it’s a great album and in it he’s basically just
album and in it he’s basically just
album and in it he’s basically just rapping about life what does life mean
rapping about life what does life mean
rapping about life what does life mean how do you enjoy life more how do you
how do you enjoy life more how do you
how do you enjoy life more how do you look at life from different perspectives
look at life from different perspectives
look at life from different perspectives and points of view and he’s really
and points of view and he’s really
and points of view and he’s really reminiscing on his past experiences you
reminiscing on his past experiences you
reminiscing on his past experiences you know in the hood in the rap game and I
know in the hood in the rap game and I
know in the hood in the rap game and I was listening to that so I’m already
was listening to that so I’m already
was listening to that so I’m already thinking about more life right and then
thinking about more life right and then
thinking about more life right and then Excel and mile tell me that the theme
Excel and mile tell me that the theme
Excel and mile tell me that the theme for today’s events is taking flight and
for today’s events is taking flight and
for today’s events is taking flight and they asked me to come for the talk and
they asked me to come for the talk and
they asked me to come for the talk and some thinking about life I’m thinking
some thinking about life I’m thinking
some thinking about life I’m thinking about taking flight and so to be honest
about taking flight and so to be honest
about taking flight and so to be honest when they told me the thing was taking
when they told me the thing was taking
when they told me the thing was taking flight my initial reaction was this is a
flight my initial reaction was this is a
flight my initial reaction was this is a pretty vague theme right this is pretty
pretty vague theme right this is pretty
pretty vague theme right this is pretty pretty cliche it’s actually pretty lame
pretty cliche it’s actually pretty lame
pretty cliche it’s actually pretty lame it’s actually really late because taking
it’s actually really late because taking
it’s actually really late because taking flight I mean that’s so taking flight so
flight I mean that’s so taking flight so
flight I mean that’s so taking flight so I was kind of roasting them about the
I was kind of roasting them about the
I was kind of roasting them about the theme and then at the same time I have
theme and then at the same time I have
theme and then at the same time I have to admit the theme did resonate with me
to admit the theme did resonate with me
to admit the theme did resonate with me a little bit because not to be even more
a little bit because not to be even more
a little bit because not to be even more cliche but for me and for a lot of us
cliche but for me and for a lot of us
cliche but for me and for a lot of us this is truly a year of taking flight my
this is truly a year of taking flight my
this is truly a year of taking flight my birthday is in two days March 23rd so
birthday is in two days March 23rd so
birthday is in two days March 23rd so I’m turning 17 I’m gonna graduate in a
I’m turning 17 I’m gonna graduate in a
I’m turning 17 I’m gonna graduate in a few months some of us are also gonna
few months some of us are also gonna
few months some of us are also gonna graduate hopefully we’re gonna go to
graduate hopefully we’re gonna go to
graduate hopefully we’re gonna go to college and you know know I’m serious
college and you know know I’m serious
college and you know know I’m serious I’m gonna leave this school and maybe
I’m gonna leave this school and maybe
I’m gonna leave this school and maybe the cities that I’ve lived my entire 16
the cities that I’ve lived my entire 16
the cities that I’ve lived my entire 16 years in so that’s a it’s a pretty big
years in so that’s a it’s a pretty big
years in so that’s a it’s a pretty big flight to take and that’s got me
flight to take and that’s got me
flight to take and that’s got me thinking quite a bit about my childhood
thinking quite a bit about my childhood
thinking quite a bit about my childhood and my experiences here and I was
and my experiences here and I was
and my experiences here and I was thinking about taking flight listening
thinking about taking flight listening
thinking about taking flight listening to some Drake and the story popped into
to some Drake and the story popped into
to some Drake and the story popped into my head from back when I was 7 years old
my head from back when I was 7 years old
my head from back when I was 7 years old so I’m coming home from a kiddy birthday
so I’m coming home from a kiddy birthday
so I’m coming home from a kiddy birthday party on the east side right so picture
party on the east side right so picture
party on the east side right so picture like a smaller cuter version of me I’m
like a smaller cuter version of me I’m
like a smaller cuter version of me I’m holding a balloon because as you do and
holding a balloon because as you do and
holding a balloon because as you do and you know what else do you do at kiddy
you know what else do you do at kiddy
you know what else do you do at kiddy birthday parties right you bring home
birthday parties right you bring home
birthday parties right you bring home balloons that’s your present that’s like
balloons that’s your present that’s like
balloons that’s your present that’s like your your goody bag because booths are
your your goody bag because booths are
your your goody bag because booths are great I mean life
great I mean life
great I mean life would be totally boring without balloons
would be totally boring without balloons
would be totally boring without balloons right they they float they they’re
right they they float they they’re
right they they float they they’re squishy they make your voice change they
squishy they make your voice change they
squishy they make your voice change they pop they flow it up so I’m walking home
pop they flow it up so I’m walking home
pop they flow it up so I’m walking home with my balloon and I get into the 6:00
with my balloon and I get into the 6:00
with my balloon and I get into the 6:00 train it’s rush hour and you guys know
train it’s rush hour and you guys know
train it’s rush hour and you guys know 6:00 train at rush hour right so
6:00 train at rush hour right so
6:00 train at rush hour right so everyone is staring at me I’m very
everyone is staring at me I’m very
everyone is staring at me I’m very conscious that everyone hates me right
conscious that everyone hates me right
conscious that everyone hates me right now because I’m bringing a big balloon
now because I’m bringing a big balloon
now because I’m bringing a big balloon it’s like bigger than my face into the
it’s like bigger than my face into the
it’s like bigger than my face into the 6:00 train and there’s no space and it’s
6:00 train and there’s no space and it’s
6:00 train and there’s no space and it’s getting crushed by people so I’m kind of
getting crushed by people so I’m kind of
getting crushed by people so I’m kind of like cradling it like a fetus and I’m
like cradling it like a fetus and I’m
like cradling it like a fetus and I’m being super careful with it right and
being super careful with it right and
being super careful with it right and then somehow we make it through five
then somehow we make it through five
then somehow we make it through five stops of the 6:00 train and it doesn’t
stops of the 6:00 train and it doesn’t
stops of the 6:00 train and it doesn’t pop and no one shouts at me and then we
pop and no one shouts at me and then we
pop and no one shouts at me and then we get out and we got off the platform we
get out and we got off the platform we
get out and we got off the platform we walk out the stairs we enter the outside
walk out the stairs we enter the outside
walk out the stairs we enter the outside world and I still have my balloon
world and I still have my balloon
world and I still have my balloon somehow it’s pretty amazing and then I
somehow it’s pretty amazing and then I
somehow it’s pretty amazing and then I see a pigeon or something I get
see a pigeon or something I get
see a pigeon or something I get distracted and I just like let it go
distracted and I just like let it go
distracted and I just like let it go and my balloon so you know one moment
and my balloon so you know one moment
and my balloon so you know one moment I’m really happy about my balloon the
I’m really happy about my balloon the
I’m really happy about my balloon the other moment I’m staring up and I’m
other moment I’m staring up and I’m
other moment I’m staring up and I’m watching this little red dot get smaller
watching this little red dot get smaller
watching this little red dot get smaller and smaller and fade away into the sky
and smaller and fade away into the sky
and smaller and fade away into the sky that’s the kind of you know traumatic
that’s the kind of you know traumatic
that’s the kind of you know traumatic moment that therapists talk about years
moment that therapists talk about years
moment that therapists talk about years after the fact
after the fact
after the fact like that’s the kind of is the kind of
like that’s the kind of is the kind of
like that’s the kind of is the kind of it’s it’s not funny guys it’s it’s
it’s it’s not funny guys it’s it’s
it’s it’s not funny guys it’s it’s marked me to this day I think about this
marked me to this day I think about this
marked me to this day I think about this a lot and so you know I’m staring at
a lot and so you know I’m staring at
a lot and so you know I’m staring at this balloon and I go through the five
this balloon and I go through the five
this balloon and I go through the five stages the grief and everything I do
stages the grief and everything I do
stages the grief and everything I do like a funeral song in my head and then
like a funeral song in my head and then
like a funeral song in my head and then I turned to my parents and I asked kind
I turned to my parents and I asked kind
I turned to my parents and I asked kind of the natural question that any
of the natural question that any
of the natural question that any seven-year-old would ask which is um
seven-year-old would ask which is um
seven-year-old would ask which is um where did my balloon go what happens to
where did my balloon go what happens to
where did my balloon go what happens to my balloon right so my mom is kind of
my balloon right so my mom is kind of
my balloon right so my mom is kind of done with me at this point because I’ve
done with me at this point because I’ve
done with me at this point because I’ve just brought a balloon back five stops
just brought a balloon back five stops
just brought a balloon back five stops on the 6:00 train and now I just lost it
on the 6:00 train and now I just lost it
on the 6:00 train and now I just lost it so she gives me like one of those little
so she gives me like one of those little
so she gives me like one of those little packs of gogo apples squeezed and she
packs of gogo apples squeezed and she
packs of gogo apples squeezed and she says shut up and eat your applesauce and
says shut up and eat your applesauce and
says shut up and eat your applesauce and my dad so I turn to my dad and ask him
my dad so I turn to my dad and ask him
my dad so I turn to my dad and ask him the same question and he says well you
the same question and he says well you
the same question and he says well you know son when kids like oh balloons they
know son when kids like oh balloons they
know son when kids like oh balloons they become clouds and all the clouds in the
become clouds and all the clouds in the
become clouds and all the clouds in the sky that we see today are balloons that
sky that we see today are balloons that
sky that we see today are balloons that have been lost by kids and I thought
have been lost by kids and I thought
have been lost by kids and I thought that was really beautiful but I also
that was really beautiful but I also
that was really beautiful but I also realized it was a lie and and so the
realized it was a lie and and so the
realized it was a lie and and so the next day I decided to try and answer the
next day I decided to try and answer the
next day I decided to try and answer the question for myself because when you’re
question for myself because when you’re
question for myself because when you’re seven years old and you got a question
seven years old and you got a question
seven years old and you got a question like that in your head you can’t let go
like that in your head you can’t let go
like that in your head you can’t let go of it it just keeps coming back and
of it it just keeps coming back and
of it it just keeps coming back and pounding at your head right so I got a
pounding at your head right so I got a
pounding at your head right so I got a bunch of balloons and I go to the Great
bunch of balloons and I go to the Great
bunch of balloons and I go to the Great Lawn in Central Park
Lawn in Central Park
Lawn in Central Park and in the middle of like apple trees
and in the middle of like apple trees
and in the middle of like apple trees and birds and whatever like picnics and
and birds and whatever like picnics and
and birds and whatever like picnics and I let balloons go and I look at them
I let balloons go and I look at them
I let balloons go and I look at them with my plastic binoculars one by one
with my plastic binoculars one by one
with my plastic binoculars one by one like where did these things go and so
like where did these things go and so
like where did these things go and so that doesn’t really work turns out my
that doesn’t really work turns out my
that doesn’t really work turns out my binoculars were pretty bad but I looked
binoculars were pretty bad but I looked
binoculars were pretty bad but I looked it up and what happens to balloons in
it up and what happens to balloons in
it up and what happens to balloons in the end is that the balloon keeps
the end is that the balloon keeps
the end is that the balloon keeps floating up until it gets to layer of
floating up until it gets to layer of
floating up until it gets to layer of the atmosphere where the air around the
the atmosphere where the air around the
the atmosphere where the air around the balloon is so much colder than the air
balloon is so much colder than the air
balloon is so much colder than the air inside that the balloon expands and pops
inside that the balloon expands and pops
inside that the balloon expands and pops and falls on someone or something
and falls on someone or something
and falls on someone or something so it’s pretty boring actually but I was
so it’s pretty boring actually but I was
so it’s pretty boring actually but I was very happy that I found the answer to my
very happy that I found the answer to my
very happy that I found the answer to my question and you’re probably wondering
question and you’re probably wondering
question and you’re probably wondering why am I talking about this why am I
why am I talking about this why am I
why am I talking about this why am I talking about balloons why am I talking
talking about balloons why am I talking
talking about balloons why am I talking about Drake so it’s not just because I
about Drake so it’s not just because I
about Drake so it’s not just because I asked you with taking flight it’s
asked you with taking flight it’s
asked you with taking flight it’s because I seriously been thinking about
because I seriously been thinking about
because I seriously been thinking about my childhood experiences and I realized
my childhood experiences and I realized
my childhood experiences and I realized that I don’t think the same way that I
that I don’t think the same way that I
that I don’t think the same way that I used to right when you’re a
used to right when you’re a
used to right when you’re a seven-year-old and you walk down the
seven-year-old and you walk down the
seven-year-old and you walk down the street and you see a balloon so many
street and you see a balloon so many
street and you see a balloon so many questions pop into your head right what
questions pop into your head right what
questions pop into your head right what happens to this balloon where is it
happens to this balloon where is it
happens to this balloon where is it going and okay the biggest question that
going and okay the biggest question that
going and okay the biggest question that I used to ask myself is can you drop a
I used to ask myself is can you drop a
I used to ask myself is can you drop a balloon because like I dropped the
balloon because like I dropped the
balloon because like I dropped the balloon but it’s going up right it’s
balloon but it’s going up right it’s
balloon but it’s going up right it’s pretty cool and it sounds dumb to you
pretty cool and it sounds dumb to you
pretty cool and it sounds dumb to you guys because you’re like mature and old
guys because you’re like mature and old
guys because you’re like mature and old but for a seven-year-old that’s a like
but for a seven-year-old that’s a like
but for a seven-year-old that’s a like really fascinating question and that’s
really fascinating question and that’s
really fascinating question and that’s the entire point it’s that when you’re a
the entire point it’s that when you’re a
the entire point it’s that when you’re a seven-year-old you’ve just come into
seven-year-old you’ve just come into
seven-year-old you’ve just come into this world and everything every object
this world and everything every object
this world and everything every object every person you see is something to be
every person you see is something to be
every person you see is something to be curious about it’s something that’s new
curious about it’s something that’s new
curious about it’s something that’s new it’s something that you’ve never seen or
it’s something that you’ve never seen or
it’s something that you’ve never seen or experienced before and that’s why little
experienced before and that’s why little
experienced before and that’s why little kids are so annoying because they look
kids are so annoying because they look
kids are so annoying because they look at the world around them and they keep
at the world around them and they keep
at the world around them and they keep asking you questions like why is that
asking you questions like why is that
asking you questions like why is that chair red you know why does that piano
chair red you know why does that piano
chair red you know why does that piano make noise why does this mic make sounds
make noise why does this mic make sounds
make noise why does this mic make sounds how does this balloon float up and and
how does this balloon float up and and
how does this balloon float up and and that’s why parents get so annoyed at
that’s why parents get so annoyed at
that’s why parents get so annoyed at their kids but they’re just discovering
their kids but they’re just discovering
their kids but they’re just discovering the world around them
the world around them
the world around them and isn’t that a good thing what I
and isn’t that a good thing what I
and isn’t that a good thing what I realized thinking back in the back of my
realized thinking back in the back of my
realized thinking back in the back of my childhood experiences is that we think
childhood experiences is that we think
childhood experiences is that we think of maturity in our society when we think
of maturity in our society when we think
of maturity in our society when we think of maturity what is that you know what
of maturity what is that you know what
of maturity what is that you know what happens when we grow up
happens when we grow up
happens when we grow up we don’t really get wiser or smarter we
we don’t really get wiser or smarter we
we don’t really get wiser or smarter we just become more blase about the world
just become more blase about the world
just become more blase about the world around us we can look at the same
around us we can look at the same
around us we can look at the same balloon as a seven-year-old and not have
balloon as a seven-year-old and not have
balloon as a seven-year-old and not have any of the same questions pop into our
any of the same questions pop into our
any of the same questions pop into our heads so what really happens when we
heads so what really happens when we
heads so what really happens when we grow up is we forget how to ask why and
grow up is we forget how to ask why and
grow up is we forget how to ask why and I think that’s a very dangerous thing
I think that’s a very dangerous thing
I think that’s a very dangerous thing because if you think of all the great
because if you think of all the great
because if you think of all the great people in the world all the great
people in the world all the great
people in the world all the great discoveries in human history
discoveries in human history
discoveries in human history think about what prompted those things
think about what prompted those things
think about what prompted those things what prompted those things was ordinary
what prompted those things was ordinary
what prompted those things was ordinary men and women having the courage to look
men and women having the courage to look
men and women having the courage to look at the world around them and look at the
at the world around them and look at the
at the world around them and look at the most mundane of objects and have the
most mundane of objects and have the
most mundane of objects and have the courage to channel their childhood
courage to channel their childhood
courage to channel their childhood imagination and ask why right I mean
imagination and ask why right I mean
imagination and ask why right I mean when I go to Central Park now and I look
when I go to Central Park now and I look
when I go to Central Park now and I look at a bird I think well it’s a really
at a bird I think well it’s a really
at a bird I think well it’s a really fine looking bird has some nice feathers
fine looking bird has some nice feathers
fine looking bird has some nice feathers when Charles Darwin looked at birds on
when Charles Darwin looked at birds on
when Charles Darwin looked at birds on the Galapagos Islands he said what is
the Galapagos Islands he said what is
the Galapagos Islands he said what is evolution and he changed the way we
evolution and he changed the way we
evolution and he changed the way we think about life right when Sir Isaac
think about life right when Sir Isaac
think about life right when Sir Isaac Newton looked at an apple he didn’t say
Newton looked at an apple he didn’t say
Newton looked at an apple he didn’t say that’s a tasty like an apple he said
that’s a tasty like an apple he said
that’s a tasty like an apple he said what is gravity and he changed the way
what is gravity and he changed the way
what is gravity and he changed the way we think about physics when Steve Jobs
we think about physics when Steve Jobs
we think about physics when Steve Jobs looked at an apple he said what is the
looked at an apple he said what is the
looked at an apple he said what is the iPhone and he changed the way I live my
iPhone and he changed the way I live my
iPhone and he changed the way I live my life and you know these are great people
life and you know these are great people
life and you know these are great people these are not the moms who said shut up
these are not the moms who said shut up
these are not the moms who said shut up and eat your applesauce these are not
and eat your applesauce these are not
and eat your applesauce these are not the dads who say the clouds are made of
the dads who say the clouds are made of
the dads who say the clouds are made of balloons these are that one guy who woke
balloons these are that one guy who woke
balloons these are that one guy who woke up in the morning one day and pointed
up in the morning one day and pointed
up in the morning one day and pointed his telescope to the sky and said that
his telescope to the sky and said that
his telescope to the sky and said that is what happens to balloons these people
is what happens to balloons these people
is what happens to balloons these people are still children at heart and I think
are still children at heart and I think
are still children at heart and I think we should all try to stay that way so my
we should all try to stay that way so my
we should all try to stay that way so my question for you to open up this
question for you to open up this
question for you to open up this conference is after this is all over
conference is after this is all over
conference is after this is all over when everyone’s done speaking when
when everyone’s done speaking when
when everyone’s done speaking when you’ve walked up these stairs and out
you’ve walked up these stairs and out
you’ve walked up these stairs and out those doors and back into the real world
those doors and back into the real world
those doors and back into the real world what things are you going to see what
what things are you going to see what
what things are you going to see what details are you going to notice what
details are you going to notice what
details are you going to notice what questions are you going to ask thank you
questions are you going to ask thank you
questions are you going to ask thank you [Applause]
”
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