I’m to be better than us I’m to go above and beyond the A+ but not in the way
and beyond the A+ but not in the way
and beyond the A+ but not in the way you’re probably thinking I’m not talking
you’re probably thinking I’m not talking
you’re probably thinking I’m not talking about being an A+ plus student with a
about being an A+ plus student with a
about being an A+ plus student with a 4.5 GPA and perfect SAT and a CT scores
4.5 GPA and perfect SAT and a CT scores
4.5 GPA and perfect SAT and a CT scores I’m talking about going beyond the A+ in
I’m talking about going beyond the A+ in
I’m talking about going beyond the A+ in Who I am as a person so that leaves the
Who I am as a person so that leaves the
Who I am as a person so that leaves the question who am i I’ve attempted to
question who am i I’ve attempted to
question who am i I’ve attempted to define this for the past 16 years of my
define this for the past 16 years of my
define this for the past 16 years of my life we tend to spend our whole lives
life we tend to spend our whole lives
life we tend to spend our whole lives searching for this answer and I’m
searching for this answer and I’m
searching for this answer and I’m nowhere near knowing who I am but I have
nowhere near knowing who I am but I have
nowhere near knowing who I am but I have learned a lot about myself recently I
learned a lot about myself recently I
learned a lot about myself recently I see myself to be a kind-hearted
see myself to be a kind-hearted
see myself to be a kind-hearted faith-driven
faith-driven
faith-driven 16 year old girl who loves to spend time
16 year old girl who loves to spend time
16 year old girl who loves to spend time with her friends and family well I feel
with her friends and family well I feel
with her friends and family well I feel the schooling system sees me as a great
the schooling system sees me as a great
the schooling system sees me as a great point average a letter grade or an SAT
point average a letter grade or an SAT
point average a letter grade or an SAT or a CT score I see myself as a
or a CT score I see myself as a
or a CT score I see myself as a combination of these skills but
combination of these skills but
combination of these skills but unfortunately through my experience in
unfortunately through my experience in
unfortunately through my experience in different academic settings I feel like
different academic settings I feel like
different academic settings I feel like I’ve often been measured on my grade
I’ve often been measured on my grade
I’ve often been measured on my grade point average alone up until the fifth
point average alone up until the fifth
point average alone up until the fifth grade I attended the gifted program I’d
grade I attended the gifted program I’d
grade I attended the gifted program I’d always found myself wondering what
always found myself wondering what
always found myself wondering what define the gifted and the non gifted
define the gifted and the non gifted
define the gifted and the non gifted students and I knew that yes obviously
students and I knew that yes obviously
students and I knew that yes obviously the gifted students tested higher but
the gifted students tested higher but
the gifted students tested higher but how could a school define a group of
how could a school define a group of
how could a school define a group of students as not gifted we all have our
students as not gifted we all have our
students as not gifted we all have our own gifts and talents and the common
own gifts and talents and the common
own gifts and talents and the common core classes that we are required to
core classes that we are required to
core classes that we are required to take is a weak way to define students
take is a weak way to define students
take is a weak way to define students and label them as non gifted in this
and label them as non gifted in this
and label them as non gifted in this gifted program I only had a few close
gifted program I only had a few close
gifted program I only had a few close friends I found myself now relating to
friends I found myself now relating to
friends I found myself now relating to the others because of their constant
the others because of their constant
the others because of their constant focus on school I’d always attempted to
focus on school I’d always attempted to
focus on school I’d always attempted to be well-rounded and this intensity of
be well-rounded and this intensity of
be well-rounded and this intensity of schooling and only the 5th grade was
schooling and only the 5th grade was
schooling and only the 5th grade was just not the right fit for me therefore
just not the right fit for me therefore
just not the right fit for me therefore I decided to attend the non gifted
I decided to attend the non gifted
I decided to attend the non gifted program for middle school when I told my
program for middle school when I told my
program for middle school when I told my teacher this she began to judge me in
teacher this she began to judge me in
teacher this she began to judge me in class one day I asked her a question and
class one day I asked her a question and
class one day I asked her a question and she responds with
she responds with
she responds with you will not need to know that because
you will not need to know that because
you will not need to know that because you’ll be in the gifted program non
you’ll be in the gifted program non
you’ll be in the gifted program non gifted program I was only 11 at this
gifted program I was only 11 at this
gifted program I was only 11 at this time but they sparked my view that
time but they sparked my view that
time but they sparked my view that there’s water a person than what the
there’s water a person than what the
there’s water a person than what the school systems to find us as although I
school systems to find us as although I
school systems to find us as although I departed from the advanced education of
departed from the advanced education of
departed from the advanced education of the gifted program I found myself
the gifted program I found myself
the gifted program I found myself learning from experience in middle
learning from experience in middle
learning from experience in middle school this made me acquire the idea
school this made me acquire the idea
school this made me acquire the idea that as well as an education from books
that as well as an education from books
that as well as an education from books schools need to have a focus on the
schools need to have a focus on the
schools need to have a focus on the education from experience one can
education from experience one can
education from experience one can receive I like to define education from
receive I like to define education from
receive I like to define education from experience as the ability to learn from
experience as the ability to learn from
experience as the ability to learn from interacting different types of people
interacting different types of people
interacting different types of people and environments through education from
and environments through education from
and environments through education from experience we can learn the concepts of
experience we can learn the concepts of
experience we can learn the concepts of being people smart worldly smart
being people smart worldly smart
being people smart worldly smart environmentally smart and street smart
environmentally smart and street smart
environmentally smart and street smart so here I am an eighth grader who had
so here I am an eighth grader who had
so here I am an eighth grader who had been in a Montessori program a public
been in a Montessori program a public
been in a Montessori program a public gifted program a public non gifted
gifted program a public non gifted
gifted program a public non gifted program wanting to attend an independent
program wanting to attend an independent
program wanting to attend an independent Catholic school Ursuline Academy as I
Catholic school Ursuline Academy as I
Catholic school Ursuline Academy as I entered Ursuline I saw more the same
entered Ursuline I saw more the same
entered Ursuline I saw more the same focus grades and test scores were
focus grades and test scores were
focus grades and test scores were clearly defining students I felt
clearly defining students I felt
clearly defining students I felt overwhelmed with the bar being set so
overwhelmed with the bar being set so
overwhelmed with the bar being set so high not to mention following in the
high not to mention following in the
high not to mention following in the footsteps of my overachieving cousin who
footsteps of my overachieving cousin who
footsteps of my overachieving cousin who was extremely athletic and smart on top
was extremely athletic and smart on top
was extremely athletic and smart on top of that my brother had just been named
of that my brother had just been named
of that my brother had just been named president of Selassie Anam student
president of Selassie Anam student
president of Selassie Anam student council talk about stressful trying to
council talk about stressful trying to
council talk about stressful trying to find myself became more and more
find myself became more and more
find myself became more and more burdensome after a challenging freshman
burdensome after a challenging freshman
burdensome after a challenging freshman year I had to take a step back and
year I had to take a step back and
year I had to take a step back and realize what I wanted to make me happy
realize what I wanted to make me happy
realize what I wanted to make me happy and to find the person I want it to
and to find the person I want it to
and to find the person I want it to become and here’s what I’ve decided
become and here’s what I’ve decided
become and here’s what I’ve decided although I will always focus on my
although I will always focus on my
although I will always focus on my education I’m going to be intentional
education I’m going to be intentional
education I’m going to be intentional about not letting other people’s
about not letting other people’s
about not letting other people’s standards define who I am at 16 here’s
standards define who I am at 16 here’s
standards define who I am at 16 here’s how I plan on defining my success
how I plan on defining my success
how I plan on defining my success through my family and friends my faith
through my family and friends my faith
through my family and friends my faith has always been a priority in my life
has always been a priority in my life
has always been a priority in my life this has taught me this has been the
this has taught me this has been the
this has taught me this has been the foundation of my life and given me hope
foundation of my life and given me hope
foundation of my life and given me hope even the darkest of moments for example
even the darkest of moments for example
even the darkest of moments for example when I recently lost my grandfather in
when I recently lost my grandfather in
when I recently lost my grandfather in the midst of being a teenager my faith
the midst of being a teenager my faith
the midst of being a teenager my faith reminded me that everything would be
reminded me that everything would be
reminded me that everything would be okay and I would see him again one day
okay and I would see him again one day
okay and I would see him again one day this taught me perseverance the
this taught me perseverance the
this taught me perseverance the importance of family and relying on
importance of family and relying on
importance of family and relying on something greater than myself throughout
something greater than myself throughout
something greater than myself throughout my life I’ve also always played sports
my life I’ve also always played sports
my life I’ve also always played sports however I did not allow that to define
however I did not allow that to define
however I did not allow that to define me either
me either
me either instead use it as a source of stress
instead use it as a source of stress
instead use it as a source of stress relief while teaching me compromise
relief while teaching me compromise
relief while teaching me compromise teamwork and time management perhaps the
teamwork and time management perhaps the
teamwork and time management perhaps the most unexpected surprise came that came
most unexpected surprise came that came
most unexpected surprise came that came this past year when I enrolled in an
this past year when I enrolled in an
this past year when I enrolled in an advanced photography course now if you
advanced photography course now if you
advanced photography course now if you know my family or me art would not come
know my family or me art would not come
know my family or me art would not come to mind when you think of us so I had
to mind when you think of us so I had
to mind when you think of us so I had very little expectations for this class
very little expectations for this class
very little expectations for this class turns out I fell in love with taking
turns out I fell in love with taking
turns out I fell in love with taking pictures and learned I had a talent that
pictures and learned I had a talent that
pictures and learned I had a talent that I never thought existed photography
I never thought existed photography
I never thought existed photography opened my mind up to people’s different
opened my mind up to people’s different
opened my mind up to people’s different perspectives and reminded me the
perspectives and reminded me the
perspectives and reminded me the importance of understanding someone’s
importance of understanding someone’s
importance of understanding someone’s story before judging that perspective
story before judging that perspective
story before judging that perspective finally volunteering with the less
finally volunteering with the less
finally volunteering with the less fortunate told me what is really
fortunate told me what is really
fortunate told me what is really important in life when I go to the
important in life when I go to the
important in life when I go to the Ronald McDonald House and I see a child
Ronald McDonald House and I see a child
Ronald McDonald House and I see a child struggling to get through the next round
struggling to get through the next round
struggling to get through the next round of treatment what I got on a test that
of treatment what I got on a test that
of treatment what I got on a test that day does not seem that important to me
day does not seem that important to me
day does not seem that important to me when I see families rallying around
when I see families rallying around
when I see families rallying around another family member
another family member
another family member undergoing multiple surgeries a strong
undergoing multiple surgeries a strong
undergoing multiple surgeries a strong family seems so much more important to
family seems so much more important to
family seems so much more important to me than a hot grade in a class clearly
me than a hot grade in a class clearly
me than a hot grade in a class clearly you can see I’m passionate about how I
you can see I’m passionate about how I
you can see I’m passionate about how I define my personal success but in order
define my personal success but in order
define my personal success but in order for us to have the healthier mental
for us to have the healthier mental
for us to have the healthier mental health culture among teens there needs
health culture among teens there needs
health culture among teens there needs to be a change starting from the top
to be a change starting from the top
to be a change starting from the top down starting with colleges there needs
down starting with colleges there needs
down starting with colleges there needs to be more of a focus on the
to be more of a focus on the
to be more of a focus on the well-rounded student rather than just
well-rounded student rather than just
well-rounded student rather than just the ones with the high GPAs and the high
the ones with the high GPAs and the high
the ones with the high GPAs and the high SAT scores in Finland students have a
SAT scores in Finland students have a
SAT scores in Finland students have a strong focus on physical education
strong focus on physical education
strong focus on physical education ethics second languages and music
ethics second languages and music
ethics second languages and music leading to them being more well-rounded
leading to them being more well-rounded
leading to them being more well-rounded while in America I feel
while in America I feel
while in America I feel these are just an afterthought to the
these are just an afterthought to the
these are just an afterthought to the common courses we are required to take
common courses we are required to take
common courses we are required to take Finland also gives students more breaks
Finland also gives students more breaks
Finland also gives students more breaks from a school day leading the better
from a school day leading the better
from a school day leading the better mental health and function in America I
mental health and function in America I
mental health and function in America I feel that students are swamped by
feel that students are swamped by
feel that students are swamped by homework each day as well as
homework each day as well as
homework each day as well as participating in extracurricular
participating in extracurricular
participating in extracurricular activities after school
activities after school
activities after school Finland limited homework giving students
Finland limited homework giving students
Finland limited homework giving students the opportunity to learn from experience
the opportunity to learn from experience
the opportunity to learn from experience in the aspects they chose the United
in the aspects they chose the United
in the aspects they chose the United States has room to grow in these aspects
States has room to grow in these aspects
States has room to grow in these aspects to shape a more healthier lifestyle for
to shape a more healthier lifestyle for
to shape a more healthier lifestyle for my generation and beyond change can
my generation and beyond change can
my generation and beyond change can begin with just one person teams need to
begin with just one person teams need to
begin with just one person teams need to feel empowered to say no to the label
feel empowered to say no to the label
feel empowered to say no to the label set on them in school it is okay to be a
set on them in school it is okay to be a
set on them in school it is okay to be a B student if you know you’ve tried your
B student if you know you’ve tried your
B student if you know you’ve tried your best and it is okay to complement your
best and it is okay to complement your
best and it is okay to complement your focus on school with another activity my
focus on school with another activity my
focus on school with another activity my hope is that my generation will
hope is that my generation will
hope is that my generation will internalize a more holistic approach to
internalize a more holistic approach to
internalize a more holistic approach to work recreation family and spirituality
work recreation family and spirituality
work recreation family and spirituality I will always try to do well
I will always try to do well
I will always try to do well academically but more importantly I will
academically but more importantly I will
academically but more importantly I will focus on these other aspects to define
focus on these other aspects to define
focus on these other aspects to define whether I make success or not we should
whether I make success or not we should
whether I make success or not we should not feel too fine
not feel too fine
not feel too fine by these GPAs these letter grades and
by these GPAs these letter grades and
by these GPAs these letter grades and the SAT and a CT scores but rather by
the SAT and a CT scores but rather by
the SAT and a CT scores but rather by the person we are and the person that we
the person we are and the person that we
the person we are and the person that we wish to become Who I am today from
wish to become Who I am today from
wish to become Who I am today from experience is beyond the A+ thank you
experience is beyond the A+ thank you
experience is beyond the A+ thank you [Applause]
”
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