[Music] one of my greatest fears and one that
one of my greatest fears and one that
one of my greatest fears and one that I’m sure is very common amongst many of
I’m sure is very common amongst many of
I’m sure is very common amongst many of you is the fear of the unknown we all
you is the fear of the unknown we all
you is the fear of the unknown we all know what it’s like to be in a
know what it’s like to be in a
know what it’s like to be in a transitional phase when we’re getting
transitional phase when we’re getting
transitional phase when we’re getting ready to say goodbye to one stage of our
ready to say goodbye to one stage of our
ready to say goodbye to one stage of our lives and move forward to something new
lives and move forward to something new
lives and move forward to something new whether it be moving to a new house or
whether it be moving to a new house or
whether it be moving to a new house or city letting go of old relationships and
city letting go of old relationships and
city letting go of old relationships and starting new ones maybe looking for a
starting new ones maybe looking for a
starting new ones maybe looking for a new job or in my case graduating we’re
new job or in my case graduating we’re
new job or in my case graduating we’re left to embark on a new journey with no
left to embark on a new journey with no
left to embark on a new journey with no guarantee of the outcome now I don’t
guarantee of the outcome now I don’t
guarantee of the outcome now I don’t know if this becomes easier over time
know if this becomes easier over time
know if this becomes easier over time but what I do know is that as a teenager
but what I do know is that as a teenager
but what I do know is that as a teenager about to leave the structured and
about to leave the structured and
about to leave the structured and nurturing environment of a high school
nurturing environment of a high school
nurturing environment of a high school and dive headfirst into the real world
and dive headfirst into the real world
and dive headfirst into the real world it’s overwhelming and terrifying to say
it’s overwhelming and terrifying to say
it’s overwhelming and terrifying to say the least
the least
the least so I want to warn you when we’re
so I want to warn you when we’re
so I want to warn you when we’re adjusting to big transitions that is
adjusting to big transitions that is
adjusting to big transitions that is moving from one thing to the next it’s
moving from one thing to the next it’s
moving from one thing to the next it’s easy to become so focused on where we’re
easy to become so focused on where we’re
easy to become so focused on where we’re going that we forget about where we are
going that we forget about where we are
going that we forget about where we are currently and I’m afraid that when we
currently and I’m afraid that when we
currently and I’m afraid that when we let ourselves fall into this habit we
let ourselves fall into this habit we
let ourselves fall into this habit we start to lose ourselves in the middle of
start to lose ourselves in the middle of
start to lose ourselves in the middle of it all what if is such an easy question
it all what if is such an easy question
it all what if is such an easy question to ask what if we make a mistake what if
to ask what if we make a mistake what if
to ask what if we make a mistake what if we make the wrong decision what if we
we make the wrong decision what if we
we make the wrong decision what if we don’t succeed after thinking so much
don’t succeed after thinking so much
don’t succeed after thinking so much about next year I’ve been programmed to
about next year I’ve been programmed to
about next year I’ve been programmed to consider what I’m going to do or who I’m
consider what I’m going to do or who I’m
consider what I’m going to do or who I’m going to be it may be what we does it do
going to be it may be what we does it do
going to be it may be what we does it do is take a step back from the constant
is take a step back from the constant
is take a step back from the constant what-ifs and what next and focus on what
what-ifs and what next and focus on what
what-ifs and what next and focus on what now allow me to give you an example last
now allow me to give you an example last
now allow me to give you an example last year during my piano class at school we
year during my piano class at school we
year during my piano class at school we had an end-of-semester recital as part
had an end-of-semester recital as part
had an end-of-semester recital as part of our culminating activity this was
of our culminating activity this was
of our culminating activity this was supposed to be the most beautiful
supposed to be the most beautiful
supposed to be the most beautiful artistic impressive and challenging
artistic impressive and challenging
artistic impressive and challenging performance of all
performance of all
performance of all Tasya was nervous is an understatement
Tasya was nervous is an understatement
Tasya was nervous is an understatement and to give you a spoiler of how this
and to give you a spoiler of how this
and to give you a spoiler of how this ends I was not satisfied with my
ends I was not satisfied with my
ends I was not satisfied with my performance that day the only thing I
performance that day the only thing I
performance that day the only thing I can tell you about it is that I sat down
can tell you about it is that I sat down
can tell you about it is that I sat down on the bench in front of the piano felt
on the bench in front of the piano felt
on the bench in front of the piano felt my fingers shake and the next thing I
my fingers shake and the next thing I
my fingers shake and the next thing I knew I took about and walked back to my
knew I took about and walked back to my
knew I took about and walked back to my seat I have absolutely no other
seat I have absolutely no other
seat I have absolutely no other recollection of playing that piece
recollection of playing that piece
recollection of playing that piece except for the fact that it felt like I
except for the fact that it felt like I
except for the fact that it felt like I wasn’t even playing I was so nervous
wasn’t even playing I was so nervous
wasn’t even playing I was so nervous about the outcome if I would mess up
about the outcome if I would mess up
about the outcome if I would mess up what everyone would think of me that I
what everyone would think of me that I
what everyone would think of me that I forgot I was performing a piece that I
forgot I was performing a piece that I
forgot I was performing a piece that I loved and something I never thought I
loved and something I never thought I
loved and something I never thought I was capable of playing I may have been
was capable of playing I may have been
was capable of playing I may have been the one pressing the keys but I was not
the one pressing the keys but I was not
the one pressing the keys but I was not in control of my performance that’s what
in control of my performance that’s what
in control of my performance that’s what we all want isn’t it to be in control of
we all want isn’t it to be in control of
we all want isn’t it to be in control of our lives our choices and the way other
our lives our choices and the way other
our lives our choices and the way other people perceive us especially as
people perceive us especially as
people perceive us especially as rebellious angsty teenagers having the
rebellious angsty teenagers having the
rebellious angsty teenagers having the option to make all of our decisions
option to make all of our decisions
option to make all of our decisions ourselves seems more than appealing but
ourselves seems more than appealing but
ourselves seems more than appealing but what we may not realize is that we don’t
what we may not realize is that we don’t
what we may not realize is that we don’t have a choice no one is going to tell us
have a choice no one is going to tell us
have a choice no one is going to tell us how to act think or feel or whole lives
how to act think or feel or whole lives
how to act think or feel or whole lives we are the only things with the power to
we are the only things with the power to
we are the only things with the power to change and we are the only ones with the
change and we are the only ones with the
change and we are the only ones with the power to do it so in trying to find our
power to do it so in trying to find our
power to do it so in trying to find our way how do we make sure that we don’t
way how do we make sure that we don’t
way how do we make sure that we don’t get lost in the crazy exciting
get lost in the crazy exciting
get lost in the crazy exciting overwhelming and constantly changing
overwhelming and constantly changing
overwhelming and constantly changing world around us well the answer is
world around us well the answer is
world around us well the answer is simple we can’t but what we can do is
simple we can’t but what we can do is
simple we can’t but what we can do is make our futures seem a little less
make our futures seem a little less
make our futures seem a little less intimidating by changing our perspective
intimidating by changing our perspective
intimidating by changing our perspective of the present moment the first step is
of the present moment the first step is
of the present moment the first step is to become aware of what we are really
to become aware of what we are really
to become aware of what we are really doing now I don’t mean what we’re doing
doing now I don’t mean what we’re doing
doing now I don’t mean what we’re doing is in I’m doing math homework or I’m
is in I’m doing math homework or I’m
is in I’m doing math homework or I’m playing piano but what we are really
playing piano but what we are really
playing piano but what we are really doing so in order to do this we have to
doing so in order to do this we have to
doing so in order to do this we have to be prepared to confront the things that
be prepared to confront the things that
be prepared to confront the things that we may not want to admit so let’s say
we may not want to admit so let’s say
we may not want to admit so let’s say there was an option to go on an overseas
there was an option to go on an overseas
there was an option to go on an overseas trip maybe audition for a talent show
trip maybe audition for a talent show
trip maybe audition for a talent show or try out for a team something that you
or try out for a team something that you
or try out for a team something that you really wanted to do but your parents
really wanted to do but your parents
really wanted to do but your parents said no how many of you may complain to
said no how many of you may complain to
said no how many of you may complain to your friends that your parents are
your friends that your parents are
your friends that your parents are holding you back now let’s say there was
holding you back now let’s say there was
holding you back now let’s say there was a trip audition or tryout that you never
a trip audition or tryout that you never
a trip audition or tryout that you never really wanted to do in the first place
really wanted to do in the first place
really wanted to do in the first place how many of you may use your parents as
how many of you may use your parents as
how many of you may use your parents as an excuse as to why you can’t do it none
an excuse as to why you can’t do it none
an excuse as to why you can’t do it none of us want barriers to prevent us from
of us want barriers to prevent us from
of us want barriers to prevent us from achieving our goals right right until we
achieving our goals right right until we
achieving our goals right right until we can use those barriers as an excuse to
can use those barriers as an excuse to
can use those barriers as an excuse to help us get out of something that we’re
help us get out of something that we’re
help us get out of something that we’re scared of what we are really doing is
scared of what we are really doing is
scared of what we are really doing is letting the external aspects of our
letting the external aspects of our
letting the external aspects of our lives the power to control our decisions
lives the power to control our decisions
lives the power to control our decisions what do I mean by external aspects well
what do I mean by external aspects well
what do I mean by external aspects well in this case it could be your fears or
in this case it could be your fears or
in this case it could be your fears or your parents but it could also be a
your parents but it could also be a
your parents but it could also be a university a college or career path no
university a college or career path no
university a college or career path no matter what it is if we let the things
matter what it is if we let the things
matter what it is if we let the things that we can’t control limit us we are
that we can’t control limit us we are
that we can’t control limit us we are allowing those things to dictate our
allowing those things to dictate our
allowing those things to dictate our success rather than what we are capable
success rather than what we are capable
success rather than what we are capable of and what we are able to do the second
of and what we are able to do the second
of and what we are able to do the second component of being aware is realizing
component of being aware is realizing
component of being aware is realizing what we actually are able to do so this
what we actually are able to do so this
what we actually are able to do so this year I’ve been so determined to get a
year I’ve been so determined to get a
year I’ve been so determined to get a specific grade average to meet my goals
specific grade average to meet my goals
specific grade average to meet my goals for post-secondary and I have put so
for post-secondary and I have put so
for post-secondary and I have put so much pressure on myself that I end up
much pressure on myself that I end up
much pressure on myself that I end up breaking down every time I don’t get a
breaking down every time I don’t get a
breaking down every time I don’t get a question on a math test
question on a math test
question on a math test and let me tell you it’s exhausting and
and let me tell you it’s exhausting and
and let me tell you it’s exhausting and extremely unhealthy I don’t have the
extremely unhealthy I don’t have the
extremely unhealthy I don’t have the power to automatically raise my math
power to automatically raise my math
power to automatically raise my math mark by 10 percent but what I can do is
mark by 10 percent but what I can do is
mark by 10 percent but what I can do is work hard and work on moving up and in
work hard and work on moving up and in
work hard and work on moving up and in the right direction with each chance I
the right direction with each chance I
the right direction with each chance I get
get
get it’s these short-term goals that will
it’s these short-term goals that will
it’s these short-term goals that will make our long-term plans actually seem
make our long-term plans actually seem
make our long-term plans actually seem achievable the third thing is that in
achievable the third thing is that in
achievable the third thing is that in the midst of all this we have to stay
the midst of all this we have to stay
the midst of all this we have to stay appreciative even if we think there’s no
appreciative even if we think there’s no
appreciative even if we think there’s no reason to because there’s always a
reason to because there’s always a
reason to because there’s always a reason I learned to appreciate pain or
reason I learned to appreciate pain or
reason I learned to appreciate pain or in other words our personal achievements
in other words our personal achievements
in other words our personal achievements that our initiate
that our initiate
that our initiate now last year during a community run in
now last year during a community run in
now last year during a community run in fitness class I remember running around
fitness class I remember running around
fitness class I remember running around the block
the block
the block panting and thinking about how badly I
panting and thinking about how badly I
panting and thinking about how badly I wanted the whole experience to end but
wanted the whole experience to end but
wanted the whole experience to end but somewhere in my run my perspective
somewhere in my run my perspective
somewhere in my run my perspective changed now I don’t know if this change
changed now I don’t know if this change
changed now I don’t know if this change occurred because I was closer to being
occurred because I was closer to being
occurred because I was closer to being finished but either way I stopped
finished but either way I stopped
finished but either way I stopped thinking about how much pain I was in
thinking about how much pain I was in
thinking about how much pain I was in and instead I focused on the weather I
and instead I focused on the weather I
and instead I focused on the weather I felt the wind in my hair and the Sun of
felt the wind in my hair and the Sun of
felt the wind in my hair and the Sun of my arms and I realized that it was a
my arms and I realized that it was a
my arms and I realized that it was a beautiful day and instead of doing
beautiful day and instead of doing
beautiful day and instead of doing something much worse I was just running
something much worse I was just running
something much worse I was just running I was lucky to be running instead of
I was lucky to be running instead of
I was lucky to be running instead of thinking to myself I can’t wait until
thinking to myself I can’t wait until
thinking to myself I can’t wait until this is over I began to think I am so
this is over I began to think I am so
this is over I began to think I am so proud of myself for carrying on we may
proud of myself for carrying on we may
proud of myself for carrying on we may not want to do what it takes to reach
not want to do what it takes to reach
not want to do what it takes to reach our goals in the moment but when we do
our goals in the moment but when we do
our goals in the moment but when we do we’re taking the steps to achieve
we’re taking the steps to achieve
we’re taking the steps to achieve something that we can be proud of
something that we can be proud of
something that we can be proud of so take pride in the process because
so take pride in the process because
so take pride in the process because that is what makes it all seem worth it
that is what makes it all seem worth it
that is what makes it all seem worth it now I think of it this way life is like
now I think of it this way life is like
now I think of it this way life is like that community run when we’re too
that community run when we’re too
that community run when we’re too focused on where we want to go it’s easy
focused on where we want to go it’s easy
focused on where we want to go it’s easy to forget where we are but when we put
to forget where we are but when we put
to forget where we are but when we put our best foot forward with every step
our best foot forward with every step
our best foot forward with every step we’ll find ourselves exactly where we
we’ll find ourselves exactly where we
we’ll find ourselves exactly where we need to be in retrospect if I had sat
need to be in retrospect if I had sat
need to be in retrospect if I had sat down on the bench in front of the piano
down on the bench in front of the piano
down on the bench in front of the piano on the day of my recital and I had
on the day of my recital and I had
on the day of my recital and I had realized that I was letting my nerves
realized that I was letting my nerves
realized that I was letting my nerves control my success or if I had
control my success or if I had
control my success or if I had acknowledged the fact that my
acknowledged the fact that my
acknowledged the fact that my performance didn’t have to be flawless
performance didn’t have to be flawless
performance didn’t have to be flawless to be amazing or if I had appreciated
to be amazing or if I had appreciated
to be amazing or if I had appreciated that I was sharing something that I
that I was sharing something that I
that I was sharing something that I loved with a bunch of people who loved
loved with a bunch of people who loved
loved with a bunch of people who loved music as much as I do
music as much as I do
music as much as I do maybe I would have actually remembered
maybe I would have actually remembered
maybe I would have actually remembered it today maybe it would have been
it today maybe it would have been
it today maybe it would have been something that I could be proud of so I
something that I could be proud of so I
something that I could be proud of so I want to challenge you to think of your
want to challenge you to think of your
want to challenge you to think of your life as moments when things get
life as moments when things get
life as moments when things get overwhelming and remember that even
overwhelming and remember that even
overwhelming and remember that even though we don’t have the power to
though we don’t have the power to
though we don’t have the power to control what happens to us we can
control what happens to us we can
control what happens to us we can control how we look at this moment
control how we look at this moment
control how we look at this moment choose to realize the value of this
choose to realize the value of this
choose to realize the value of this moment and put
moment and put
moment and put everything you have into right now
everything you have into right now
everything you have into right now because when you learn to seize the
because when you learn to seize the
because when you learn to seize the present you can finally begin to look
present you can finally begin to look
present you can finally begin to look forward to the future
forward to the future
forward to the future thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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