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Do you see me? | Annie Mitchel | TEDxYouth@MVHS


[Applause]

[Applause] and everyone close their eyes now

and everyone close their eyes now

and everyone close their eyes now picture a homeless person what do you

picture a homeless person what do you

picture a homeless person what do you see do you see a person standing on the

see do you see a person standing on the

see do you see a person standing on the street corner holding the sign what

street corner holding the sign what

street corner holding the sign what about someone pushing a shopping cart

about someone pushing a shopping cart

about someone pushing a shopping cart pulled their only belongings how about a

pulled their only belongings how about a

pulled their only belongings how about a dirty disheveled person begging for food

dirty disheveled person begging for food

dirty disheveled person begging for food or money now open your eyes if you

or money now open your eyes if you

or money now open your eyes if you picture any of these images in your head

picture any of these images in your head

picture any of these images in your head you are right congratulations

you are right congratulations

you are right congratulations but you’re also wrong you see almost

but you’re also wrong you see almost

but you’re also wrong you see almost this extends beyond the textbook

this extends beyond the textbook

this extends beyond the textbook definition of literally not at home

definition of literally not at home

definition of literally not at home homelessness includes being house

homelessness includes being house

homelessness includes being house insecure for unstable living with

insecure for unstable living with

insecure for unstable living with multiple people outside a direct family

multiple people outside a direct family

multiple people outside a direct family members couchsurfing staying with

members couchsurfing staying with

members couchsurfing staying with friends living in hotel these are all

friends living in hotel these are all

friends living in hotel these are all versions of houses insecurity so now

versions of houses insecurity so now

versions of houses insecurity so now that we understand whether this is let

that we understand whether this is let

that we understand whether this is let me tell you the district in this room

me tell you the district in this room

me tell you the district in this room there are at least 100 people going off

there are at least 100 people going off

there are at least 100 people going off the textbook definition of homelessness

the textbook definition of homelessness

the textbook definition of homelessness probably being that less than one out of

probably being that less than one out of

probably being that less than one out of the 100 people in this room could face

the 100 people in this room could face

the 100 people in this room could face homelessness now I know what everyone

homelessness now I know what everyone

homelessness now I know what everyone here is picking so what so what less

here is picking so what so what less

here is picking so what so what less than one out of 100 people sounds like a

than one out of 100 people sounds like a

than one out of 100 people sounds like a pretty good Cystic to me I mean

pretty good Cystic to me I mean

pretty good Cystic to me I mean essentially just this almost homeless

essentially just this almost homeless

essentially just this almost homeless but the rest of my body isn’t however

but the rest of my body isn’t however

but the rest of my body isn’t however and we add the other definitions of

and we add the other definitions of

and we add the other definitions of homelessness into the occasion the

homelessness into the occasion the

homelessness into the occasion the numbers drastically changed now out of

numbers drastically changed now out of

numbers drastically changed now out of the 100 people in this room

the 100 people in this room

the 100 people in this room 65 you could face housing insecurity I

65 you could face housing insecurity I

65 you could face housing insecurity I am one of those 65 people it’s early in

am one of those 65 people it’s early in

am one of those 65 people it’s early in the morning of

the morning of

the morning of costing for my classmates leave the room

costing for my classmates leave the room

costing for my classmates leave the room once everyone falls at the door

once everyone falls at the door

once everyone falls at the door I kneel in the trash can it’s Friday I

I kneel in the trash can it’s Friday I

I kneel in the trash can it’s Friday I haven’t had a real meal since one day I

haven’t had a real meal since one day I

haven’t had a real meal since one day I dig through the trash looking for

dig through the trash looking for

dig through the trash looking for anything anything that I can possibly

anything anything that I can possibly

anything anything that I can possibly eat wait I spot something there’s a lump

eat wait I spot something there’s a lump

eat wait I spot something there’s a lump of a pop-tart one of my classmates

of a pop-tart one of my classmates

of a pop-tart one of my classmates happening so I take the pop-tart out of

happening so I take the pop-tart out of

happening so I take the pop-tart out of its packaging what are you doing I look

its packaging what are you doing I look

its packaging what are you doing I look up and see a group of girls staring at

up and see a group of girls staring at

up and see a group of girls staring at me I know they’re going to tell everyone

me I know they’re going to tell everyone

me I know they’re going to tell everyone the base home is digging through the

the base home is digging through the

the base home is digging through the trash can

trash can

trash can they’re gonna know that I was taking all

they’re gonna know that I was taking all

they’re gonna know that I was taking all of their food I kind of know that

of their food I kind of know that

of their food I kind of know that something is wrong I’m looking to

something is wrong I’m looking to

something is wrong I’m looking to Florida I just lost something I got off

Florida I just lost something I got off

Florida I just lost something I got off the floor to face of four girls standing

the floor to face of four girls standing

the floor to face of four girls standing the volume is worse than the faces I

the volume is worse than the faces I

the volume is worse than the faces I tried to explain to them what I’m doing

tried to explain to them what I’m doing

tried to explain to them what I’m doing but they just turned to late as the

but they just turned to late as the

but they just turned to late as the girls walk out the door and until

girls walk out the door and until

girls walk out the door and until they’re gone in the trash and snicker

they’re gone in the trash and snicker

they’re gone in the trash and snicker alley with everywhere and stare my eyes

alley with everywhere and stare my eyes

alley with everywhere and stare my eyes tear up and I filled hitting my heart

tear up and I filled hitting my heart

tear up and I filled hitting my heart one of these girls chained me like this

one of these girls chained me like this

one of these girls chained me like this if they don’t even know me

if they don’t even know me

if they don’t even know me this is not the first time that I have

this is not the first time that I have

this is not the first time that I have been taught to conclude that doesn’t

been taught to conclude that doesn’t

been taught to conclude that doesn’t belong to me this is not the first time

belong to me this is not the first time

belong to me this is not the first time that I have done days without eating a

that I have done days without eating a

that I have done days without eating a real meal this is not the first time

real meal this is not the first time

real meal this is not the first time that I’ve been mistreated by people who

that I’ve been mistreated by people who

that I’ve been mistreated by people who don’t know what’s going on behind closed

don’t know what’s going on behind closed

don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors the Bell finally rings with the

doors the Bell finally rings with the

doors the Bell finally rings with the school day to be over and I’m walking

school day to be over and I’m walking

school day to be over and I’m walking with my friends as less in their plans

with my friends as less in their plans

with my friends as less in their plans for the weekend my friends keep asking a

for the weekend my friends keep asking a

for the weekend my friends keep asking a thing going to my house they really want

thing going to my house they really want

thing going to my house they really want to see what it looks like if it offends

to see what it looks like if it offends

to see what it looks like if it offends our for years I still have your health

our for years I still have your health

our for years I still have your health looks like they complain they don’t know

looks like they complain they don’t know

looks like they complain they don’t know that I don’t have a house for them to

that I don’t have a house for them to

that I don’t have a house for them to see so I make up my same old routine

see so I make up my same old routine

see so I make up my same old routine excuse I’m busy

excuse I’m busy

excuse I’m busy and they’ve been up there same old

and they’ve been up there same old

and they’ve been up there same old routine reaction roll their eyes and

routine reaction roll their eyes and

routine reaction roll their eyes and scoff at me and I feel my same old

scoff at me and I feel my same old

scoff at me and I feel my same old Mateen emotions a penny Hartz

Mateen emotions a penny Hartz

Mateen emotions a penny Hartz I know that I am NOT the only person

I know that I am NOT the only person

I know that I am NOT the only person that goes through this I’m not the only

that goes through this I’m not the only

that goes through this I’m not the only person facing the stylish struggle but I

person facing the stylish struggle but I

person facing the stylish struggle but I don’t want anyone else to ever be

don’t want anyone else to ever be

don’t want anyone else to ever be mistreated that situation but they have

mistreated that situation but they have

mistreated that situation but they have no control over I don’t want anyone else

no control over I don’t want anyone else

no control over I don’t want anyone else to ever feel the way that I do right now

to ever feel the way that I do right now

to ever feel the way that I do right now then line clicks I see my mom stay in

then line clicks I see my mom stay in

then line clicks I see my mom stay in the parking line and I am running to her

the parking line and I am running to her

the parking line and I am running to her welcome norm shotty I must say every

welcome norm shotty I must say every

welcome norm shotty I must say every homeless person my mind roll self wants

homeless person my mind roll self wants

homeless person my mind roll self wants to save every homeless person

to save every homeless person

to save every homeless person big dream honey remember those girls at

big dream honey remember those girls at

big dream honey remember those girls at pageants that when asked what’s the most

pageants that when asked what’s the most

pageants that when asked what’s the most important in our society needs they

important in our society needs they

important in our society needs they would answer very sincerely my dad with

would answer very sincerely my dad with

would answer very sincerely my dad with world peace you see I had the same

world peace you see I had the same

world peace you see I had the same mindset as those girls except I want to

mindset as those girls except I want to

mindset as those girls except I want to end world homelessness and get this

end world homelessness and get this

end world homelessness and get this I was actually serious about it now that

I was actually serious about it now that

I was actually serious about it now that I will learn I don’t think big trust me

I will learn I don’t think big trust me

I will learn I don’t think big trust me but my big starts with small actions the

but my big starts with small actions the

but my big starts with small actions the first step is just being aware of the

first step is just being aware of the

first step is just being aware of the housing insecurity

housing insecurity

housing insecurity around sets housing insecurity is

around sets housing insecurity is

around sets housing insecurity is sitting next to you it is walking past

sitting next to you it is walking past

sitting next to you it is walking past you

you

you it is everywhere it may not be obvious

it is everywhere it may not be obvious

it is everywhere it may not be obvious though and that’s why it’s important to

though and that’s why it’s important to

though and that’s why it’s important to never say anything more offensive about

never say anything more offensive about

never say anything more offensive about women situation but what I comment on

women situation but what I comment on

women situation but what I comment on someone’s appearance or hygiene simply

someone’s appearance or hygiene simply

someone’s appearance or hygiene simply remind yourself that they may be facing

remind yourself that they may be facing

remind yourself that they may be facing an exile of struggle or living in

an exile of struggle or living in

an exile of struggle or living in unstable circumstances now that we are

unstable circumstances now that we are

unstable circumstances now that we are aware we can turn an awareness into

aware we can turn an awareness into

aware we can turn an awareness into action something as simple as a smile

action something as simple as a smile

action something as simple as a smile and a conversation are all it takes to

and a conversation are all it takes to

and a conversation are all it takes to make someone’s day mother Teresa once

make someone’s day mother Teresa once

make someone’s day mother Teresa once said not always you do great things we

said not always you do great things we

said not always you do great things we have any small things with great love

have any small things with great love

have any small things with great love you know that Mother Teresa started

you know that Mother Teresa started

you know that Mother Teresa started small divorces a million peoples of

small divorces a million peoples of

small divorces a million peoples of lives change does not happen overnight

lives change does not happen overnight

lives change does not happen overnight now I hate to be the bearer of bad news

now I hate to be the bearer of bad news

now I hate to be the bearer of bad news but we can all the Teresa it sucks I

but we can all the Teresa it sucks I

but we can all the Teresa it sucks I know anything but all however we can be

know anything but all however we can be

know anything but all however we can be kind we can be idiots and we have your

kind we can be idiots and we have your

kind we can be idiots and we have your voice for those who don’t have them so

voice for those who don’t have them so

voice for those who don’t have them so I’m a jack of the box where you can pick

I’m a jack of the box where you can pick

I’m a jack of the box where you can pick my brother up from the airport my mom

my brother up from the airport my mom

my brother up from the airport my mom and I are watching a video Michael

and I are watching a video Michael

and I are watching a video Michael online the man walks in the door I

online the man walks in the door I

online the man walks in the door I notice that this myth is friendly with

notice that this myth is friendly with

notice that this myth is friendly with everyone in Russia he was talking with

everyone in Russia he was talking with

everyone in Russia he was talking with all the employees and I love all the

all the employees and I love all the

all the employees and I love all the customers something seems different

customers something seems different

customers something seems different about him

about him

about him I don’t know how to describe it it’s

I don’t know how to describe it it’s

I don’t know how to describe it it’s like his smile seems come deep the man

like his smile seems come deep the man

like his smile seems come deep the man walks in the back of the restaurant

walks in the back of the restaurant

walks in the back of the restaurant without getting any food so I dressed my

without getting any food so I dressed my

without getting any food so I dressed my mom and ask her if she can buy this man

mom and ask her if she can buy this man

mom and ask her if she can buy this man a meal because there is a side chance

a meal because there is a side chance

a meal because there is a side chance that you might have

that you might have

that you might have today and no harm no foul it’s just a

today and no harm no foul it’s just a

today and no harm no foul it’s just a kind gesture on the nozzle the cashier I

kind gesture on the nozzle the cashier I

kind gesture on the nozzle the cashier I realize that having a conversation with

realize that having a conversation with

realize that having a conversation with this man that might be real slant to his

this man that might be real slant to his

this man that might be real slant to his face so I get up I walk over to this

face so I get up I walk over to this

face so I get up I walk over to this table and start talking to them and

table and start talking to them and

table and start talking to them and trust me this is a big deal because I

trust me this is a big deal because I

trust me this is a big deal because I hate talking to people but this man

hate talking to people but this man

hate talking to people but this man opens right up

opens right up

opens right up he’s telling me about how he just been a

he’s telling me about how he just been a

he’s telling me about how he just been a new friend today I really hope I can be

new friend today I really hope I can be

new friend today I really hope I can be a second son today he has nowhere to go

a second son today he has nowhere to go

a second son today he has nowhere to go on Christmas it’s going to rain all

on Christmas it’s going to rain all

on Christmas it’s going to rain all night he’s really worried but hopefully

night he’s really worried but hopefully

night he’s really worried but hopefully he can find a shelter to go to with his

he can find a shelter to go to with his

he can find a shelter to go to with his new friend her conversation continues on

new friend her conversation continues on

new friend her conversation continues on minute after minute in the back of my

minute after minute in the back of my

minute after minute in the back of my mind I realized that I have not had a

mind I realized that I have not had a

mind I realized that I have not had a conversation so pure and so genuine in a

conversation so pure and so genuine in a

conversation so pure and so genuine in a really long time

really long time

really long time this man has space love life’s hardest

this man has space love life’s hardest

this man has space love life’s hardest challenges he hasn’t had a real meal in

challenges he hasn’t had a real meal in

challenges he hasn’t had a real meal in weeks he’s been homeless for years

weeks he’s been homeless for years

weeks he’s been homeless for years doesn’t like these challenges get the

doesn’t like these challenges get the

doesn’t like these challenges get the best of him he wakes up every morning

best of him he wakes up every morning

best of him he wakes up every morning but he didn’t take on the day and give

but he didn’t take on the day and give

but he didn’t take on the day and give the people around them love and

the people around them love and

the people around them love and compassion that’s something that I

compassion that’s something that I

compassion that’s something that I rarely see a lot of people might not

rarely see a lot of people might not

rarely see a lot of people might not include myself it’s – figure Butler from

include myself it’s – figure Butler from

include myself it’s – figure Butler from the airport so I stand up and I do this

the airport so I stand up and I do this

the airport so I stand up and I do this kind gentleman a woman grace I would not

kind gentleman a woman grace I would not

kind gentleman a woman grace I would not trade the look a rod joy in love on that

trade the look a rod joy in love on that

trade the look a rod joy in love on that man’s face for the world I realized now

man’s face for the world I realized now

man’s face for the world I realized now I got all my bad english calls

I got all my bad english calls

I got all my bad english calls hardly no one ever stopped to talk to me

hardly no one ever stopped to talk to me

hardly no one ever stopped to talk to me or validating experiences no one ever

or validating experiences no one ever

or validating experiences no one ever gave me the genuine hug

gave me the genuine hug

gave me the genuine hug no one ever showed me that they just

no one ever showed me that they just

no one ever showed me that they just care for me if we treat every person

care for me if we treat every person

care for me if we treat every person like that homeless man was treated back

like that homeless man was treated back

like that homeless man was treated back in jail on the box we can truly have an

in jail on the box we can truly have an

in jail on the box we can truly have an impact but your conversation and

impact but your conversation and

impact but your conversation and compassion does not have to stop here

compassion does not have to stop here

compassion does not have to stop here there are more most organizations we

there are more most organizations we

there are more most organizations we need more empathetic and loving people

need more empathetic and loving people

need more empathetic and loving people like everyone here today to join in on

like everyone here today to join in on

like everyone here today to join in on the fight against the stigma around

the fight against the stigma around

the fight against the stigma around housing insecurity and to contribute to

housing insecurity and to contribute to

housing insecurity and to contribute to ending it you can volunteer at a food

ending it you can volunteer at a food

ending it you can volunteer at a food bank shelter or soup kitchen central

bank shelter or soup kitchen central

bank shelter or soup kitchen central food and clothing pantry either school

food and clothing pantry either school

food and clothing pantry either school people granola bar and water in the

people granola bar and water in the

people granola bar and water in the Arctic about it’s truly as simple as its

Arctic about it’s truly as simple as its

Arctic about it’s truly as simple as its comes in the bottle they are I truly

comes in the bottle they are I truly

comes in the bottle they are I truly believe that one of the most fulfilling

believe that one of the most fulfilling

believe that one of the most fulfilling moments in our life is to be a life

moments in our life is to be a life

moments in our life is to be a life changer for someone else

changer for someone else

changer for someone else this reminds me of a parable that’s just

this reminds me of a parable that’s just

this reminds me of a parable that’s just always in my mind kind of cheesy and

always in my mind kind of cheesy and

always in my mind kind of cheesy and most of you already know it but I’m just

most of you already know it but I’m just

most of you already know it but I’m just going to go forth there’s a man walking

going to go forth there’s a man walking

going to go forth there’s a man walking down the beach littered with washed up

down the beach littered with washed up

down the beach littered with washed up starfish King compass a boy who is

starfish King compass a boy who is

starfish King compass a boy who is picking up to the starfish and putting

picking up to the starfish and putting

picking up to the starfish and putting them back into the ocean

them back into the ocean

them back into the ocean one by one pretty tedious task if you

one by one pretty tedious task if you

one by one pretty tedious task if you ask me I mean if X is ridiculous so we

ask me I mean if X is ridiculous so we

ask me I mean if X is ridiculous so we asked the boy what on earth are you

asked the boy what on earth are you

asked the boy what on earth are you doing right and hopeful the voice says

doing right and hopeful the voice says

doing right and hopeful the voice says sir I’m saving the starfish can tell

sir I’m saving the starfish can tell

sir I’m saving the starfish can tell push the man responsible son there are

push the man responsible son there are

push the man responsible son there are thousands of starfish but only one of

thousands of starfish but only one of

thousands of starfish but only one of you what difference can you make the boy

you what difference can you make the boy

you what difference can you make the boy picks up a starfish gently toss a second

picks up a starfish gently toss a second

picks up a starfish gently toss a second field sink to the ocean and then I need

field sink to the ocean and then I need

field sink to the ocean and then I need a difference to that one we can’t any

a difference to that one we can’t any

a difference to that one we can’t any multiple business we can’t bring world

multiple business we can’t bring world

multiple business we can’t bring world peace but we can bring peace to one

peace but we can bring peace to one

peace but we can bring peace to one person’s world and that’s what really

person’s world and that’s what really

person’s world and that’s what really matters

matters

matters can everyone close their eyes just one

can everyone close their eyes just one

can everyone close their eyes just one more time

more time

more time bear with me now picture a housing

”

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