[Music] [Applause]
they told me that I couldn’t that’s why
they told me that I couldn’t that’s why I did so I’m walking into the middle
I did so I’m walking into the middle
I did so I’m walking into the middle school at 11 years old and thews guys
school at 11 years old and thews guys
school at 11 years old and thews guys think about learning any and everything
think about learning any and everything
think about learning any and everything and when I say everything I mean
and when I say everything I mean
and when I say everything I mean everything but I mean up until this
everything but I mean up until this
everything but I mean up until this point school had been my happy place but
point school had been my happy place but
point school had been my happy place but when I got to middle school some things
when I got to middle school some things
when I got to middle school some things about my academic experience began to
about my academic experience began to
about my academic experience began to change see the professionals who are
change see the professionals who are
change see the professionals who are what sought encouragement and
what sought encouragement and
what sought encouragement and inspiration from they started to make
inspiration from they started to make
inspiration from they started to make comments like you ask so many questions
comments like you ask so many questions
comments like you ask so many questions or that’s more like the other kids and
or that’s more like the other kids and
or that’s more like the other kids and for me this was difficult I mean I was
for me this was difficult I mean I was
for me this was difficult I mean I was eager and excited and passionate and I
eager and excited and passionate and I
eager and excited and passionate and I tried to express this to my teachers I
tried to express this to my teachers I
tried to express this to my teachers I even remember at the mirror age of 8
even remember at the mirror age of 8
even remember at the mirror age of 8 years old pulling what seemed like
years old pulling what seemed like
years old pulling what seemed like all-nighters staying up to two and three
all-nighters staying up to two and three
all-nighters staying up to two and three am working on my third grade digestive
am working on my third grade digestive
am working on my third grade digestive system project I mean I was so
system project I mean I was so
system project I mean I was so interested in intrigued by the body that
interested in intrigued by the body that
interested in intrigued by the body that I couldn’t even sleep but after a while
I couldn’t even sleep but after a while
I couldn’t even sleep but after a while having no ones who encouraged to my
having no ones who encouraged to my
having no ones who encouraged to my growing curiosities joyful learning and
growing curiosities joyful learning and
growing curiosities joyful learning and just simply being at school it’s a good
just simply being at school it’s a good
just simply being at school it’s a good toll on me this lack of support and
toll on me this lack of support and
toll on me this lack of support and perceived this interest by the adults
perceived this interest by the adults
perceived this interest by the adults that I spent most of my time with
that I spent most of my time with
that I spent most of my time with resulted in me shying away from
resulted in me shying away from
resulted in me shying away from expressing myself and overall
expressing myself and overall
expressing myself and overall disconnecting from the classroom culture
disconnecting from the classroom culture
disconnecting from the classroom culture instead of me asking questions I was
instead of me asking questions I was
instead of me asking questions I was silent and as I matriculated through
silent and as I matriculated through
silent and as I matriculated through middle school and then to high school
middle school and then to high school
middle school and then to high school these trends continue but when I got to
these trends continue but when I got to
these trends continue but when I got to high school it worsened people began to
high school it worsened people began to
high school it worsened people began to tell me that my goals were too high to
tell me that my goals were too high to
tell me that my goals were too high to reach and that maybe I should try
reach and that maybe I should try
reach and that maybe I should try something else people began to tell me
something else people began to tell me
something else people began to tell me that my dreams were too big and that
that my dreams were too big and that
that my dreams were too big and that maybe I should try something else
maybe I should try something else
maybe I should try something else and after hearing this from multiple
and after hearing this from multiple
and after hearing this from multiple people I started to lose faith in myself
people I started to lose faith in myself
people I started to lose faith in myself I actually believed that my life with
I actually believed that my life with
I actually believed that my life with plateau at a certain point soon I was
plateau at a certain point soon I was
plateau at a certain point soon I was convinced that the odds were stacked
convinced that the odds were stacked
convinced that the odds were stacked against me and that I wouldn’t be able
against me and that I wouldn’t be able
against me and that I wouldn’t be able to overcome them that being black female
to overcome them that being black female
to overcome them that being black female and coming from a single-parent family
and coming from a single-parent family
and coming from a single-parent family will be my downfall but I was persistent
will be my downfall but I was persistent
will be my downfall but I was persistent and because of this them telling me I
and because of this them telling me I
and because of this them telling me I couldn’t became the exact reason I did
couldn’t became the exact reason I did
couldn’t became the exact reason I did today I am undeterred by the
today I am undeterred by the
today I am undeterred by the expectations set forth to me by society
expectations set forth to me by society
expectations set forth to me by society and the norms of my academic community I
and the norms of my academic community I
and the norms of my academic community I will not be silenced because I’m an
will not be silenced because I’m an
will not be silenced because I’m an african-american female expected
african-american female expected
african-american female expected encouraged to just do what’s asked of me
encouraged to just do what’s asked of me
encouraged to just do what’s asked of me and not expect more of myself in the
and not expect more of myself in the
and not expect more of myself in the world today we live in a society
world today we live in a society
world today we live in a society regulated by social expectations and
regulated by social expectations and
regulated by social expectations and norms social ills like racism and sexism
norms social ills like racism and sexism
norms social ills like racism and sexism are both side effects of this
are both side effects of this
are both side effects of this devastating our communities now by
devastating our communities now by
devastating our communities now by definition societal expectations are
definition societal expectations are
definition societal expectations are general standards of behavior that
general standards of behavior that
general standards of behavior that individuals in society are expected to
individuals in society are expected to
individuals in society are expected to uphold a quote unique set of normal
uphold a quote unique set of normal
uphold a quote unique set of normal behavior but in actuality these
behavior but in actuality these
behavior but in actuality these guidelines are restrictive and
guidelines are restrictive and
guidelines are restrictive and perpetuate stereotypes and these
perpetuate stereotypes and these
perpetuate stereotypes and these tendencies are often replicated in
tendencies are often replicated in
tendencies are often replicated in school settings whether you attend my
school settings whether you attend my
school settings whether you attend my school or another school you experience
school or another school you experience
school or another school you experience the ramifications of social expectations
the ramifications of social expectations
the ramifications of social expectations for example a good student is typically
for example a good student is typically
for example a good student is typically one that sits in a class quietly and
one that sits in a class quietly and
one that sits in a class quietly and doesn’t ask too many questions while on
doesn’t ask too many questions while on
doesn’t ask too many questions while on the other hand a bad student is one that
the other hand a bad student is one that
the other hand a bad student is one that does anything that deviates from the
does anything that deviates from the
does anything that deviates from the norm to get a better idea of to get a
norm to get a better idea of to get a
norm to get a better idea of to get a better picture of what societal
better picture of what societal
better picture of what societal expectations are and look like I’m now
expectations are and look like I’m now
expectations are and look like I’m now going to ask you to view this picture
going to ask you to view this picture
going to ask you to view this picture after ask yourself these two questions
after ask yourself these two questions
after ask yourself these two questions what did you expect these peoples
what did you expect these peoples
what did you expect these peoples backgrounds to be and what emotions or
backgrounds to be and what emotions or
backgrounds to be and what emotions or feelings were evoked by this photo and
feelings were evoked by this photo and
feelings were evoked by this photo and if
if
if asked you what do the two you expected
asked you what do the two you expected
asked you what do the two you expected to most likely have the criminal record
to most likely have the criminal record
to most likely have the criminal record the assumption here will be that the
the assumption here will be that the
the assumption here will be that the blackmail does but the truth is the
blackmail does but the truth is the
blackmail does but the truth is the complete opposite of that however the
complete opposite of that however the
complete opposite of that however the issue here is not that we may have
issue here is not that we may have
issue here is not that we may have expectations because judgment is a
expectations because judgment is a
expectations because judgment is a subconscious human characteristic the
subconscious human characteristic the
subconscious human characteristic the issue lies in the fact that people force
issue lies in the fact that people force
issue lies in the fact that people force their perceptions onto others subjecting
their perceptions onto others subjecting
their perceptions onto others subjecting them to a life that they may otherwise
them to a life that they may otherwise
them to a life that they may otherwise be reluctant living according to the
be reluctant living according to the
be reluctant living according to the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association navigation of our complex social world
navigation of our complex social world
navigation of our complex social world is facilitated by our shared social
is facilitated by our shared social
is facilitated by our shared social expectations that influence behavior so
expectations that influence behavior so
expectations that influence behavior so basically we live the life that society
basically we live the life that society
basically we live the life that society expects this means that unless we break
expects this means that unless we break
expects this means that unless we break through the boundaries that restrict us
through the boundaries that restrict us
through the boundaries that restrict us our life isn’t even our own but these
our life isn’t even our own but these
our life isn’t even our own but these expectations and norms aren’t what we
expectations and norms aren’t what we
expectations and norms aren’t what we think they aren’t rules plastered on a
think they aren’t rules plastered on a
think they aren’t rules plastered on a wall name the Declaration of how to fit
wall name the Declaration of how to fit
wall name the Declaration of how to fit in in society they’re more like
in in society they’re more like
in in society they’re more like subliminal messages or hints given by
subliminal messages or hints given by
subliminal messages or hints given by adult figures or even rules of thumb
adult figures or even rules of thumb
adult figures or even rules of thumb that everyone is suggested to follow see
that everyone is suggested to follow see
that everyone is suggested to follow see I attend in inner city title one school
I attend in inner city title one school
I attend in inner city title one school a generalization of my school may be
a generalization of my school may be
a generalization of my school may be that the majority of the student
that the majority of the student
that the majority of the student population is black impoverished and
population is black impoverished and
population is black impoverished and overall like the ability to achieve
overall like the ability to achieve
overall like the ability to achieve success to a greater degree let’s
success to a greater degree let’s
success to a greater degree let’s discuss the American class system as far
discuss the American class system as far
discuss the American class system as far as societal expectations and norms
as societal expectations and norms
as societal expectations and norms people are expected to remain into the
people are expected to remain into the
people are expected to remain into the class that they were born into however
class that they were born into however
class that they were born into however social mobility is a concept that made
social mobility is a concept that made
social mobility is a concept that made the United States the land of
the United States the land of
the United States the land of opportunity social mobility is the idea
opportunity social mobility is the idea
opportunity social mobility is the idea that one can from limited resources
that one can from limited resources
that one can from limited resources elevate themselves to a higher class but
elevate themselves to a higher class but
elevate themselves to a higher class but the lower class is perpetually trapped
the lower class is perpetually trapped
the lower class is perpetually trapped in a state of poverty due to social
in a state of poverty due to social
in a state of poverty due to social pressures and premature adulthood and
pressures and premature adulthood and
pressures and premature adulthood and what I mean by social pressures is
what I mean by social pressures is
what I mean by social pressures is partaking in activities that are
partaking in activities that are
partaking in activities that are normalized and rejecting ones that are
normalized and rejecting ones that are
normalized and rejecting ones that are stigmatized
stigmatized
stigmatized to explain what I mean by premature
to explain what I mean by premature
to explain what I mean by premature adulthood I want to tell you about a
adulthood I want to tell you about a
adulthood I want to tell you about a conversation I had with one of my
conversation I had with one of my
conversation I had with one of my teachers so she had a friend and this
teachers so she had a friend and this
teachers so she had a friend and this friend was struggling to me ends see her
friend was struggling to me ends see her
friend was struggling to me ends see her her friend’s mother was struggling with
her friend’s mother was struggling with
her friend’s mother was struggling with drug abuse and her her father like
drug abuse and her her father like
drug abuse and her her father like many unfortunate cases in the
many unfortunate cases in the
many unfortunate cases in the african-american community was absent
african-american community was absent
african-american community was absent from her life so at the age of 16 she
from her life so at the age of 16 she
from her life so at the age of 16 she had to assume the responsibilities of
had to assume the responsibilities of
had to assume the responsibilities of her parental figures by taking care of
her parental figures by taking care of
her parental figures by taking care of her younger siblings before she even had
her younger siblings before she even had
her younger siblings before she even had a high school diploma she had to accept
a high school diploma she had to accept
a high school diploma she had to accept the duties of an adult members of the
the duties of an adult members of the
the duties of an adult members of the lower class are often not expected to
lower class are often not expected to
lower class are often not expected to overcome their circumstances and people
overcome their circumstances and people
overcome their circumstances and people who do are consider consider exceptions
who do are consider consider exceptions
who do are consider consider exceptions Kendrick Lamar for example 30 million
Kendrick Lamar for example 30 million
Kendrick Lamar for example 30 million dollar net worth seven-time Grammy Award
dollar net worth seven-time Grammy Award
dollar net worth seven-time Grammy Award recipient and one of the most
recipient and one of the most
recipient and one of the most influential rappers of our time born and
influential rappers of our time born and
influential rappers of our time born and raised in Compton California and gangs
raised in Compton California and gangs
raised in Compton California and gangs with affiliation affiliations with gangs
with affiliation affiliations with gangs
with affiliation affiliations with gangs he often raps about how he was told that
he often raps about how he was told that
he often raps about how he was told that he would never be that he would never
he would never be that he would never
he would never be that he would never amount to anything
amount to anything
amount to anything and that he himself didn’t even believe
and that he himself didn’t even believe
and that he himself didn’t even believe that he would make it out of the hood he
that he would make it out of the hood he
that he would make it out of the hood he overcame his circumstances and would be
overcame his circumstances and would be
overcame his circumstances and would be what most consider an exception but just
what most consider an exception but just
what most consider an exception but just as he did I am accomplishing the things
as he did I am accomplishing the things
as he did I am accomplishing the things that I’m not expected to they told me
that I’m not expected to they told me
that I’m not expected to they told me that I couldn’t balance participating in
that I couldn’t balance participating in
that I couldn’t balance participating in several extracurriculars and maintain my
several extracurriculars and maintain my
several extracurriculars and maintain my GPA am rate as of now I’m Rex umber 3 in
GPA am rate as of now I’m Rex umber 3 in
GPA am rate as of now I’m Rex umber 3 in my class with a 96 GPA they told me that
my class with a 96 GPA they told me that
my class with a 96 GPA they told me that I would crack under the pressure of
I would crack under the pressure of
I would crack under the pressure of taking 3 advanced placement courses at
taking 3 advanced placement courses at
taking 3 advanced placement courses at one time by the end of this school year
one time by the end of this school year
one time by the end of this school year I will have completed 8 advanced
I will have completed 8 advanced
I will have completed 8 advanced placement courses and 7 dual enrollment
placement courses and 7 dual enrollment
placement courses and 7 dual enrollment class classes
they told me that I couldn’t be drum
they told me that I couldn’t be drum major in 10th grade that an all-girls
major in 10th grade that an all-girls
major in 10th grade that an all-girls drum major squad would never come to be
drum major squad would never come to be
drum major squad would never come to be this is my third year as a drum major
this is my third year as a drum major
this is my third year as a drum major and last year was the first year in Mays
and last year was the first year in Mays
and last year was the first year in Mays high school history that we had an
high school history that we had an
high school history that we had an all-girls John Major squad the school
all-girls John Major squad the school
all-girls John Major squad the school system told me that I couldn’t achieve
system told me that I couldn’t achieve
system told me that I couldn’t achieve my goals that my dreams are too big and
my goals that my dreams are too big and
my goals that my dreams are too big and that’s why I created my own pathway and
that’s why I created my own pathway and
that’s why I created my own pathway and define what success means me I challenge
define what success means me I challenge
define what success means me I challenge you not to give in to social pressures
you not to give in to social pressures
you not to give in to social pressures to live the life that makes you the
to live the life that makes you the
to live the life that makes you the happiest and whole so know that you are
happiest and whole so know that you are
happiest and whole so know that you are the architect of your future accomplish
the architect of your future accomplish
the architect of your future accomplish this by asking yourself one simple
this by asking yourself one simple
this by asking yourself one simple question
question
question whose dream am i living and if the
whose dream am i living and if the
whose dream am i living and if the answer is anyone but yourself
answer is anyone but yourself
answer is anyone but yourself change it thank you
change it thank you
change it thank you [Applause]
”
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