um thank you so much for being here today my name is Archana 7se her I’m a
today my name is Archana 7se her I’m a
today my name is Archana 7se her I’m a junior a rising because I’m a junior now
junior a rising because I’m a junior now
junior a rising because I’m a junior now at Harvard University and I am I’m Shane
at Harvard University and I am I’m Shane
at Harvard University and I am I’m Shane as we obsessed with Disney Princesses
as we obsessed with Disney Princesses
as we obsessed with Disney Princesses just by a show of hands here who here
just by a show of hands here who here
just by a show of hands here who here has ever wished that they could be a
has ever wished that they could be a
has ever wished that they could be a disney prince or princess well there’s
disney prince or princess well there’s
disney prince or princess well there’s no shame at that I grew up swimming
no shame at that I grew up swimming
no shame at that I grew up swimming alongside Ariel
alongside Ariel
alongside Ariel reading about faraway kingdoms with Val
reading about faraway kingdoms with Val
reading about faraway kingdoms with Val and perhaps most importantly learning to
and perhaps most importantly learning to
and perhaps most importantly learning to love sleep which is basically all that
love sleep which is basically all that
love sleep which is basically all that Sleeping Beauty did for the entirety of
Sleeping Beauty did for the entirety of
Sleeping Beauty did for the entirety of her hour and a half long film it was
her hour and a half long film it was
her hour and a half long film it was just a Laura or the crystal tiaras the
just a Laura or the crystal tiaras the
just a Laura or the crystal tiaras the beautiful ball gowns and very bottom
beautiful ball gowns and very bottom
beautiful ball gowns and very bottom ended up with just grant your every wish
ended up with just grant your every wish
ended up with just grant your every wish and of course we can’t forget about the
and of course we can’t forget about the
and of course we can’t forget about the handsome often nondescript prince that
handsome often nondescript prince that
handsome often nondescript prince that somehow guaranteed a happily ever after
somehow guaranteed a happily ever after
somehow guaranteed a happily ever after so imagine my surprise also really quick
so imagine my surprise also really quick
so imagine my surprise also really quick [Music]
um so imagine my surprise when my
um so imagine my surprise when my parents told me that the two things that
parents told me that the two things that
parents told me that the two things that were most important in determining my
were most important in determining my
were most important in determining my happily ever after was first my
happily ever after was first my
happily ever after was first my education and second the ability to give
education and second the ability to give
education and second the ability to give back to the community that I would call
back to the community that I would call
back to the community that I would call my own education and philanthropy
my own education and philanthropy
my own education and philanthropy Princess Jasmine spent her time taking
Princess Jasmine spent her time taking
Princess Jasmine spent her time taking long walks with her pet tiger or flying
long walks with her pet tiger or flying
long walks with her pet tiger or flying on a magic carpet
on a magic carpet
on a magic carpet she was definitely not concerned about
she was definitely not concerned about
she was definitely not concerned about getting over old class education or
getting over old class education or
getting over old class education or giving back to our community so why
giving back to our community so why
giving back to our community so why didn’t I have to
in classic princess fashion I grew up
in classic princess fashion I grew up right thing about standardized tests
right thing about standardized tests
right thing about standardized tests concerned about how difficult school
concerned about how difficult school
concerned about how difficult school could be at times and really wishing
could be at times and really wishing
could be at times and really wishing that for once the woodland animals would
that for once the woodland animals would
that for once the woodland animals would rally towards a cause that I cared about
rally towards a cause that I cared about
rally towards a cause that I cared about but sadly none of that ever happened I
but sadly none of that ever happened I
but sadly none of that ever happened I thought about how easy it would be to
thought about how easy it would be to
thought about how easy it would be to put a crown on my head and never have to
put a crown on my head and never have to
put a crown on my head and never have to worry about the outside world ever again
every summer my family and I would take
every summer my family and I would take a trip to India and in this every day or
a trip to India and in this every day or
a trip to India and in this every day or every summer on August 15th which is
every summer on August 15th which is
every summer on August 15th which is India’s Independence Day but also my
India’s Independence Day but also my
India’s Independence Day but also my birthday we would pile into a van that
birthday we would pile into a van that
birthday we would pile into a van that would take us to a nearby orphanage
would take us to a nearby orphanage
would take us to a nearby orphanage called with a monk on a bed and we would
called with a monk on a bed and we would
called with a monk on a bed and we would spend what I like to think of as my
spend what I like to think of as my
spend what I like to think of as my special day
special day
special day serving and making food for the
serving and making food for the
serving and making food for the ordinance man the Sun would scorch me
ordinance man the Sun would scorch me
ordinance man the Sun would scorch me the mosquitoes would bite me and I would
the mosquitoes would bite me and I would
the mosquitoes would bite me and I would ask myself over and over again why I was
ask myself over and over again why I was
ask myself over and over again why I was there but year after year we would see
there but year after year we would see
there but year after year we would see the same girls we would braid each
the same girls we would braid each
the same girls we would braid each other’s hair as the same sticky fingers
other’s hair as the same sticky fingers
other’s hair as the same sticky fingers and we would tell each other about our
and we would tell each other about our
and we would tell each other about our lives about our worlds that were so
lives about our worlds that were so
lives about our worlds that were so different from one of them they were so
different from one of them they were so
different from one of them they were so different from one another but the more
different from one another but the more
different from one another but the more I began to think about it the more I
I began to think about it the more I
I began to think about it the more I began to realize that maybe we weren’t
began to realize that maybe we weren’t
began to realize that maybe we weren’t subject right after all we both had
subject right after all we both had
subject right after all we both had goals we both had dreams and we both had
goals we both had dreams and we both had
goals we both had dreams and we both had the potential to make those dreams come
the potential to make those dreams come
the potential to make those dreams come true from police people to tailors to
true from police people to tailors to
true from police people to tailors to seems your sister pure engineers to
seems your sister pure engineers to
seems your sister pure engineers to doctorate these girls represented a
doctorate these girls represented a
doctorate these girls represented a spectrum
spectrum
spectrum when the next generation was going to
when the next generation was going to
when the next generation was going to look like the only difference between me
look like the only difference between me
look like the only difference between me and them was the fact that we were born
and them was the fact that we were born
and them was the fact that we were born in two different circumstances I had
in two different circumstances I had
in two different circumstances I had been given access to knowledge to
been given access to knowledge to
been given access to knowledge to resources and most importantly to an
resources and most importantly to an
resources and most importantly to an unwavering support system that told me
unwavering support system that told me
unwavering support system that told me time and time again that the sky was my
time and time again that the sky was my
time and time again that the sky was my limit and I don’t think I realized it at
limit and I don’t think I realized it at
limit and I don’t think I realized it at the time but it was this very support
the time but it was this very support
the time but it was this very support system that gave me the strength to
system that gave me the strength to
system that gave me the strength to break ceilings that people’s that I
break ceilings that people’s that I
break ceilings that people’s that I couldn’t break and open doors that I
couldn’t break and open doors that I
couldn’t break and open doors that I didn’t even realize were closed and the
didn’t even realize were closed and the
didn’t even realize were closed and the more I thought about this the more I
more I thought about this the more I
more I thought about this the more I began to realize that this circumstance
began to realize that this circumstance
began to realize that this circumstance this twist of fate this coin would
this twist of fate this coin would
this twist of fate this coin would determine who was born where and when
determine who was born where and when
determine who was born where and when was not an excuse to deprive anyone of
was not an excuse to deprive anyone of
was not an excuse to deprive anyone of the right to craft their own future when
the right to craft their own future when
the right to craft their own future when I returned home from India I returned to
I returned home from India I returned to
I returned home from India I returned to my life of privilege – air conditioning
my life of privilege – air conditioning
my life of privilege – air conditioning – guaranteed meals my biggest concern
– guaranteed meals my biggest concern
– guaranteed meals my biggest concern turned into my biology test that I had
turned into my biology test that I had
turned into my biology test that I had the next day or the essay that I had
the next day or the essay that I had
the next day or the essay that I had written or read the materials or what I
written or read the materials or what I
written or read the materials or what I was not worried about was what was going
was not worried about was what was going
was not worried about was what was going to happen when I turned 18
to happen when I turned 18
to happen when I turned 18 and no orphanage would take me in
and no orphanage would take me in
and no orphanage would take me in anymore I was not worried about where or
anymore I was not worried about where or
anymore I was not worried about where or when my next meal was going to come from
when my next meal was going to come from
when my next meal was going to come from and I’m just certainly not thinking
and I’m just certainly not thinking
and I’m just certainly not thinking about my future saying I want to be
about my future saying I want to be
about my future saying I want to be economically independent but I was never
economically independent but I was never
economically independent but I was never given the skills to do so now it was
given the skills to do so now it was
given the skills to do so now it was this that really just made me decide
this that really just made me decide
this that really just made me decide that
that
that maybe I would get one of the via try
maybe I would get one of the via try
maybe I would get one of the via try maybe I would try to make a change and I
maybe I would try to make a change and I
maybe I would try to make a change and I joined an organization called the circle
joined an organization called the circle
joined an organization called the circle of women which is a nonprofit
of women which is a nonprofit
of women which is a nonprofit organization that builds schools in
organization that builds schools in
organization that builds schools in developing countries for girls now
developing countries for girls now
developing countries for girls now through this organization I got the
through this organization I got the
through this organization I got the first opportunity that I think really
first opportunity that I think really
first opportunity that I think really changed my life which was the
changed my life which was the
changed my life which was the opportunity to visit an orphanage in
opportunity to visit an orphanage in
opportunity to visit an orphanage in a different one called the Rhema garden
a different one called the Rhema garden
a different one called the Rhema garden and stay there and help out for a week
and stay there and help out for a week
and stay there and help out for a week and get to know the girls there and from
and get to know the girls there and from
and get to know the girls there and from this experience one story really stands
this experience one story really stands
this experience one story really stands out to me every day the girls aboard the
out to me every day the girls aboard the
out to me every day the girls aboard the public bus to ride to the government
public bus to ride to the government
public bus to ride to the government school that was nearby in the afternoon
school that was nearby in the afternoon
school that was nearby in the afternoon I would board the same bus and I would
I would board the same bus and I would
I would board the same bus and I would go pick up the girls and I would talk to
go pick up the girls and I would talk to
go pick up the girls and I would talk to them they would be so excited to tell me
them they would be so excited to tell me
them they would be so excited to tell me about their days is what they have
about their days is what they have
about their days is what they have learned since the last time they’d seen
learned since the last time they’d seen
learned since the last time they’d seen each other on this particular day I was
each other on this particular day I was
each other on this particular day I was sitting beside a girl who might seek
sitting beside a girl who might seek
sitting beside a girl who might seek before and – I had talked to but it
before and – I had talked to but it
before and – I had talked to but it never spent like a whole lot of time
never spent like a whole lot of time
never spent like a whole lot of time getting to know as I sat down next to
getting to know as I sat down next to
getting to know as I sat down next to her she began to rummage through her old
her she began to rummage through her old
her she began to rummage through her old bag that she used to carry her books and
bag that she used to carry her books and
bag that she used to carry her books and for what seems like a pretty long time
for what seems like a pretty long time
for what seems like a pretty long time and so naturally I was a little curious
and so naturally I was a little curious
and so naturally I was a little curious as to what she was looking for and
as to what she was looking for and
as to what she was looking for and finally she seemed to have found it and
finally she seemed to have found it and
finally she seemed to have found it and there it was she took it out
there it was she took it out
there it was she took it out she looked at it for a second and Nikol
she looked at it for a second and Nikol
she looked at it for a second and Nikol chair it was old small hobros of being
chair it was old small hobros of being
chair it was old small hobros of being honest but an old piece of candy she
honest but an old piece of candy she
honest but an old piece of candy she catch me with a big smile on her face
catch me with a big smile on her face
catch me with a big smile on her face and she said this is for you I think
and she said this is for you I think
and she said this is for you I think about that for a moment for these girls
about that for a moment for these girls
about that for a moment for these girls getting three meals a day wasn’t
getting three meals a day wasn’t
getting three meals a day wasn’t guaranteed let alone a piece of candy it
guaranteed let alone a piece of candy it
guaranteed let alone a piece of candy it was clear that she had been saving this
was clear that she had been saving this
was clear that she had been saving this for such a long time that it was
for such a long time that it was
for such a long time that it was important to her but she was willing to
important to her but she was willing to
important to her but she was willing to turn and give it to me a relative
turn and give it to me a relative
turn and give it to me a relative stranger someone who came from such a
stranger someone who came from such a
stranger someone who came from such a privileged background but she was
privileged background but she was
privileged background but she was willing to share with me everything she
willing to share with me everything she
willing to share with me everything she had her prized possession now for me
had her prized possession now for me
had her prized possession now for me with all the resources I have at my
with all the resources I have at my
with all the resources I have at my disposal I’m so reluctant to part with
disposal I’m so reluctant to part with
disposal I’m so reluctant to part with any of it if my sister asks for half of
any of it if my sister asks for half of
any of it if my sister asks for half of my cookie I will tell her off there is
my cookie I will tell her off there is
my cookie I will tell her off there is no nothing it’s not sharing what it
no nothing it’s not sharing what it
no nothing it’s not sharing what it comes it doesn’t come as easily and then
comes it doesn’t come as easily and then
comes it doesn’t come as easily and then this is when I realized that getting
this is when I realized that getting
this is when I realized that getting back that lambda V is
back that lambda V is
back that lambda V is on a side thing that you do with snot
on a side thing that you do with snot
on a side thing that you do with snot something you try out it’s a
something you try out it’s a
something you try out it’s a responsibility and it’s an obligation to
responsibility and it’s an obligation to
responsibility and it’s an obligation to give back to the community that has
give back to the community that has
give back to the community that has given you so much to make sure that the
given you so much to make sure that the
given you so much to make sure that the forward cycle continues and that is what
forward cycle continues and that is what
forward cycle continues and that is what inspired me to build a sewing studio in
inspired me to build a sewing studio in
inspired me to build a sewing studio in a computer lab for that orphanage in
a computer lab for that orphanage in
a computer lab for that orphanage in India I decided that I was going to be a
India I decided that I was going to be a
India I decided that I was going to be a part of the structural change that was
part of the structural change that was
part of the structural change that was going to make things better and I
going to make things better and I
going to make things better and I realized that this kind of change
realized that this kind of change
realized that this kind of change doesn’t come from the outside it comes
doesn’t come from the outside it comes
doesn’t come from the outside it comes from the community itself driven by a
from the community itself driven by a
from the community itself driven by a desire for something more my sophomore
desire for something more my sophomore
desire for something more my sophomore year I was privileged enough to get the
year I was privileged enough to get the
year I was privileged enough to get the opportunity to join the Teen Advisory
opportunity to join the Teen Advisory
opportunity to join the Teen Advisory Board for the United Nations Foundation
Board for the United Nations Foundation
Board for the United Nations Foundation because people were finally beginning to
because people were finally beginning to
because people were finally beginning to realize that if you want to change the
realize that if you want to change the
realize that if you want to change the lives of girls around the world it was
lives of girls around the world it was
lives of girls around the world it was time you stopped talking about girls and
time you stopped talking about girls and
time you stopped talking about girls and started talking with them for a change
started talking with them for a change
started talking with them for a change it was opportunities like this that gave
it was opportunities like this that gave
it was opportunities like this that gave us a chance to raise our voices to begin
us a chance to raise our voices to begin
us a chance to raise our voices to begin to be a part of that conversation and
to be a part of that conversation and
to be a part of that conversation and it’s not about waiting for an invitation
it’s not about waiting for an invitation
it’s not about waiting for an invitation to the table we don’t need to wait for
to the table we don’t need to wait for
to the table we don’t need to wait for that it’s about realizing that when we
that it’s about realizing that when we
that it’s about realizing that when we contribute and speak on what we believe
contribute and speak on what we believe
contribute and speak on what we believe in and the ideas that emerge our line
in and the ideas that emerge our line
in and the ideas that emerge our line paralleled and we and I got to
paralleled and we and I got to
paralleled and we and I got to experience this very phenomena this past
experience this very phenomena this past
experience this very phenomena this past year my sophomore year at Harvard
year my sophomore year at Harvard
year my sophomore year at Harvard University or I was elected to be the
University or I was elected to be the
University or I was elected to be the sole representative for the United
sole representative for the United
sole representative for the United States at the girl’s 20s on it and
States at the girl’s 20s on it and
States at the girl’s 20s on it and Turkey such as a little bit of that
Turkey such as a little bit of that
Turkey such as a little bit of that ground on this summit is it takes one
ground on this summit is it takes one
ground on this summit is it takes one girl from each of the g20 countries and
girl from each of the g20 countries and
girl from each of the g20 countries and we come together to in a summit that
we come together to in a summit that
we come together to in a summit that happens during the g20 to create a
happens during the g20 to create a
happens during the g20 to create a communique on how we the women of g20
communique on how we the women of g20
communique on how we the women of g20 countries we’re going to hold our
countries we’re going to hold our
countries we’re going to hold our leaders responsible for the promise that
leaders responsible for the promise that
leaders responsible for the promise that they made to increase female labor force
they made to increase female labor force
they made to increase female labor force and participation by 100 million by year
and participation by 100 million by year
and participation by 100 million by year 2025 and in presenting this communicate
2025 and in presenting this communicate
2025 and in presenting this communicate to our g20
to our g20
to our g20 years we affirmed that our voices
years we affirmed that our voices
years we affirmed that our voices weren’t going only going to draw
weren’t going only going to draw
weren’t going only going to draw attention to the problems but be
attention to the problems but be
attention to the problems but be instrumental in creating the solutions
and we were going to fight for things
and we were going to fight for things like paid maternity leave and equal pay
like paid maternity leave and equal pay
like paid maternity leave and equal pay for equal work ideas that have been
for equal work ideas that have been
for equal work ideas that have been repeated over and over again so many
repeated over and over again so many
repeated over and over again so many times that they seem stale but somehow
times that they seem stale but somehow
times that they seem stale but somehow the world has yet to listen but what of
the world has yet to listen but what of
the world has yet to listen but what of us say is that the more as I’ve grown
us say is that the more as I’ve grown
us say is that the more as I’ve grown older and as I’ve gotten more involved
older and as I’ve gotten more involved
older and as I’ve gotten more involved in this work the voices that contribute
in this work the voices that contribute
in this work the voices that contribute to this cause have multiplied at a groan
to this cause have multiplied at a groan
to this cause have multiplied at a groan and strength and that is what I realized
and strength and that is what I realized
and strength and that is what I realized this past May when I was invited to be
this past May when I was invited to be
this past May when I was invited to be speaker at v– anything agent at being
speaker at v– anything agent at being
speaker at v– anything agent at being women deliver conference in Copenhagen I
women deliver conference in Copenhagen I
women deliver conference in Copenhagen I will travel to me and I realized the
will travel to me and I realized the
will travel to me and I realized the people were finally beginning to
people were finally beginning to
people were finally beginning to understand that you the voices were so
understand that you the voices were so
understand that you the voices were so powerful it’s so strong that we are not
powerful it’s so strong that we are not
powerful it’s so strong that we are not the leaders of tomorrow but louder the
the leaders of tomorrow but louder the
the leaders of tomorrow but louder the leaders of right now we were the ones
leaders of right now we were the ones
leaders of right now we were the ones who are going to draw attention to the
who are going to draw attention to the
who are going to draw attention to the problems that we care about we were the
problems that we care about we were the
problems that we care about we were the ones who are going to create those
ones who are going to create those
ones who are going to create those solutions together our voices we’re
solutions together our voices we’re
solutions together our voices we’re going to be what made the difference I’m
going to be what made the difference I’m
going to be what made the difference I’m sure there were times along the way
sure there were times along the way
sure there were times along the way where people said no no you can’t do it
where people said no no you can’t do it
where people said no no you can’t do it No maybe when you’re older
No maybe when you’re older
No maybe when you’re older no what you have more experience but I
no what you have more experience but I
no what you have more experience but I was beginning to realize that my impact
was beginning to realize that my impact
was beginning to realize that my impact was not going to be defined by what
was not going to be defined by what
was not going to be defined by what someone told me I could or could it do
someone told me I could or could it do
someone told me I could or could it do but rather movements that I’m going to
but rather movements that I’m going to
but rather movements that I’m going to change the world start from us and that
change the world start from us and that
change the world start from us and that we are the ones who are going to have to
we are the ones who are going to have to
we are the ones who are going to have to leave to raise our voices to make a
leave to raise our voices to make a
leave to raise our voices to make a change happen so yes Disney Princesses
change happen so yes Disney Princesses
change happen so yes Disney Princesses will always be a part of me I will never
will always be a part of me I will never
will always be a part of me I will never give up my childhood of wishing I could
give up my childhood of wishing I could
give up my childhood of wishing I could talk to animals or that my life was set
talk to animals or that my life was set
talk to animals or that my life was set to
to
to soundrack I still wish that believe me
soundrack I still wish that believe me
soundrack I still wish that believe me but I would never trade my future for
but I would never trade my future for
but I would never trade my future for Prince Charming’s happily ever after
Prince Charming’s happily ever after
Prince Charming’s happily ever after never would I to give up the opportunity
never would I to give up the opportunity
never would I to give up the opportunity to use my voice to create the change
to use my voice to create the change
to use my voice to create the change that I want to see in this world because
that I want to see in this world because
that I want to see in this world because regardless of what expectations there
regardless of what expectations there
regardless of what expectations there are or what people have to say my happy
are or what people have to say my happy
are or what people have to say my happy ending is going to be exactly that my
ending is going to be exactly that my
ending is going to be exactly that my own thank you very much
own thank you very much
own thank you very much [Applause]
”
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