growing up I have always been the new student when I roll that hammer in grade
student when I roll that hammer in grade
student when I roll that hammer in grade eight I was attending the seventh school
eight I was attending the seventh school
eight I was attending the seventh school that I have been to since first grade
that I have been to since first grade
that I have been to since first grade this constant moving around has taught
this constant moving around has taught
this constant moving around has taught me how to quickly spot the people who
me how to quickly spot the people who
me how to quickly spot the people who are similar to me and befriend them so
are similar to me and befriend them so
are similar to me and befriend them so even as someone who was naturally shy
even as someone who was naturally shy
even as someone who was naturally shy quiet and a little awkward
quiet and a little awkward
quiet and a little awkward making friends wasn’t too hard anymore
making friends wasn’t too hard anymore
making friends wasn’t too hard anymore however there is another side to this as
however there is another side to this as
however there is another side to this as I developed this habit of being with
I developed this habit of being with
I developed this habit of being with people of similar traits I narrow down
people of similar traits I narrow down
people of similar traits I narrow down my own comfort zone every day I talked
my own comfort zone every day I talked
my own comfort zone every day I talked about things I already knew and did only
about things I already knew and did only
about things I already knew and did only the things that I was comfortable with
the things that I was comfortable with
the things that I was comfortable with when my dad first talked to me about the
when my dad first talked to me about the
when my dad first talked to me about the idea of a comfort zone I observed none
idea of a comfort zone I observed none
idea of a comfort zone I observed none of it I saw no need whatsoever to go new
of it I saw no need whatsoever to go new
of it I saw no need whatsoever to go new places meet new people since I was very
places meet new people since I was very
places meet new people since I was very comfortable where I was why would I
comfortable where I was why would I
comfortable where I was why would I search for change when there was no need
search for change when there was no need
search for change when there was no need for it but my dad saw a need for him so
for it but my dad saw a need for him so
for it but my dad saw a need for him so he signed 11y old me up for a six-week
he signed 11y old me up for a six-week
he signed 11y old me up for a six-week long summer camp my family was living in
long summer camp my family was living in
long summer camp my family was living in Beijing at that time and the camp that
Beijing at that time and the camp that
Beijing at that time and the camp that he had signed me up for was in Boston so
he had signed me up for was in Boston so
he had signed me up for was in Boston so that summer I’ve hacked my bags and flew
that summer I’ve hacked my bags and flew
that summer I’ve hacked my bags and flew halfway across the globe alone with a
halfway across the globe alone with a
halfway across the globe alone with a combination of reading signs asking
combination of reading signs asking
combination of reading signs asking airport staff and a little bit of luck I
airport staff and a little bit of luck I
airport staff and a little bit of luck I was able to make it there alive I can
was able to make it there alive I can
was able to make it there alive I can still remember my first day of camp
still remember my first day of camp
still remember my first day of camp clearly after five years of public
clearly after five years of public
clearly after five years of public school in China I have forgotten most of
school in China I have forgotten most of
school in China I have forgotten most of my English and I was extremely shy ever
my English and I was extremely shy ever
my English and I was extremely shy ever since I was little
since I was little
since I was little so I was approached by this very sweet
so I was approached by this very sweet
so I was approached by this very sweet Indian girl who asked me whether or not
Indian girl who asked me whether or not
Indian girl who asked me whether or not I wanted to join her in playing Bop and
I wanted to join her in playing Bop and
I wanted to join her in playing Bop and instead of
instead of
instead of simply saying yes I broke into tears
simply saying yes I broke into tears
simply saying yes I broke into tears which probably made the situation scary
which probably made the situation scary
which probably made the situation scary for her as well
for her as well
for her as well fortunately the camp leaders were kind
fortunately the camp leaders were kind
fortunately the camp leaders were kind and understanding so for the rest of
and understanding so for the rest of
and understanding so for the rest of that first day I stayed with them
that first day I stayed with them
that first day I stayed with them without saying anything because staying
without saying anything because staying
without saying anything because staying silent me sense me that way
silent me sense me that way
silent me sense me that way soon I realize how much the people
soon I realize how much the people
soon I realize how much the people around me were enjoying themselves which
around me were enjoying themselves which
around me were enjoying themselves which made me feel tiny and somewhat jealous I
made me feel tiny and somewhat jealous I
made me feel tiny and somewhat jealous I felt like I was lacking in some way I
felt like I was lacking in some way I
felt like I was lacking in some way I just wanted to go home and be with the
just wanted to go home and be with the
just wanted to go home and be with the friends so I could talk to contrib Lee
friends so I could talk to contrib Lee
friends so I could talk to contrib Lee but that was not an option and sings
but that was not an option and sings
but that was not an option and sings silent for the next 47 days did seem
silent for the next 47 days did seem
silent for the next 47 days did seem like the best way to go either my
like the best way to go either my
like the best way to go either my african-american roommate Cece is one of
african-american roommate Cece is one of
african-american roommate Cece is one of the kindest people I have ever met up to
the kindest people I have ever met up to
the kindest people I have ever met up to this day every night before curfew she
this day every night before curfew she
this day every night before curfew she would initiate conversation and day
would initiate conversation and day
would initiate conversation and day after day I began to open up so our
after day I began to open up so our
after day I began to open up so our conversations grew more and more
conversations grew more and more
conversations grew more and more personal that was the beginning of a
personal that was the beginning of a
personal that was the beginning of a friendship I could never have imagined
friendship I could never have imagined
friendship I could never have imagined slowly but surely I was getting more
slowly but surely I was getting more
slowly but surely I was getting more comfortable with the people around me
comfortable with the people around me
comfortable with the people around me although I did not make a ton of friends
although I did not make a ton of friends
although I did not make a ton of friends by the end of it
by the end of it
by the end of it I sure knew the eight people from my
I sure knew the eight people from my
I sure knew the eight people from my hallway pretty well on that last day we
hallway pretty well on that last day we
hallway pretty well on that last day we all cried thinking about how we wouldn’t
all cried thinking about how we wouldn’t
all cried thinking about how we wouldn’t be able to see each other ever again but
be able to see each other ever again but
be able to see each other ever again but thanks to Facebook we can still speak as
thanks to Facebook we can still speak as
thanks to Facebook we can still speak as if we’ve only said bye yesterday so
if we’ve only said bye yesterday so
if we’ve only said bye yesterday so returning home I began to think about
returning home I began to think about
returning home I began to think about all the opportunities I have missed out
all the opportunities I have missed out
all the opportunities I have missed out on because I was too scared and that’s
on because I was too scared and that’s
on because I was too scared and that’s when I realized what a comfort zone is
when I realized what a comfort zone is
when I realized what a comfort zone is after a couple of years at Hamburg I
after a couple of years at Hamburg I
after a couple of years at Hamburg I began to get used to this life with not
began to get used to this life with not
began to get used to this life with not too many struggles I had decent grades
too many struggles I had decent grades
too many struggles I had decent grades and I was no longer scared to death when
and I was no longer scared to death when
and I was no longer scared to death when I came to public speaking however I knew
I came to public speaking however I knew
I came to public speaking however I knew that there was so much out there I had
that there was so much out there I had
that there was so much out there I had no idea existed so when summer came
no idea existed so when summer came
no idea existed so when summer came along again I traveled to Providence
along again I traveled to Providence
along again I traveled to Providence Rhode Island for a pre-college program
Rhode Island for a pre-college program
Rhode Island for a pre-college program there I met
there I met
there I met of the most academically accomplished
of the most academically accomplished
of the most academically accomplished people who made me realize goals I have
people who made me realize goals I have
people who made me realize goals I have never envisioned for myself previously
never envisioned for myself previously
never envisioned for myself previously it wasn’t the best feeling but it was
it wasn’t the best feeling but it was
it wasn’t the best feeling but it was motivating knowing that there’s always
motivating knowing that there’s always
motivating knowing that there’s always an extra mile to go the me that refuses
an extra mile to go the me that refuses
an extra mile to go the me that refuses to step outside of my comfort zone was
to step outside of my comfort zone was
to step outside of my comfort zone was rejecting diversity thinking that what I
rejecting diversity thinking that what I
rejecting diversity thinking that what I have can’t be any better and my life
have can’t be any better and my life
have can’t be any better and my life shouldn’t change in any way the me that
shouldn’t change in any way the me that
shouldn’t change in any way the me that sits back and just gets by is tolerating
sits back and just gets by is tolerating
sits back and just gets by is tolerating diversity I’m okay with change coming
diversity I’m okay with change coming
diversity I’m okay with change coming into my life but chasing after it
into my life but chasing after it
into my life but chasing after it is not something I would do the mean
is not something I would do the mean
is not something I would do the mean that seeks for opportunities to expand
that seeks for opportunities to expand
that seeks for opportunities to expand my comfort zone is embracing diversity
my comfort zone is embracing diversity
my comfort zone is embracing diversity if I always had my tolerant just getting
if I always had my tolerant just getting
if I always had my tolerant just getting by attitude I would not have progressed
by attitude I would not have progressed
by attitude I would not have progressed in any aspect in my life and if you
in any aspect in my life and if you
in any aspect in my life and if you think about it embracing change and
think about it embracing change and
think about it embracing change and diversity kind of makes sense
diversity kind of makes sense
diversity kind of makes sense because after all change is the only
because after all change is the only
because after all change is the only constant in life but sometimes it’s nice
constant in life but sometimes it’s nice
constant in life but sometimes it’s nice to stay in that zone and I think
to stay in that zone and I think
to stay in that zone and I think sometimes it’s even necessary because
sometimes it’s even necessary because
sometimes it’s even necessary because being outside of that zone for too long
being outside of that zone for too long
being outside of that zone for too long would ring on tons of stress naturally
would ring on tons of stress naturally
would ring on tons of stress naturally we like to relax and there is a strong
we like to relax and there is a strong
we like to relax and there is a strong tendency for that laid-back mindset to
tendency for that laid-back mindset to
tendency for that laid-back mindset to take over the opportunity seeking one
take over the opportunity seeking one
take over the opportunity seeking one keeping the balance between the two is
keeping the balance between the two is
keeping the balance between the two is what’s important but it’s not easy
what’s important but it’s not easy
what’s important but it’s not easy because you are fighting against nature
because you are fighting against nature
because you are fighting against nature I like to think about rejecting
I like to think about rejecting
I like to think about rejecting tolerating and embracing diversity as
tolerating and embracing diversity as
tolerating and embracing diversity as floors of a house we all live in these
floors of a house we all live in these
floors of a house we all live in these houses and spend time on all floors
houses and spend time on all floors
houses and spend time on all floors the basement is dark cold and a little
the basement is dark cold and a little
the basement is dark cold and a little humid you don’t usually get your work
humid you don’t usually get your work
humid you don’t usually get your work done there because you have the ground
done there because you have the ground
done there because you have the ground floor which is much more comfortable the
floor which is much more comfortable the
floor which is much more comfortable the ground floor is indoors there are too
ground floor is indoors there are too
ground floor is indoors there are too many windows so you depend on artificial
many windows so you depend on artificial
many windows so you depend on artificial lighting but that’s okay because you
lighting but that’s okay because you
lighting but that’s okay because you have the aircon in the heater so it’s
have the aircon in the heater so it’s
have the aircon in the heater so it’s always going to be comfortable logically
always going to be comfortable logically
always going to be comfortable logically you spend most of your time on the
you spend most of your time on the
you spend most of your time on the ground floor and then you have your
ground floor and then you have your
ground floor and then you have your second floor it’s a balcony with little
second floor it’s a balcony with little
second floor it’s a balcony with little cover so you got the element of surprise
cover so you got the element of surprise
cover so you got the element of surprise from the weather it’s beautiful out
from the weather it’s beautiful out
from the weather it’s beautiful out there when it’s sunny and warm but you
there when it’s sunny and warm but you
there when it’s sunny and warm but you can’t help it some days there will be
can’t help it some days there will be
can’t help it some days there will be rain or even snow storms going up there
rain or even snow storms going up there
rain or even snow storms going up there is in adventure you don’t know what to
is in adventure you don’t know what to
is in adventure you don’t know what to expect one day you may go and be
expect one day you may go and be
expect one day you may go and be disappointed by the pouring rain well
disappointed by the pouring rain well
disappointed by the pouring rain well another day you may go and have your
another day you may go and have your
another day you may go and have your breath be taken away by a spectacular
breath be taken away by a spectacular
breath be taken away by a spectacular view it’s not the best idea to stay on
view it’s not the best idea to stay on
view it’s not the best idea to stay on one floor forever
one floor forever
one floor forever although the ground floor is super
although the ground floor is super
although the ground floor is super comfortable once in a while you’re gonna
comfortable once in a while you’re gonna
comfortable once in a while you’re gonna need some fresh air
need some fresh air
need some fresh air similarly we reject tolerate and embrace
similarly we reject tolerate and embrace
similarly we reject tolerate and embrace all the time it’s about how much time
all the time it’s about how much time
all the time it’s about how much time you spend on each floor and the first
you spend on each floor and the first
you spend on each floor and the first step to that is being aware of what
step to that is being aware of what
step to that is being aware of what floor you’re on transitioning between
floor you’re on transitioning between
floor you’re on transitioning between floors is a process that takes time just
floors is a process that takes time just
floors is a process that takes time just like how we can’t switch from tolerating
like how we can’t switch from tolerating
like how we can’t switch from tolerating mode to embracing mode at an instant
mode to embracing mode at an instant
mode to embracing mode at an instant we can’t teleport between floors it’s
we can’t teleport between floors it’s
we can’t teleport between floors it’s not hard to travel between the basement
not hard to travel between the basement
not hard to travel between the basement and the ground floor both are indoors
and the ground floor both are indoors
and the ground floor both are indoors how different could they be but when you
how different could they be but when you
how different could they be but when you go up to that second floor
go up to that second floor
go up to that second floor you need to change from clothes that you
you need to change from clothes that you
you need to change from clothes that you wear at home and to clothes that
wear at home and to clothes that
wear at home and to clothes that suitable for the conditions outside when
suitable for the conditions outside when
suitable for the conditions outside when progressing from tolerating to embracing
progressing from tolerating to embracing
progressing from tolerating to embracing we let go of the stereotypes at the back
we let go of the stereotypes at the back
we let go of the stereotypes at the back of our minds pick up courage and respect
of our minds pick up courage and respect
of our minds pick up courage and respect to invite something that’s foreign into
to invite something that’s foreign into
to invite something that’s foreign into our lives by the time you’re at the top
our lives by the time you’re at the top
our lives by the time you’re at the top of the stairs you’re equipped for
of the stairs you’re equipped for
of the stairs you’re equipped for whatever the outside world will stare at
whatever the outside world will stare at
whatever the outside world will stare at you you’re there with a new mindset a
you you’re there with a new mindset a
you you’re there with a new mindset a new pair of eyes as Marcel Proust said
new pair of eyes as Marcel Proust said
new pair of eyes as Marcel Proust said the real voyage of discovery consists
the real voyage of discovery consists
the real voyage of discovery consists not only in seeing new sights but in
not only in seeing new sights but in
not only in seeing new sights but in looking with new eyes up there with your
looking with new eyes up there with your
looking with new eyes up there with your horizon expanded you can see not only
horizon expanded you can see not only
horizon expanded you can see not only where you are but where you could be we
where you are but where you could be we
where you are but where you could be we live in a world with over 7 billion
live in a world with over 7 billion
live in a world with over 7 billion people of different ages colors shapes
people of different ages colors shapes
people of different ages colors shapes and sizes who speak over six thousand
and sizes who speak over six thousand
and sizes who speak over six thousand different languages there are limitless
different languages there are limitless
different languages there are limitless possibilities out there for us to
possibilities out there for us to
possibilities out there for us to discover so with a very very limited
discover so with a very very limited
discover so with a very very limited time that we have be courageous
time that we have be courageous
time that we have be courageous be open and in write something that’s
be open and in write something that’s
be open and in write something that’s unlike you into your life thank you
unlike you into your life thank you
unlike you into your life thank you [Applause]
”
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