Getting Past the Why | Carol Wright | TEDxSoleburySchool

I’m a 17-year old senior in high school

I’m a 17-year old senior in high school and the co-editor-in-chief of my own

and the co-editor-in-chief of my own

and the co-editor-in-chief of my own online magazine unusual title for my age

online magazine unusual title for my age

online magazine unusual title for my age I know I started my online magazine the

I know I started my online magazine the

I know I started my online magazine the summer before my senior year I chose to

summer before my senior year I chose to

summer before my senior year I chose to name it Nyota which means star and

name it Nyota which means star and

name it Nyota which means star and Swahili because the magazine focuses on

Swahili because the magazine focuses on

Swahili because the magazine focuses on finding emerging stars in the areas of

finding emerging stars in the areas of

finding emerging stars in the areas of music fashion and culture I noticed

music fashion and culture I noticed

music fashion and culture I noticed while flipping through magazines such as

while flipping through magazines such as

while flipping through magazines such as nylon and 17 the only famous faces were

nylon and 17 the only famous faces were

nylon and 17 the only famous faces were being featured and I wanted to create a

being featured and I wanted to create a

being featured and I wanted to create a magazine that gave young lesser-known

magazine that gave young lesser-known

magazine that gave young lesser-known talent the chance to have their faces

talent the chance to have their faces

talent the chance to have their faces seen and voices heard after starting the

seen and voices heard after starting the

seen and voices heard after starting the second year of a social innovation

second year of a social innovation

second year of a social innovation program at my school called teach to

program at my school called teach to

program at my school called teach to serve I decided to add a segment to the

serve I decided to add a segment to the

serve I decided to add a segment to the magazine that highlights young people

magazine that highlights young people

magazine that highlights young people creating a positive change in their

creating a positive change in their

creating a positive change in their communities I wanted the magazine to not

communities I wanted the magazine to not

communities I wanted the magazine to not only give people the publicity and

only give people the publicity and

only give people the publicity and recognition they deserved I wanted to

recognition they deserved I wanted to

recognition they deserved I wanted to inspire others at the same time for me

inspire others at the same time for me

inspire others at the same time for me the magazine has been one continuous

the magazine has been one continuous

the magazine has been one continuous learning process and today I’ll be

learning process and today I’ll be

learning process and today I’ll be touching on a few of the lessons the

touching on a few of the lessons the

touching on a few of the lessons the magazine has helped me to learn the

magazine has helped me to learn the

magazine has helped me to learn the first lesson getting past the why came

first lesson getting past the why came

first lesson getting past the why came about one day when I was in the car with

about one day when I was in the car with

about one day when I was in the car with my mom we were discussing the magazine

my mom we were discussing the magazine

my mom we were discussing the magazine and my TEDx talk and she has to be one

and my TEDx talk and she has to be one

and my TEDx talk and she has to be one simple question

simple question

simple question why did you start the magazine I

why did you start the magazine I

why did you start the magazine I answered pretty quickly and

answered pretty quickly and

answered pretty quickly and matter-of-factly that I started the

matter-of-factly that I started the

matter-of-factly that I started the magazine to have cool photo shoots my

magazine to have cool photo shoots my

magazine to have cool photo shoots my mom pointed out that I didn’t need a

mom pointed out that I didn’t need a

mom pointed out that I didn’t need a magazine to do that I could get friends

magazine to do that I could get friends

magazine to do that I could get friends together anytime and take all the

together anytime and take all the

together anytime and take all the pictures I wanted for a second that made

pictures I wanted for a second that made

pictures I wanted for a second that made me think that my response was a bit

me think that my response was a bit

me think that my response was a bit stupid and maybe I had to find a new one

stupid and maybe I had to find a new one

stupid and maybe I had to find a new one but in my mind my love for photography

but in my mind my love for photography

but in my mind my love for photography is what drove me the most my mom then

is what drove me the most my mom then

is what drove me the most my mom then began to explain that at times people

began to explain that at times people

began to explain that at times people myself included often believed we need

myself included often believed we need

myself included often believed we need this concrete answer when someone asked

this concrete answer when someone asked

this concrete answer when someone asked us why we feel we need to go into depth

us why we feel we need to go into depth

us why we feel we need to go into depth or come up with all these impressive

or come up with all these impressive

or come up with all these impressive reasons to answer the question instead

reasons to answer the question instead

reasons to answer the question instead of just answering with the honest truth

of just answering with the honest truth

of just answering with the honest truth which made me realize that getting past

which made me realize that getting past

which made me realize that getting past the Y may just be the most important

the Y may just be the most important

the Y may just be the most important lesson of all if my mother had asked me

lesson of all if my mother had asked me

lesson of all if my mother had asked me the question of why did I start the

the question of why did I start the

the question of why did I start the magazine at the very beginning of the

magazine at the very beginning of the

magazine at the very beginning of the process I may have questions starting it

process I may have questions starting it

process I may have questions starting it altogether because I would have focused

altogether because I would have focused

altogether because I would have focused more on the

more on the

more on the instead of the possibilities the

instead of the possibilities the

instead of the possibilities the question why can truly limit our

question why can truly limit our

question why can truly limit our creativity stop us from pursuing dreams

creativity stop us from pursuing dreams

creativity stop us from pursuing dreams and make us question our passions and

and make us question our passions and

and make us question our passions and ideas but if we learn to get past the Y

ideas but if we learn to get past the Y

ideas but if we learn to get past the Y we won’t have these limits we can start

we won’t have these limits we can start

we won’t have these limits we can start businesses or projects without giving

businesses or projects without giving

businesses or projects without giving ourselves boundaries and start sharing

ourselves boundaries and start sharing

ourselves boundaries and start sharing ideas that may have seemed unrealistic

ideas that may have seemed unrealistic

ideas that may have seemed unrealistic to us in the past but are now perfectly

to us in the past but are now perfectly

to us in the past but are now perfectly ideal to us once we get past the Y we

ideal to us once we get past the Y we

ideal to us once we get past the Y we can begin to ask ourselves why not and

can begin to ask ourselves why not and

can begin to ask ourselves why not and truly push past any limitations others

truly push past any limitations others

truly push past any limitations others have tried to set for us and any

have tried to set for us and any

have tried to set for us and any limitations we have set for ourselves

limitations we have set for ourselves

limitations we have set for ourselves once I got past the Y I can start to

once I got past the Y I can start to

once I got past the Y I can start to focus on the next steps for my magazine

focus on the next steps for my magazine

focus on the next steps for my magazine and I continue to learn from my mistakes

and I continue to learn from my mistakes

and I continue to learn from my mistakes because if we’re going to be honest our

because if we’re going to be honest our

because if we’re going to be honest our mistakes are our best teachers my second

mistakes are our best teachers my second

mistakes are our best teachers my second lesson is follow your passions

lesson is follow your passions

lesson is follow your passions throughout my life my parents have

throughout my life my parents have

throughout my life my parents have always taught me to do what I love and

always taught me to do what I love and

always taught me to do what I love and love what I do and for most of my life I

love what I do and for most of my life I

love what I do and for most of my life I have tried to live by that but I didn’t

have tried to live by that but I didn’t

have tried to live by that but I didn’t truly realized how important following

truly realized how important following

truly realized how important following your passions is until it came to the

your passions is until it came to the

your passions is until it came to the magazine because the magazine is

magazine because the magazine is

magazine because the magazine is something I’m passionate about my love

something I’m passionate about my love

something I’m passionate about my love for photography is what drove me to

for photography is what drove me to

for photography is what drove me to creating Nyota I had the idea that I

creating Nyota I had the idea that I

creating Nyota I had the idea that I wanted to start working more closely

wanted to start working more closely

wanted to start working more closely with coding brands and getting my name

with coding brands and getting my name

with coding brands and getting my name out there and one day when I was

out there and one day when I was

out there and one day when I was flipping through a copy of Teen Vogue I

flipping through a copy of Teen Vogue I

flipping through a copy of Teen Vogue I thought to myself I won’t have cool

thought to myself I won’t have cool

thought to myself I won’t have cool photo shoots like this I know how to do

photo shoots like this I know how to do

photo shoots like this I know how to do that I’ll create a magazine in that

that I’ll create a magazine in that

that I’ll create a magazine in that moment there was no hesitation I had a

moment there was no hesitation I had a

moment there was no hesitation I had a goal of working with clothing brands and

goal of working with clothing brands and

goal of working with clothing brands and having photo shoots and this magazine

having photo shoots and this magazine

having photo shoots and this magazine was my gateway to doing just that

was my gateway to doing just that

was my gateway to doing just that when you follow your passions not only

when you follow your passions not only

when you follow your passions not only does it show in your work but it gets

does it show in your work but it gets

does it show in your work but it gets others excited to work with you I’m

others excited to work with you I’m

others excited to work with you I’m truly dedicated Nyota and I’m always

truly dedicated Nyota and I’m always

truly dedicated Nyota and I’m always looking for ways to have it improve and

looking for ways to have it improve and

looking for ways to have it improve and I’ve gotten the chance to have my

I’ve gotten the chance to have my

I’ve gotten the chance to have my friends and family involved in the

friends and family involved in the

friends and family involved in the magazine my third lesson is that you

magazine my third lesson is that you

magazine my third lesson is that you don’t have to be a hundred percent

don’t have to be a hundred percent

don’t have to be a hundred percent qualified to start a job sometimes

qualified to start a job sometimes

qualified to start a job sometimes learning from experience is the best way

learning from experience is the best way

learning from experience is the best way to learn when I first decided to start

to learn when I first decided to start

to learn when I first decided to start Nyota the only two things I could do

Nyota the only two things I could do

Nyota the only two things I could do were take photos and write with those

were take photos and write with those

were take photos and write with those skills and no graphic design knowledge

skills and no graphic design knowledge

skills and no graphic design knowledge there was a good chance the magazine

there was a good chance the magazine

there was a good chance the magazine cover

cover

cover flop but I didn’t allow that to stop me

flop but I didn’t allow that to stop me

flop but I didn’t allow that to stop me and even though my sister knew her

and even though my sister knew her

and even though my sister knew her around knew her way around illustrator

around knew her way around illustrator

around knew her way around illustrator her true passion is fashion so that’s

her true passion is fashion so that’s

her true passion is fashion so that’s the part of the magazine I knew she

the part of the magazine I knew she

the part of the magazine I knew she would have more of a clear vision for

would have more of a clear vision for

would have more of a clear vision for together we had skills but not all the

together we had skills but not all the

together we had skills but not all the skills we need it to create an online

skills we need it to create an online

skills we need it to create an online magazine but I realized that that’s okay

magazine but I realized that that’s okay

magazine but I realized that that’s okay I learned more from just going for it

I learned more from just going for it

I learned more from just going for it than I ever could have and try and teach

than I ever could have and try and teach

than I ever could have and try and teach myself each aspect of creating a

myself each aspect of creating a

myself each aspect of creating a magazine at the end of the day if you

magazine at the end of the day if you

magazine at the end of the day if you have a vision for a project follow that

have a vision for a project follow that

have a vision for a project follow that project if you know where you want to go

project if you know where you want to go

project if you know where you want to go and get started because once you get

and get started because once you get

and get started because once you get started the rest will follow the process

started the rest will follow the process

started the rest will follow the process of creating a magazine is a long and

of creating a magazine is a long and

of creating a magazine is a long and sometimes frustrating one and when we

sometimes frustrating one and when we

sometimes frustrating one and when we first decided to create Nyota my sister

first decided to create Nyota my sister

first decided to create Nyota my sister and I were going back and forth trying

and I were going back and forth trying

and I were going back and forth trying to come up with ideas to make it

to come up with ideas to make it

to come up with ideas to make it interesting and to make sure we had a

interesting and to make sure we had a

interesting and to make sure we had a place to publish it

place to publish it

place to publish it I didn’t you at the time I didn’t even

I didn’t you at the time I didn’t even

I didn’t you at the time I didn’t even know how to use illustrator and we

know how to use illustrator and we

know how to use illustrator and we weren’t sure how we were going to how we

weren’t sure how we were going to how we

weren’t sure how we were going to how we were going to go about getting features

were going to go about getting features

were going to go about getting features but I realized that it’s okay to not

but I realized that it’s okay to not

but I realized that it’s okay to not have all the skills when you want to get

have all the skills when you want to get

have all the skills when you want to get started because even though we didn’t

started because even though we didn’t

started because even though we didn’t have all the skills our magazine was

have all the skills our magazine was

have all the skills our magazine was published and we continue to make

published and we continue to make

published and we continue to make incredible progress women from having

incredible progress women from having

incredible progress women from having only 80 or so reads on our first issue

only 80 or so reads on our first issue

only 80 or so reads on our first issue to over 200 on our third and the first

to over 200 on our third and the first

to over 200 on our third and the first issue while it’s obviously the product

issue while it’s obviously the product

issue while it’s obviously the product of two young girls learning the ropes

of two young girls learning the ropes

of two young girls learning the ropes doesn’t compare to our third issue which

doesn’t compare to our third issue which

doesn’t compare to our third issue which is the product of a group of people

is the product of a group of people

is the product of a group of people coming together to create something

coming together to create something

coming together to create something great which leads me to my next point a

great which leads me to my next point a

great which leads me to my next point a symbol a team my sister and I realized

symbol a team my sister and I realized

symbol a team my sister and I realized that we didn’t have all the skills

that we didn’t have all the skills

that we didn’t have all the skills needed to continue to improve Nyota sure

needed to continue to improve Nyota sure

needed to continue to improve Nyota sure we could have learned the skills but

we could have learned the skills but

we could have learned the skills but it’s always good to have knowledgeable

it’s always good to have knowledgeable

it’s always good to have knowledgeable people helping you so we decided to add

people helping you so we decided to add

people helping you so we decided to add people with particular skill sets to the

people with particular skill sets to the

people with particular skill sets to the team so that each issue will come out

team so that each issue will come out

team so that each issue will come out looking exactly how we envisioned it

looking exactly how we envisioned it

looking exactly how we envisioned it so we added a youtube host a graphic

so we added a youtube host a graphic

so we added a youtube host a graphic designer

designer

designer and editor-at-large a DIY expert and we

and editor-at-large a DIY expert and we

and editor-at-large a DIY expert and we built relationships with models as

built relationships with models as

built relationships with models as nyota’s team grew so did our outreach

nyota’s team grew so did our outreach

nyota’s team grew so did our outreach and the second issue we managed to

and the second issue we managed to

and the second issue we managed to feature

feature

feature a DJ from Oregon a singer from DC

a DJ from Oregon a singer from DC

a DJ from Oregon a singer from DC bloggers from New York and a writer from

bloggers from New York and a writer from

bloggers from New York and a writer from New Zealand I took no the fact that with

New Zealand I took no the fact that with

New Zealand I took no the fact that with each issue of the magazine

each issue of the magazine

each issue of the magazine looking more professional and eye

looking more professional and eye

looking more professional and eye catching more people one to be a part of

catching more people one to be a part of

catching more people one to be a part of it

it

it and for our fourth issue which plan

and for our fourth issue which plan

and for our fourth issue which plan which is plan to come out in June we

which is plan to come out in June we

which is plan to come out in June we even had a few people contacting us to

even had a few people contacting us to

even had a few people contacting us to be featured and that in itself was

be featured and that in itself was

be featured and that in itself was extremely rewarding my mistakes also

extremely rewarding my mistakes also

extremely rewarding my mistakes also taught me that we can’t afford to

taught me that we can’t afford to

taught me that we can’t afford to procrastinate when it comes to any

procrastinate when it comes to any

procrastinate when it comes to any aspect of the magazine of course in

aspect of the magazine of course in

aspect of the magazine of course in school your teachers always teach you

school your teachers always teach you

school your teachers always teach you not to procrastinate but that if I

not to procrastinate but that if I

not to procrastinate but that if I didn’t truly hit home for me until it

didn’t truly hit home for me until it

didn’t truly hit home for me until it came to the magazine because the

came to the magazine because the

came to the magazine because the magazine is something I created and feel

magazine is something I created and feel

magazine is something I created and feel passionate about it’s not ten page paper

passionate about it’s not ten page paper

passionate about it’s not ten page paper someone’s assigned me to write when you

someone’s assigned me to write when you

someone’s assigned me to write when you procrastinate you don’t allow yourself

procrastinate you don’t allow yourself

procrastinate you don’t allow yourself the time to look over the tiny but

the time to look over the tiny but

the time to look over the tiny but important details in your work my sister

important details in your work my sister

important details in your work my sister and I realized this when we were staying

and I realized this when we were staying

and I realized this when we were staying up past midnight often trying to put

up past midnight often trying to put

up past midnight often trying to put details and finishing touches to the

details and finishing touches to the

details and finishing touches to the first issue the day before you wanted to

first issue the day before you wanted to

first issue the day before you wanted to publish but now instead of waiting until

publish but now instead of waiting until

publish but now instead of waiting until the last minute we get our interviews

the last minute we get our interviews

the last minute we get our interviews and features done ahead of time so that

and features done ahead of time so that

and features done ahead of time so that our graphic designer kind of content to

our graphic designer kind of content to

our graphic designer kind of content to create the pages with early on and we

create the pages with early on and we

create the pages with early on and we get our extra content done early so that

get our extra content done early so that

get our extra content done early so that we’re not scrambling until the day

we’re not scrambling until the day

we’re not scrambling until the day before trying to create pages if I had

before trying to create pages if I had

before trying to create pages if I had told myself at the very beginning of the

told myself at the very beginning of the

told myself at the very beginning of the process so I needed a group of

process so I needed a group of

process so I needed a group of professionals to help me create the

professionals to help me create the

professionals to help me create the magazine or that I had to be more

magazine or that I had to be more

magazine or that I had to be more qualified it never would have happened

qualified it never would have happened

qualified it never would have happened many of us have untapped talents that we

many of us have untapped talents that we

many of us have untapped talents that we have yet to discover because we haven’t

have yet to discover because we haven’t

have yet to discover because we haven’t given ourselves the time to explore them

given ourselves the time to explore them

given ourselves the time to explore them or we allow our realities to limit us

or we allow our realities to limit us

or we allow our realities to limit us but if we stop putting limitations on

but if we stop putting limitations on

but if we stop putting limitations on ourselves stop believing we’re

ourselves stop believing we’re

ourselves stop believing we’re unqualified to do certain jobs and

unqualified to do certain jobs and

unqualified to do certain jobs and follow the passions that drive us we all

follow the passions that drive us we all

follow the passions that drive us we all have the ability to create great ideas

have the ability to create great ideas

have the ability to create great ideas and great change we all need to learn

and great change we all need to learn

and great change we all need to learn how to get past the why and instead

how to get past the why and instead

how to get past the why and instead begin to ask ourselves why not thank you

begin to ask ourselves why not thank you

begin to ask ourselves why not thank you [Applause]