a scoop of mint chip for Dad coffee almond fudge for my mom two scoops of
almond fudge for my mom two scoops of
almond fudge for my mom two scoops of vanilla for my sister and for this visit
vanilla for my sister and for this visit
vanilla for my sister and for this visit candy carnival when I was three years
candy carnival when I was three years
candy carnival when I was three years old I would never order the same flavor
old I would never order the same flavor
old I would never order the same flavor of ice cream twice
of ice cream twice
of ice cream twice I mean why I always get the same thing
I mean why I always get the same thing
I mean why I always get the same thing when there’s pistachio almond strawberry
when there’s pistachio almond strawberry
when there’s pistachio almond strawberry cheesecake or just something new to try
cheesecake or just something new to try
cheesecake or just something new to try the man who ran our local ice cream shop
the man who ran our local ice cream shop
the man who ran our local ice cream shop said he had never seen a kid who tried
said he had never seen a kid who tried
said he had never seen a kid who tried something new every single time to me
something new every single time to me
something new every single time to me this seemed normal but I guess most kids
this seemed normal but I guess most kids
this seemed normal but I guess most kids are expected to stick to their known
are expected to stick to their known
are expected to stick to their known flavors
flavors
flavors I liked not being not locked into what I
I liked not being not locked into what I
I liked not being not locked into what I had done before or what was expected of
had done before or what was expected of
had done before or what was expected of me and not every flavor was great but at
me and not every flavor was great but at
me and not every flavor was great but at least I tried
least I tried
least I tried too often we get stuck doing the same
too often we get stuck doing the same
too often we get stuck doing the same things over and over again this is about
things over and over again this is about
things over and over again this is about more than what dessert you order
more than what dessert you order
more than what dessert you order it’s about all kinds of things we face
it’s about all kinds of things we face
it’s about all kinds of things we face as kids teens and young adults it can be
as kids teens and young adults it can be
as kids teens and young adults it can be hard to break away from what everyone
hard to break away from what everyone
hard to break away from what everyone wants us to do I believe that at our age
wants us to do I believe that at our age
wants us to do I believe that at our age we are still trying to figure out who we
we are still trying to figure out who we
we are still trying to figure out who we are and to find our place in the world
are and to find our place in the world
are and to find our place in the world but the media society our friends our
but the media society our friends our
but the media society our friends our teachers and our parents try to tell us
teachers and our parents try to tell us
teachers and our parents try to tell us who we should be and what we should do
who we should be and what we should do
who we should be and what we should do and some might say that you go against
and some might say that you go against
and some might say that you go against these influences you have to be brave
these influences you have to be brave
these influences you have to be brave and what most people think of bravery
and what most people think of bravery
and what most people think of bravery they think of things like jumping off of
they think of things like jumping off of
they think of things like jumping off of cliffs but bravery doesn’t have to be
cliffs but bravery doesn’t have to be
cliffs but bravery doesn’t have to be about taking these big risks it can be
about taking these big risks it can be
about taking these big risks it can be about taking the small ones in fifth
about taking the small ones in fifth
about taking the small ones in fifth grade I was faced with a choice I could
grade I was faced with a choice I could
grade I was faced with a choice I could move on from my local elementary school
move on from my local elementary school
move on from my local elementary school to my neighborhood middle school with
to my neighborhood middle school with
to my neighborhood middle school with all my friends or I could apply to a
all my friends or I could apply to a
all my friends or I could apply to a unique magnet school called Ann Richards
unique magnet school called Ann Richards
unique magnet school called Ann Richards Ann Richards is a middle school and a
Ann Richards is a middle school and a
Ann Richards is a middle school and a high school where they wear uniforms
high school where they wear uniforms
high school where they wear uniforms have longer school days oh and it’s all
have longer school days oh and it’s all
have longer school days oh and it’s all girls there were a lot of reasons why I
girls there were a lot of reasons why I
girls there were a lot of reasons why I thought I shouldn’t go I thought I’d be
thought I shouldn’t go I thought I’d be
thought I shouldn’t go I thought I’d be giving up my individuality Friday night
giving up my individuality Friday night
giving up my individuality Friday night football games my chances of meeting
football games my chances of meeting
football games my chances of meeting boys went way down
boys went way down
boys went way down and plus I would have to make all new
and plus I would have to make all new
and plus I would have to make all new friends which is enough of a challenge
friends which is enough of a challenge
friends which is enough of a challenge already to accept my offer to attend the
already to accept my offer to attend the
already to accept my offer to attend the Ambridge school would mean leaving
Ambridge school would mean leaving
Ambridge school would mean leaving behind everybody I had known since
behind everybody I had known since
behind everybody I had known since kindergarten but it also meant opening
kindergarten but it also meant opening
kindergarten but it also meant opening myself up to a unique educational
myself up to a unique educational
myself up to a unique educational environment the Ann Richards school for
environment the Ann Richards school for
environment the Ann Richards school for young woman leaders has rigorous
young woman leaders has rigorous
young woman leaders has rigorous academics and high expectations for
academics and high expectations for
academics and high expectations for every student’s 100% of our graduates
every student’s 100% of our graduates
every student’s 100% of our graduates have gone on to four-year colleges
have gone on to four-year colleges
have gone on to four-year colleges sixty-five percent of those are the
sixty-five percent of those are the
sixty-five percent of those are the first people and their families to go to
first people and their families to go to
first people and their families to go to college we’ve also heard millions of
college we’ve also heard millions of
college we’ve also heard millions of dollars in merit-based scholarships at
dollars in merit-based scholarships at
dollars in merit-based scholarships at the time my sister was attending a
the time my sister was attending a
the time my sister was attending a different magnet high school and I had
different magnet high school and I had
different magnet high school and I had seen all the advantages that this had
seen all the advantages that this had
seen all the advantages that this had brought her so I decided to go for it
brought her so I decided to go for it
brought her so I decided to go for it and in my first year I was invited by
and in my first year I was invited by
and in my first year I was invited by some teachers to talk with some
some teachers to talk with some
some teachers to talk with some potential donors who were thinking about
potential donors who were thinking about
potential donors who were thinking about funding our schools makerspace not many
funding our schools makerspace not many
funding our schools makerspace not many sixth graders get asked to participate
sixth graders get asked to participate
sixth graders get asked to participate in fundraising conversations and this
in fundraising conversations and this
in fundraising conversations and this was just one of the amazing
was just one of the amazing
was just one of the amazing opportunities I’ve gotten because I
opportunities I’ve gotten because I
opportunities I’ve gotten because I decided to go my own way
decided to go my own way
decided to go my own way and not follow the crowd and in the end
and not follow the crowd and in the end
and not follow the crowd and in the end this was quite possibly the best
this was quite possibly the best
this was quite possibly the best decision I have ever made if you google
decision I have ever made if you google
decision I have ever made if you google the term successful teens you will find
the term successful teens you will find
the term successful teens you will find hundreds of stories of young scientists
hundreds of stories of young scientists
hundreds of stories of young scientists entrepreneurs media moguls
entrepreneurs media moguls
entrepreneurs media moguls philanthropists and fashion designers
philanthropists and fashion designers
philanthropists and fashion designers who are making headlines for their giant
who are making headlines for their giant
who are making headlines for their giant discoveries and contributions to the
discoveries and contributions to the
discoveries and contributions to the world but we don’t all have to be making
world but we don’t all have to be making
world but we don’t all have to be making headlines to make a difference I am NOT
headlines to make a difference I am NOT
headlines to make a difference I am NOT an expert I’m just a girl who’s trying
an expert I’m just a girl who’s trying
an expert I’m just a girl who’s trying to find her place in the world well at
to find her place in the world well at
to find her place in the world well at the same time tried to get my driver’s
the same time tried to get my driver’s
the same time tried to get my driver’s license for the past six months I’ve
license for the past six months I’ve
license for the past six months I’ve been following the YouTube video diaries
been following the YouTube video diaries
been following the YouTube video diaries of the journey of Jessica Mills also
of the journey of Jessica Mills also
of the journey of Jessica Mills also known as Dixie Dixie is a
known as Dixie Dixie is a
known as Dixie Dixie is a thirtysomething year-old woman who
thirtysomething year-old woman who
thirtysomething year-old woman who walked away from a successful career as
walked away from a successful career as
walked away from a successful career as an engineer in Denver Colorado to hike
an engineer in Denver Colorado to hike
an engineer in Denver Colorado to hike the Appalachian Trail in case you don’t
the Appalachian Trail in case you don’t
the Appalachian Trail in case you don’t know about the Appalachian Trail it is a
know about the Appalachian Trail it is a
know about the Appalachian Trail it is a two thousand 180 mile hike that takes an
two thousand 180 mile hike that takes an
two thousand 180 mile hike that takes an average of six months to complete you
average of six months to complete you
average of six months to complete you live in a tent and walk about 20 miles a
live in a tent and walk about 20 miles a
live in a tent and walk about 20 miles a day every day
day every day
day every day all of your possessions on your back it
all of your possessions on your back it
all of your possessions on your back it is extremely long hard lonely and most
is extremely long hard lonely and most
is extremely long hard lonely and most people who attempt it never complete the
people who attempt it never complete the
people who attempt it never complete the journey on October 19th 2015
journey on October 19th 2015
journey on October 19th 2015 Dixey arrived in Maine at the end of the
Dixey arrived in Maine at the end of the
Dixey arrived in Maine at the end of the trail this is not something most people
trail this is not something most people
trail this is not something most people would expect from a young woman with a
would expect from a young woman with a
would expect from a young woman with a good job and a busy life to go and do
good job and a busy life to go and do
good job and a busy life to go and do plus most people who do this hike are
plus most people who do this hike are
plus most people who do this hike are men and she decided to do it alone
men and she decided to do it alone
men and she decided to do it alone but she didn’t let any of that stop her
but she didn’t let any of that stop her
but she didn’t let any of that stop her from achieving her dream oh and she
from achieving her dream oh and she
from achieving her dream oh and she didn’t stop there this year on October
didn’t stop there this year on October
didn’t stop there this year on October 12th she completed the two thousand six
12th she completed the two thousand six
12th she completed the two thousand six hundred and fifty mile Pacific Crest
hundred and fifty mile Pacific Crest
hundred and fifty mile Pacific Crest Trail and next year she plans on hiking
Trail and next year she plans on hiking
Trail and next year she plans on hiking the 3100 mile Continental Divide Trail
the 3100 mile Continental Divide Trail
the 3100 mile Continental Divide Trail thus completing the hiker triple crown I
thus completing the hiker triple crown I
thus completing the hiker triple crown I love the idea of undertaking a journey
love the idea of undertaking a journey
love the idea of undertaking a journey like this and I plan on hiking the
like this and I plan on hiking the
like this and I plan on hiking the Appalachian Trail after I finish college
Appalachian Trail after I finish college
Appalachian Trail after I finish college as I’ve talked about this with my
as I’ve talked about this with my
as I’ve talked about this with my parents they have cautioned me about the
parents they have cautioned me about the
parents they have cautioned me about the many obstacles I will face while
many obstacles I will face while
many obstacles I will face while undertaking this journey they remind me
undertaking this journey they remind me
undertaking this journey they remind me it’s long hard and cold and that there
it’s long hard and cold and that there
it’s long hard and cold and that there are sometimes days where hikers are low
are sometimes days where hikers are low
are sometimes days where hikers are low on food and that it could be a while
on food and that it could be a while
on food and that it could be a while before they get to the next town
before they get to the next town
before they get to the next town well it’s not that they’re not
well it’s not that they’re not
well it’s not that they’re not supportive of my dreams it’s just
supportive of my dreams it’s just
supportive of my dreams it’s just parents worry about things like a young
parents worry about things like a young
parents worry about things like a young woman hiking through the woods across 14
woman hiking through the woods across 14
woman hiking through the woods across 14 states but this is something I hope to
states but this is something I hope to
states but this is something I hope to do with my life and I accept that there
do with my life and I accept that there
do with my life and I accept that there are hardships that come along with
are hardships that come along with
are hardships that come along with accomplishing great things oh and as for
accomplishing great things oh and as for
accomplishing great things oh and as for my parents concerns well this is still
my parents concerns well this is still
my parents concerns well this is still six or seven years away and I’ll be an
six or seven years away and I’ll be an
six or seven years away and I’ll be an adult so I won’t need their permission
adult so I won’t need their permission
adult so I won’t need their permission my own thoughts about how to go your own
my own thoughts about how to go your own
my own thoughts about how to go your own way come from looking at the long view
way come from looking at the long view
way come from looking at the long view rather than the short term we often hear
rather than the short term we often hear
rather than the short term we often hear teachers and parents say what others
teachers and parents say what others
teachers and parents say what others think doesn’t matter and it’s easier
think doesn’t matter and it’s easier
think doesn’t matter and it’s easier said than done and plus we’re teenagers
said than done and plus we’re teenagers
said than done and plus we’re teenagers it kind of matters to us and it can be
it kind of matters to us and it can be
it kind of matters to us and it can be so easy to just follow the crowd if your
so easy to just follow the crowd if your
so easy to just follow the crowd if your focus is only on today but if you look
focus is only on today but if you look
focus is only on today but if you look at the long-term view it becomes much
at the long-term view it becomes much
at the long-term view it becomes much easier to disregard what other people
easier to disregard what other people
easier to disregard what other people think and to make choices for you and
think and to make choices for you and
think and to make choices for you and only you
only you
as a teenager I spend a lot of time
as a teenager I spend a lot of time watching YouTube come on you do it too
watching YouTube come on you do it too
watching YouTube come on you do it too and many of the youtubers we enjoyed did
and many of the youtubers we enjoyed did
and many of the youtubers we enjoyed did not set out to become famous or to get
not set out to become famous or to get
not set out to become famous or to get millions of views they just tried new
millions of views they just tried new
millions of views they just tried new things and talked about ideas that
things and talked about ideas that
things and talked about ideas that interested them and if you read the bios
interested them and if you read the bios
interested them and if you read the bios of many of these YouTube celebrities
of many of these YouTube celebrities
of many of these YouTube celebrities many of them went to prestigious
many of them went to prestigious
many of them went to prestigious colleges and studied serious subjects
colleges and studied serious subjects
colleges and studied serious subjects like economics or marketing strategies
like economics or marketing strategies
like economics or marketing strategies they just made their videos for fun and
they just made their videos for fun and
they just made their videos for fun and talked about ideas that interested them
talked about ideas that interested them
talked about ideas that interested them not society as a whole it was their
not society as a whole it was their
not society as a whole it was their personal passion and style that created
personal passion and style that created
personal passion and style that created their following Tyler Oakley is a great
their following Tyler Oakley is a great
their following Tyler Oakley is a great example of this and he got started
example of this and he got started
example of this and he got started making videos on YouTube as a way to
making videos on YouTube as a way to
making videos on YouTube as a way to communicate with his friends from high
communicate with his friends from high
communicate with his friends from high school who are at different colleges now
school who are at different colleges now
school who are at different colleges now he is an internationally known
he is an internationally known
he is an internationally known personality and activist who has
personality and activist who has
personality and activist who has appeared on many TV shows including The
appeared on many TV shows including The
appeared on many TV shows including The Ellen Show so how can we find ourselves
Ellen Show so how can we find ourselves
Ellen Show so how can we find ourselves well I’m not sure I know all the answers
well I’m not sure I know all the answers
well I’m not sure I know all the answers or any of them but for me it’s all about
or any of them but for me it’s all about
or any of them but for me it’s all about think talk do I spend a lot of time
think talk do I spend a lot of time
think talk do I spend a lot of time thinking about my future and things that
thinking about my future and things that
thinking about my future and things that interests me and then I talk about it a
interests me and then I talk about it a
interests me and then I talk about it a lot ask my friends my teachers my sister
lot ask my friends my teachers my sister
lot ask my friends my teachers my sister or my parents I can talk a lot but
or my parents I can talk a lot but
or my parents I can talk a lot but talking with others about things that
talking with others about things that
talking with others about things that interests me helps me figure out if I’m
interests me helps me figure out if I’m
interests me helps me figure out if I’m really interested in the subject or if
really interested in the subject or if
really interested in the subject or if it’s just a passing thought and then I
it’s just a passing thought and then I
it’s just a passing thought and then I do something while I’m not ready to take
do something while I’m not ready to take
do something while I’m not ready to take on that six month hike just yet I’ve
on that six month hike just yet I’ve
on that six month hike just yet I’ve gotten my parents to take me out smaller
gotten my parents to take me out smaller
gotten my parents to take me out smaller hikes at home in Texas and to the Grand
hikes at home in Texas and to the Grand
hikes at home in Texas and to the Grand Canyon which has helped me discover that
Canyon which has helped me discover that
Canyon which has helped me discover that I love being in nature so what interests
I love being in nature so what interests
I love being in nature so what interests you what does going your own way it look
you what does going your own way it look
you what does going your own way it look like to you think about it talk about it
like to you think about it talk about it
like to you think about it talk about it and then take small actions to see if
and then take small actions to see if
and then take small actions to see if you really like it and you know maybe
you really like it and you know maybe
you really like it and you know maybe even break some rules well I’m not
even break some rules well I’m not
even break some rules well I’m not telling you become a rebel you still
telling you become a rebel you still
telling you become a rebel you still have to make good choices but before we
have to make good choices but before we
have to make good choices but before we can find ourselves we must look for what
can find ourselves we must look for what
can find ourselves we must look for what it is that truly inspires us and how
it is that truly inspires us and how
it is that truly inspires us and how long the way you might stumble Sir
long the way you might stumble Sir
long the way you might stumble Sir Richard Branson once said as a baby we
Richard Branson once said as a baby we
Richard Branson once said as a baby we don’t learn to walk by following rules
don’t learn to walk by following rules
don’t learn to walk by following rules we learned to walk by doing and falling
we learned to walk by doing and falling
we learned to walk by doing and falling over so
over so
over so hey to make mistakes we’re teenagers we
hey to make mistakes we’re teenagers we
hey to make mistakes we’re teenagers we don’t have all the answers and we are
don’t have all the answers and we are
don’t have all the answers and we are not going to do everything right but
not going to do everything right but
not going to do everything right but before we can reach our potential we
before we can reach our potential we
before we can reach our potential we must look for who we are and to find our
must look for who we are and to find our
must look for who we are and to find our place in the world
place in the world
place in the world remember the poet Robert Frost’s words
remember the poet Robert Frost’s words
remember the poet Robert Frost’s words two roads diverged in a wood and I I
two roads diverged in a wood and I I
two roads diverged in a wood and I I took the one less traveled by and that
took the one less traveled by and that
took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference and start
has made all the difference and start
has made all the difference and start small if you’re not ready to order a
small if you’re not ready to order a
small if you’re not ready to order a double scoop of something at least ask
double scoop of something at least ask
double scoop of something at least ask for a taster spoon use this time in your
for a taster spoon use this time in your
for a taster spoon use this time in your life to find your place in the world and
life to find your place in the world and
life to find your place in the world and to figure out who you are and what
to figure out who you are and what
to figure out who you are and what interests you and remember before we can
interests you and remember before we can
interests you and remember before we can go our own way we must find our way
go our own way we must find our way
go our own way we must find our way thank you
”
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