imagine if we brought Benjamin Franklin back to life how would he react to
back to life how would he react to
back to life how would he react to modern American society he’d be confused
modern American society he’d be confused
modern American society he’d be confused by iPhones and social media he’d be
by iPhones and social media he’d be
by iPhones and social media he’d be fascinated by our politics and
fascinated by our politics and
fascinated by our politics and frightened by cars or maybe fascinated
frightened by cars or maybe fascinated
frightened by cars or maybe fascinated by cars and frightened by our politics
by cars and frightened by our politics
by cars and frightened by our politics to put it simply he would feel very
to put it simply he would feel very
to put it simply he would feel very uncomfortable because these are all
uncomfortable because these are all
uncomfortable because these are all changes and developments that he could
changes and developments that he could
changes and developments that he could have never imagined in his lifetime but
have never imagined in his lifetime but
have never imagined in his lifetime but there is one place where Benjamin
there is one place where Benjamin
there is one place where Benjamin Franklin is guaranteed to feel
Franklin is guaranteed to feel
Franklin is guaranteed to feel comfortable and right at home in that
comfortable and right at home in that
comfortable and right at home in that place is the classroom with death still
place is the classroom with death still
place is the classroom with death still lined up in rows a teacher still
lined up in rows a teacher still
lined up in rows a teacher still lecturing at the front of the room while
lecturing at the front of the room while
lecturing at the front of the room while students listen and taking notes a
students listen and taking notes a
students listen and taking notes a whiteboard to replace the old blackboard
whiteboard to replace the old blackboard
whiteboard to replace the old blackboard nothing much has really changed with
nothing much has really changed with
nothing much has really changed with this image so now as the world around us
this image so now as the world around us
this image so now as the world around us is shifting with new technology we are
is shifting with new technology we are
is shifting with new technology we are starting to change classroom dynamics
starting to change classroom dynamics
starting to change classroom dynamics and schooling so that students are
and schooling so that students are
and schooling so that students are prepared for world that Benjamin
prepared for world that Benjamin
prepared for world that Benjamin Franklin never saw coming with all these
Franklin never saw coming with all these
Franklin never saw coming with all these changes occurring we can’t possibly
changes occurring we can’t possibly
changes occurring we can’t possibly expect students today to be the same as
expect students today to be the same as
expect students today to be the same as students in the past today I’m going to
students in the past today I’m going to
students in the past today I’m going to talk about how to be a 21st century
talk about how to be a 21st century
talk about how to be a 21st century student so let’s get a raise of hands
student so let’s get a raise of hands
student so let’s get a raise of hands how many of you attended Pleasanton
how many of you attended Pleasanton
how many of you attended Pleasanton middle school
awesome and how many of you how many of
awesome and how many of you how many of you have ever run on the track at
you have ever run on the track at
you have ever run on the track at busselton middle
so when I’m the student of Pleasanton
so when I’m the student of Pleasanton middle school three years ago this is
middle school three years ago this is
middle school three years ago this is what the track looked like a lot has
what the track looked like a lot has
what the track looked like a lot has changed with this image chances are if
changed with this image chances are if
changed with this image chances are if you raise your hand the only track
you raise your hand the only track
you raise your hand the only track you’ve ever known at Pleasanton middle
you’ve ever known at Pleasanton middle
you’ve ever known at Pleasanton middle is this one in seventh grade I noticed
is this one in seventh grade I noticed
is this one in seventh grade I noticed my peers getting injured on the school’s
my peers getting injured on the school’s
my peers getting injured on the school’s track which had sharp pieces of gravel
track which had sharp pieces of gravel
track which had sharp pieces of gravel covering the surface students who fell
covering the surface students who fell
covering the surface students who fell ended up with awful cuts on their knees
ended up with awful cuts on their knees
ended up with awful cuts on their knees and elbows and gravel stuck in their
and elbows and gravel stuck in their
and elbows and gravel stuck in their woods I was just an ordinary student but
woods I was just an ordinary student but
woods I was just an ordinary student but I decided that something had to be done
I decided that something had to be done
I decided that something had to be done so I gather my nerves together and
so I gather my nerves together and
so I gather my nerves together and convinced the secretary that I had an
convinced the secretary that I had an
convinced the secretary that I had an important issue to discuss with mr.
important issue to discuss with mr.
important issue to discuss with mr. Whitney who was a principal at the time
Whitney who was a principal at the time
Whitney who was a principal at the time our meeting asked mr. Whitney if I could
our meeting asked mr. Whitney if I could
our meeting asked mr. Whitney if I could fundraise money to renovate the tracks I
fundraise money to renovate the tracks I
fundraise money to renovate the tracks I learned from mr. Whitney that the track
learned from mr. Whitney that the track
learned from mr. Whitney that the track had actually been on the facilities
had actually been on the facilities
had actually been on the facilities improvement list for years but nothing
improvement list for years but nothing
improvement list for years but nothing had been done about it and I also
had been done about it and I also
had been done about it and I also learned that the track to renovate it
learned that the track to renovate it
learned that the track to renovate it would cost sixty thousand dollars
would cost sixty thousand dollars
would cost sixty thousand dollars now there are a lot of things that it
now there are a lot of things that it
now there are a lot of things that it could have thought at that point I could
could have thought at that point I could
could have thought at that point I could have thought there’s no way I can
have thought there’s no way I can
have thought there’s no way I can fundraise that amount of money I could
fundraise that amount of money I could
fundraise that amount of money I could have thought it’s time to pick an easier
have thought it’s time to pick an easier
have thought it’s time to pick an easier project but instead I thought I better
project but instead I thought I better
project but instead I thought I better start now with fundraising so with the
start now with fundraising so with the
start now with fundraising so with the help of other students I organized my
help of other students I organized my
help of other students I organized my first school-wide fundraiser in the
first school-wide fundraiser in the
first school-wide fundraiser in the spring of my seventh-grade year we knew
spring of my seventh-grade year we knew
spring of my seventh-grade year we knew that’s a fundraising dollars this would
that’s a fundraising dollars this would
that’s a fundraising dollars this would be like all of you purchasing 90 songs
be like all of you purchasing 90 songs
be like all of you purchasing 90 songs on iTunes right now it’s a lot of money
on iTunes right now it’s a lot of money
on iTunes right now it’s a lot of money so we worked hard we found up flyers all
so we worked hard we found up flyers all
so we worked hard we found up flyers all around campus to publicize our
around campus to publicize our
around campus to publicize our fundraiser we even organized pizza
fundraiser we even organized pizza
fundraiser we even organized pizza parties to award the classes that’s
parties to award the classes that’s
parties to award the classes that’s under race the most money we worked
under race the most money we worked
under race the most money we worked before school during lunch and after
before school during lunch and after
before school during lunch and after school so I felt confident that we would
school so I felt confident that we would
school so I felt confident that we would fundraising at least $5,000 in the end
fundraising at least $5,000 in the end
fundraising at least $5,000 in the end we fundraised around $1,000 though I was
we fundraised around $1,000 though I was
we fundraised around $1,000 though I was very disappointed at the time it’s now
very disappointed at the time it’s now
very disappointed at the time it’s now clear to me that even a little bit of
clear to me that even a little bit of
clear to me that even a little bit of progress is meaningful on the path to
progress is meaningful on the path to
progress is meaningful on the path to achieving a big goal by successfully
achieving a big goal by successfully
achieving a big goal by successfully fundraising $1,000 I had finished the
fundraising $1,000 I had finished the
fundraising $1,000 I had finished the first lap of a 60 lap marathon I move
first lap of a 60 lap marathon I move
first lap of a 60 lap marathon I move forward by working at the school and
forward by working at the school and
forward by working at the school and community to organize a fun run event in
community to organize a fun run event in
community to organize a fun run event in November of 2013 I persuaded for
November of 2013 I persuaded for
November of 2013 I persuaded for businesses to sponsor so we decorated
businesses to sponsor so we decorated
businesses to sponsor so we decorated the track with balloons played music
the track with balloons played music
the track with balloons played music provided wristbands and popsicles to
provided wristbands and popsicles to
provided wristbands and popsicles to every student and awarded cakes to the
every student and awarded cakes to the
every student and awarded cakes to the students who ran the most laps it took
students who ran the most laps it took
students who ran the most laps it took place during the school day so every
place during the school day so every
place during the school day so every student participated even students who
student participated even students who
student participated even students who typically find every excuse possible to
typically find every excuse possible to
typically find every excuse possible to avoid running a PE ran during the fun
avoid running a PE ran during the fun
avoid running a PE ran during the fun run
run
run after all the donations were counted I’d
after all the donations were counted I’d
after all the donations were counted I’d fundraise nearly $20,000
but I was still around $40,000 short
but I was still around $40,000 short from my goal but then great news came
from my goal but then great news came
from my goal but then great news came the school district heard about my
the school district heard about my
the school district heard about my efforts and offered to fund half of the
efforts and offered to fund half of the
efforts and offered to fund half of the $60,000 if I could fundraise thirty
$60,000 if I could fundraise thirty
$60,000 if I could fundraise thirty thousand and then in the spring of 2014
thousand and then in the spring of 2014
thousand and then in the spring of 2014 the para Faculty Association contributed
the para Faculty Association contributed
the para Faculty Association contributed around five thousand dollars so now I
around five thousand dollars so now I
around five thousand dollars so now I was only five thousand dollars away from
was only five thousand dollars away from
was only five thousand dollars away from reaching my goal one last hurdle to jump
reaching my goal one last hurdle to jump
reaching my goal one last hurdle to jump but it wasn’t going to be an easy one
but it wasn’t going to be an easy one
but it wasn’t going to be an easy one because I needed to find an entirely new
because I needed to find an entirely new
because I needed to find an entirely new source of funding then I had an idea I
source of funding then I had an idea I
source of funding then I had an idea I would go to Safeway headquarters in
would go to Safeway headquarters in
would go to Safeway headquarters in Pleasanton request to meet the CEO and
Pleasanton request to meet the CEO and
Pleasanton request to meet the CEO and ask him for a five thousand dollar grant
ask him for a five thousand dollar grant
ask him for a five thousand dollar grant surprisingly it didn’t exactly go as
surprisingly it didn’t exactly go as
surprisingly it didn’t exactly go as planned when I arrived at headquarters I
planned when I arrived at headquarters I
planned when I arrived at headquarters I ran around in the rain looking for the
ran around in the rain looking for the
ran around in the rain looking for the right building and tried several before
right building and tried several before
right building and tried several before I found when I was looking for then I
I found when I was looking for then I
I found when I was looking for then I finally walked up to the front desk and
finally walked up to the front desk and
finally walked up to the front desk and asked may I meet with the CEO of Safeway
asked may I meet with the CEO of Safeway
asked may I meet with the CEO of Safeway mr. Edwards and the lady replied I’m
mr. Edwards and the lady replied I’m
mr. Edwards and the lady replied I’m sorry but he’s in a meeting right now so
sorry but he’s in a meeting right now so
sorry but he’s in a meeting right now so I asked her if I could schedule a
I asked her if I could schedule a
I asked her if I could schedule a meeting with him and she looked at me
meeting with him and she looked at me
meeting with him and she looked at me and saw that I wasn’t kidding so that
and saw that I wasn’t kidding so that
and saw that I wasn’t kidding so that day though I didn’t get to meet with the
day though I didn’t get to meet with the
day though I didn’t get to meet with the CEO of Safeway I did have the
CEO of Safeway I did have the
CEO of Safeway I did have the opportunity to present to the director
opportunity to present to the director
opportunity to present to the director of the Safeway foundation and weeks
of the Safeway foundation and weeks
of the Safeway foundation and weeks later I obtained a $5,000 grant
later I obtained a $5,000 grant
later I obtained a $5,000 grant [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] I had finally reached my goal a
I had finally reached my goal a
I had finally reached my goal a fundraising $60,000 and the track was
fundraising $60,000 and the track was
fundraising $60,000 and the track was renovated over the summer of 2014 as I
renovated over the summer of 2014 as I
renovated over the summer of 2014 as I was moving on to high school
what I hope my story illustrates is the
what I hope my story illustrates is the idea that students in the 21st century
idea that students in the 21st century
idea that students in the 21st century are no longer just passive receivers of
are no longer just passive receivers of
are no longer just passive receivers of information we are change makers in our
information we are change makers in our
information we are change makers in our schools and in our community effective
schools and in our community effective
schools and in our community effective change makers have resilience
change makers have resilience
change makers have resilience collaboration skills and community
collaboration skills and community
collaboration skills and community consciousness but we cannot learn these
consciousness but we cannot learn these
consciousness but we cannot learn these skills from a lecture or a textbook we
skills from a lecture or a textbook we
skills from a lecture or a textbook we cannot develop these skills if we are
cannot develop these skills if we are
cannot develop these skills if we are satisfied with being passive receivers
satisfied with being passive receivers
satisfied with being passive receivers of information the best way to develop
of information the best way to develop
of information the best way to develop the skills we need to make change is to
the skills we need to make change is to
the skills we need to make change is to do exactly that make change because we
do exactly that make change because we
do exactly that make change because we take actions to make positive change in
take actions to make positive change in
take actions to make positive change in our schools and community we are
our schools and community we are
our schools and community we are guaranteed to have experiences that will
guaranteed to have experiences that will
guaranteed to have experiences that will develop our resilience collaboration
develop our resilience collaboration
develop our resilience collaboration skills and community consciousness
skills and community consciousness
skills and community consciousness resilience is the ability to adapt to
resilience is the ability to adapt to
resilience is the ability to adapt to change sheryl sandberg CEO at Facebook
change sheryl sandberg CEO at Facebook
change sheryl sandberg CEO at Facebook once said you are not born with a fixed
once said you are not born with a fixed
once said you are not born with a fixed amount of resilience it’s a muscle you
amount of resilience it’s a muscle you
amount of resilience it’s a muscle you can build it up and draw on it when you
can build it up and draw on it when you
can build it up and draw on it when you need it in a world that’s changing
need it in a world that’s changing
need it in a world that’s changing rapidly the ability to adapt to change
rapidly the ability to adapt to change
rapidly the ability to adapt to change is critical let’s say you’re interested
is critical let’s say you’re interested
is critical let’s say you’re interested in changing this image and
in changing this image and
in changing this image and revolutionizing our classrooms so that
revolutionizing our classrooms so that
revolutionizing our classrooms so that Benjamin Franklin wouldn’t be able to
Benjamin Franklin wouldn’t be able to
Benjamin Franklin wouldn’t be able to recognize them after all we need 21st
recognize them after all we need 21st
recognize them after all we need 21st century classrooms to support 21st
century classrooms to support 21st
century classrooms to support 21st century learning
century learning
century learning then imagine a classroom with a device
then imagine a classroom with a device
then imagine a classroom with a device for every student to access internet
for every student to access internet
for every student to access internet imagine using it to connect students in
imagine using it to connect students in
imagine using it to connect students in the classroom within experts in various
the classroom within experts in various
the classroom within experts in various fields imagine having mobile desks and
fields imagine having mobile desks and
fields imagine having mobile desks and chairs so you can easily rearrange its
chairs so you can easily rearrange its
chairs so you can easily rearrange its table groups to promote collaboration
table groups to promote collaboration
table groups to promote collaboration maybe you’re interested in making all of
maybe you’re interested in making all of
maybe you’re interested in making all of this a reality then consider meeting
this a reality then consider meeting
this a reality then consider meeting with administrators at Amador to discuss
with administrators at Amador to discuss
with administrators at Amador to discuss your thoughts you would develop
your thoughts you would develop
your thoughts you would develop resilience because after talking to
resilience because after talking to
resilience because after talking to administrators you may find that the
administrators you may find that the
administrators you may find that the original plans you had in mind aren’t
original plans you had in mind aren’t
original plans you had in mind aren’t going to work and you’ll learn to adjust
going to work and you’ll learn to adjust
going to work and you’ll learn to adjust those plans consider fundraising money
those plans consider fundraising money
those plans consider fundraising money to bring this technology to our
to bring this technology to our
to bring this technology to our classrooms you would develop resilience
classrooms you would develop resilience
classrooms you would develop resilience because the first fundraise are you
because the first fundraise are you
because the first fundraise are you organizing may not be as successful as
organizing may not be as successful as
organizing may not be as successful as you would like it to be but you’ll
you would like it to be but you’ll
you would like it to be but you’ll recover from disappointment and realize
recover from disappointment and realize
recover from disappointment and realize that all progress is meaningful consider
that all progress is meaningful consider
that all progress is meaningful consider learning more about the school bond that
learning more about the school bond that
learning more about the school bond that was passed recently and how you could
was passed recently and how you could
was passed recently and how you could influence the way those funds are spent
influence the way those funds are spent
influence the way those funds are spent on our classrooms through all of these
on our classrooms through all of these
on our classrooms through all of these actions you would develop resilience
actions you would develop resilience
actions you would develop resilience collaboration this means people working
collaboration this means people working
collaboration this means people working together to reach a common goal
together to reach a common goal
together to reach a common goal collaboration was not an expectation of
collaboration was not an expectation of
collaboration was not an expectation of students in previous generations but in
students in previous generations but in
students in previous generations but in the 21st century it is necessary for our
the 21st century it is necessary for our
the 21st century it is necessary for our success let’s say you’re interested in
success let’s say you’re interested in
success let’s say you’re interested in changing this image and reducing
changing this image and reducing
changing this image and reducing students stress here Amador after all
students stress here Amador after all
students stress here Amador after all students need to be mentally healthy to
students need to be mentally healthy to
students need to be mentally healthy to be successful learners
be successful learners
be successful learners and imagine workshops that teach
and imagine workshops that teach
and imagine workshops that teach students time management skills and help
students time management skills and help
students time management skills and help students select an appropriate course
students select an appropriate course
students select an appropriate course schedule to reduce stress imagine
schedule to reduce stress imagine
schedule to reduce stress imagine working with teachers to implement
working with teachers to implement
working with teachers to implement classroom practices that would decrease
classroom practices that would decrease
classroom practices that would decrease test anxiety imagine using social media
test anxiety imagine using social media
test anxiety imagine using social media platforms to provide tips to students
platforms to provide tips to students
platforms to provide tips to students about stressing less throughout the
about stressing less throughout the
about stressing less throughout the school year maybe you’re interested in
school year maybe you’re interested in
school year maybe you’re interested in making all of this a reality to consider
making all of this a reality to consider
making all of this a reality to consider starting a group here on campus that
starting a group here on campus that
starting a group here on campus that works to reduce students dress you would
works to reduce students dress you would
works to reduce students dress you would develop collaboration skills through
develop collaboration skills through
develop collaboration skills through working with other students and learning
working with other students and learning
working with other students and learning to utilize everyone’s strengths help the
to utilize everyone’s strengths help the
to utilize everyone’s strengths help the whole group succeed consider meeting
whole group succeed consider meeting
whole group succeed consider meeting with your teachers to discuss classroom
with your teachers to discuss classroom
with your teachers to discuss classroom practices you would develop
practices you would develop
practices you would develop collaboration skills through having
collaboration skills through having
collaboration skills through having these conversations and learning to see
these conversations and learning to see
these conversations and learning to see the situation from a different
the situation from a different
the situation from a different perspective and consider reaching out to
perspective and consider reaching out to
perspective and consider reaching out to other schools nearby to see how they’ve
other schools nearby to see how they’ve
other schools nearby to see how they’ve had success with reducing stress levels
had success with reducing stress levels
had success with reducing stress levels because through all of these actions you
because through all of these actions you
because through all of these actions you would develop collaboration skills
would develop collaboration skills
would develop collaboration skills lastly community consciousness is a
lastly community consciousness is a
lastly community consciousness is a defining characteristic of a 21st
defining characteristic of a 21st
defining characteristic of a 21st century student it’s important that we
century student it’s important that we
century student it’s important that we understand local and global issues and
understand local and global issues and
understand local and global issues and recognize our role as individuals in the
recognize our role as individuals in the
recognize our role as individuals in the community to develop community
community to develop community
community to develop community consciousness during your next four
consciousness during your next four
consciousness during your next four years in high school I challenge you to
years in high school I challenge you to
years in high school I challenge you to find an issue that you’re passionate
find an issue that you’re passionate
find an issue that you’re passionate about and do something to make a
about and do something to make a
about and do something to make a difference there are no limits to what
difference there are no limits to what
difference there are no limits to what you can do you can improve the quality
you can do you can improve the quality
you can do you can improve the quality of food served in our school cafeteria
of food served in our school cafeteria
of food served in our school cafeteria you can help students build
you can help students build
you can help students build relationships with their teachers you
relationships with their teachers you
relationships with their teachers you can volunteer for a nonprofit
can volunteer for a nonprofit
can volunteer for a nonprofit organization raise awareness for a
organization raise awareness for a
organization raise awareness for a global issue fund raise money for a
global issue fund raise money for a
global issue fund raise money for a cause
cause
cause tutor your peers the possibilities are
tutor your peers the possibilities are
tutor your peers the possibilities are endless and found only by your
endless and found only by your
endless and found only by your imagination as 21st century students we
imagination as 21st century students we
imagination as 21st century students we shape our futures by shaping the world
shape our futures by shaping the world
shape our futures by shaping the world around us
around us
around us so ask yourself what do I want to change
so ask yourself what do I want to change
so ask yourself what do I want to change about this image and how am I going to
about this image and how am I going to
about this image and how am I going to do it thank you
do it thank you
do it thank you [Applause]
”
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