yes you know what can only go down from here when you started TED talk in a
here when you started TED talk in a
here when you started TED talk in a bathroom so I’m 17 years old
bathroom so I’m 17 years old
bathroom so I’m 17 years old and I’m getting ready to go to the
and I’m getting ready to go to the
and I’m getting ready to go to the United Nations conference on sustainable
United Nations conference on sustainable
United Nations conference on sustainable development I arrived at my hotel in
development I arrived at my hotel in
development I arrived at my hotel in Toronto and within 24 hours
Toronto and within 24 hours
Toronto and within 24 hours my whole delegation and I are gonna be
my whole delegation and I are gonna be
my whole delegation and I are gonna be on the ground in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
on the ground in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
on the ground in Rio de Janeiro Brazil advocating for the polar regions
advocating for the polar regions
advocating for the polar regions advocating to world leaders where a
advocating to world leaders where a
advocating to world leaders where a delegation of people under the age of 25
delegation of people under the age of 25
delegation of people under the age of 25 who had all travelled to the Arctic and
who had all travelled to the Arctic and
who had all travelled to the Arctic and the Antarctic I arrived in Toronto I go
the Antarctic I arrived in Toronto I go
the Antarctic I arrived in Toronto I go up to my hotel room put down my bag they
up to my hotel room put down my bag they
up to my hotel room put down my bag they go in the bathroom and I close the door
go in the bathroom and I close the door
go in the bathroom and I close the door behind me and all I can think about is
behind me and all I can think about is
behind me and all I can think about is the journey ahead of me at the United
the journey ahead of me at the United
the journey ahead of me at the United Nations and I look in the mirror and I
Nations and I look in the mirror and I
Nations and I look in the mirror and I have a realization I have to pee so I do
have a realization I have to pee so I do
have a realization I have to pee so I do that I get that done check good start
that I get that done check good start
that I get that done check good start check mark I turn around put my hand on
check mark I turn around put my hand on
check mark I turn around put my hand on the door to the bathroom to leave but it
the door to the bathroom to leave but it
the door to the bathroom to leave but it won’t open
won’t open
won’t open solid so I start giving that door
solid so I start giving that door
solid so I start giving that door everything I got which isn’t a whole lot
everything I got which isn’t a whole lot
everything I got which isn’t a whole lot as you can tell but it’s a bit so I’m
as you can tell but it’s a bit so I’m
as you can tell but it’s a bit so I’m giving it to this door won’t open
giving it to this door won’t open
giving it to this door won’t open wicked going to the United Nations in 24
wicked going to the United Nations in 24
wicked going to the United Nations in 24 hours and I’m stuck in a bathroom in
hours and I’m stuck in a bathroom in
hours and I’m stuck in a bathroom in Toronto so I do what any good seventeen
Toronto so I do what any good seventeen
Toronto so I do what any good seventeen year old boy would do I phoned my mom
give her a call hey sweetie that’s not
give her a call hey sweetie that’s not what she sounds like
what she sounds like
what she sounds like how are you good I’ve landed but I’m in
how are you good I’ve landed but I’m in
how are you good I’ve landed but I’m in the bathroom I’m having a lot of trouble
the bathroom I’m having a lot of trouble
the bathroom I’m having a lot of trouble oh we haven’t had this conversation in a
oh we haven’t had this conversation in a
oh we haven’t had this conversation in a few years thanks for bringing it up mom
few years thanks for bringing it up mom
few years thanks for bringing it up mom but that’s not the problem this time it
but that’s not the problem this time it
but that’s not the problem this time it was last week I’m stuck in the bathroom
was last week I’m stuck in the bathroom
was last week I’m stuck in the bathroom the door won’t open and my mother being
the door won’t open and my mother being
the door won’t open and my mother being you know the peach she is she reminds me
you know the peach she is she reminds me
you know the peach she is she reminds me that she is on Belle Island and cannot
that she is on Belle Island and cannot
that she is on Belle Island and cannot come open the door for me
come open the door for me
come open the door for me thank you mom good luck okay bye
thank you mom good luck okay bye
thank you mom good luck okay bye what am I gonna do so I go wait a second
what am I gonna do so I go wait a second
what am I gonna do so I go wait a second wait a second I can phone the front desk
wait a second I can phone the front desk
wait a second I can phone the front desk get this solved right quick
get this solved right quick
get this solved right quick so I give him a call Hilton Hotel front
so I give him a call Hilton Hotel front
so I give him a call Hilton Hotel front desk
desk
desk hi I’m in room 656 I need you to send
hi I’m in room 656 I need you to send
hi I’m in room 656 I need you to send somebody up right away I’m in the
somebody up right away I’m in the
somebody up right away I’m in the bathroom having problems second time
bathroom having problems second time
bathroom having problems second time still didn’t get it if you say is do you
still didn’t get it if you say is do you
still didn’t get it if you say is do you need a doctor or no no no no no I’m
need a doctor or no no no no no I’m
need a doctor or no no no no no I’m going to the United Nations tomorrow
going to the United Nations tomorrow
going to the United Nations tomorrow morning I need you to send somebody up
morning I need you to send somebody up
morning I need you to send somebody up right away
right away
right away of course there no problem right away me
of course there no problem right away me
of course there no problem right away me and half an hour so I’m sat in the
and half an hour so I’m sat in the
and half an hour so I’m sat in the bathtub for a good half an hour
bathtub for a good half an hour
bathtub for a good half an hour suddenly the door opens to the hotel
suddenly the door opens to the hotel
suddenly the door opens to the hotel room
room
room I think perfect my saviors here
I think perfect my saviors here
I think perfect my saviors here hey little rattle at the door it pops
hey little rattle at the door it pops
hey little rattle at the door it pops open and there’s a guy stood there he’s
open and there’s a guy stood there he’s
open and there’s a guy stood there he’s about probably 5 feet tall but he has a
about probably 5 feet tall but he has a
about probably 5 feet tall but he has a crowbar and he’s looking at me like this
crowbar and he’s looking at me like this
crowbar and he’s looking at me like this really really this is how I’m spending
really really this is how I’m spending
really really this is how I’m spending my evening so he goes on ok
my evening so he goes on ok
my evening so he goes on ok I’m 17 years old I’m going to the UN
I’m 17 years old I’m going to the UN
I’m 17 years old I’m going to the UN tomorrow but I can’t use the bathroom by
tomorrow but I can’t use the bathroom by
tomorrow but I can’t use the bathroom by myself so I sit on the bed of my hotel
myself so I sit on the bed of my hotel
myself so I sit on the bed of my hotel room and then it starts I’m not good
room and then it starts I’m not good
room and then it starts I’m not good enough I’m not smart enough
enough I’m not smart enough
enough I’m not smart enough I’m not prepared enough my clothes isn’t
I’m not prepared enough my clothes isn’t
I’m not prepared enough my clothes isn’t nice enough some hell I’m able to get
nice enough some hell I’m able to get
nice enough some hell I’m able to get through that and go to the UN the next
through that and go to the UN the next
through that and go to the UN the next day and while I’m able to get to the UN
day and while I’m able to get to the UN
day and while I’m able to get to the UN those thoughts don’t end 30 year later I
those thoughts don’t end 30 year later I
those thoughts don’t end 30 year later I find myself in a waiting room and it’s a
find myself in a waiting room and it’s a
find myself in a waiting room and it’s a waiting room I never thought I’d be in
waiting room I never thought I’d be in
waiting room I never thought I’d be in you know we all spend a lot of time in
you know we all spend a lot of time in
you know we all spend a lot of time in waiting rooms
waiting rooms
waiting rooms whether it’s waiting to see your niece
whether it’s waiting to see your niece
whether it’s waiting to see your niece or nephew for the first time or waiting
or nephew for the first time or waiting
or nephew for the first time or waiting to get a tooth pulled or waiting for a
to get a tooth pulled or waiting for a
to get a tooth pulled or waiting for a final exam but I never thought it’d end
final exam but I never thought it’d end
final exam but I never thought it’d end up in the waiting room of a psychologist
up in the waiting room of a psychologist
up in the waiting room of a psychologist to finally address this unnameable
to finally address this unnameable
to finally address this unnameable unshakable thing that had totally taken
unshakable thing that had totally taken
unshakable thing that had totally taken over my life and as I’m sat in the chair
over my life and as I’m sat in the chair
over my life and as I’m sat in the chair in the waiting room across from me as a
in the waiting room across from me as a
in the waiting room across from me as a bulletin board and on that bulletin
bulletin board and on that bulletin
bulletin board and on that bulletin board as a poster for a movie a
board as a poster for a movie a
board as a poster for a movie a documentary called planet ocean and
documentary called planet ocean and
documentary called planet ocean and that’s significant because one year
that’s significant because one year
that’s significant because one year prior planet ocean had had its red
prior planet ocean had had its red
prior planet ocean had had its red carpet movie premiere in Rio de Janeiro
carpet movie premiere in Rio de Janeiro
carpet movie premiere in Rio de Janeiro Brazil and I was there on that red
Brazil and I was there on that red
Brazil and I was there on that red carpet as a UN delegate and all I can
carpet as a UN delegate and all I can
carpet as a UN delegate and all I can think about is how far have I fallen a
think about is how far have I fallen a
think about is how far have I fallen a year ago me UN delegate and here I find
year ago me UN delegate and here I find
year ago me UN delegate and here I find myself in this waiting room waiting to
myself in this waiting room waiting to
myself in this waiting room waiting to get called in and I’ll tell you what
get called in and I’ll tell you what
get called in and I’ll tell you what happened on that day in about ten
happened on that day in about ten
happened on that day in about ten minutes
minutes
minutes Generation screwed not very good a big
Generation screwed not very good a big
Generation screwed not very good a big part of my life in the past four years
part of my life in the past four years
part of my life in the past four years has been working with young people in
has been working with young people in
has been working with young people in small groups at conferences like this in
small groups at conferences like this in
small groups at conferences like this in communities and schools and one of the
communities and schools and one of the
communities and schools and one of the questions I get asked the most by young
questions I get asked the most by young
questions I get asked the most by young people is how did you do it and what
people is how did you do it and what
people is how did you do it and what they’re referring to is that I was
they’re referring to is that I was
they’re referring to is that I was fortunate in my last year of high school
fortunate in my last year of high school
fortunate in my last year of high school to win a hundred and seventy thousand
to win a hundred and seventy thousand
to win a hundred and seventy thousand dollars in scholarships and they always
dollars in scholarships and they always
dollars in scholarships and they always say how did you do it and the follow-up
say how did you do it and the follow-up
say how did you do it and the follow-up to that question is always the
to that question is always the
to that question is always the presentation of their checklist here’s
presentation of their checklist here’s
presentation of their checklist here’s my resume here’s my CV here’s my list of
my resume here’s my CV here’s my list of
my resume here’s my CV here’s my list of accomplished
accomplished
accomplished and then they asked me a very dangerous
and then they asked me a very dangerous
and then they asked me a very dangerous question is this extraordinary enough
question is this extraordinary enough
question is this extraordinary enough and sometimes even more insidious they
and sometimes even more insidious they
and sometimes even more insidious they ask me am i extraordinary enough and it
ask me am i extraordinary enough and it
ask me am i extraordinary enough and it was reflecting on my own relationship
was reflecting on my own relationship
was reflecting on my own relationship with that question of am i extraordinary
with that question of am i extraordinary
with that question of am i extraordinary enough that ultimately led me here to
enough that ultimately led me here to
enough that ultimately led me here to talk to all of you I have a pretty
talk to all of you I have a pretty
talk to all of you I have a pretty ordinary background I’m from a three by
ordinary background I’m from a three by
ordinary background I’m from a three by nine kilometer island in Conception Bay
nine kilometer island in Conception Bay
nine kilometer island in Conception Bay new flannel Labrador called Belle Island
new flannel Labrador called Belle Island
new flannel Labrador called Belle Island any of you heard of it yeah we got one
any of you heard of it yeah we got one
any of you heard of it yeah we got one that’s not a great response so I’m from
that’s not a great response so I’m from
that’s not a great response so I’m from Belle island small play small town and
Belle island small play small town and
Belle island small play small town and from a very humble working-class family
from a very humble working-class family
from a very humble working-class family very ordinary you might call it and then
very ordinary you might call it and then
very ordinary you might call it and then fairly suddenly an extraordinary
fairly suddenly an extraordinary
fairly suddenly an extraordinary opportunity landed right in my lap in my
opportunity landed right in my lap in my
opportunity landed right in my lap in my 10th year might intend the 10th grade
10th year might intend the 10th grade
10th year might intend the 10th grade rather I was given the opportunity to
rather I was given the opportunity to
rather I was given the opportunity to travel to the Arctic with students on
travel to the Arctic with students on
travel to the Arctic with students on ice and before traveling to the Arctic I
ice and before traveling to the Arctic I
ice and before traveling to the Arctic I was in Ottawa and the founder of the
was in Ottawa and the founder of the
was in Ottawa and the founder of the organization I was traveling to the
organization I was traveling to the
organization I was traveling to the Arctic with said I need you to do me a
Arctic with said I need you to do me a
Arctic with said I need you to do me a favor and I thought you’re taking me to
favor and I thought you’re taking me to
favor and I thought you’re taking me to the Arctic what do you need I’m here he
the Arctic what do you need I’m here he
the Arctic what do you need I’m here he said I need you to go on national
said I need you to go on national
said I need you to go on national television with me tomorrow morning at 8
television with me tomorrow morning at 8
television with me tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock
o’clock
o’clock I thought national TV that’s my life no
I thought national TV that’s my life no
I thought national TV that’s my life no problem what do you need of course I’d
problem what do you need of course I’d
problem what do you need of course I’d never been in TV before sweating beads
never been in TV before sweating beads
never been in TV before sweating beads so I get into the studio I get miked up
so I get into the studio I get miked up
so I get into the studio I get miked up sat down monitor comes on and Seamus
sat down monitor comes on and Seamus
sat down monitor comes on and Seamus O’Regan who was the host of CTV Canada
O’Regan who was the host of CTV Canada
O’Regan who was the host of CTV Canada and at the time of course is an MP in
and at the time of course is an MP in
and at the time of course is an MP in Parliament now was doing the interview
Parliament now was doing the interview
Parliament now was doing the interview he starts off with a little intro to
he starts off with a little intro to
he starts off with a little intro to students on ice and then he says Donovan
students on ice and then he says Donovan
students on ice and then he says Donovan Taplin Bell Island right I think oh god
Taplin Bell Island right I think oh god
Taplin Bell Island right I think oh god he knows everybody knows now and then I
he knows everybody knows now and then I
he knows everybody knows now and then I think about how important Bell Island
think about how important Bell Island
think about how important Bell Island had been to getting me in that interview
had been to getting me in that interview
had been to getting me in that interview room and to getting me to the Arctic
room and to getting me to the Arctic
room and to getting me to the Arctic that expedition cost $10,000 and from a
that expedition cost $10,000 and from a
that expedition cost $10,000 and from a community with more than its fair share
community with more than its fair share
community with more than its fair share of socio-economic issue
of socio-economic issue
of socio-economic issue shoes I got the bulk of that funding
shoes I got the bulk of that funding
shoes I got the bulk of that funding from Bell Island Newfoundland Labrador
from Bell Island Newfoundland Labrador
from Bell Island Newfoundland Labrador and it was thinking about that it was
and it was thinking about that it was
and it was thinking about that it was thinking about that which made me say
thinking about that which made me say
thinking about that which made me say back to Seamus O’Regan that’s right Bell
back to Seamus O’Regan that’s right Bell
back to Seamus O’Regan that’s right Bell Island yeah and then I was ready for
Island yeah and then I was ready for
Island yeah and then I was ready for that interview
that interview
that interview what was going on why on national
what was going on why on national
what was going on why on national television do I suddenly freeze when
television do I suddenly freeze when
television do I suddenly freeze when somebody asked me where I was from
somebody asked me where I was from
somebody asked me where I was from Brene brown my TED hero who was research
Brene brown my TED hero who was research
Brene brown my TED hero who was research and writing and speaking inspires me and
and writing and speaking inspires me and
and writing and speaking inspires me and informs me more than probably anyone
informs me more than probably anyone
informs me more than probably anyone else she says this the irony is that we
else she says this the irony is that we
else she says this the irony is that we attempt to disown our difficult stories
attempt to disown our difficult stories
attempt to disown our difficult stories in an attempt to appear more whole or
in an attempt to appear more whole or
in an attempt to appear more whole or more acceptable but the irony is that
more acceptable but the irony is that
more acceptable but the irony is that our wholeness even our wholeheartedness
our wholeness even our wholeheartedness
our wholeness even our wholeheartedness actually depends on the integration of
actually depends on the integration of
actually depends on the integration of all of our experiences including the
all of our experiences including the
all of our experiences including the Falls and what she’s talking about
Falls and what she’s talking about
Falls and what she’s talking about I like to call our top-secret files we
I like to call our top-secret files we
I like to call our top-secret files we all have top-secret files don’t we don’t
all have top-secret files don’t we don’t
all have top-secret files don’t we don’t we
we
we it’s those lived experiences which we
it’s those lived experiences which we
it’s those lived experiences which we label as too boring or too sad and we
label as too boring or too sad and we
label as too boring or too sad and we take them away the first time I realized
take them away the first time I realized
take them away the first time I realized how important it is to recognize my
how important it is to recognize my
how important it is to recognize my top-secret files and how valuable they
top-secret files and how valuable they
top-secret files and how valuable they can actually be was when I was being
can actually be was when I was being
can actually be was when I was being interviewed for a six-figure scholarship
interviewed for a six-figure scholarship
interviewed for a six-figure scholarship they asked me many questions in the
they asked me many questions in the
they asked me many questions in the scholarship interview room but at the
scholarship interview room but at the
scholarship interview room but at the end they asked me one which really got
end they asked me one which really got
end they asked me one which really got me they said if you could have lunch
me they said if you could have lunch
me they said if you could have lunch with one person dead or alive who would
with one person dead or alive who would
with one person dead or alive who would it be
it be
it be and I’m thinking I’m competing against
and I’m thinking I’m competing against
and I’m thinking I’m competing against Canada’s best and brightest myself
Canada’s best and brightest myself
Canada’s best and brightest myself included I really impressed them so I
included I really impressed them so I
included I really impressed them so I think Nelson Mandela anybody maybe maybe
think Nelson Mandela anybody maybe maybe
think Nelson Mandela anybody maybe maybe no I think how about William Shakespeare
no I think how about William Shakespeare
no I think how about William Shakespeare if I can convince them I want to have
if I can convince them I want to have
if I can convince them I want to have lunch with William Shakespeare who I’m
lunch with William Shakespeare who I’m
lunch with William Shakespeare who I’m sure would be really fun to talk to
sure would be really fun to talk to
sure would be really fun to talk to if you’ve read them not a fun guy No
if you’ve read them not a fun guy No
if you’ve read them not a fun guy No if I can convince them might have lunch
if I can convince them might have lunch
if I can convince them might have lunch at William Shakespeare I’m walking away
at William Shakespeare I’m walking away
at William Shakespeare I’m walking away with this
with this
with this and then I start to have a breakdown I
and then I start to have a breakdown I
and then I start to have a breakdown I start to cry like a baby in the middle
start to cry like a baby in the middle
start to cry like a baby in the middle of this interview because I realized
of this interview because I realized
of this interview because I realized what I want to say and I say to them if
what I want to say and I say to them if
what I want to say and I say to them if I could have lunch with one person dead
I could have lunch with one person dead
I could have lunch with one person dead or alive it would be my grandmother who
or alive it would be my grandmother who
or alive it would be my grandmother who passed away when I was 15 years old she
was a woman who passed away and left no
was a woman who passed away and left no house behind no car no jewelry no
house behind no car no jewelry no
house behind no car no jewelry no inheritance but what she did leave
inheritance but what she did leave
inheritance but what she did leave behind was stories that was all she
behind was stories that was all she
behind was stories that was all she owned but boy did she own those stories
owned but boy did she own those stories
owned but boy did she own those stories and I told them how important that was
and I told them how important that was
and I told them how important that was to my story I walked out of that
to my story I walked out of that
to my story I walked out of that interviewing room
interviewing room
interviewing room excuse me full of tears almost like I am
excuse me full of tears almost like I am
excuse me full of tears almost like I am now
now
now and about two weeks later I got a phone
and about two weeks later I got a phone
and about two weeks later I got a phone call that I had won that scholarship and
call that I had won that scholarship and
call that I had won that scholarship and that was a huge aha moment for me I want
that was a huge aha moment for me I want
that was a huge aha moment for me I want to take you back now that waiting room
where I’m sat there looking at that
where I’m sat there looking at that poster thinking about how I’ve fallen
finally the doctor comes out and calls
finally the doctor comes out and calls me in I sit down and I start to tell
me in I sit down and I start to tell
me in I sit down and I start to tell stories and in the couple years that
stories and in the couple years that
stories and in the couple years that have followed I was lucky to learn a lot
have followed I was lucky to learn a lot
have followed I was lucky to learn a lot what did I learn first thing I learned
what did I learn first thing I learned
what did I learn first thing I learned was that I have depression and I learned
was that I have depression and I learned
was that I have depression and I learned that after years of disowning my
that after years of disowning my
that after years of disowning my experiences after years of having these
experiences after years of having these
experiences after years of having these top-secret files I had gained a core
top-secret files I had gained a core
top-secret files I had gained a core belief that I wasn’t good enough
belief that I wasn’t good enough
belief that I wasn’t good enough have you seen inception with DiCaprio
have you seen inception with DiCaprio
have you seen inception with DiCaprio maybe not a bad film little trippy to be
maybe not a bad film little trippy to be
maybe not a bad film little trippy to be honest I had really incepted myself and
honest I had really incepted myself and
honest I had really incepted myself and I truly had a core
I truly had a core
I truly had a core leave that I was not good enough that
leave that I was not good enough that
leave that I was not good enough that was the bad news the good news was that
was the bad news the good news was that
was the bad news the good news was that I learned that oftentimes the stories
I learned that oftentimes the stories
I learned that oftentimes the stories that are top secret files those
that are top secret files those
that are top secret files those experiences that we disowned often point
experiences that we disowned often point
experiences that we disowned often point to some of the larger issues in society
to some of the larger issues in society
to some of the larger issues in society my mental health was a top secret file
my mental health was a top secret file
my mental health was a top secret file because of the massive stigma that
because of the massive stigma that
because of the massive stigma that people face when they’re diagnosed with
people face when they’re diagnosed with
people face when they’re diagnosed with a mental illness disowning where I’m
a mental illness disowning where I’m
a mental illness disowning where I’m from and my working-class family that
from and my working-class family that
from and my working-class family that became a top secret file because we’re
became a top secret file because we’re
became a top secret file because we’re conditioned to believe that to own more
conditioned to believe that to own more
conditioned to believe that to own more is to be more and to own less is to be
is to be more and to own less is to be
is to be more and to own less is to be less about a year ago I told my friends
less about a year ago I told my friends
less about a year ago I told my friends and family that I’m gay
and family that I’m gay
and family that I’m gay plot twist shocker
look at you you all look shocked
look at you you all look shocked unbelievable response get your refund
unbelievable response get your refund
unbelievable response get your refund now I told them in bet for a long time
now I told them in bet for a long time
now I told them in bet for a long time that was my darkest most hidden most
that was my darkest most hidden most
that was my darkest most hidden most well-guarded top-secret file why is that
well-guarded top-secret file why is that
well-guarded top-secret file why is that many reasons chief among them is the
many reasons chief among them is the
many reasons chief among them is the discrimination that people still face
discrimination that people still face
discrimination that people still face because of who they love that’s why that
because of who they love that’s why that
because of who they love that’s why that was a top secret file I learned that to
was a top secret file I learned that to
was a top secret file I learned that to challenge the experiences we’ve disowned
challenge the experiences we’ve disowned
challenge the experiences we’ve disowned embodies challenging the gross and
embodies challenging the gross and
embodies challenging the gross and adequacies of the status quo I also
adequacies of the status quo I also
adequacies of the status quo I also learned that worthiness isn’t a yo-yo
learned that worthiness isn’t a yo-yo
learned that worthiness isn’t a yo-yo worthiness is more like a parking lot
worthiness is more like a parking lot
worthiness is more like a parking lot your worthiness does not go up and down
your worthiness does not go up and down
your worthiness does not go up and down it’s flat it stays the same it’s
it’s flat it stays the same it’s
it’s flat it stays the same it’s constant and while you may park certain
constant and while you may park certain
constant and while you may park certain things on your worthiness that you can’t
things on your worthiness that you can’t
things on your worthiness that you can’t see it anymore it always stays the same
see it anymore it always stays the same
see it anymore it always stays the same I learned that whether it was a
I learned that whether it was a
I learned that whether it was a scholarship or whatever I was
scholarship or whatever I was
scholarship or whatever I was classifying is ordinary or extraordinary
classifying is ordinary or extraordinary
classifying is ordinary or extraordinary in my life that my worthiness was always
in my life that my worthiness was always
in my life that my worthiness was always going to stay the same regardless of
going to stay the same regardless of
going to stay the same regardless of those ups and downs so what the title of
those ups and downs so what the title of
those ups and downs so what the title of this talk was how to win a scholarship
this talk was how to win a scholarship
this talk was how to win a scholarship and you’re probably thinking you bomb
and you’re probably thinking you bomb
and you’re probably thinking you bomb does this is on your down this is when
does this is on your down this is when
does this is on your down this is when your downs what does this have to do
your downs what does this have to do
your downs what does this have to do with winning a scholarship first of all
with winning a scholarship first of all
with winning a scholarship first of all it means that whether you win the
it means that whether you win the
it means that whether you win the scholarship or not whether you get the
scholarship or not whether you get the
scholarship or not whether you get the job or not your worthiness stays the
job or not your worthiness stays the
job or not your worthiness stays the same
same
same but I’m also here to tell you that
but I’m also here to tell you that
but I’m also here to tell you that storytelling transcends ordinary and
storytelling transcends ordinary and
storytelling transcends ordinary and extraordinary so don’t get caught up
extraordinary so don’t get caught up
extraordinary so don’t get caught up labeling those experiences what is
labeling those experiences what is
labeling those experiences what is ordinary and what is extraordinary
classifying those lived experiences
classifying those lived experiences comes to a disclaimer first of all I
comes to a disclaimer first of all I
comes to a disclaimer first of all I have to say that the stories young
have to say that the stories young
have to say that the stories young people tell ought to be about what is
people tell ought to be about what is
people tell ought to be about what is most meaningful to them and not be about
most meaningful to them and not be about
most meaningful to them and not be about what might be perceived as extraordinary
what might be perceived as extraordinary
what might be perceived as extraordinary to someone else but the disclaimer I
to someone else but the disclaimer I
to someone else but the disclaimer I want to leave you with is this telling
want to leave you with is this telling
want to leave you with is this telling your stories is really hard work and
your stories is really hard work and
your stories is really hard work and telling your stories in a way which
telling your stories in a way which
telling your stories in a way which resonates takes practice and I’m not
resonates takes practice and I’m not
resonates takes practice and I’m not advocating that you share every
advocating that you share every
advocating that you share every traumatic or challenging experience
traumatic or challenging experience
traumatic or challenging experience you’ve ever had we ought to deal with
you’ve ever had we ought to deal with
you’ve ever had we ought to deal with that in our own way and on our own time
that in our own way and on our own time
that in our own way and on our own time but what I am here to tell you is that
but what I am here to tell you is that
but what I am here to tell you is that storytelling that owning all of my
storytelling that owning all of my
storytelling that owning all of my experiences declassifying those
experiences declassifying those
experiences declassifying those top-secret files and dismantling the
top-secret files and dismantling the
top-secret files and dismantling the labels of ordinary and extraordinary
labels of ordinary and extraordinary
labels of ordinary and extraordinary have been the greatest factor in getting
have been the greatest factor in getting
have been the greatest factor in getting elected at 19 and trying to bring about
elected at 19 and trying to bring about
elected at 19 and trying to bring about change at an international level and
change at an international level and
change at an international level and taking care of my own mental health at
taking care of my own mental health at
taking care of my own mental health at getting a kid from a rocking Conception
getting a kid from a rocking Conception
getting a kid from a rocking Conception Bay on this stage and from the TEDx logo
Bay on this stage and from the TEDx logo
Bay on this stage and from the TEDx logo and I’ll leave you with the challenge I
and I’ll leave you with the challenge I
and I’ll leave you with the challenge I want you after this talk is over after
want you after this talk is over after
want you after this talk is over after you leave this event tonight to
you leave this event tonight to
you leave this event tonight to courageously crack open your vaults and
courageously crack open your vaults and
courageously crack open your vaults and take a look at your top-secret files and
take a look at your top-secret files and
take a look at your top-secret files and imagine the stories you could tell and
imagine the stories you could tell and
imagine the stories you could tell and imagine the change you could make with
imagine the change you could make with
imagine the change you could make with those stories thank you
those stories thank you
those stories thank you [Applause]
”
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