Press "Enter" to skip to content

One Step at a Time | Meghna Okhade & Shreya Kumar | TEDxYouth@PonderosaHeights


hey hi um so thank you

hey hi um so thank you and today we’re going to be talking

and today we’re going to be talking

and today we’re going to be talking about a problem that we wanted to think

about a problem that we wanted to think

about a problem that we wanted to think it’s one step at a time

it’s one step at a time

it’s one step at a time well why would students and the aroma

well why would students and the aroma

well why would students and the aroma tribe these are all things that bring me

tribe these are all things that bring me

tribe these are all things that bring me back to my grandmother’s house and the

back to my grandmother’s house and the

back to my grandmother’s house and the 16th story and by building now I love my

16th story and by building now I love my

16th story and by building now I love my violin students love listening to the

violin students love listening to the

violin students love listening to the family because they were holding its ear

family because they were holding its ear

family because they were holding its ear but once there was a sudden change in

but once there was a sudden change in

but once there was a sudden change in the sound I heard somebody leaving so I

the sound I heard somebody leaving so I

the sound I heard somebody leaving so I looked around and saw that it was

looked around and saw that it was

looked around and saw that it was somebody to visit a bookcase a little

somebody to visit a bookcase a little

somebody to visit a bookcase a little girl whose name was Dean option

girl whose name was Dean option

girl whose name was Dean option she was an 8 year old and she was the

she was an 8 year old and she was the

she was an 8 year old and she was the daughter of her family me now this girl

daughter of her family me now this girl

daughter of her family me now this girl she was looking for my books and she the

she was looking for my books and she the

she was looking for my books and she the reason she was crying as I found out

reason she was crying as I found out

reason she was crying as I found out later was because her mother immediately

later was because her mother immediately

later was because her mother immediately caught her and admonished her fabulous

caught her and admonished her fabulous

caught her and admonished her fabulous but I was wondering well why wasn’t she

but I was wondering well why wasn’t she

but I was wondering well why wasn’t she why was she in such big trouble for just

why was she in such big trouble for just

why was she in such big trouble for just wanting to read my books I mean I

wanting to read my books I mean I

wanting to read my books I mean I remember my grandmother stating that she

remember my grandmother stating that she

remember my grandmother stating that she was actually talking to class would love

was actually talking to class would love

was actually talking to class would love to read but this was deemed as

to read but this was deemed as

to read but this was deemed as inappropriate she was and I knew that

inappropriate she was and I knew that

inappropriate she was and I knew that this was because her financial in the

this was because her financial in the

this was because her financial in the capacity stood in the way of her getting

capacity stood in the way of her getting

capacity stood in the way of her getting a proper education the sound of her

a proper education the sound of her

a proper education the sound of her crying echoed in my mind as I thought

crying echoed in my mind as I thought

crying echoed in my mind as I thought about this on my long 22 our journey

about this on my long 22 our journey

about this on my long 22 our journey flag back around the same time in a

flag back around the same time in a

flag back around the same time in a completely different world my mom and I

completely different world my mom and I

completely different world my mom and I were having dinner when she said that I

were having dinner when she said that I

were having dinner when she said that I should go to enrichment class to better

should go to enrichment class to better

should go to enrichment class to better prepare me for my freshman year geometry

prepare me for my freshman year geometry

prepare me for my freshman year geometry I reluctantly agreed but the cause was

I reluctantly agreed but the cause was

I reluctantly agreed but the cause was actually really helpful I learned about

actually really helpful I learned about

actually really helpful I learned about complement complement and variety in

complement complement and variety in

complement complement and variety in heroes after it to the pasta I realized

heroes after it to the pasta I realized

heroes after it to the pasta I realized that I was really fortunate that are the

that I was really fortunate that are the

that I was really fortunate that are the resources to be able to take this class

resources to be able to take this class

resources to be able to take this class how are there so many so

how are there so many so

how are there so many so in the world that don’t have the

in the world that don’t have the

in the world that don’t have the financial ability to take these

financial ability to take these

financial ability to take these educational purgatory classes so now I

educational purgatory classes so now I

educational purgatory classes so now I had two stories two different opposite

had two stories two different opposite

had two stories two different opposite hemispheres and one major problem

hemispheres and one major problem

hemispheres and one major problem education accessibility our common

education accessibility our common

education accessibility our common experiences change the desire to make

experiences change the desire to make

experiences change the desire to make education accessible to as many people

education accessible to as many people

education accessible to as many people as possible and obviously since we’re

as possible and obviously since we’re

as possible and obviously since we’re not wizards this wasn’t something that

not wizards this wasn’t something that

not wizards this wasn’t something that we could do over at night so we decided

we could do over at night so we decided

we could do over at night so we decided to do some research on this topic so

to do some research on this topic so

to do some research on this topic so what exactly is education accessibility

what exactly is education accessibility

what exactly is education accessibility it’s one learning environment or

it’s one learning environment or

it’s one learning environment or designing barrier three intentions what

designing barrier three intentions what

designing barrier three intentions what are some barriers well in some countries

are some barriers well in some countries

are some barriers well in some countries secondary education is not actually it’s

secondary education is not actually it’s

secondary education is not actually it’s not required and this means a lot of

not required and this means a lot of

not required and this means a lot of students who are our age don’t even go

students who are our age don’t even go

students who are our age don’t even go to school because they have to support

to school because they have to support

to school because they have to support their families by working in other

their families by working in other

their families by working in other countries education is way too costly

countries education is way too costly

countries education is way too costly for students to go and in other

for students to go and in other

for students to go and in other countries students face gender

countries students face gender

countries students face gender discrimination so a lot of females

discrimination so a lot of females

discrimination so a lot of females aren’t able to go to school grad scales

aren’t able to go to school grad scales

aren’t able to go to school grad scales are in fact there are also a lot of

are in fact there are also a lot of

are in fact there are also a lot of countries where that are faced by for

countries where that are faced by for

countries where that are faced by for certain areas and these schools are not

certain areas and these schools are not

certain areas and these schools are not safe for students these are just a

safe for students these are just a

safe for students these are just a couple of examples with all the barriers

couple of examples with all the barriers

couple of examples with all the barriers to education accessibility and we wanted

to education accessibility and we wanted

to education accessibility and we wanted to look at some of the barriers in our

to look at some of the barriers in our

to look at some of the barriers in our community to help stop the problem so we

community to help stop the problem so we

community to help stop the problem so we did some research the first result that

did some research the first result that

did some research the first result that popped out was Khan Academy and now to

popped out was Khan Academy and now to

popped out was Khan Academy and now to all the parents are it is why do you

all the parents are it is why do you

all the parents are it is why do you guys like Khan Academy probably because

guys like Khan Academy probably because

guys like Khan Academy probably because it’s free and available 24/7 right at

it’s free and available 24/7 right at

it’s free and available 24/7 right at your fingertips and very abusive use as

your fingertips and very abusive use as

your fingertips and very abusive use as a student I remember using I still use

a student I remember using I still use

a student I remember using I still use compound all the time

compound all the time

compound all the time one year ago I remember studying the

one year ago I remember studying the

one year ago I remember studying the night right before my biology test when

night right before my biology test when

night right before my biology test when I realized I didn’t understand

I realized I didn’t understand

I realized I didn’t understand got photosynthesis in there cut cycle I

got photosynthesis in there cut cycle I

got photosynthesis in there cut cycle I spent the whole night just watching and

spent the whole night just watching and

spent the whole night just watching and watching Khan Academy videos until I got

watching Khan Academy videos until I got

watching Khan Academy videos until I got it has anybody else ever been in my

it has anybody else ever been in my

it has anybody else ever been in my situation okay so I’m sure that they

situation okay so I’m sure that they

situation okay so I’m sure that they gave you know Khan Academy but you

gave you know Khan Academy but you

gave you know Khan Academy but you actually know how it started so you get

actually know how it started so you get

actually know how it started so you get a tutor his cousin in Louisiana and

a tutor his cousin in Louisiana and

a tutor his cousin in Louisiana and eventually this popularity cruise who

eventually this popularity cruise who

eventually this popularity cruise who doesn’t like get a free education and

doesn’t like get a free education and

doesn’t like get a free education and then a friend decided to give him an

then a friend decided to give him an

then a friend decided to give him an idea that you should start posting these

idea that you should start posting these

idea that you should start posting these videos in the form of lectures on

videos in the form of lectures on

videos in the form of lectures on YouTube and his reaction initially was

YouTube and his reaction initially was

YouTube and his reaction initially was YouTube that was for cats playing the

YouTube that was for cats playing the

YouTube that was for cats playing the piano not serious mathematics but in the

piano not serious mathematics but in the

piano not serious mathematics but in the end he decided to follow this advice and

end he decided to follow this advice and

end he decided to follow this advice and decided to lose anyway

decided to lose anyway

decided to lose anyway and while the rest is history so we

and while the rest is history so we

and while the rest is history so we looked at a different study from food

looked at a different study from food

looked at a different study from food wine provided by UNESCO and looked at

wine provided by UNESCO and looked at

wine provided by UNESCO and looked at the worldwide status on education

the worldwide status on education

the worldwide status on education accessibility as you can see them not

accessibility as you can see them not

accessibility as you can see them not here to darker areas is where just

here to darker areas is where just

here to darker areas is where just problems let’s take a look at the

problems let’s take a look at the

problems let’s take a look at the numbers this is the amount of people two

numbers this is the amount of people two

numbers this is the amount of people two hundred and sixty three million children

hundred and sixty three million children

hundred and sixty three million children who are currently not sick

who are currently not sick

who are currently not sick about half of them are currently our age

about half of them are currently our age

about half of them are currently our age and they don’t pursue a secondary

and they don’t pursue a secondary

and they don’t pursue a secondary education now let’s forget example

education now let’s forget example

education now let’s forget example that’s closer to home let’s say when we

that’s closer to home let’s say when we

that’s closer to home let’s say when we take these statistics of all the

take these statistics of all the

take these statistics of all the citizens within the Alameda County and

citizens within the Alameda County and

citizens within the Alameda County and 13 percent of them are below the poverty

13 percent of them are below the poverty

13 percent of them are below the poverty line now let’s say that about 10% of

line now let’s say that about 10% of

line now let’s say that about 10% of these people are actually students or

these people are actually students or

these people are actually students or adolescents that are our age currently

adolescents that are our age currently

adolescents that are our age currently going to school now still results to

going to school now still results to

going to school now still results to about 20,000 kids that are under the

about 20,000 kids that are under the

about 20,000 kids that are under the poverty line that don’t take the same

poverty line that don’t take the same

poverty line that don’t take the same experiences and education that they’ve

experiences and education that they’ve

experiences and education that they’ve been high yet because we were able to

been high yet because we were able to

been high yet because we were able to afford more expensive procedures classes

afford more expensive procedures classes

afford more expensive procedures classes now if we don’t if they don’t get the

now if we don’t if they don’t get the

now if we don’t if they don’t get the same opportunity that may then I get

same opportunity that may then I get

same opportunity that may then I get this causes a demotivation and that’s

this causes a demotivation and that’s

this causes a demotivation and that’s their enthusiasm for education than

their enthusiasm for education than

their enthusiasm for education than decreases so we decided to take a look

decreases so we decided to take a look

decreases so we decided to take a look at our communities this is our

at our communities this is our

at our communities this is our neighborhood our city and the root of

neighborhood our city and the root of

neighborhood our city and the root of the problem was actually within our own

the problem was actually within our own

the problem was actually within our own place out of high school in Australia

place out of high school in Australia

place out of high school in Australia immense competition and so many of our

immense competition and so many of our

immense competition and so many of our peers go to tutors at the key classes

peers go to tutors at the key classes

peers go to tutors at the key classes essentially anything that gives them

essentially anything that gives them

essentially anything that gives them that extra boost myself included with

that extra boost myself included with

that extra boost myself included with the geometry class I took two years ago

the geometry class I took two years ago

the geometry class I took two years ago in fact tre and I go to an SAT prep

in fact tre and I go to an SAT prep

in fact tre and I go to an SAT prep class later I see students crying

class later I see students crying

class later I see students crying because one person got 14:20 on their

because one person got 14:20 on their

because one person got 14:20 on their practice tests for SAT and the other

practice tests for SAT and the other

practice tests for SAT and the other student their friend got a 14-10 there’s

student their friend got a 14-10 there’s

student their friend got a 14-10 there’s a ton quite increase and these students

a ton quite increase and these students

a ton quite increase and these students are upset because they are doing worse

are upset because they are doing worse

are upset because they are doing worse on a practice test that has absolutely

on a practice test that has absolutely

on a practice test that has absolutely no impact on the college admissions

no impact on the college admissions

no impact on the college admissions whatsoever this immense competition that

whatsoever this immense competition that

whatsoever this immense competition that we have in our community creates a rift

we have in our community creates a rift

we have in our community creates a rift between a lot of students who can’t

between a lot of students who can’t

between a lot of students who can’t afford these crazy classes this unfair

afford these crazy classes this unfair

afford these crazy classes this unfair competition does not help them in their

competition does not help them in their

competition does not help them in their school growth and what we wanted to do

school growth and what we wanted to do

school growth and what we wanted to do is find way to fix this problem so it’s

is find way to fix this problem so it’s

is find way to fix this problem so it’s not that these pop classes are not

not that these pop classes are not

not that these pop classes are not necessarily in fact they are really

necessarily in fact they are really

necessarily in fact they are really helpful and helping students learn the

helpful and helping students learn the

helpful and helping students learn the objectives of different classes and

objectives of different classes and

objectives of different classes and different maturity we wanted to just

different maturity we wanted to just

different maturity we wanted to just meet these educational opportunities

meet these educational opportunities

meet these educational opportunities more accessible to students who can’t

more accessible to students who can’t

more accessible to students who can’t afford them and well return is also

afford them and well return is also

afford them and well return is also directly correlated to education in

directly correlated to education in

directly correlated to education in other words when it is equal to

other words when it is equal to

other words when it is equal to education because to have a good

education because to have a good

education because to have a good education you need a lot but and it’s

education you need a lot but and it’s

education you need a lot but and it’s right if you have a good education you

right if you have a good education you

right if you have a good education you can make as Malcolm Gladwell said in his

can make as Malcolm Gladwell said in his

can make as Malcolm Gladwell said in his book outliers the disparities need to

book outliers the disparities need to

book outliers the disparities need to even gap between low and high economic

even gap between low and high economic

even gap between low and high economic classes were far too great and on the

classes were far too great and on the

classes were far too great and on the correlation of wealth to scoring higher

correlation of wealth to scoring higher

correlation of wealth to scoring higher but up the morning we really were able

but up the morning we really were able

but up the morning we really were able to afford the more prestigious classes

to afford the more prestigious classes

to afford the more prestigious classes that the lower classes were unable to

that the lower classes were unable to

that the lower classes were unable to before and since we were part of the

before and since we were part of the

before and since we were part of the problem they can I given that we could

problem they can I given that we could

problem they can I given that we could afford to go to these classes that are

afford to go to these classes that are

afford to go to these classes that are groups

groups

groups the cities we knew that were part of the

the cities we knew that were part of the

the cities we knew that were part of the problem so we wanted to find a solution

problem so we wanted to find a solution

problem so we wanted to find a solution it was born and now he must return these

it was born and now he must return these

it was born and now he must return these things you kid and that what you guys

things you kid and that what you guys

things you kid and that what you guys are thinking is grade point average what

are thinking is grade point average what

are thinking is grade point average what does that have to do with anything but

does that have to do with anything but

does that have to do with anything but absolutely what we named it was GPA

absolutely what we named it was GPA

absolutely what we named it was GPA because we wanted to pique the interest

because we wanted to pique the interest

because we wanted to pique the interest of as many parents as possible so GPA

of as many parents as possible so GPA

of as many parents as possible so GPA actually serves on the mission statement

actually serves on the mission statement

actually serves on the mission statement for program guidance practice

for program guidance practice

for program guidance practice acceleration sure I co-founded this

acceleration sure I co-founded this

acceleration sure I co-founded this program and we created our mode math

program and we created our mode math

program and we created our mode math science and English courage month to

science and English courage month to

science and English courage month to teach students grades 6 to 8 we teach it

teach students grades 6 to 8 we teach it

teach students grades 6 to 8 we teach it we tie the Fremont mini library our

we tie the Fremont mini library our

we tie the Fremont mini library our first summer and helped about 50

first summer and helped about 50

first summer and helped about 50 students our first year our inspiration

students our first year our inspiration

students our first year our inspiration was directly drawn from Khan Academy

was directly drawn from Khan Academy

was directly drawn from Khan Academy because just as he thought that his idea

because just as he thought that his idea

because just as he thought that his idea was absurd but actually it was a

was absurd but actually it was a

was absurd but actually it was a revolutionary yeah that probabily ins of

revolutionary yeah that probabily ins of

revolutionary yeah that probabily ins of children around the world we thought

children around the world we thought

children around the world we thought that our idea was just to come but in

that our idea was just to come but in

that our idea was just to come but in the end we got a lot of positive

the end we got a lot of positive

the end we got a lot of positive feedback because we found out that a lot

feedback because we found out that a lot

feedback because we found out that a lot of parents mysteries like we’re still

of parents mysteries like we’re still

of parents mysteries like we’re still scouting around for activities likkle

scouting around for activities likkle

scouting around for activities likkle ones and the opportunities that we

ones and the opportunities that we

ones and the opportunities that we provide so how exactly did the creative

provide so how exactly did the creative

provide so how exactly did the creative management we follow the leadership

management we follow the leadership

management we follow the leadership model towards first identifying the

model towards first identifying the

model towards first identifying the problem that we wanted to solve

problem that we wanted to solve

problem that we wanted to solve education accessibility and I’m just

education accessibility and I’m just

education accessibility and I’m just creating a whole bunch of goals

creating a whole bunch of goals

creating a whole bunch of goals now we use acronym smart to help corner

now we use acronym smart to help corner

now we use acronym smart to help corner lyrics

lyrics

lyrics F stands for specific who specifically

F stands for specific who specifically

F stands for specific who specifically targeted the greats that we wanted to

targeted the greats that we wanted to

targeted the greats that we wanted to address and the subjects that we wanted

address and the subjects that we wanted

address and the subjects that we wanted to change and measurable

to change and measurable

to change and measurable we needed some way to make sure that our

we needed some way to make sure that our

we needed some way to make sure that our goals were actually working the rest and

goals were actually working the rest and

goals were actually working the rest and in order to do this we decided to

in order to do this we decided to

in order to do this we decided to measure our success rate by location we

measure our success rate by location we

measure our success rate by location we first started at the mobbing library and

first started at the mobbing library and

first started at the mobbing library and then branched out to see how effective

then branched out to see how effective

then branched out to see how effective our program actually was in addition we

our program actually was in addition we

our program actually was in addition we had surrogates for students to fill out

had surrogates for students to fill out

had surrogates for students to fill out and Harrison got to see how effective

and Harrison got to see how effective

and Harrison got to see how effective her parents a Stanford action plan

her parents a Stanford action plan

her parents a Stanford action plan sure and I shared will Excel spreadsheet

sure and I shared will Excel spreadsheet

sure and I shared will Excel spreadsheet where we made a to-do list and just make

where we made a to-do list and just make

where we made a to-do list and just make sure to regularly update our

sure to regularly update our

sure to regularly update our and our toothless autistic we didn’t go

and our toothless autistic we didn’t go

and our toothless autistic we didn’t go to Oklahoma City and his I helped

to Oklahoma City and his I helped

to Oklahoma City and his I helped students there we decided to start a

students there we decided to start a

students there we decided to start a stream of a library and help our

stream of a library and help our

stream of a library and help our community first and by doing this we

community first and by doing this we

community first and by doing this we were able to effectively help students

were able to effectively help students

were able to effectively help students in our community and not only teeth

in our community and not only teeth

in our community and not only teeth timeout

timeout

timeout although we did a little procrastinating

although we did a little procrastinating

although we did a little procrastinating here and there a list of duties and

here and there a list of duties and

here and there a list of duties and deadlines really helped make sure about

deadlines really helped make sure about

deadlines really helped make sure about our timeline what is not broken in

our timeline what is not broken in

our timeline what is not broken in creating the program so we began with

creating the program so we began with

creating the program so we began with just one library is like I said there’s

just one library is like I said there’s

just one library is like I said there’s our pilot program and soon we expanded

our pilot program and soon we expanded

our pilot program and soon we expanded to three more libraries and then we

to three more libraries and then we

to three more libraries and then we hired tutors to get more people involved

hired tutors to get more people involved

hired tutors to get more people involved with the community and get more people

with the community and get more people

with the community and get more people familiar with the problem of Education

familiar with the problem of Education

familiar with the problem of Education accessibility we started off by

accessibility we started off by

accessibility we started off by impacting the lives of 50 soon and soon

impacting the lives of 50 soon and soon

impacting the lives of 50 soon and soon after over the next year

after over the next year

after over the next year we didn’t have to the lives of hundred

we didn’t have to the lives of hundred

we didn’t have to the lives of hundred students and we hope to continuously

students and we hope to continuously

students and we hope to continuously branch this program out to approximately

branch this program out to approximately

branch this program out to approximately ten different branches so now education

ten different branches so now education

ten different branches so now education accessibility and conclusion is such a

accessibility and conclusion is such a

accessibility and conclusion is such a large problem and we wanted to do our

large problem and we wanted to do our

large problem and we wanted to do our part to fix it we started in the

part to fix it we started in the

part to fix it we started in the community and then decided to build up

community and then decided to build up

community and then decided to build up so that we could impact more people we

so that we could impact more people we

so that we could impact more people we encourage all others in the audience to

encourage all others in the audience to

encourage all others in the audience to step forward whether even GPA Richmond

step forward whether even GPA Richmond

step forward whether even GPA Richmond or any other organization and use these

or any other organization and use these

or any other organization and use these two different ideas to help your career

two different ideas to help your career

two different ideas to help your career just keep in mind that education is a

just keep in mind that education is a

just keep in mind that education is a stepping stone to success and we wanted

stepping stone to success and we wanted

stepping stone to success and we wanted to make this stone more accessible to

to make this stone more accessible to

to make this stone more accessible to students with our program and by doing

students with our program and by doing

students with our program and by doing so we can maximize progress and

so we can maximize progress and

so we can maximize progress and innovation in the future generations one

innovation in the future generations one

innovation in the future generations one step

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *