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Passport to the Future: Expanding Global Awareness for Students | Rachel B. Dunbar | TEDxDeerPark


I am not afraid of heights the way that

I am not afraid of heights the way that I know this is based upon the number of

I know this is based upon the number of

I know this is based upon the number of adventures that I’ve had during my

adventures that I’ve had during my

adventures that I’ve had during my travels top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

travels top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

travels top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge I have gone ziplining through the

I have gone ziplining through the

I have gone ziplining through the rainforest in the Dominican Republic

rainforest in the Dominican Republic

rainforest in the Dominican Republic back before I had my son and days when I

back before I had my son and days when I

back before I had my son and days when I was much much smuggler I went to the

was much much smuggler I went to the

was much much smuggler I went to the Forbidden City and I climb as far as I

Forbidden City and I climb as far as I

Forbidden City and I climb as far as I could go on the Great Wall of China I

could go on the Great Wall of China I

could go on the Great Wall of China I have even been to the lookout point and

have even been to the lookout point and

have even been to the lookout point and what some people were called the

what some people were called the

what some people were called the majestic dungeons in Ghana West Africa

majestic dungeons in Ghana West Africa

majestic dungeons in Ghana West Africa and for me it was an oxymoron because I

and for me it was an oxymoron because I

and for me it was an oxymoron because I knew that right below was the door of no

knew that right below was the door of no

knew that right below was the door of no return I have also been to the Eiffel

return I have also been to the Eiffel

return I have also been to the Eiffel Tower and I did not climb to the top of

Tower and I did not climb to the top of

Tower and I did not climb to the top of it but for active I could see just how

it but for active I could see just how

it but for active I could see just how high it actually was for some people you

high it actually was for some people you

high it actually was for some people you get a high from standing in line for

get a high from standing in line for

get a high from standing in line for hours to see the Mona Lisa it is the

hours to see the Mona Lisa it is the

hours to see the Mona Lisa it is the only piece of art that has two 24-hour

only piece of art that has two 24-hour

only piece of art that has two 24-hour security guards

security guards

security guards I believe me it’s not as big as you

I believe me it’s not as big as you

I believe me it’s not as big as you think it is it’s actually kind of small

think it is it’s actually kind of small

think it is it’s actually kind of small I have also been to the Boche Khalifa

I have also been to the Boche Khalifa

I have also been to the Boche Khalifa which is the tallest recorded building

which is the tallest recorded building

which is the tallest recorded building in the world and I’ve been to the

in the world and I’ve been to the

in the world and I’ve been to the lookout point for that and I have gone

lookout point for that and I have gone

lookout point for that and I have gone through the sand dunes in Dubai so all

through the sand dunes in Dubai so all

through the sand dunes in Dubai so all of these things in my opinion would make

of these things in my opinion would make

of these things in my opinion would make me seem but I am not afraid of heights

me seem but I am not afraid of heights

me seem but I am not afraid of heights either figuratively or literally but

either figuratively or literally but

either figuratively or literally but there are people who are afraid of

there are people who are afraid of

there are people who are afraid of heights

heights

heights it causes nausea

it causes nausea

it causes nausea causes some people to feel afraid

causes some people to feel afraid

causes some people to feel afraid because they’re uncertain of exactly

because they’re uncertain of exactly

because they’re uncertain of exactly what it is that they’re doing and then

what it is that they’re doing and then

what it is that they’re doing and then you have those people who live for

you have those people who live for

you have those people who live for adventure

adventure

adventure you’re not scared they actually get an

you’re not scared they actually get an

you’re not scared they actually get an exhilarating feeling from it now

exhilarating feeling from it now

exhilarating feeling from it now those deployed this next picture that

those deployed this next picture that

those deployed this next picture that this person is afraid of heights

this person is afraid of heights

this person is afraid of heights probably not and to be hanging upside

probably not and to be hanging upside

probably not and to be hanging upside down in a forest from a rope you cannot

down in a forest from a rope you cannot

down in a forest from a rope you cannot be afraid of anything so my question to

be afraid of anything so my question to

be afraid of anything so my question to you today is of what are you afraid I

you today is of what are you afraid I

you today is of what are you afraid I taught at a HBCU in Alabama and for

taught at a HBCU in Alabama and for

taught at a HBCU in Alabama and for those of you who are uncertain an HBCU

those of you who are uncertain an HBCU

those of you who are uncertain an HBCU is a historically black college a

is a historically black college a

is a historically black college a university and this is the question that

university and this is the question that

university and this is the question that I would ask my students all the time of

I would ask my students all the time of

I would ask my students all the time of are you afraid I would get into a

are you afraid I would get into a

are you afraid I would get into a discussion about Oh have you been out of

discussion about Oh have you been out of

discussion about Oh have you been out of the country where have you been what

the country where have you been what

the country where have you been what type of things have you done in my

type of things have you done in my

type of things have you done in my students who are primarily minorities

students who are primarily minorities

students who are primarily minorities would say we haven’t been anywhere why

would say we haven’t been anywhere why

would say we haven’t been anywhere why not

not

not because they were afraid there are some

because they were afraid there are some

because they were afraid there are some apprehensions to travel now those like I

apprehensions to travel now those like I

apprehensions to travel now those like I said definitely is fear there’s the fear

said definitely is fear there’s the fear

said definitely is fear there’s the fear of the unknown fear of the thing that

of the unknown fear of the thing that

of the unknown fear of the thing that they cannot see I faith that some of the

they cannot see I faith that some of the

they cannot see I faith that some of the things we actually know there’s

things we actually know there’s

things we actually know there’s separation anxiety and for a lot of

separation anxiety and for a lot of

separation anxiety and for a lot of students who are the breadwinners for

students who are the breadwinners for

students who are the breadwinners for their families are afraid to be away

their families are afraid to be away

their families are afraid to be away from those family members you also have

from those family members you also have

from those family members you also have the concern about financing

the concern about financing

the concern about financing first-generation college students who

first-generation college students who

first-generation college students who have not had the experience for anyone

have not had the experience for anyone

have not had the experience for anyone else in their family to graduate from a

else in their family to graduate from a

else in their family to graduate from a two-year or four-year institution are

two-year or four-year institution are

two-year or four-year institution are more concerned about finance their

more concerned about finance their

more concerned about finance their studies then they are concerned about

studies then they are concerned about

studies then they are concerned about how will I pay to go outside of the

how will I pay to go outside of the

how will I pay to go outside of the country then there are the

country then there are the

country then there are the concessions place that they go will be

concessions place that they go will be

concessions place that they go will be dangerous the place that they go might

dangerous the place that they go might

dangerous the place that they go might be dirty the place that they go they may

be dirty the place that they go they may

be dirty the place that they go they may not be able to communicate with others

not be able to communicate with others

not be able to communicate with others there I taught in China and I actually

there I taught in China and I actually

there I taught in China and I actually had an interpreter the entire time that

had an interpreter the entire time that

had an interpreter the entire time that I was there and then I went to other

I was there and then I went to other

I was there and then I went to other countries that were English speaking

countries that were English speaking

countries that were English speaking countries but what stood out to me more

countries but what stood out to me more

countries but what stood out to me more than anything was the misconception that

than anything was the misconception that

than anything was the misconception that minority students believe that traveling

minority students believe that traveling

minority students believe that traveling abroad is only reserved for the mind

abroad is only reserved for the mind

abroad is only reserved for the mind look for the majority population what is

look for the majority population what is

look for the majority population what is it about a minority student that says

it about a minority student that says

it about a minority student that says they cannot go from here to there

they cannot go from here to there

they cannot go from here to there wherever there might be you look at this

wherever there might be you look at this

wherever there might be you look at this the tip about fed generally travel

the tip about fed generally travel

the tip about fed generally travel abroad by their race the numbers are

abroad by their race the numbers are

abroad by their race the numbers are strikingly low it does show that it is

strikingly low it does show that it is

strikingly low it does show that it is primarily Caucasian students that travel

primarily Caucasian students that travel

primarily Caucasian students that travel the percentages are essentially in the

the percentages are essentially in the

the percentages are essentially in the single digits unfortunately the numbers

single digits unfortunately the numbers

single digits unfortunately the numbers have risen they’ve run up

have risen they’ve run up

have risen they’ve run up 3.8 percent in 2015-2016 from three

3.8 percent in 2015-2016 from three

3.8 percent in 2015-2016 from three hundred and thirteen thousand two little

hundred and thirteen thousand two little

hundred and thirteen thousand two little over three hundred twenty-five thousand

over three hundred twenty-five thousand

over three hundred twenty-five thousand three point eight percent in these

three point eight percent in these

three point eight percent in these numbers may seem big but let’s say for

numbers may seem big but let’s say for

numbers may seem big but let’s say for instance you went to a restaurant and

instance you went to a restaurant and

instance you went to a restaurant and today I’m going to give you three point

today I’m going to give you three point

today I’m going to give you three point eight percent more meat in your burger

eight percent more meat in your burger

eight percent more meat in your burger you might be excited about that but for

you might be excited about that but for

you might be excited about that but for those of you who use public

those of you who use public

those of you who use public transportation and depend on the train

transportation and depend on the train

transportation and depend on the train to run on schedule running their time

to run on schedule running their time

to run on schedule running their time three point eight percent of the time

three point eight percent of the time

three point eight percent of the time each day is not going to work for you is

each day is not going to work for you is

each day is not going to work for you is it I what if the boss came to you and

it I what if the boss came to you and

it I what if the boss came to you and said today I’ve decided to make some

said today I’ve decided to make some

said today I’ve decided to make some changes and I’m only going to give you

changes and I’m only going to give you

changes and I’m only going to give you three point eight percent of your check

three point eight percent of your check

three point eight percent of your check is money three point eight percent does

is money three point eight percent does

is money three point eight percent does not seem like a big number forty percent

not seem like a big number forty percent

not seem like a big number forty percent of companies have said they’ve missed

of companies have said they’ve missed

of companies have said they’ve missed out on so many opportunities

out on so many opportunities

out on so many opportunities because their employees do not have the

because their employees do not have the

because their employees do not have the business acumen of international or

business acumen of international or

business acumen of international or global understanding so these numbers

global understanding so these numbers

global understanding so these numbers are staggeringly low and when I said to

are staggeringly low and when I said to

are staggeringly low and when I said to myself is what am I supposed to do what

myself is what am I supposed to do what

myself is what am I supposed to do what is my role in this how can I get my

is my role in this how can I get my

is my role in this how can I get my minority students to have better global

minority students to have better global

minority students to have better global exposure and to understand that if they

exposure and to understand that if they

exposure and to understand that if they are in the fear the finance and the

are in the fear the finance and the

are in the fear the finance and the misconception mindset that they too have

misconception mindset that they too have

misconception mindset that they too have an opportunity to do with their

an opportunity to do with their

an opportunity to do with their counterparts do so it’s out of 14 I

counterparts do so it’s out of 14 I

counterparts do so it’s out of 14 I coined the phrase

especially what that sits in there is

especially what that sits in there is nothing and no one that can stop you

nothing and no one that can stop you

nothing and no one that can stop you from getting to point A to point B if

from getting to point A to point B if

from getting to point A to point B if you have this little blue book in your

you have this little blue book in your

you have this little blue book in your hand very proud of it because it has

hand very proud of it because it has

hand very proud of it because it has stamps from all of the different places

stamps from all of the different places

stamps from all of the different places that I have been my goal is to sit foot

that I have been my goal is to sit foot

that I have been my goal is to sit foot with every single continent and I have

with every single continent and I have

with every single continent and I have South America and Antarctica left I’m

South America and Antarctica left I’m

South America and Antarctica left I’m still on the fence about whether or not

still on the fence about whether or not

still on the fence about whether or not I want to go to Antarctica but in the

I want to go to Antarctica but in the

I want to go to Antarctica but in the meantime it is on my list that I want my

meantime it is on my list that I want my

meantime it is on my list that I want my students to understand that they have

students to understand that they have

students to understand that they have those same opportunities that I have had

those same opportunities that I have had

those same opportunities that I have had what two colleagues Rhonda Jackson and

what two colleagues Rhonda Jackson and

what two colleagues Rhonda Jackson and Renee loafer well we have looked at if

Renee loafer well we have looked at if

Renee loafer well we have looked at if crapballs

crapballs

crapballs effective thing the cognitive domain

effective thing the cognitive domain

effective thing the cognitive domain assesses but the affective domain really

assesses but the affective domain really

assesses but the affective domain really looked at the sensitive needs of

looked at the sensitive needs of

looked at the sensitive needs of students how can you tap into the and

students how can you tap into the and

students how can you tap into the and what theory is that mentoring is key as

what theory is that mentoring is key as

what theory is that mentoring is key as has students who have not ever had

has students who have not ever had

has students who have not ever had opportunity to get outside of their

opportunity to get outside of their

opportunity to get outside of their comfort zone before so a strong mentor

comfort zone before so a strong mentor

comfort zone before so a strong mentor is going to be crucial to these students

is going to be crucial to these students

is going to be crucial to these students they have to say

they have to say

they have to say well there is someone I admire someone

well there is someone I admire someone

well there is someone I admire someone that I look up someone who is doing

that I look up someone who is doing

that I look up someone who is doing things I want to do that mentor is going

things I want to do that mentor is going

things I want to do that mentor is going to have to mold these students and have

to have to mold these students and have

to have to mold these students and have engaging activities this learning

engaging activities this learning

engaging activities this learning service-learning and cultural immersion

service-learning and cultural immersion

service-learning and cultural immersion experiences will be like mock situations

experiences will be like mock situations

experiences will be like mock situations they will put the students in their

they will put the students in their

they will put the students in their locale and have them do situations or do

locale and have them do situations or do

locale and have them do situations or do things that would replicate what they

things that would replicate what they

things that would replicate what they may do abroad to get over those fears

may do abroad to get over those fears

may do abroad to get over those fears and to understand that in terms of

and to understand that in terms of

and to understand that in terms of finances there are scholarships

finances there are scholarships

finances there are scholarships available but a mentor is going to be

available but a mentor is going to be

available but a mentor is going to be the one who’s going to help that student

the one who’s going to help that student

the one who’s going to help that student tap into those financial opportunities

tap into those financial opportunities

tap into those financial opportunities and help the students see that they have

and help the students see that they have

and help the students see that they have a greater purpose outside of their

a greater purpose outside of their

a greater purpose outside of their comfort zone I have also told much what

comfort zone I have also told much what

comfort zone I have also told much what I’m going to tell you today and that is

I’m going to tell you today and that is

I’m going to tell you today and that is I want you to he firmly believes that he

I want you to he firmly believes that he

I want you to he firmly believes that he is a superhero and he can do absolutely

is a superhero and he can do absolutely

is a superhero and he can do absolutely anything with flight then he can fly I

anything with flight then he can fly I

anything with flight then he can fly I want to tell you today that you can also

want to tell you today that you can also

want to tell you today that you can also fly and in the first way that you do

fly and in the first way that you do

fly and in the first way that you do that is to face your fears now this is

that is to face your fears now this is

that is to face your fears now this is in the system it doesn’t necessarily

in the system it doesn’t necessarily

in the system it doesn’t necessarily have to be what you’re going out of the

have to be what you’re going out of the

have to be what you’re going out of the country it could be that one thing that

country it could be that one thing that

country it could be that one thing that whenever you’re confronted by it it

whenever you’re confronted by it it

whenever you’re confronted by it it gives you pain or anxiety you need to

gives you pain or anxiety you need to

gives you pain or anxiety you need to write up to that fear look it’s on the

write up to that fear look it’s on the

write up to that fear look it’s on the face and push it out of your way because

face and push it out of your way because

face and push it out of your way because there is nothing stronger there there’s

there is nothing stronger there there’s

there is nothing stronger there there’s mightier than the God that we serve who

mightier than the God that we serve who

mightier than the God that we serve who can do a seemingly and abundantly above

can do a seemingly and abundantly above

can do a seemingly and abundantly above all that we imagine you need to do in

all that we imagine you need to do in

all that we imagine you need to do in order I is your to have to let go of

order I is your to have to let go of

order I is your to have to let go of your negative influences I want you to

your negative influences I want you to

your negative influences I want you to think about the team

think about the team

think about the team that you have when you share your dreams

that you have when you share your dreams

that you have when you share your dreams and your aspirations with the people who

and your aspirations with the people who

and your aspirations with the people who are around you do they encourage you or

are around you do they encourage you or

are around you do they encourage you or do they kind of act like the negative

do they kind of act like the negative

do they kind of act like the negative Nellie’s assay well I’m not so sure

Nellie’s assay well I’m not so sure

Nellie’s assay well I’m not so sure about that

about that

about that what share with my friends and family

what share with my friends and family

what share with my friends and family that I was accepted to this talk

that I was accepted to this talk

that I was accepted to this talk my friends asked how could they help me

my friends asked how could they help me

my friends asked how could they help me prepare and now some in our social media

prepare and now some in our social media

prepare and now some in our social media they bought tickets and they came to

they bought tickets and they came to

they bought tickets and they came to hurt me in every way possible if you

hurt me in every way possible if you

hurt me in every way possible if you don’t have a team that is going to

don’t have a team that is going to

don’t have a team that is going to support you and be your cheerleader

support you and be your cheerleader

support you and be your cheerleader let go of that negative influence

let go of that negative influence

let go of that negative influence because you can’t fly they were cookie

because you can’t fly they were cookie

because you can’t fly they were cookie saying you can’t fly

saying you can’t fly

saying you can’t fly they will stay away in your luggage

they will stay away in your luggage

they will stay away in your luggage compartment and be extra baggage and you

compartment and be extra baggage and you

compartment and be extra baggage and you it fly

it fly

it fly and the next thing me to do is refuse to

and the next thing me to do is refuse to

and the next thing me to do is refuse to yield when we surrender the things that

yield when we surrender the things that

yield when we surrender the things that may be holding us back we yield when we

may be holding us back we yield when we

may be holding us back we yield when we don’t we turn back and go the direction

don’t we turn back and go the direction

don’t we turn back and go the direction that we came we yield but you need to be

that we came we yield but you need to be

that we came we yield but you need to be able to do is face your fears let go

able to do is face your fears let go

able to do is face your fears let go your negative influences and refuse to

your negative influences and refuse to

your negative influences and refuse to yield so that you can so my hashtag got

yield so that you can so my hashtag got

yield so that you can so my hashtag got their resume win they went to bother

they have toes they have been she still

they have toes they have been she still because it

”

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