[Applause] alright how’s everyone doing today well
alright how’s everyone doing today well
alright how’s everyone doing today well I’d like to start and thank each and
I’d like to start and thank each and
I’d like to start and thank each and every one of you for coming out today
every one of you for coming out today
every one of you for coming out today and before we get started I’d like to
and before we get started I’d like to
and before we get started I’d like to make a special dedication to someone who
make a special dedication to someone who
make a special dedication to someone who passed away recently my uncle who truly
passed away recently my uncle who truly
passed away recently my uncle who truly demonstrated what it takes to persevere
you are not good enough you will never
you are not good enough you will never make it you should just give up
we’ve all heard these words in one form
we’ve all heard these words in one form or another in times of difficulty
or another in times of difficulty
or another in times of difficulty sometimes from others and other times
sometimes from others and other times
sometimes from others and other times from our self but the true difference
from our self but the true difference
from our self but the true difference isn’t the degree or severity of our
isn’t the degree or severity of our
isn’t the degree or severity of our circumstances but rather in what we
circumstances but rather in what we
circumstances but rather in what we choose to do when faced with life’s
choose to do when faced with life’s
choose to do when faced with life’s challenges what are that means to give
challenges what are that means to give
challenges what are that means to give up or to persevere today if you’ll allow
up or to persevere today if you’ll allow
up or to persevere today if you’ll allow me to I’d like to share three personal
me to I’d like to share three personal
me to I’d like to share three personal experiences of hardships I’d faced that
experiences of hardships I’d faced that
experiences of hardships I’d faced that made me decide I wanted to be someone
made me decide I wanted to be someone
made me decide I wanted to be someone who chooses to persevere and with
who chooses to persevere and with
who chooses to persevere and with whatever you’re going through whatever
whatever you’re going through whatever
whatever you’re going through whatever you’ve been through and whatever you may
you’ve been through and whatever you may
you’ve been through and whatever you may face tomorrow
face tomorrow
face tomorrow I hope there’s something you can take
I hope there’s something you can take
I hope there’s something you can take away from my message now let me get a
away from my message now let me get a
away from my message now let me get a show of hands how many of you have heard
show of hands how many of you have heard
show of hands how many of you have heard of Stockton all right that’s more than I
of Stockton all right that’s more than I
of Stockton all right that’s more than I practiced to count well for those of you
practiced to count well for those of you
practiced to count well for those of you who don’t know about Stockton or if the
who don’t know about Stockton or if the
who don’t know about Stockton or if the picture doesn’t peen itself
picture doesn’t peen itself
picture doesn’t peen itself Stockton was dubbed the second most
Stockton was dubbed the second most
Stockton was dubbed the second most dangerous city in California known for
dangerous city in California known for
dangerous city in California known for its skyrocketing gang violence plethora
its skyrocketing gang violence plethora
its skyrocketing gang violence plethora foreclosure rates and very limited
foreclosure rates and very limited
foreclosure rates and very limited opportunities especially those
opportunities especially those
opportunities especially those concerning advancing into higher
concerning advancing into higher
concerning advancing into higher education or entering the job market but
education or entering the job market but
education or entering the job market but for many people like me and my loved
for many people like me and my loved
for many people like me and my loved ones this was home and this hardship is
ones this was home and this hardship is
ones this was home and this hardship is important to me in particular because it
important to me in particular because it
important to me in particular because it taught me that no matter how limited my
taught me that no matter how limited my
taught me that no matter how limited my resources may seem that I am NOT defined
resources may seem that I am NOT defined
resources may seem that I am NOT defined north nor
north nor
north nor affected by my circumstances and I’ll
affected by my circumstances and I’ll
affected by my circumstances and I’ll never forget that might the day that my
never forget that might the day that my
never forget that might the day that my life took a shift on an ordinary
life took a shift on an ordinary
life took a shift on an ordinary Saturday afternoon I was laundry
Saturday afternoon I was laundry
Saturday afternoon I was laundry shopping at the mall when I happened to
shopping at the mall when I happened to
shopping at the mall when I happened to bump into my former middle school
bump into my former middle school
bump into my former middle school teacher Miss Smith Miss Smith and I were
teacher Miss Smith Miss Smith and I were
teacher Miss Smith Miss Smith and I were catching up on our daily lives when she
catching up on our daily lives when she
catching up on our daily lives when she later on informed me that she took on a
later on informed me that she took on a
later on informed me that she took on a new role at a local high school called
new role at a local high school called
new role at a local high school called middle college middle college she
middle college middle college she
middle college middle college she explained was the program geared to give
explained was the program geared to give
explained was the program geared to give high school students the opportunity to
high school students the opportunity to
high school students the opportunity to take community college courses to
take community college courses to
take community college courses to advance into university she urged me to
advance into university she urged me to
advance into university she urged me to apply however naturally I was hesitant
apply however naturally I was hesitant
apply however naturally I was hesitant at first after all I wanted nothing to
at first after all I wanted nothing to
at first after all I wanted nothing to do with Stockton let alone be tied down
do with Stockton let alone be tied down
do with Stockton let alone be tied down to it for another four years however
to it for another four years however
to it for another four years however four years down the line I not only
four years down the line I not only
four years down the line I not only graduated with my high school diploma
graduated with my high school diploma
graduated with my high school diploma thank goodness but six associate degrees
thank goodness but six associate degrees
thank goodness but six associate degrees that allowed me to graduate University a
that allowed me to graduate University a
that allowed me to graduate University a whole year early now this may or may not
whole year early now this may or may not
whole year early now this may or may not be significant to some of you but for
be significant to some of you but for
be significant to some of you but for those of you who have grown up in
those of you who have grown up in
those of you who have grown up in disadvantaged communities filled with
disadvantaged communities filled with
disadvantaged communities filled with negativity and resistance to change
negativity and resistance to change
negativity and resistance to change getting into university was a huge
getting into university was a huge
getting into university was a huge milestone in creating a change in our
milestone in creating a change in our
milestone in creating a change in our lives and I invite you whatever
lives and I invite you whatever
lives and I invite you whatever situation that may seem impossible to
situation that may seem impossible to
situation that may seem impossible to consider seeing every opportunity
consider seeing every opportunity
consider seeing every opportunity big or small which leads to my next
big or small which leads to my next
big or small which leads to my next hardship I was bright-eyed and
hardship I was bright-eyed and
hardship I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed upon entering University
bushy-tailed upon entering University
bushy-tailed upon entering University little did I know I was about to get
little did I know I was about to get
little did I know I was about to get rejected left to right by various
rejected left to right by various
rejected left to right by various recruiters at my first University career
recruiters at my first University career
recruiters at my first University career fair as the freshmen here’s what it
fair as the freshmen here’s what it
fair as the freshmen here’s what it looked like these recruiters told me to
looked like these recruiters told me to
looked like these recruiters told me to come back when I was older or had more
come back when I was older or had more
come back when I was older or had more experience and I hated them and for
experience and I hated them and for
experience and I hated them and for those of you who have faced rejection
those of you who have faced rejection
those of you who have faced rejection you probably hate recruiters too
you probably hate recruiters too
you probably hate recruiters too actually let me get a show of hands how
actually let me get a show of hands how
actually let me get a show of hands how many of you are willing to admit that
many of you are willing to admit that
many of you are willing to admit that you hate recruiters that’s okay because
you hate recruiters that’s okay because
you hate recruiters that’s okay because Google search seems to agree
well the funny thing is I now work for
well the funny thing is I now work for recruiting and I love it anyways after
recruiting and I love it anyways after
recruiting and I love it anyways after months and months of disgruntled this I
months and months of disgruntled this I
months and months of disgruntled this I decided to use my negative energy and
decided to use my negative energy and
decided to use my negative energy and harness it to do something productive so
harness it to do something productive so
harness it to do something productive so as I was going through yet another
as I was going through yet another
as I was going through yet another generically ridden rejection email from
generically ridden rejection email from
generically ridden rejection email from a recruiter that I read
a recruiter that I read
a recruiter that I read dear blah blah blah thank you for
dear blah blah blah thank you for
dear blah blah blah thank you for applying a blah blah blah position I
applying a blah blah blah position I
applying a blah blah blah position I forced my hand to hover over the reply
forced my hand to hover over the reply
forced my hand to hover over the reply button instead of yet again deleting the
button instead of yet again deleting the
button instead of yet again deleting the email and contemplated what to do
email and contemplated what to do
email and contemplated what to do instead of yet again deleting the email
instead of yet again deleting the email
instead of yet again deleting the email and what I did was something so simple
and what I did was something so simple
and what I did was something so simple that I was astounded by the magnitude of
that I was astounded by the magnitude of
that I was astounded by the magnitude of its results and this simple advice is
its results and this simple advice is
its results and this simple advice is what I continuously advise my peers
what I continuously advise my peers
what I continuously advise my peers today who see career guidance and it’s
today who see career guidance and it’s
today who see career guidance and it’s to communicate
to communicate
to communicate I asked recruiters what can I do to
I asked recruiters what can I do to
I asked recruiters what can I do to improve my resume or what skills and
improve my resume or what skills and
improve my resume or what skills and make me a good candidate for your
make me a good candidate for your
make me a good candidate for your position and three is down the line with
position and three is down the line with
position and three is down the line with accumulated advice from various
accumulated advice from various
accumulated advice from various recruiters in different industries I
recruiters in different industries I
recruiters in different industries I walked across my university stage with
walked across my university stage with
walked across my university stage with three full-time offers from
three full-time offers from
three full-time offers from distinguished companies now I say this
distinguished companies now I say this
distinguished companies now I say this not to boast but to inform you that a
not to boast but to inform you that a
not to boast but to inform you that a lot of these milestones do come at a
lot of these milestones do come at a
lot of these milestones do come at a cost and I invite you with whatever
cost and I invite you with whatever
cost and I invite you with whatever situation you may be in that may seem
situation you may be in that may seem
situation you may be in that may seem impossible to consider being creative
impossible to consider being creative
impossible to consider being creative and as I inch toward my last hardship I
and as I inch toward my last hardship I
and as I inch toward my last hardship I like to ask that you all close your eyes
like to ask that you all close your eyes
like to ask that you all close your eyes and envision a hardship you’re going
and envision a hardship you’re going
and envision a hardship you’re going through right this very moment even if
through right this very moment even if
through right this very moment even if it’s my talk and how it makes you feel
it’s my talk and how it makes you feel
it’s my talk and how it makes you feel because this is real and to be honest as
because this is real and to be honest as
because this is real and to be honest as I talk to you today I’m still figuring
I talk to you today I’m still figuring
I talk to you today I’m still figuring this out because it’s adjustment it’s
this out because it’s adjustment it’s
this out because it’s adjustment it’s moving from city to city across the
moving from city to city across the
moving from city to city across the state across the coast for better
state across the coast for better
state across the coast for better opportunities and I’d like to pause to
opportunities and I’d like to pause to
opportunities and I’d like to pause to commend each and every one of you for
commend each and every one of you for
commend each and every one of you for going here and far to pursue your dreams
going here and far to pursue your dreams
going here and far to pursue your dreams because as glamorizing as it seems to be
because as glamorizing as it seems to be
because as glamorizing as it seems to be moving around so frequently it can be
moving around so frequently it can be
moving around so frequently it can be terrifying at times adjusting to new
terrifying at times adjusting to new
terrifying at times adjusting to new jobs new friends new cultures
jobs new friends new cultures
jobs new friends new cultures it truly is the art of being comfortable
it truly is the art of being comfortable
it truly is the art of being comfortable in such an uncomfortable space seeking
in such an uncomfortable space seeking
in such an uncomfortable space seeking opportunities adjusting to change and
opportunities adjusting to change and
opportunities adjusting to change and seeing failure as a means for growth and
seeing failure as a means for growth and
seeing failure as a means for growth and although I’ve met awesome people
although I’ve met awesome people
although I’ve met awesome people throughout this journey
throughout this journey
throughout this journey the most important relationship iPhone
the most important relationship iPhone
the most important relationship iPhone was the relationship I built with myself
was the relationship I built with myself
was the relationship I built with myself for most and so I invite you with
for most and so I invite you with
for most and so I invite you with whatever transitions you’ll face in life
whatever transitions you’ll face in life
whatever transitions you’ll face in life to consider starting inwardly and see
to consider starting inwardly and see
to consider starting inwardly and see how that will change your outward world
how that will change your outward world
how that will change your outward world and as I come to a conclusion with my
and as I come to a conclusion with my
and as I come to a conclusion with my talk I’d like to summarize with
talk I’d like to summarize with
talk I’d like to summarize with characteristics of people who persevered
characteristics of people who persevered
characteristics of people who persevered with diagrams the first diagram is of a
with diagrams the first diagram is of a
with diagrams the first diagram is of a person who tends to not persevere people
person who tends to not persevere people
person who tends to not persevere people who tend to not persevere tend to have
who tend to not persevere tend to have
who tend to not persevere tend to have what you call a fixed mindset they find
what you call a fixed mindset they find
what you call a fixed mindset they find success at point X in getting over their
success at point X in getting over their
success at point X in getting over their hardship and are content at that point
hardship and are content at that point
hardship and are content at that point however consequently they don’t tend to
however consequently they don’t tend to
however consequently they don’t tend to see other and anticipated hardships to
see other and anticipated hardships to
see other and anticipated hardships to come along in life people who do
come along in life people who do
come along in life people who do persevere in contrast have what you call
persevere in contrast have what you call
persevere in contrast have what you call an open mindset these individuals find
an open mindset these individuals find
an open mindset these individuals find success not getting over their hardships
success not getting over their hardships
success not getting over their hardships but going through all hardships knowing
but going through all hardships knowing
but going through all hardships knowing that life doesn’t get any easier we just
that life doesn’t get any easier we just
that life doesn’t get any easier we just become more adaptable to hardships the
become more adaptable to hardships the
become more adaptable to hardships the more we encounter them after all
more we encounter them after all
more we encounter them after all hardships are fair hardships don’t
hardships are fair hardships don’t
hardships are fair hardships don’t discriminate and hardships are
discriminate and hardships are
discriminate and hardships are inevitable meaning no matter who you are
inevitable meaning no matter who you are
inevitable meaning no matter who you are what your status is or what you do
what your status is or what you do
what your status is or what you do you’re likely to face hardships in your
you’re likely to face hardships in your
you’re likely to face hardships in your life and with that they say that we are
life and with that they say that we are
life and with that they say that we are the average of the three people we hang
the average of the three people we hang
the average of the three people we hang out with the most so surround yourself
out with the most so surround yourself
out with the most so surround yourself with scholars with optimists and with
with scholars with optimists and with
with scholars with optimists and with dreamers and see how that will transform
dreamers and see how that will transform
dreamers and see how that will transform your life and be those people to others
your life and be those people to others
your life and be those people to others as well because after all you are more
as well because after all you are more
as well because after all you are more than enough you will go so far and you
than enough you will go so far and you
than enough you will go so far and you should never give up thank you
should never give up thank you
should never give up thank you [Applause]
”
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