thank you um there was a quote by Billie Holiday and this kind of summarizes how
Holiday and this kind of summarizes how
Holiday and this kind of summarizes how I’ve kind of what I’ve learned about
I’ve kind of what I’ve learned about
I’ve kind of what I’ve learned about myself like growing up as a young person
myself like growing up as a young person
myself like growing up as a young person but also in the past year having like a
but also in the past year having like a
but also in the past year having like a gap year and then going back into
gap year and then going back into
gap year and then going back into education
education
education well Billie Holiday said um if I’m going
well Billie Holiday said um if I’m going
well Billie Holiday said um if I’m going to sing like someone else then I don’t
to sing like someone else then I don’t
to sing like someone else then I don’t need to sing at all so if I’m gonna talk
need to sing at all so if I’m gonna talk
need to sing at all so if I’m gonna talk like someone else then I don’t need to
like someone else then I don’t need to
like someone else then I don’t need to talk at all I spent so long trying to
talk at all I spent so long trying to
talk at all I spent so long trying to sing a hopeless song and hum along to an
sing a hopeless song and hum along to an
sing a hopeless song and hum along to an offbeat tune I stuttered and stumbled
offbeat tune I stuttered and stumbled
offbeat tune I stuttered and stumbled over my own words trying to persuade a
over my own words trying to persuade a
over my own words trying to persuade a crowd that I was talking since I tried
crowd that I was talking since I tried
crowd that I was talking since I tried to say the words that they taught me but
to say the words that they taught me but
to say the words that they taught me but I was regurgitating information lies
I was regurgitating information lies
I was regurgitating information lies that I couldn’t hold down still trying
that I couldn’t hold down still trying
that I couldn’t hold down still trying to find my own sound I thought I was
to find my own sound I thought I was
to find my own sound I thought I was supposed to sound like change but when I
supposed to sound like change but when I
supposed to sound like change but when I cleared my throat to speak it sounded
cleared my throat to speak it sounded
cleared my throat to speak it sounded like gunfire like the clap of a gun so I
like gunfire like the clap of a gun so I
like gunfire like the clap of a gun so I held my hands up in surrender to my own
held my hands up in surrender to my own
held my hands up in surrender to my own power
power
power I found words to express the thoughts
I found words to express the thoughts
I found words to express the thoughts oppressed from years oppressed and I
oppressed from years oppressed and I
oppressed from years oppressed and I open my mouth and said black lives
open my mouth and said black lives
open my mouth and said black lives matter in a moment of weakness in a
matter in a moment of weakness in a
matter in a moment of weakness in a moment of weakness I released sounds of
moment of weakness I released sounds of
moment of weakness I released sounds of praise that sounded like my
praise that sounded like my
praise that sounded like my grandmother’s laughter I learned to say
grandmother’s laughter I learned to say
grandmother’s laughter I learned to say words that my father never knew and
words that my father never knew and
words that my father never knew and explained to my mother that my voice
explained to my mother that my voice
explained to my mother that my voice could never be my own with the name that
could never be my own with the name that
could never be my own with the name that she gave me branded on it I realized
she gave me branded on it I realized
she gave me branded on it I realized that I had diamonds sparkling and
that I had diamonds sparkling and
that I had diamonds sparkling and resonating inside I use my teeth as
resonating inside I use my teeth as
resonating inside I use my teeth as pickaxes to mine deep in the cave of my
pickaxes to mine deep in the cave of my
pickaxes to mine deep in the cave of my chest and I found just a lump of coal so
chest and I found just a lump of coal so
chest and I found just a lump of coal so I used my tongue to refine that carbon
I used my tongue to refine that carbon
I used my tongue to refine that carbon or my lips to polish the rough edges and
or my lips to polish the rough edges and
or my lips to polish the rough edges and people were in awe by the time I opened
people were in awe by the time I opened
people were in awe by the time I opened my mouth to speak and they heard my
my mouth to speak and they heard my
my mouth to speak and they heard my voice emerge a diamond so now as I open
voice emerge a diamond so now as I open
voice emerge a diamond so now as I open my mouth to speak know that those words
my mouth to speak know that those words
my mouth to speak know that those words are non-renewable so pay attention thank
are non-renewable so pay attention thank
are non-renewable so pay attention thank you
and the piece that I wrote for today is
and the piece that I wrote for today is just called my thoughts when I’m unsure
just called my thoughts when I’m unsure
just called my thoughts when I’m unsure and it’s just about me thinking where
and it’s just about me thinking where
and it’s just about me thinking where the futures gonna take us and the new
the futures gonna take us and the new
the futures gonna take us and the new developments in technology and it’s just
developments in technology and it’s just
developments in technology and it’s just crazy
crazy
crazy so this is my thoughts when I’m unsure
so this is my thoughts when I’m unsure
so this is my thoughts when I’m unsure and I’m accompanied by Sam today thank
and I’m accompanied by Sam today thank
and I’m accompanied by Sam today thank you if I had a limb would you think I
you if I had a limb would you think I
you if I had a limb would you think I was less of a human being than someone
was less of a human being than someone
was less of a human being than someone who walked and barely tripped or
who walked and barely tripped or
who walked and barely tripped or stumbled and if I had one leg would you
stumbled and if I had one leg would you
stumbled and if I had one leg would you watch what you said and bury your
watch what you said and bury your
watch what you said and bury your thoughts deep down so that anything
thoughts deep down so that anything
thoughts deep down so that anything potentially hurtful that you thought
potentially hurtful that you thought
potentially hurtful that you thought wouldn’t trip or stumble out of your
wouldn’t trip or stumble out of your
wouldn’t trip or stumble out of your mouth when materialism rules the world
mouth when materialism rules the world
mouth when materialism rules the world no one has time to chase dreams cuz
no one has time to chase dreams cuz
no one has time to chase dreams cuz they’re too busy chasing the gold coin
they’re too busy chasing the gold coin
they’re too busy chasing the gold coin on the end of the string being tugged
on the end of the string being tugged
on the end of the string being tugged away from them every time they edge
away from them every time they edge
away from them every time they edge closer too busy chasing the
closer too busy chasing the
closer too busy chasing the ever-changing face of technology not
ever-changing face of technology not
ever-changing face of technology not realizing that they’re no longer
realizing that they’re no longer
realizing that they’re no longer spending and wasting money they’re
spending and wasting money they’re
spending and wasting money they’re wasting and losing time I know so little
wasting and losing time I know so little
wasting and losing time I know so little about this great big world in which we
about this great big world in which we
about this great big world in which we live
live
live and in these times of unprecedented
and in these times of unprecedented
and in these times of unprecedented change where the questions raised for
change where the questions raised for
change where the questions raised for society are so many it’s confusing
society are so many it’s confusing
society are so many it’s confusing knowing where I’m from and trying to
knowing where I’m from and trying to
knowing where I’m from and trying to belong in a space that could never
belong in a space that could never
belong in a space that could never sustain me but we always find ways to
sustain me but we always find ways to
sustain me but we always find ways to overcome we recreate our biggest fears
overcome we recreate our biggest fears
overcome we recreate our biggest fears into our superpowers so we recreated our
into our superpowers so we recreated our
into our superpowers so we recreated our own image into a better one chose
own image into a better one chose
own image into a better one chose nurture over nature and decided that
nurture over nature and decided that
nurture over nature and decided that artificial intelligence would be our
artificial intelligence would be our
artificial intelligence would be our Savior and if beauty is in the eye of
Savior and if beauty is in the eye of
Savior and if beauty is in the eye of the beholder and society is viewed at
the beholder and society is viewed at
the beholder and society is viewed at the perspective of the individual in my
the perspective of the individual in my
the perspective of the individual in my eyes I’m ahead of my time I’ve lived
eyes I’m ahead of my time I’ve lived
eyes I’m ahead of my time I’ve lived longer than the digits on my ID yeah I
longer than the digits on my ID yeah I
longer than the digits on my ID yeah I look younger than the digits on my ID
look younger than the digits on my ID
look younger than the digits on my ID and sin Society I’m worth less than the
and sin Society I’m worth less than the
and sin Society I’m worth less than the cost of my degree we need to liberate
cost of my degree we need to liberate
cost of my degree we need to liberate education break down the walls of a
education break down the walls of a
education break down the walls of a classroom to prove that the sky is the
classroom to prove that the sky is the
classroom to prove that the sky is the limit and undo financial ties so we can
limit and undo financial ties so we can
limit and undo financial ties so we can afford to live our lives but I’m
afford to live our lives but I’m
afford to live our lives but I’m uncertain still unsure what would happen
uncertain still unsure what would happen
uncertain still unsure what would happen if it were all to change
if it were all to change
if it were all to change and it might be my responsibility to be
and it might be my responsibility to be
and it might be my responsibility to be the change that affects my community but
the change that affects my community but
the change that affects my community but we all just sit there sinking into the
we all just sit there sinking into the
we all just sit there sinking into the backs of our Sulphurs like lost change
backs of our Sulphurs like lost change
backs of our Sulphurs like lost change falling out of our pockets change that
falling out of our pockets change that
falling out of our pockets change that could have been invested into better
could have been invested into better
could have been invested into better days but we are so afraid of armies of
days but we are so afraid of armies of
days but we are so afraid of armies of robots and nuclear wars the threat that
robots and nuclear wars the threat that
robots and nuclear wars the threat that the future has to not being distributed
the future has to not being distributed
the future has to not being distributed equally but maybe artificial
equally but maybe artificial
equally but maybe artificial intelligence will fix our flaws so if
intelligence will fix our flaws so if
intelligence will fix our flaws so if the system crashes where we forgot I
the system crashes where we forgot I
the system crashes where we forgot I love yous and debug our hard drives so
love yous and debug our hard drives so
love yous and debug our hard drives so we remember the good times before social
we remember the good times before social
we remember the good times before social media became our warmest embrace and
media became our warmest embrace and
media became our warmest embrace and Facebook was the only way that we
Facebook was the only way that we
Facebook was the only way that we celebrated birthdays I feel if I was
celebrated birthdays I feel if I was
celebrated birthdays I feel if I was able to download my prayers as emails
able to download my prayers as emails
able to download my prayers as emails translate my love from X’s and O’s into
translate my love from X’s and O’s into
translate my love from X’s and O’s into ones and zeros if I could manage my
ones and zeros if I could manage my
ones and zeros if I could manage my humanity and use it more efficiently we
humanity and use it more efficiently we
humanity and use it more efficiently we could find the answers to questions we
could find the answers to questions we
could find the answers to questions we never felt to solve but we chose
never felt to solve but we chose
never felt to solve but we chose technological advances resulting in an
technological advances resulting in an
technological advances resulting in an emotional decline but we know so little
emotional decline but we know so little
emotional decline but we know so little about this great big world in which we
about this great big world in which we
about this great big world in which we live and in these times of unprecedented
live and in these times of unprecedented
live and in these times of unprecedented change with the questions raised for
change with the questions raised for
change with the questions raised for society as so many I try to remember all
society as so many I try to remember all
society as so many I try to remember all that is spiritual physical emotional all
that is spiritual physical emotional all
that is spiritual physical emotional all that makes us truly individual thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] so the last piece that I’m gonna do and
so the last piece that I’m gonna do and
so the last piece that I’m gonna do and I wrote this quite awhile ago like when
I wrote this quite awhile ago like when
I wrote this quite awhile ago like when I was finishing college but it still
I was finishing college but it still
I was finishing college but it still kind of it means a lot to me about where
kind of it means a lot to me about where
kind of it means a lot to me about where I see my future going
I see my future going
I see my future going it’s called infinity often I tried to
it’s called infinity often I tried to
it’s called infinity often I tried to count down from infinity but logically I
count down from infinity but logically I
count down from infinity but logically I can’t calculate whether the time ahead
can’t calculate whether the time ahead
can’t calculate whether the time ahead of me is bright in ass perfect scenario
of me is bright in ass perfect scenario
of me is bright in ass perfect scenario I just hope to find the light at the end
I just hope to find the light at the end
I just hope to find the light at the end of my struggle to funnel out all
of my struggle to funnel out all
of my struggle to funnel out all ambiguous ideas about who I’m supposed
ambiguous ideas about who I’m supposed
ambiguous ideas about who I’m supposed to be but with the state of the world
to be but with the state of the world
to be but with the state of the world now I’d be happy to retreat to the
now I’d be happy to retreat to the
now I’d be happy to retreat to the comfort of my past relive the
comfort of my past relive the
comfort of my past relive the familiarity of church hats at a soup and
familiarity of church hats at a soup and
familiarity of church hats at a soup and prayers that last longer than 24 hours
prayers that last longer than 24 hours
prayers that last longer than 24 hours would allow but our lives are governed
would allow but our lives are governed
would allow but our lives are governed by three hands in an omni a cycle
by three hands in an omni a cycle
by three hands in an omni a cycle mystics beans that speak in monotonous
mystics beans that speak in monotonous
mystics beans that speak in monotonous echoes that don’t ring out for too long
echoes that don’t ring out for too long
echoes that don’t ring out for too long I find myself transfixed by these time
I find myself transfixed by these time
I find myself transfixed by these time constraints why would we given so long
constraints why would we given so long
constraints why would we given so long to contemplate our time here and sifter
to contemplate our time here and sifter
to contemplate our time here and sifter existence for an answer I got here
existence for an answer I got here
existence for an answer I got here quickly by speeding towards a deadline
quickly by speeding towards a deadline
quickly by speeding towards a deadline but I don’t want that eerie beep of a
but I don’t want that eerie beep of a
but I don’t want that eerie beep of a flatlines to be the means of my ends I’m
flatlines to be the means of my ends I’m
flatlines to be the means of my ends I’m not afraid of death but just existing to
not afraid of death but just existing to
not afraid of death but just existing to the point of taking that last breath and
the point of taking that last breath and
the point of taking that last breath and adding up all my regrets to equal
adding up all my regrets to equal
adding up all my regrets to equal whether I lived a whole number or just a
whether I lived a whole number or just a
whether I lived a whole number or just a fraction of what I could have been it’s
fraction of what I could have been it’s
fraction of what I could have been it’s that moment where I’m submerged into the
that moment where I’m submerged into the
that moment where I’m submerged into the ground with the six feet pinning me down
ground with the six feet pinning me down
ground with the six feet pinning me down the moment that I worked towards my
the moment that I worked towards my
the moment that I worked towards my grandparents future was boiled down in a
grandparents future was boiled down in a
grandparents future was boiled down in a Dutch park with a good supply of good
Dutch park with a good supply of good
Dutch park with a good supply of good food and hard food and food for thought
food and hard food and food for thought
food and hard food and food for thought and food that keeps me full even till
and food that keeps me full even till
and food that keeps me full even till now
now
now and it was dished out generously to poor
and it was dished out generously to poor
and it was dished out generously to poor souls who needed more than just change
souls who needed more than just change
souls who needed more than just change to pay for their days but I find myself
to pay for their days but I find myself
to pay for their days but I find myself budgeting breaths I have enough left to
budgeting breaths I have enough left to
budgeting breaths I have enough left to reach heaven I find myself
reach heaven I find myself
reach heaven I find myself shuffling past a dreamers with their
shuffling past a dreamers with their
shuffling past a dreamers with their hands open trying to catch a blessing
hands open trying to catch a blessing
hands open trying to catch a blessing and I’m guessing what the untold story
and I’m guessing what the untold story
and I’m guessing what the untold story is written behind the shade of blue in
is written behind the shade of blue in
is written behind the shade of blue in their eyes I refuse to have my regrets
their eyes I refuse to have my regrets
their eyes I refuse to have my regrets left engraved in my gravestone but I
left engraved in my gravestone but I
left engraved in my gravestone but I aspire to have my dreams hard-pressed
aspire to have my dreams hard-pressed
aspire to have my dreams hard-pressed into diamonds because they were the
into diamonds because they were the
into diamonds because they were the masterplan of my ancestors crafted from
masterplan of my ancestors crafted from
masterplan of my ancestors crafted from the residue of sea salt dried on cheeks
the residue of sea salt dried on cheeks
the residue of sea salt dried on cheeks like tears and seeds gathered on
like tears and seeds gathered on
like tears and seeds gathered on concrete like the snow that doesn’t fall
concrete like the snow that doesn’t fall
concrete like the snow that doesn’t fall on my Island I’ve got all their history
on my Island I’ve got all their history
on my Island I’ve got all their history on my shoulders I’m just trying to fill
on my shoulders I’m just trying to fill
on my shoulders I’m just trying to fill the footprints of giants overcome
the footprints of giants overcome
the footprints of giants overcome mountains and trip over them like their
mountains and trip over them like their
mountains and trip over them like their pebble stones I’m still trying to count
pebble stones I’m still trying to count
pebble stones I’m still trying to count down from infinity and as infinity looms
down from infinity and as infinity looms
down from infinity and as infinity looms over threatening to erase the stamp of
over threatening to erase the stamp of
over threatening to erase the stamp of scars decorated around my knees and
scars decorated around my knees and
scars decorated around my knees and elbows the familiar faces whose names
elbows the familiar faces whose names
elbows the familiar faces whose names escape me I’m trying to stay above the
escape me I’m trying to stay above the
escape me I’m trying to stay above the wave of pin codes and personal
wave of pin codes and personal
wave of pin codes and personal statements ID cards and licenses and the
statements ID cards and licenses and the
statements ID cards and licenses and the threat that the future poses to my plans
threat that the future poses to my plans
threat that the future poses to my plans it’s easier to limit possibilities and
it’s easier to limit possibilities and
it’s easier to limit possibilities and live by practicalities but I don’t want
live by practicalities but I don’t want
live by practicalities but I don’t want to live by practicalities I wanna start
to live by practicalities I wanna start
to live by practicalities I wanna start from one and see which infinity I get up
from one and see which infinity I get up
from one and see which infinity I get up to thank you
to thank you
to thank you [Applause]
”
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