so there is a thought hovering in all of your minds right now when do we get to
your minds right now when do we get to
your minds right now when do we get to leave the reason I say that is because
leave the reason I say that is because
leave the reason I say that is because not too long ago I was in school myself
not too long ago I was in school myself
not too long ago I was in school myself and I understand that if someone asked
and I understand that if someone asked
and I understand that if someone asked us to come to school on a Saturday
us to come to school on a Saturday
us to come to school on a Saturday it was pretty cringe-worthy so I
it was pretty cringe-worthy so I
it was pretty cringe-worthy so I understand your pain of having to sit
understand your pain of having to sit
understand your pain of having to sit here for a big chunk of your day
here for a big chunk of your day
here for a big chunk of your day listening to a few people talk you’re
listening to a few people talk you’re
listening to a few people talk you’re probably wondering how could this ever
probably wondering how could this ever
probably wondering how could this ever be important in your life just the way
be important in your life just the way
be important in your life just the way you have wondered multiple times
you have wondered multiple times
you have wondered multiple times how could calculus ever be important in
how could calculus ever be important in
how could calculus ever be important in your life
your life
your life well I cannot answer that for you
well I cannot answer that for you
well I cannot answer that for you because I still wonder that myself to
because I still wonder that myself to
because I still wonder that myself to this day but I can try answering your
this day but I can try answering your
this day but I can try answering your question of why this speech today could
question of why this speech today could
question of why this speech today could be worth your while so let me tell you a
be worth your while so let me tell you a
be worth your while so let me tell you a story imagine this the year is 2010 the
story imagine this the year is 2010 the
story imagine this the year is 2010 the country India a 16 year old boy has just
country India a 16 year old boy has just
country India a 16 year old boy has just told his parents that he would like to
told his parents that he would like to
told his parents that he would like to go to the u.s. to study engineering for
go to the u.s. to study engineering for
go to the u.s. to study engineering for his bachelor’s degree fortunately the
his bachelor’s degree fortunately the
his bachelor’s degree fortunately the family is such that they can afford such
family is such that they can afford such
family is such that they can afford such an education and the boy has the
an education and the boy has the
an education and the boy has the credentials to get into a college like
credentials to get into a college like
credentials to get into a college like that so what happens next
that so what happens next
that so what happens next well everyone is pretty thrilled because
well everyone is pretty thrilled because
well everyone is pretty thrilled because it’s a pretty good news but a pretty
it’s a pretty good news but a pretty
it’s a pretty good news but a pretty boring story now here is a plot twist
boring story now here is a plot twist
boring story now here is a plot twist the year is 2010 the country India and a
the year is 2010 the country India and a
the year is 2010 the country India and a 16 year old girl has just told her
16 year old girl has just told her
16 year old girl has just told her parents that she would like to go to the
parents that she would like to go to the
parents that she would like to go to the u.s. to study journalism for her
u.s. to study journalism for her
u.s. to study journalism for her bachelor’s degree the earlier fortunes
bachelor’s degree the earlier fortunes
bachelor’s degree the earlier fortunes that I mentioned in the original story
that I mentioned in the original story
that I mentioned in the original story are
are
are exactly the same alone to study
exactly the same alone to study
exactly the same alone to study journalism who goes to the u.s. to study
journalism who goes to the u.s. to study
journalism who goes to the u.s. to study journalism for a bachelor’s degree and
journalism for a bachelor’s degree and
journalism for a bachelor’s degree and that to a girl and that too alone so you
that to a girl and that too alone so you
that to a girl and that too alone so you see the exact same story but I replaced
see the exact same story but I replaced
see the exact same story but I replaced two words the word boy for girl and the
two words the word boy for girl and the
two words the word boy for girl and the word engineering for journalism and this
word engineering for journalism and this
word engineering for journalism and this story that I have so dramatically
story that I have so dramatically
story that I have so dramatically presented to you is my story clearly I’m
presented to you is my story clearly I’m
presented to you is my story clearly I’m not a boy so my story is the girls
not a boy so my story is the girls
not a boy so my story is the girls version and the shocking reactions that
version and the shocking reactions that
version and the shocking reactions that I described to you did not come from my
I described to you did not come from my
I described to you did not come from my parents to whom I had broken the news
parents to whom I had broken the news
parents to whom I had broken the news but from members of the extended family
but from members of the extended family
but from members of the extended family relatives family friends and people we
relatives family friends and people we
relatives family friends and people we dub members of the society so let me
dub members of the society so let me
dub members of the society so let me give you a little background about
give you a little background about
give you a little background about myself I have never been one to give in
myself I have never been one to give in
myself I have never been one to give in to pressure from the society but that
to pressure from the society but that
to pressure from the society but that has not prevented that pressure from
has not prevented that pressure from
has not prevented that pressure from coming at me you see I was a pretty good
coming at me you see I was a pretty good
coming at me you see I was a pretty good student academically so people assumed I
student academically so people assumed I
student academically so people assumed I would take up science in school I didn’t
would take up science in school I didn’t
would take up science in school I didn’t and then because I was bookish ly smart
and then because I was bookish ly smart
and then because I was bookish ly smart people thought I must study a lot I
people thought I must study a lot I
people thought I must study a lot I didn’t in fact I was barely to be found
didn’t in fact I was barely to be found
didn’t in fact I was barely to be found in the classroom I couldn’t sit in one
in the classroom I couldn’t sit in one
in the classroom I couldn’t sit in one place and absorb all the knowledge that
place and absorb all the knowledge that
place and absorb all the knowledge that was being provided to me so I was mostly
was being provided to me so I was mostly
was being provided to me so I was mostly outside engaging in extracurricular
outside engaging in extracurricular
outside engaging in extracurricular activities
activities
activities anyway so people’s expectations
anyway so people’s expectations
anyway so people’s expectations societies stereotypes have been off
societies stereotypes have been off
societies stereotypes have been off little importance to me and my family
little importance to me and my family
little importance to me and my family actually has played a very key role in
actually has played a very key role in
actually has played a very key role in letting me be like that they have never
letting me be like that they have never
letting me be like that they have never imposed anything on me they let me study
imposed anything on me they let me study
imposed anything on me they let me study whatever wherever I wanted to because
whatever wherever I wanted to because
whatever wherever I wanted to because you see
you see
you see my father also wanted to do something
my father also wanted to do something
my father also wanted to do something that was out of the stereotype he wanted
that was out of the stereotype he wanted
that was out of the stereotype he wanted to be an electrical engineer now you are
to be an electrical engineer now you are
to be an electrical engineer now you are probably wondering how is that out of
probably wondering how is that out of
probably wondering how is that out of the stereotype after all we live in a
the stereotype after all we live in a
the stereotype after all we live in a country obsessed with engineers doctors
country obsessed with engineers doctors
country obsessed with engineers doctors and following the recent trends
and following the recent trends
and following the recent trends unfortunately
unfortunately
unfortunately that for anyone who doesn’t know the
that for anyone who doesn’t know the
that for anyone who doesn’t know the meaning it means a human god that people
meaning it means a human god that people
meaning it means a human god that people put on a pedestal in India but in more
put on a pedestal in India but in more
put on a pedestal in India but in more than one case these people have turned
than one case these people have turned
than one case these people have turned out to be either crime lords or even
out to be either crime lords or even
out to be either crime lords or even rapists anyway back to engineering
rapists anyway back to engineering
rapists anyway back to engineering so if engineering were a religion in
so if engineering were a religion in
so if engineering were a religion in India it would be the fifth most
India it would be the fifth most
India it would be the fifth most populous religion in India and that is
populous religion in India and that is
populous religion in India and that is behind religions that are actually
behind religions that are actually
behind religions that are actually religions and not fields of study so my
religions and not fields of study so my
religions and not fields of study so my father he wanted to be an electrical
father he wanted to be an electrical
father he wanted to be an electrical engineer and that was not necessarily
engineer and that was not necessarily
engineer and that was not necessarily debunking the stereotype the status quo
debunking the stereotype the status quo
debunking the stereotype the status quo what was though he wanted to do it on
what was though he wanted to do it on
what was though he wanted to do it on his own terms he wanted to be a
his own terms he wanted to be a
his own terms he wanted to be a businessman in a family full of teachers
businessman in a family full of teachers
businessman in a family full of teachers and people with secure jobs and mind you
and people with secure jobs and mind you
and people with secure jobs and mind you this is a story of ancient times I’m
this is a story of ancient times I’m
this is a story of ancient times I’m sorry to make my father sitting here
sorry to make my father sitting here
sorry to make my father sitting here feels so old but back in those times it
feels so old but back in those times it
feels so old but back in those times it was a pretty big deal and a pretty risky
was a pretty big deal and a pretty risky
was a pretty big deal and a pretty risky one to be a businessman the differing
one to be a businessman the differing
one to be a businessman the differing factor in his story from mine is that he
factor in his story from mine is that he
factor in his story from mine is that he never got any encouragement or support
never got any encouragement or support
never got any encouragement or support from his family he did it anyway but I
from his family he did it anyway but I
from his family he did it anyway but I think
think
think taught him to not deny that kind of
taught him to not deny that kind of
taught him to not deny that kind of encouragement to his children anyway
encouragement to his children anyway
encouragement to his children anyway back to me so many young individuals
back to me so many young individuals
back to me so many young individuals actually even in this day and age do not
actually even in this day and age do not
actually even in this day and age do not have the kind of privilege that I got in
have the kind of privilege that I got in
have the kind of privilege that I got in terms of the support from my parents in
terms of the support from my parents in
terms of the support from my parents in fact the first people to often crush a
fact the first people to often crush a
fact the first people to often crush a young person’s dreams are often their
young person’s dreams are often their
young person’s dreams are often their family members the second is the concept
family members the second is the concept
family members the second is the concept of log Kaka hanging which translates to
of log Kaka hanging which translates to
of log Kaka hanging which translates to what will people say so where does
what will people say so where does
what will people say so where does passion play into all of this well I’m
passion play into all of this well I’m
passion play into all of this well I’m going to give you some sage Lee wisdom
going to give you some sage Lee wisdom
going to give you some sage Lee wisdom it’s going to sound very clichéd but
it’s going to sound very clichéd but
it’s going to sound very clichéd but it’s true in life more people will try
it’s true in life more people will try
it’s true in life more people will try to pull you down than people who will
to pull you down than people who will
to pull you down than people who will try to show you up especially if your
try to show you up especially if your
try to show you up especially if your ideas are against the wave of the
ideas are against the wave of the
ideas are against the wave of the society so how do you prevent yourself
society so how do you prevent yourself
society so how do you prevent yourself from getting weighed down by these
from getting weighed down by these
from getting weighed down by these people and their expectations through
people and their expectations through
people and their expectations through passion so passion in my words is
passion so passion in my words is
passion so passion in my words is wanting something badly you don’t have
wanting something badly you don’t have
wanting something badly you don’t have to want it right now in fact there is no
to want it right now in fact there is no
to want it right now in fact there is no good time to be passionate about
good time to be passionate about
good time to be passionate about something but make sure that when you do
something but make sure that when you do
something but make sure that when you do know what you really want you want it so
know what you really want you want it so
know what you really want you want it so badly that nothing else matters and this
badly that nothing else matters and this
badly that nothing else matters and this wanting can be of anything you can
wanting can be of anything you can
wanting can be of anything you can really badly want to be an engineer
really badly want to be an engineer
really badly want to be an engineer after all more than 1 million people in
after all more than 1 million people in
after all more than 1 million people in India do and people will try to pull you
India do and people will try to pull you
India do and people will try to pull you down by telling you you are not smart
down by telling you you are not smart
down by telling you you are not smart enough you are
enough you are
enough you are capable enough don’t listen to them you
capable enough don’t listen to them you
capable enough don’t listen to them you can really badly want to be a historian
can really badly want to be a historian
can really badly want to be a historian and people will say is that even a
and people will say is that even a
and people will say is that even a career how are you going to make money
career how are you going to make money
career how are you going to make money don’t listen to them I mean still pay
don’t listen to them I mean still pay
don’t listen to them I mean still pay your bills but don’t listen to them you
your bills but don’t listen to them you
your bills but don’t listen to them you can really badly want to be a journalist
can really badly want to be a journalist
can really badly want to be a journalist and people will tell you isn’t that a
and people will tell you isn’t that a
and people will tell you isn’t that a risky profession especially for a woman
risky profession especially for a woman
risky profession especially for a woman is that even a respectable career I
is that even a respectable career I
is that even a respectable career I didn’t listen to them you see human
didn’t listen to them you see human
didn’t listen to them you see human beings are very weird creatures we are
beings are very weird creatures we are
beings are very weird creatures we are never satisfied
never satisfied
never satisfied but if we keep suppressing our inner
but if we keep suppressing our inner
but if we keep suppressing our inner voice our inner choice all we are doing
voice our inner choice all we are doing
voice our inner choice all we are doing is pushing ourselves further away from
is pushing ourselves further away from
is pushing ourselves further away from satisfaction by merely following a path
satisfaction by merely following a path
satisfaction by merely following a path because others too are prodding down the
because others too are prodding down the
because others too are prodding down the same path so it’s passion everything can
same path so it’s passion everything can
same path so it’s passion everything can you just really badly want something and
you just really badly want something and
you just really badly want something and that’s the answer to the most perplexing
that’s the answer to the most perplexing
that’s the answer to the most perplexing riddle that we have been asking for ages
riddle that we have been asking for ages
riddle that we have been asking for ages of course not there are other
of course not there are other
of course not there are other ingredients in the recipe but nothing
ingredients in the recipe but nothing
ingredients in the recipe but nothing that all you people here don’t already
that all you people here don’t already
that all you people here don’t already know be hard-working be focused and all
know be hard-working be focused and all
know be hard-working be focused and all that jazz that you often hear at the
that jazz that you often hear at the
that jazz that you often hear at the dinner table but there is something that
dinner table but there is something that
dinner table but there is something that no one will tell you be stubborn now
no one will tell you be stubborn now
no one will tell you be stubborn now parents and adults and teachers please
parents and adults and teachers please
parents and adults and teachers please don’t gasp I’m not encouraging your
don’t gasp I’m not encouraging your
don’t gasp I’m not encouraging your children and your students to be
children and your students to be
children and your students to be stubborn to the extent where it’s
stubborn to the extent where it’s
stubborn to the extent where it’s burning holes in your pockets but what I
burning holes in your pockets but what I
burning holes in your pockets but what I mean is we’re often told then it’s not a
mean is we’re often told then it’s not a
mean is we’re often told then it’s not a good thing
good thing
good thing to be stubborn we should be
to be stubborn we should be
to be stubborn we should be accommodating we should be adjusting but
accommodating we should be adjusting but
accommodating we should be adjusting but I would like to ask why why should I be
I would like to ask why why should I be
I would like to ask why why should I be accommodating when it comes to my career
accommodating when it comes to my career
accommodating when it comes to my career why should I adjust when it comes to my
why should I adjust when it comes to my
why should I adjust when it comes to my personal growth if Barack Obama would
personal growth if Barack Obama would
personal growth if Barack Obama would have been accommodating he may have
have been accommodating he may have
have been accommodating he may have never been able to break the chain of
never been able to break the chain of
never been able to break the chain of all white American presidents if Saina
all white American presidents if Saina
all white American presidents if Saina Nehwal
Nehwal
Nehwal would have been just a tad bit more
would have been just a tad bit more
would have been just a tad bit more accommodating she may have never become
accommodating she may have never become
accommodating she may have never become the highest-paid athlete outside the
the highest-paid athlete outside the
the highest-paid athlete outside the realm of cricket in a country that
realm of cricket in a country that
realm of cricket in a country that worships cricket but on the other hand
worships cricket but on the other hand
worships cricket but on the other hand because we are made to adjust and
because we are made to adjust and
because we are made to adjust and accommodate the men in the world still
accommodate the men in the world still
accommodate the men in the world still make only $100 to have for every hundred
make only $100 to have for every hundred
make only $100 to have for every hundred and forty dollars that a man makes none
and forty dollars that a man makes none
and forty dollars that a man makes none of the big names that we know today are
of the big names that we know today are
of the big names that we know today are big because those people adjusted and
big because those people adjusted and
big because those people adjusted and accommodated those names are big because
accommodated those names are big because
accommodated those names are big because those people didn’t and they fought so
those people didn’t and they fought so
those people didn’t and they fought so here’s another story when I was at CBS
here’s another story when I was at CBS
here’s another story when I was at CBS News which was up until two months ago
News which was up until two months ago
News which was up until two months ago in New York I was at a very entry-level
in New York I was at a very entry-level
in New York I was at a very entry-level position my job was to assist TV
position my job was to assist TV
position my job was to assist TV producers with whatever they needed
producers with whatever they needed
producers with whatever they needed whether it was research collecting
whether it was research collecting
whether it was research collecting elements for their stories
elements for their stories
elements for their stories going out on shoots anything of that
going out on shoots anything of that
going out on shoots anything of that sort so when I felt that I had a swing
sort so when I felt that I had a swing
sort so when I felt that I had a swing of my responsibilities I thought what if
of my responsibilities I thought what if
of my responsibilities I thought what if I decide to do my own stories so I went
I decide to do my own stories so I went
I decide to do my own stories so I went to someone who was in a more powerful
to someone who was in a more powerful
to someone who was in a more powerful position than I was and I presented my
position than I was and I presented my
position than I was and I presented my idea to them they said people in your
idea to them they said people in your
idea to them they said people in your job profile don’t really pitch stories
job profile don’t really pitch stories
job profile don’t really pitch stories so why don’t you stick to something that
so why don’t you stick to something that
so why don’t you stick to something that is in your job profile and prove your
is in your job profile and prove your
is in your job profile and prove your worth that way
worth that way
worth that way I thought no and so I thought of an idea
I thought no and so I thought of an idea
I thought no and so I thought of an idea I went to a producer and told them my
I went to a producer and told them my
I went to a producer and told them my idea they said you could do it but it
idea they said you could do it but it
idea they said you could do it but it might be a hassle to get a reporter and
might be a hassle to get a reporter and
might be a hassle to get a reporter and then to get a camera crew
then to get a camera crew
then to get a camera crew so I thought let’s step into this hassle
so I thought let’s step into this hassle
so I thought let’s step into this hassle after all were Indians were experts at
after all were Indians were experts at
after all were Indians were experts at kicking off hassles on a daily basis
kicking off hassles on a daily basis
kicking off hassles on a daily basis so I got the camera crew I got the
so I got the camera crew I got the
so I got the camera crew I got the reporter we shot the story and I got all
reporter we shot the story and I got all
reporter we shot the story and I got all my elements in place then came the final
my elements in place then came the final
my elements in place then came the final leg of the process which was editing I
leg of the process which was editing I
leg of the process which was editing I very excitedly went to an editor and I
very excitedly went to an editor and I
very excitedly went to an editor and I said could you help me edit the story in
said could you help me edit the story in
said could you help me edit the story in your free time no I went to another one
your free time no I went to another one
your free time no I went to another one no I went to a producer and said is
no I went to a producer and said is
no I went to a producer and said is there a day when my story could err no
there a day when my story could err no
there a day when my story could err no the calendar is full of segments that we
the calendar is full of segments that we
the calendar is full of segments that we need to air no no no no until I got one
need to air no no no no until I got one
need to air no no no no until I got one yes and then one more until I had enough
yes and then one more until I had enough
yes and then one more until I had enough yeses to finally have my story air just
yeses to finally have my story air just
yeses to finally have my story air just days before my time at CBS News was up
days before my time at CBS News was up
days before my time at CBS News was up some would call it persistence some
some would call it persistence some
some would call it persistence some could call it men she’s so annoying but
could call it men she’s so annoying but
could call it men she’s so annoying but these are only ways to sugarcoat the
these are only ways to sugarcoat the
these are only ways to sugarcoat the word stubborn and why take shame in
word stubborn and why take shame in
word stubborn and why take shame in admitting that you are stubborn because
admitting that you are stubborn because
admitting that you are stubborn because people will talk about you behind you
people will talk about you behind you
people will talk about you behind you you know what they will anyway and once
you know what they will anyway and once
you know what they will anyway and once you stop caring about what people have
you stop caring about what people have
you stop caring about what people have to think or say that’s when you will
to think or say that’s when you will
to think or say that’s when you will achieve your best most badass moments in
achieve your best most badass moments in
achieve your best most badass moments in life so my best moments in my career
life so my best moments in my career
life so my best moments in my career came from being stubborn here on the
came from being stubborn here on the
came from being stubborn here on the right is the story that I shot and was
right is the story that I shot and was
right is the story that I shot and was finally able to get on air it also made
finally able to get on air it also made
finally able to get on air it also made it to the website and then on the left I
it to the website and then on the left I
it to the website and then on the left I also had the opportunity to read my own
also had the opportunity to read my own
also had the opportunity to read my own story for air for a mock reel that I was
story for air for a mock reel that I was
story for air for a mock reel that I was doing at CBS News all the result of not
doing at CBS News all the result of not
doing at CBS News all the result of not accepting a bunch of nose so back to my
accepting a bunch of nose so back to my
accepting a bunch of nose so back to my question of why the speech could even
question of why the speech could even
question of why the speech could even remotely be important in your life
remotely be important in your life
remotely be important in your life because when I was in school no one told
because when I was in school no one told
because when I was in school no one told us that it was okay to want a different
us that it was okay to want a different
us that it was okay to want a different path to walk that different path while
path to walk that different path while
path to walk that different path while we read lions like robots from Robert
we read lions like robots from Robert
we read lions like robots from Robert Frost’s the road not taken no one said
Frost’s the road not taken no one said
Frost’s the road not taken no one said it was actually okay to not take the
it was actually okay to not take the
it was actually okay to not take the road that other people were taking and I
road that other people were taking and I
road that other people were taking and I don’t want that to be your roadblock so
don’t want that to be your roadblock so
don’t want that to be your roadblock so I wanted to be the someone to tell you
I wanted to be the someone to tell you
I wanted to be the someone to tell you that when it comes to your dreams be
that when it comes to your dreams be
that when it comes to your dreams be stubborn be passionate be proudly
stubborn be passionate be proudly
stubborn be passionate be proudly passionate thank you
passionate thank you
passionate thank you [Applause]
”
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