Rebel with a cause | Devyn Simon | TEDxPineCrestSchool

so I am speaking to you today as an

so I am speaking to you today as an academic which i think is a really nice

academic which i think is a really nice

academic which i think is a really nice way of saying a nerd as a serious

way of saying a nerd as a serious

way of saying a nerd as a serious ballerina which is another way of saying

ballerina which is another way of saying

ballerina which is another way of saying I’m a nerd as an older sister and an

I’m a nerd as an older sister and an

I’m a nerd as an older sister and an oldest child as an avid and fast reader

oldest child as an avid and fast reader

oldest child as an avid and fast reader again a nerd a lover of all things Harry

again a nerd a lover of all things Harry

again a nerd a lover of all things Harry Potter and Marvel and fantasy aka nerd

Potter and Marvel and fantasy aka nerd

Potter and Marvel and fantasy aka nerd someone interested in literature and

someone interested in literature and

someone interested in literature and history and forensic science really I’m

history and forensic science really I’m

history and forensic science really I’m trying to say I’m just a giant nerd but

trying to say I’m just a giant nerd but

trying to say I’m just a giant nerd but more than anything today I speak to you

more than anything today I speak to you

more than anything today I speak to you as a rebel no one laughed I’m so

as a rebel no one laughed I’m so

as a rebel no one laughed I’m so surprised when I practice this with my

surprised when I practice this with my

surprised when I practice this with my sister we have to stop at this point

sister we have to stop at this point

sister we have to stop at this point because she was giggling hysterically

because she was giggling hysterically

because she was giggling hysterically I’m gonna have to tell her she’s just

I’m gonna have to tell her she’s just

I’m gonna have to tell her she’s just mean now in all seriousness though I’m

mean now in all seriousness though I’m

mean now in all seriousness though I’m not the kind of person that comes to

not the kind of person that comes to

not the kind of person that comes to mind when thinking of a rebel rebels are

mind when thinking of a rebel rebels are

mind when thinking of a rebel rebels are people who wear leather jackets and ride

people who wear leather jackets and ride

people who wear leather jackets and ride motorcycles wearing skin tight black

motorcycles wearing skin tight black

motorcycles wearing skin tight black pants that are contrary to all forms of

pants that are contrary to all forms of

pants that are contrary to all forms of movement who maybe smoke cigarettes and

movement who maybe smoke cigarettes and

movement who maybe smoke cigarettes and they have a devil-may-care attitude to

they have a devil-may-care attitude to

they have a devil-may-care attitude to everything the the Jim Starks Tyler

everything the the Jim Starks Tyler

everything the the Jim Starks Tyler Durden Xand Ferris Bueller’s of the

Durden Xand Ferris Bueller’s of the

Durden Xand Ferris Bueller’s of the world everybody wants to be a rebel now

world everybody wants to be a rebel now

world everybody wants to be a rebel now something about not following the rules

something about not following the rules

something about not following the rules and feeling like there are no

and feeling like there are no

and feeling like there are no consequences for your actions sounds

consequences for your actions sounds

consequences for your actions sounds very appealing but the actual definition

very appealing but the actual definition

very appealing but the actual definition of a rebel is to show or feel repugnance

of a rebel is to show or feel repugnance

of a rebel is to show or feel repugnance for or resistance to something it’s not

for or resistance to something it’s not

for or resistance to something it’s not just being an opposition to everything

just being an opposition to everything

just being an opposition to everything it’s fighting against a very specific

it’s fighting against a very specific

it’s fighting against a very specific societal norm or tradition to go against

societal norm or tradition to go against

societal norm or tradition to go against the grain I’m going to try and convince

the grain I’m going to try and convince

the grain I’m going to try and convince you how I’m a rebel and hopefully show

you how I’m a rebel and hopefully show

you how I’m a rebel and hopefully show you how you can be one too I mentioned

you how you can be one too I mentioned

you how you can be one too I mentioned that I am ballerina but I couldn’t have

that I am ballerina but I couldn’t have

that I am ballerina but I couldn’t have said this five years ago it was my

said this five years ago it was my

said this five years ago it was my little sister who started first and I

little sister who started first and I

little sister who started first and I just followed her she would be in class

just followed her she would be in class

just followed her she would be in class being a little prima ballerina and I

being a little prima ballerina and I

being a little prima ballerina and I would wait for her outside and people

would wait for her outside and people

would wait for her outside and people would come up to me and say don’t you

would come up to me and say don’t you

would come up to me and say don’t you want to try your sister so good I would

want to try your sister so good I would

want to try your sister so good I would have none of it then in fourth grade I

have none of it then in fourth grade I

have none of it then in fourth grade I grew seven inches almost overnight and I

grew seven inches almost overnight and I

grew seven inches almost overnight and I became the picture of gangly awkwardness

became the picture of gangly awkwardness

became the picture of gangly awkwardness that’s when people stopped telling me I

that’s when people stopped telling me I

that’s when people stopped telling me I should dance they took one look at my

should dance they took one look at my

should dance they took one look at my klutzy train wreck and we’re like no way

klutzy train wreck and we’re like no way

klutzy train wreck and we’re like no way and that’s exactly when and why I

and that’s exactly when and why I

and that’s exactly when and why I started dancing everybody was saying

started dancing everybody was saying

started dancing everybody was saying it’s too late do not even bother trying

it’s too late do not even bother trying

it’s too late do not even bother trying I have to admit I looked so awful that

I have to admit I looked so awful that

I have to admit I looked so awful that first year it was a really

first year it was a really

first year it was a really terrible idea to start at 12 in the

terrible idea to start at 12 in the

terrible idea to start at 12 in the world of ballet that’s already over the

world of ballet that’s already over the

world of ballet that’s already over the hill and this was reinforced every time

hill and this was reinforced every time

hill and this was reinforced every time my mother had to look into the baby

my mother had to look into the baby

my mother had to look into the baby class where both my sister and I were

class where both my sister and I were

class where both my sister and I were and watched the way too tall way too big

and watched the way too tall way too big

and watched the way too tall way too big hue too clueless me trying to follow

hue too clueless me trying to follow

hue too clueless me trying to follow along you think I’m kidding but I’m not

along you think I’m kidding but I’m not

along you think I’m kidding but I’m not this was the first hint of my rebellious

this was the first hint of my rebellious

this was the first hint of my rebellious streak and probably also my stupidest

streak and probably also my stupidest

streak and probably also my stupidest over time I did get better though I

over time I did get better though I

over time I did get better though I don’t know if it was simply for hard

don’t know if it was simply for hard

don’t know if it was simply for hard work or because there was nowhere to go

work or because there was nowhere to go

work or because there was nowhere to go but up people started to approach my

but up people started to approach my

but up people started to approach my parents and say that I really had a shot

parents and say that I really had a shot

parents and say that I really had a shot at a career it was a relief to hear from

at a career it was a relief to hear from

at a career it was a relief to hear from others that I was actually good at

others that I was actually good at

others that I was actually good at something that I had fallen in love with

something that I had fallen in love with

something that I had fallen in love with doing but I also heard another idea that

doing but I also heard another idea that

doing but I also heard another idea that I should drop out of school the average

I should drop out of school the average

I should drop out of school the average age of retirement for dancers is 29

age of retirement for dancers is 29

age of retirement for dancers is 29 years old if you make it beyond that

years old if you make it beyond that

years old if you make it beyond that most ballet companies have an age group

most ballet companies have an age group

most ballet companies have an age group of 45 to extend the longevity of a

of 45 to extend the longevity of a

of 45 to extend the longevity of a career most dancers will try and get

career most dancers will try and get

career most dancers will try and get hired when they are 16 17 or 18 years

hired when they are 16 17 or 18 years

hired when they are 16 17 or 18 years old to accommodate that timeline many

old to accommodate that timeline many

old to accommodate that timeline many dancers homeschool so as to take a

dancers homeschool so as to take a

dancers homeschool so as to take a reduced number of classes per day about

reduced number of classes per day about

reduced number of classes per day about three or four hours to double up on

three or four hours to double up on

three or four hours to double up on dance classes I admire so much the

dance classes I admire so much the

dance classes I admire so much the dedication that these dancers have to

dedication that these dancers have to

dedication that these dancers have to their careers and how willing they are

their careers and how willing they are

their careers and how willing they are to make sacrifices to have it happen I

to make sacrifices to have it happen I

to make sacrifices to have it happen I have nothing but the utmost respect for

have nothing but the utmost respect for

have nothing but the utmost respect for their path but it’s not something I

their path but it’s not something I

their path but it’s not something I could do myself I admitted to you

could do myself I admitted to you

could do myself I admitted to you earlier that I’m a nerd I truly love

earlier that I’m a nerd I truly love

earlier that I’m a nerd I truly love school my education isn’t something that

school my education isn’t something that

school my education isn’t something that I or my parents are willing to

I or my parents are willing to

I or my parents are willing to compromise on the decision doesn’t seem

compromise on the decision doesn’t seem

compromise on the decision doesn’t seem like much but it turned me into one of

like much but it turned me into one of

like much but it turned me into one of the most unlikely of rebels I heard

the most unlikely of rebels I heard

the most unlikely of rebels I heard everything from it’s as a shame you go

everything from it’s as a shame you go

everything from it’s as a shame you go to school you’re wasting your talent too

to school you’re wasting your talent too

to school you’re wasting your talent too how arrogant how selfish how

how arrogant how selfish how

how arrogant how selfish how presumptuous of you to assume that you

presumptuous of you to assume that you

presumptuous of you to assume that you can do something in a way that simply

can do something in a way that simply

can do something in a way that simply just isn’t done that way who would have

just isn’t done that way who would have

just isn’t done that way who would have known there going to school would be

known there going to school would be

known there going to school would be such a revolutionary act I am no Malala

such a revolutionary act I am no Malala

such a revolutionary act I am no Malala but a world where one makes sacrifices

but a world where one makes sacrifices

but a world where one makes sacrifices for everything in the hopes of a career

for everything in the hopes of a career

for everything in the hopes of a career my choice seen subversive at best

my choice seen subversive at best

my choice seen subversive at best threatening at worst insulting the

threatening at worst insulting the

threatening at worst insulting the simple act of refusing to give up either

simple act of refusing to give up either

simple act of refusing to give up either dance or school is me being a rebel with

dance or school is me being a rebel with

dance or school is me being a rebel with a cause and if I had a dime for every

a cause and if I had a dime for every

a cause and if I had a dime for every time somebody told me it would be

time somebody told me it would be

time somebody told me it would be impossible to do both I’d be able to pay

impossible to do both I’d be able to pay

impossible to do both I’d be able to pay for all my pointe shoes myself then

for all my pointe shoes myself then

for all my pointe shoes myself then a Sayers aren’t wrong about how

a Sayers aren’t wrong about how

a Sayers aren’t wrong about how difficult this balancing act is doing

difficult this balancing act is doing

difficult this balancing act is doing both meant burning candle at both ends

both meant burning candle at both ends

both meant burning candle at both ends it meant adding more than 30 hours of

it meant adding more than 30 hours of

it meant adding more than 30 hours of practice to an already busy school week

practice to an already busy school week

practice to an already busy school week it meant that something else had to give

it meant that something else had to give

it meant that something else had to give I’m not here to ask for sympathy when

I’m not here to ask for sympathy when

I’m not here to ask for sympathy when you were a rebel people are like less

you were a rebel people are like less

you were a rebel people are like less less likely to be sympathetic with you

less likely to be sympathetic with you

less likely to be sympathetic with you you want a part in the show you’re going

you want a part in the show you’re going

you want a part in the show you’re going to have to be twice as good as your

to have to be twice as good as your

to have to be twice as good as your competition because they don’t want to

competition because they don’t want to

competition because they don’t want to give it to the girl who has school you

give it to the girl who has school you

give it to the girl who has school you want to be paid attention to in ballet

want to be paid attention to in ballet

want to be paid attention to in ballet class you have to make sure the teacher

class you have to make sure the teacher

class you have to make sure the teacher can’t take their eyes off you because

can’t take their eyes off you because

can’t take their eyes off you because they don’t want to acknowledge you I can

they don’t want to acknowledge you I can

they don’t want to acknowledge you I can see that it’s hard but it’s not

see that it’s hard but it’s not

see that it’s hard but it’s not impossible the gatekeepers in either

impossible the gatekeepers in either

impossible the gatekeepers in either world may not want to be accommodating

world may not want to be accommodating

world may not want to be accommodating to this balancing act but when there’s a

to this balancing act but when there’s a

to this balancing act but when there’s a will there’s a way

will there’s a way

will there’s a way here’s where being a rebel becomes

here’s where being a rebel becomes

here’s where being a rebel becomes important we can exert our influence to

important we can exert our influence to

important we can exert our influence to make the changes that we want or need I

make the changes that we want or need I

make the changes that we want or need I don’t think there’s a person in this

don’t think there’s a person in this

don’t think there’s a person in this room who hasn’t faced adversity or who

room who hasn’t faced adversity or who

room who hasn’t faced adversity or who hasn’t been told they couldn’t do

hasn’t been told they couldn’t do

hasn’t been told they couldn’t do something the moment you do the moment

something the moment you do the moment

something the moment you do the moment you hear those words that’s the moment

you hear those words that’s the moment

you hear those words that’s the moment you too can become a rebel there are a

you too can become a rebel there are a

you too can become a rebel there are a lot of things in this world that can be

lot of things in this world that can be

lot of things in this world that can be changed for the better

changed for the better

changed for the better sees these as opportunities like Kevin

sees these as opportunities like Kevin

sees these as opportunities like Kevin Bacon and Footloose put on your dancing

Bacon and Footloose put on your dancing

Bacon and Footloose put on your dancing shoes and be an agent of change when the

shoes and be an agent of change when the

shoes and be an agent of change when the status quo isn’t budging and no one else

status quo isn’t budging and no one else

status quo isn’t budging and no one else is willing to try show up and be

is willing to try show up and be

is willing to try show up and be different be a rebel with a cause here’s

different be a rebel with a cause here’s

different be a rebel with a cause here’s the thing though your greatest

the thing though your greatest

the thing though your greatest opposition will never be an external

opposition will never be an external

opposition will never be an external force it will always be that little

force it will always be that little

force it will always be that little doubting voice we all have in our own

doubting voice we all have in our own

doubting voice we all have in our own heads the one that’s afraid of the

heads the one that’s afraid of the

heads the one that’s afraid of the uncertainty in the future the one that’s

uncertainty in the future the one that’s

uncertainty in the future the one that’s always questioning your abilities and

always questioning your abilities and

always questioning your abilities and capabilities am I good enough am i

capabilities am I good enough am i

capabilities am I good enough am i strong enough am i fast enough am i

strong enough am i fast enough am i

strong enough am i fast enough am i smart enough am i enough it’s part of

smart enough am i enough it’s part of

smart enough am i enough it’s part of being human doubting yourself no one

being human doubting yourself no one

being human doubting yourself no one walks through life so confident in what

walks through life so confident in what

walks through life so confident in what they are doing that they have no fear so

they are doing that they have no fear so

they are doing that they have no fear so here’s the zeitgeist moment of my speech

here’s the zeitgeist moment of my speech

here’s the zeitgeist moment of my speech the best way to be a rebel is to be a

the best way to be a rebel is to be a

the best way to be a rebel is to be a rebel against your own inner negative

rebel against your own inner negative

rebel against your own inner negative voice there is no greater enemy nothing

voice there is no greater enemy nothing

voice there is no greater enemy nothing that will ever stand in your way more

that will ever stand in your way more

that will ever stand in your way more than yourself nothing is more common and

than yourself nothing is more common and

than yourself nothing is more common and more destructive than that little voice

more destructive than that little voice

more destructive than that little voice that you hear be the biggest baddest

that you hear be the biggest baddest

that you hear be the biggest baddest most rebellious individual you can be

most rebellious individual you can be

most rebellious individual you can be against your own perceived limitations

against your own perceived limitations

against your own perceived limitations don’t

don’t

don’t elegance society fight against yourself

elegance society fight against yourself

elegance society fight against yourself be a rebel to dispel your doubts and

be a rebel to dispel your doubts and

be a rebel to dispel your doubts and your fears and your insecurities have a

your fears and your insecurities have a

your fears and your insecurities have a devil-may-care attitude to uncertainty

devil-may-care attitude to uncertainty

devil-may-care attitude to uncertainty and let actions fly into the face of

and let actions fly into the face of

and let actions fly into the face of doubt be a rebel to yourself for

doubt be a rebel to yourself for

doubt be a rebel to yourself for yourself and watch the result in

yourself and watch the result in

yourself and watch the result in September I will become a University of

September I will become a University of

September I will become a University of Chicago student I have received several

Chicago student I have received several

Chicago student I have received several drop offers from different dance

drop offers from different dance

drop offers from different dance companies so it will continue to balance

companies so it will continue to balance

companies so it will continue to balance dance and school my journey isn’t over I

dance and school my journey isn’t over I

dance and school my journey isn’t over I still have a long way to go but I take a

still have a long way to go but I take a

still have a long way to go but I take a small sense of satisfaction in that not

small sense of satisfaction in that not

small sense of satisfaction in that not only was I able to pull down my own

only was I able to pull down my own

only was I able to pull down my own doubt I managed to just prove some

doubt I managed to just prove some

doubt I managed to just prove some naysayers too I plan on being a rebel

naysayers too I plan on being a rebel

naysayers too I plan on being a rebel for life so I think in that event I’ll

for life so I think in that event I’ll

for life so I think in that event I’ll dress the part that ah yes my jacket

dress the part that ah yes my jacket

dress the part that ah yes my jacket looks like Captain America’s uniform

looks like Captain America’s uniform

looks like Captain America’s uniform don’t say I didn’t warn you I am a nerd

don’t say I didn’t warn you I am a nerd

don’t say I didn’t warn you I am a nerd but I’m also a rebel thank you