when I was born my grandma had the honor of naming me and she chose to name me
of naming me and she chose to name me
of naming me and she chose to name me Davis after the University of California
Davis after the University of California
Davis after the University of California Davis so yes I realize you’ve been
Davis so yes I realize you’ve been
Davis so yes I realize you’ve been staring at my name for the last four
staring at my name for the last four
staring at my name for the last four hours
hours
hours my grandma chose to name me after an
my grandma chose to name me after an
my grandma chose to name me after an American University because she had a
American University because she had a
American University because she had a dream that I would be the first in our
dream that I would be the first in our
dream that I would be the first in our family to go to college I later found
family to go to college I later found
family to go to college I later found out she also considered naming me after
out she also considered naming me after
out she also considered naming me after Rice University that would have made
Rice University that would have made
Rice University that would have made dinner time a little confusing but even
dinner time a little confusing but even
dinner time a little confusing but even though I was named after such a
though I was named after such a
though I was named after such a impressive university my path to college
impressive university my path to college
impressive university my path to college was never a guarantee I was raised by a
was never a guarantee I was raised by a
was never a guarantee I was raised by a single mother who hadn’t even finished
single mother who hadn’t even finished
single mother who hadn’t even finished third grade my school system failed to
third grade my school system failed to
third grade my school system failed to meet nine national regulations as a
meet nine national regulations as a
meet nine national regulations as a result we became labeled the worst
result we became labeled the worst
result we became labeled the worst school district in the United States and
school district in the United States and
school district in the United States and we were so underfunded that every time a
we were so underfunded that every time a
we were so underfunded that every time a teacher had a birthday we would all
teacher had a birthday we would all
teacher had a birthday we would all gather our money together so that she
gather our money together so that she
gather our money together so that she would have copy paper for next day but
would have copy paper for next day but
would have copy paper for next day but despite all this I eventually earned a
despite all this I eventually earned a
despite all this I eventually earned a full scholarship to college
[Music]
[Music] when people hear my story you probably
when people hear my story you probably
when people hear my story you probably think hard work was what got me to where
think hard work was what got me to where
think hard work was what got me to where I am today and it’s true
I am today and it’s true
I am today and it’s true hard work is needed to escape poverty
hard work is needed to escape poverty
hard work is needed to escape poverty but if hard work was all it took
but if hard work was all it took
but if hard work was all it took why is it that I’m here when many of my
why is it that I’m here when many of my
why is it that I’m here when many of my friends who also worked hard are still
friends who also worked hard are still
friends who also worked hard are still unemployed and never even left our
unemployed and never even left our
unemployed and never even left our community I did work hard but I also had
community I did work hard but I also had
community I did work hard but I also had something they didn’t I had access to
something they didn’t I had access to
something they didn’t I had access to someone who would create an opportunity
someone who would create an opportunity
someone who would create an opportunity for me when I was 17 I discovered a
for me when I was 17 I discovered a
for me when I was 17 I discovered a website that forever changed my life it
website that forever changed my life it
website that forever changed my life it was a type of website where high school
was a type of website where high school
was a type of website where high school students would all meet and discuss the
students would all meet and discuss the
students would all meet and discuss the best strategies for getting into the
best strategies for getting into the
best strategies for getting into the best universities in the world I spent
best universities in the world I spent
best universities in the world I spent countless evenings on this website
countless evenings on this website
countless evenings on this website before deciding to email 50 of the most
before deciding to email 50 of the most
before deciding to email 50 of the most active users to my surprise I received
active users to my surprise I received
active users to my surprise I received my first email back 30 minutes later it
my first email back 30 minutes later it
my first email back 30 minutes later it was a girl from Iowa who had said in
was a girl from Iowa who had said in
was a girl from Iowa who had said in order to get to your best University
order to get to your best University
order to get to your best University this is how you apply for scholarships
this is how you apply for scholarships
this is how you apply for scholarships this is how you improved your SAT scores
this is how you improved your SAT scores
this is how you improved your SAT scores and if you want I’ll read your essay for
and if you want I’ll read your essay for
and if you want I’ll read your essay for you for the first time in my life I was
you for the first time in my life I was
you for the first time in my life I was willing to work hard but also knew what
willing to work hard but also knew what
willing to work hard but also knew what to work hard on and eventually I was
to work hard on and eventually I was
to work hard on and eventually I was able to get a full ride to both Harvard
able to get a full ride to both Harvard
able to get a full ride to both Harvard University as well as Yale University
[Music]
[Music] unfortunately UC Davis did not offer me
unfortunately UC Davis did not offer me
unfortunately UC Davis did not offer me a scholarship but for the first time in
a scholarship but for the first time in
a scholarship but for the first time in my life I realized perhaps hard work is
my life I realized perhaps hard work is
my life I realized perhaps hard work is necessary but you also need a connection
necessary but you also need a connection
necessary but you also need a connection to someone who can change your life and
to someone who can change your life and
to someone who can change your life and in college I took an economics course
in college I took an economics course
in college I took an economics course where a professor shared a glaring
where a professor shared a glaring
where a professor shared a glaring statistic he said how hard it is to
statistic he said how hard it is to
statistic he said how hard it is to escape poverty when you’re born into it
escape poverty when you’re born into it
escape poverty when you’re born into it if you were born in the bottom 20% of
if you were born in the bottom 20% of
if you were born in the bottom 20% of family income something you don’t decide
family income something you don’t decide
family income something you don’t decide before you’re born you have less than
before you’re born you have less than
before you’re born you have less than half a chance making it to even middle
half a chance making it to even middle
half a chance making it to even middle class less than half but there was also
class less than half but there was also
class less than half but there was also another number that caught my eye is
another number that caught my eye is
another number that caught my eye is very small but at the top of his graph
very small but at the top of his graph
very small but at the top of his graph it was about 7% who not only escaped
it was about 7% who not only escaped
it was about 7% who not only escaped poverty but also became some of the
poverty but also became some of the
poverty but also became some of the wealthiest families in the world and I
wealthiest families in the world and I
wealthiest families in the world and I started asking instead of thinking them
started asking instead of thinking them
started asking instead of thinking them as outliers what can we learn from the
as outliers what can we learn from the
as outliers what can we learn from the 7% that we can pass on to over 93% and
7% that we can pass on to over 93% and
7% that we can pass on to over 93% and so my junior year of college I started
so my junior year of college I started
so my junior year of college I started interviewing hundreds of people who grew
interviewing hundreds of people who grew
interviewing hundreds of people who grew up in poverty some who stayed in poverty
up in poverty some who stayed in poverty
up in poverty some who stayed in poverty but others who became some of the
but others who became some of the
but others who became some of the wealthiest individuals in the United
wealthiest individuals in the United
wealthiest individuals in the United States and one thing stood out the
States and one thing stood out the
States and one thing stood out the difference was the people who were
difference was the people who were
difference was the people who were wealthy could name so many mentors so
wealthy could name so many mentors so
wealthy could name so many mentors so many supporters and so many champions
many supporters and so many champions
many supporters and so many champions but help them create an opportunity for
but help them create an opportunity for
but help them create an opportunity for themselves but often people who were in
themselves but often people who were in
themselves but often people who were in poverty still had supporters but never
poverty still had supporters but never
poverty still had supporters but never that champion who broke through for them
that champion who broke through for them
that champion who broke through for them when I graduated college I started
when I graduated college I started
when I graduated college I started thinking does this theory of social
thinking does this theory of social
thinking does this theory of social connectedness also applied to helping
connectedness also applied to helping
connectedness also applied to helping solve poverty worldwide when I graduated
solve poverty worldwide when I graduated
solve poverty worldwide when I graduated I decided to spend five months
I decided to spend five months
I decided to spend five months backpacking around the world living in
backpacking around the world living in
backpacking around the world living in some of the poorest villages I could
some of the poorest villages I could
some of the poorest villages I could find one of the villages I lived in
find one of the villages I lived in
find one of the villages I lived in what’s called sapa sapa is this mountain
what’s called sapa sapa is this mountain
what’s called sapa sapa is this mountain region in between China and Vietnam in
region in between China and Vietnam in
region in between China and Vietnam in his home to a number of tribes known as
his home to a number of tribes known as
his home to a number of tribes known as the Hmong people the Hmong made for an
the Hmong people the Hmong made for an
the Hmong people the Hmong made for an interesting study because the average
interesting study because the average
interesting study because the average among family makes 63 cents a day 63
among family makes 63 cents a day 63
among family makes 63 cents a day 63 cents in the fame words of another TEDx
cents in the fame words of another TEDx
cents in the fame words of another TEDx speaker today I realized my poor ain’t
speaker today I realized my poor ain’t
speaker today I realized my poor ain’t poor
poor
poor [Music]
[Music]
[Music] in Sapa I even convinced two friends to
in Sapa I even convinced two friends to
in Sapa I even convinced two friends to stay with me in the three of us ended up
stay with me in the three of us ended up
stay with me in the three of us ended up saying with a Hmong woman named Sousa
saying with a Hmong woman named Sousa
saying with a Hmong woman named Sousa Zaza had lived in sapa her entire life
Zaza had lived in sapa her entire life
Zaza had lived in sapa her entire life the amazing thing about her was she
the amazing thing about her was she
the amazing thing about her was she loved people
loved people
loved people she loved culture most importantly she
she loved culture most importantly she
she loved culture most importantly she loved languages she had never been
loved languages she had never been
loved languages she had never been inside of a classroom and yet managed to
inside of a classroom and yet managed to
inside of a classroom and yet managed to teach herself perfect English perfect
teach herself perfect English perfect
teach herself perfect English perfect Vietnamese almost perfect French and
Vietnamese almost perfect French and
Vietnamese almost perfect French and even almost perfect Mandarin in another
even almost perfect Mandarin in another
even almost perfect Mandarin in another lifetime she could’ve been a translator
lifetime she could’ve been a translator
lifetime she could’ve been a translator she could’ve been a teacher she could’ve
she could’ve been a teacher she could’ve
she could’ve been a teacher she could’ve been a diplomat but because she lived in
been a diplomat but because she lived in
been a diplomat but because she lived in sapa her day-to-day involves selling
sapa her day-to-day involves selling
sapa her day-to-day involves selling bracelets necklaces and homemade regalia
bracelets necklaces and homemade regalia
bracelets necklaces and homemade regalia to tourists and her kids while we’re
to tourists and her kids while we’re
to tourists and her kids while we’re living there had they been born in a
living there had they been born in a
living there had they been born in a developed country woulda spent their
developed country woulda spent their
developed country woulda spent their summers sleeping in playing with friends
summers sleeping in playing with friends
summers sleeping in playing with friends or binge watching on TEDx videos but
or binge watching on TEDx videos but
or binge watching on TEDx videos but instead their summers were spent helping
instead their summers were spent helping
instead their summers were spent helping their mothers as a cell these homemade
their mothers as a cell these homemade
their mothers as a cell these homemade goods so every day at 5 a.m. the family
goods so every day at 5 a.m. the family
goods so every day at 5 a.m. the family would wake up with us and we just start
would wake up with us and we just start
would wake up with us and we just start a three-hour descent down the mountain
a three-hour descent down the mountain
a three-hour descent down the mountain to the center of the city where we were
to the center of the city where we were
to the center of the city where we were to wait buses that came exactly at 8:00
to wait buses that came exactly at 8:00
to wait buses that came exactly at 8:00 a.m. when these thousands of tourists
a.m. when these thousands of tourists
a.m. when these thousands of tourists came we would try to sell the bracelets
came we would try to sell the bracelets
came we would try to sell the bracelets we try to sell the necklaces on a good
we try to sell the necklaces on a good
we try to sell the necklaces on a good day we were able to sell enough to buy
day we were able to sell enough to buy
day we were able to sell enough to buy groceries and even have some left over
groceries and even have some left over
groceries and even have some left over for a bad day and then there were bad
for a bad day and then there were bad
for a bad day and then there were bad days days when she couldn’t even sell a
days days when she couldn’t even sell a
days days when she couldn’t even sell a single bracelet and now she and her kids
single bracelet and now she and her kids
single bracelet and now she and her kids will have to hike back up the mountain
will have to hike back up the mountain
will have to hike back up the mountain three hours with all the unsold goods in
three hours with all the unsold goods in
three hours with all the unsold goods in their back wondering the whole time when
their back wondering the whole time when
their back wondering the whole time when am I going to do for food this is their
am I going to do for food this is their
am I going to do for food this is their lives 365 days out of the year so even
lives 365 days out of the year so even
lives 365 days out of the year so even if we gave her a one-time donation when
if we gave her a one-time donation when
if we gave her a one-time donation when that money runs out that’s it but does
that money runs out that’s it but does
that money runs out that’s it but does it have to be that way one of the most
it have to be that way one of the most
it have to be that way one of the most lucrative opportunities in sapa is being
lucrative opportunities in sapa is being
lucrative opportunities in sapa is being able to give tours for the thousands of
able to give tours for the thousands of
able to give tours for the thousands of people who land the problem was even
people who land the problem was even
people who land the problem was even though those a new better english than
though those a new better english than
though those a new better english than the tour guides and lived in the land
the tour guides and lived in the land
the tour guides and lived in the land she had no way of convincing them to
she had no way of convincing them to
she had no way of convincing them to take a chance on her they didn’t
take a chance on her they didn’t
take a chance on her they didn’t it was a scam so even though she spoke
it was a scam so even though she spoke
it was a scam so even though she spoke perfect English never had a teacher to
perfect English never had a teacher to
perfect English never had a teacher to teach her how to write but is something
teach her how to write but is something
teach her how to write but is something that three American students could do so
that three American students could do so
that three American students could do so the next day we found a local cafe three
the next day we found a local cafe three
the next day we found a local cafe three hours away from the mountain and we
hours away from the mountain and we
hours away from the mountain and we started writing up our reviews typing up
started writing up our reviews typing up
started writing up our reviews typing up our comments adding pictures making it
our comments adding pictures making it
our comments adding pictures making it like a Trip Advisor on a page and we
like a Trip Advisor on a page and we
like a Trip Advisor on a page and we gave a stack to Zuza
gave a stack to Zuza
gave a stack to Zuza and then last day we were there does it
and then last day we were there does it
and then last day we were there does it use those Flyers to get her first
use those Flyers to get her first
use those Flyers to get her first customer she made more that day than the
customer she made more that day than the
customer she made more that day than the average Hmong family makes in two months
[Music]
[Music] though my friends and I created this
though my friends and I created this
though my friends and I created this opportunity for her it is doesn’t work
opportunity for her it is doesn’t work
opportunity for her it is doesn’t work ethic that keeps it going today and last
ethic that keeps it going today and last
ethic that keeps it going today and last I checked she since had a number of
I checked she since had a number of
I checked she since had a number of tours and a bunch of people have taken a
tours and a bunch of people have taken a
tours and a bunch of people have taken a chance on her when I was 17 I received
chance on her when I was 17 I received
chance on her when I was 17 I received an email that would change my life I had
an email that would change my life I had
an email that would change my life I had this dream that my mom and I wouldn’t
this dream that my mom and I wouldn’t
this dream that my mom and I wouldn’t have to use our neighbor’s hose to take
have to use our neighbor’s hose to take
have to use our neighbor’s hose to take a shower when our water right now had
a shower when our water right now had
a shower when our water right now had this dream that I could see my mom going
this dream that I could see my mom going
this dream that I could see my mom going to sleep and worrying if not worrying if
to sleep and worrying if not worrying if
to sleep and worrying if not worrying if our house if we would be evicted the
our house if we would be evicted the
our house if we would be evicted the next day I was willing to work hard I
next day I was willing to work hard I
next day I was willing to work hard I had this determination but what I didn’t
had this determination but what I didn’t
had this determination but what I didn’t have was a road map that email from that
have was a road map that email from that
have was a road map that email from that girl in Iowa became my road map and that
girl in Iowa became my road map and that
girl in Iowa became my road map and that road has led me here today the TEDx to
road has led me here today the TEDx to
road has led me here today the TEDx to share a very simple message with you
share a very simple message with you
share a very simple message with you that message is we don’t solve poverty
that message is we don’t solve poverty
that message is we don’t solve poverty by simply throwing money at it we solve
by simply throwing money at it we solve
by simply throwing money at it we solve poverty by helping people create
poverty by helping people create
poverty by helping people create opportunities for themselves as all the
opportunities for themselves as all the
opportunities for themselves as all the speakers have spoken today I hope you’ve
speakers have spoken today I hope you’ve
speakers have spoken today I hope you’ve seen they’ve changed lives of their
seen they’ve changed lives of their
seen they’ve changed lives of their students their families and their
students their families and their
students their families and their clients but I want to tell you is that
clients but I want to tell you is that
clients but I want to tell you is that you don’t have to be on this TEDx stage
you don’t have to be on this TEDx stage
you don’t have to be on this TEDx stage to change a life you already have the
to change a life you already have the
to change a life you already have the knowledge you need to change a life what
knowledge you need to change a life what
knowledge you need to change a life what it’s easy
it’s easy
it’s easy what is intuitive and what might be less
what is intuitive and what might be less
what is intuitive and what might be less than 30 minutes for you to do could mean
than 30 minutes for you to do could mean
than 30 minutes for you to do could mean that a mother living in the mountains
that a mother living in the mountains
that a mother living in the mountains find a reliable way to feed her family
find a reliable way to feed her family
find a reliable way to feed her family everyday or it can be another grandma
everyday or it can be another grandma
everyday or it can be another grandma watch as the grandson she names after an
watch as the grandson she names after an
watch as the grandson she names after an American University
American University
American University telezart on Mother’s Day that he’s going
telezart on Mother’s Day that he’s going
telezart on Mother’s Day that he’s going to college creating an opportunity for
to college creating an opportunity for
to college creating an opportunity for one person might not change the world
one person might not change the world
one person might not change the world but you’ll change the world for that one
but you’ll change the world for that one
but you’ll change the world for that one person thank you
person thank you
person thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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