seat belt contacts permit registration insurance okay what else am I forgetting
insurance okay what else am I forgetting
insurance okay what else am I forgetting oh yeah sanity and deep breaths okay I’m
oh yeah sanity and deep breaths okay I’m
oh yeah sanity and deep breaths okay I’m ready for this and I am prepared so I
ready for this and I am prepared so I
ready for this and I am prepared so I take a deep breath the clipboard is here
take a deep breath the clipboard is here
take a deep breath the clipboard is here vitamin later I pull into the parking
vitamin later I pull into the parking
vitamin later I pull into the parking lot and wait silently as she scribbles
lot and wait silently as she scribbles
lot and wait silently as she scribbles on my sheet she glances up at me and
on my sheet she glances up at me and
on my sheet she glances up at me and with a smile says you didn’t check the
with a smile says you didn’t check the
with a smile says you didn’t check the bike lane before proceeding to make a
bike lane before proceeding to make a
bike lane before proceeding to make a turn that is considered a dangerous
turn that is considered a dangerous
turn that is considered a dangerous maneuver so you forfeited the test great
maneuver so you forfeited the test great
maneuver so you forfeited the test great I started Tett you mean I failed or an
I started Tett you mean I failed or an
I started Tett you mean I failed or an animal cab Euler you’re basically
animal cab Euler you’re basically
animal cab Euler you’re basically telling me that I’m stupid
telling me that I’m stupid
telling me that I’m stupid I’m an idiot and I can’t do anything
I’m an idiot and I can’t do anything
I’m an idiot and I can’t do anything right but at least that’s what it sounds
right but at least that’s what it sounds
right but at least that’s what it sounds like to me you see I would have come to
like to me you see I would have come to
like to me you see I would have come to terms with this fairly quickly except
terms with this fairly quickly except
terms with this fairly quickly except for the cat I usually don’t fail tests
for the cat I usually don’t fail tests
for the cat I usually don’t fail tests I’m a good test taker and yet I look to
I’m a good test taker and yet I look to
I’m a good test taker and yet I look to my left and I look to my right and
my left and I look to my right and
my left and I look to my right and everyone legally driving around me has
everyone legally driving around me has
everyone legally driving around me has passed this test everyone it seems but
passed this test everyone it seems but
passed this test everyone it seems but me I can pass math tests that most
me I can pass math tests that most
me I can pass math tests that most people struggle on and yet I can’t even
people struggle on and yet I can’t even
people struggle on and yet I can’t even pass the test that the majority of the
pass the test that the majority of the
pass the test that the majority of the adult world has passed so what does that
adult world has passed so what does that
adult world has passed so what does that say about me to me this is my first
say about me to me this is my first
say about me to me this is my first failure as a functional human being and
failure as a functional human being and
failure as a functional human being and non of my first failures as a young
non of my first failures as a young
non of my first failures as a young adult and because of this I’m too
adult and because of this I’m too
adult and because of this I’m too ashamed to get out of the car right away
ashamed to get out of the car right away
ashamed to get out of the car right away but don’t worry I’d get out of the car
but don’t worry I’d get out of the car
but don’t worry I’d get out of the car I’ve seen stuff that I’m standing here
I’ve seen stuff that I’m standing here
I’ve seen stuff that I’m standing here currently no car in sight
currently no car in sight
currently no car in sight and since I can’t escape that test I
and since I can’t escape that test I
and since I can’t escape that test I practice looking over my shoulder and
practice looking over my shoulder and
practice looking over my shoulder and looking over my shoulder again and again
looking over my shoulder again and again
looking over my shoulder again and again and again until my next test
and again until my next test
and again until my next test two weeks later I’ve got a new plan new
two weeks later I’ve got a new plan new
two weeks later I’ve got a new plan new skills and that plan worked and now I
skills and that plan worked and now I
skills and that plan worked and now I know you may be thinking that I’m here
know you may be thinking that I’m here
know you may be thinking that I’m here to tell you how you should never give up
to tell you how you should never give up
to tell you how you should never give up on your dreams and how hard work always
on your dreams and how hard work always
on your dreams and how hard work always pays off but that’s not why I’m here
pays off but that’s not why I’m here
pays off but that’s not why I’m here actually I’m here to tell you and myself
actually I’m here to tell you and myself
actually I’m here to tell you and myself that maybe failing to reach your goal is
that maybe failing to reach your goal is
that maybe failing to reach your goal is the best diving board you can jump off
the best diving board you can jump off
the best diving board you can jump off of into actually reaching your goals but
of into actually reaching your goals but
of into actually reaching your goals but let’s put that in perspective as a
let’s put that in perspective as a
let’s put that in perspective as a society we often follow definitions the
society we often follow definitions the
society we often follow definitions the definition of a setback is a reversal or
definition of a setback is a reversal or
definition of a setback is a reversal or check in progress now this is true but
check in progress now this is true but
check in progress now this is true but when we look at our world the only
when we look at our world the only
when we look at our world the only reason we’ve moved forward is because of
reason we’ve moved forward is because of
reason we’ve moved forward is because of setbacks so wouldn’t that then define a
setbacks so wouldn’t that then define a
setbacks so wouldn’t that then define a step back as a step forward after that
step back as a step forward after that
step back as a step forward after that drivers test I’m tempted to give up but
drivers test I’m tempted to give up but
drivers test I’m tempted to give up but in reality fill in that driver’s test
in reality fill in that driver’s test
in reality fill in that driver’s test smacks me in the face and reminds me
smacks me in the face and reminds me
smacks me in the face and reminds me that I won’t always pass the test that
that I won’t always pass the test that
that I won’t always pass the test that everyone else does and by realizing that
everyone else does and by realizing that
everyone else does and by realizing that that horrible feeling of feeling like a
that horrible feeling of feeling like a
that horrible feeling of feeling like a failure actually ends up helping me I’m
failure actually ends up helping me I’m
failure actually ends up helping me I’m not used to failing tests I’m not used
not used to failing tests I’m not used
not used to failing tests I’m not used to working so hard and practicing what I
to working so hard and practicing what I
to working so hard and practicing what I think is the right material and getting
think is the right material and getting
think is the right material and getting it wrong so imagine how I feel after
it wrong so imagine how I feel after
it wrong so imagine how I feel after failing the very first test that wasn’t
failing the very first test that wasn’t
failing the very first test that wasn’t in a classroom the test that everyone
in a classroom the test that everyone
in a classroom the test that everyone said was so easy and you’ll pass it
said was so easy and you’ll pass it
said was so easy and you’ll pass it easily no big deal
easily no big deal
easily no big deal and so this test this so-called failure
and so this test this so-called failure
and so this test this so-called failure leads to personal growth within me and
leads to personal growth within me and
leads to personal growth within me and the ability to tell you to always look
the ability to tell you to always look
the ability to tell you to always look over your right shoulder when going to
over your right shoulder when going to
over your right shoulder when going to make a turn
make a turn
make a turn and so that’s that I solve the problem
and so that’s that I solve the problem
and so that’s that I solve the problem or did I you see actually the problem I
or did I you see actually the problem I
or did I you see actually the problem I face not solely that I failed a test but
face not solely that I failed a test but
face not solely that I failed a test but that some of the many people telling me
that some of the many people telling me
that some of the many people telling me to get back in the car or in fact some
to get back in the car or in fact some
to get back in the car or in fact some of the many including myself that
of the many including myself that
of the many including myself that stopped at a step back instead of using
stopped at a step back instead of using
stopped at a step back instead of using it and step forward we need to change
it and step forward we need to change
it and step forward we need to change this mindset throughout our planets
this mindset throughout our planets
this mindset throughout our planets history setbacks have been our cue to
history setbacks have been our cue to
history setbacks have been our cue to get better it’s not making us better
get better it’s not making us better
get better it’s not making us better themselves take us humans for example at
themselves take us humans for example at
themselves take us humans for example at the primal stages of the human existence
the primal stages of the human existence
the primal stages of the human existence I mean the primal primal stages we
I mean the primal primal stages we
I mean the primal primal stages we humans weren’t the most advanced
humans weren’t the most advanced
humans weren’t the most advanced creatures on the face of the earth even
creatures on the face of the earth even
creatures on the face of the earth even though we had the potential to be we
though we had the potential to be we
though we had the potential to be we hadn’t made enough mistakes to learn
hadn’t made enough mistakes to learn
hadn’t made enough mistakes to learn from we didn’t have effective tools or
from we didn’t have effective tools or
from we didn’t have effective tools or hunting methods and it was a constant
hunting methods and it was a constant
hunting methods and it was a constant struggle for survival
struggle for survival
struggle for survival so when families started dying off we
so when families started dying off we
so when families started dying off we humans got her act together and changed
humans got her act together and changed
humans got her act together and changed our ways and through the wheel new
our ways and through the wheel new
our ways and through the wheel new weapons different methods for gathering
weapons different methods for gathering
weapons different methods for gathering food and water it was the fact that so
food and water it was the fact that so
food and water it was the fact that so many people died that led so many people
many people died that led so many people
many people died that led so many people surviving with the obstacles we face
surviving with the obstacles we face
surviving with the obstacles we face people got over each one
people got over each one
people got over each one eventually paving the way for the
eventually paving the way for the
eventually paving the way for the complex society we have today the
complex society we have today the
complex society we have today the struggles they face might not have been
struggles they face might not have been
struggles they face might not have been the same as a struggle I faced with
the same as a struggle I faced with
the same as a struggle I faced with throwing murderers toast
throwing murderers toast
throwing murderers toast but in both instances setbacks led to
but in both instances setbacks led to
but in both instances setbacks led to personal growth and innovation thus
personal growth and innovation thus
personal growth and innovation thus redefining the term setback this unseen
redefining the term setback this unseen
redefining the term setback this unseen trend of stepping over our step backs is
trend of stepping over our step backs is
trend of stepping over our step backs is applicable to all aspects of our world
applicable to all aspects of our world
applicable to all aspects of our world for example long ago we didn’t have the
for example long ago we didn’t have the
for example long ago we didn’t have the medical technology we do now and
medical technology we do now and
medical technology we do now and millions of people die from something as
millions of people die from something as
millions of people die from something as simple as a common cold the only reason
simple as a common cold the only reason
simple as a common cold the only reason we were able to innovate and create
we were able to innovate and create
we were able to innovate and create vaccines and antibiotics was the demand
vaccines and antibiotics was the demand
vaccines and antibiotics was the demand for millions of sick people in need of
for millions of sick people in need of
for millions of sick people in need of them in the 1980s the u.s. twin is a
them in the 1980s the u.s. twin is a
them in the 1980s the u.s. twin is a stark increase in cases of acquired
stark increase in cases of acquired
stark increase in cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome commonly known
immunodeficiency syndrome commonly known
immunodeficiency syndrome commonly known as AIDS it took a huge escalation of
as AIDS it took a huge escalation of
as AIDS it took a huge escalation of this disease for the doctors and thigh
this disease for the doctors and thigh
this disease for the doctors and thigh just to finally get serious about
just to finally get serious about
just to finally get serious about finding a solution years later we have
finding a solution years later we have
finding a solution years later we have much more technologically advanced
much more technologically advanced
much more technologically advanced methods for controlling the disease and
methods for controlling the disease and
methods for controlling the disease and millions of lives have been saved
millions of lives have been saved
millions of lives have been saved medicine really is incredible but it is
medicine really is incredible but it is
medicine really is incredible but it is built off of setbacks it is carried on
built off of setbacks it is carried on
built off of setbacks it is carried on the backs of those who are sick and
the backs of those who are sick and
the backs of those who are sick and those who are determined to continue
those who are determined to continue
those who are determined to continue even after they hit roadblocks we all
even after they hit roadblocks we all
even after they hit roadblocks we all know people that sit on the backs of
know people that sit on the backs of
know people that sit on the backs of those who are sick we know those who
those who are sick we know those who
those who are sick we know those who survive because others died I know I do
survive because others died I know I do
survive because others died I know I do my mom is one of those people and she’s
my mom is one of those people and she’s
my mom is one of those people and she’s one of the reasons I’m up here today I’m
one of the reasons I’m up here today I’m
one of the reasons I’m up here today I’m in this family room I am 12 years old
in this family room I am 12 years old
in this family room I am 12 years old the lights are low and the air is
the lights are low and the air is
the lights are low and the air is visibly glowing with excitement my mom
visibly glowing with excitement my mom
visibly glowing with excitement my mom and dad had told me and my sisters that
and dad had told me and my sisters that
and dad had told me and my sisters that they wanted to speak to us and naturally
they wanted to speak to us and naturally
they wanted to speak to us and naturally I’m running through possible scenarios
I’m running through possible scenarios
I’m running through possible scenarios in my head a new trampoline or maybe
in my head a new trampoline or maybe
in my head a new trampoline or maybe we’re getting a new puppy after all
we’re getting a new puppy after all
we’re getting a new puppy after all Christmas is in two weeks and I’m not
Christmas is in two weeks and I’m not
Christmas is in two weeks and I’m not one to abduct getting presents early
one to abduct getting presents early
one to abduct getting presents early it’s quiet and I can hear my sisters
it’s quiet and I can hear my sisters
it’s quiet and I can hear my sisters breathing
breathing
breathing my mom and dad walk in from the kitchen
my mom and dad walk in from the kitchen
my mom and dad walk in from the kitchen and meet me and my sisters and they look
and meet me and my sisters and they look
and meet me and my sisters and they look at me with a love so fears I can feel it
at me with a love so fears I can feel it
at me with a love so fears I can feel it radiating down to my bones and they
radiating down to my bones and they
radiating down to my bones and they start talking to us and I still thinking
start talking to us and I still thinking
start talking to us and I still thinking about whether I like German Shepherds
about whether I like German Shepherds
about whether I like German Shepherds more or labradoodles in cancer cancer
mommy has something called cancer oh but
mommy has something called cancer oh but mom is the superhero superheroes can’t
mom is the superhero superheroes can’t
mom is the superhero superheroes can’t have cancer
have cancer
have cancer this superhero does and I get to see
this superhero does and I get to see
this superhero does and I get to see what that’s like and through months and
what that’s like and through months and
what that’s like and through months and months of tagging along the doctor’s
months of tagging along the doctor’s
months of tagging along the doctor’s visits and googling breast cancer and
visits and googling breast cancer and
visits and googling breast cancer and radiation and listening into my mom’s
radiation and listening into my mom’s
radiation and listening into my mom’s treatment plan
treatment plan
treatment plan I had a first-hand look into the medical
I had a first-hand look into the medical
I had a first-hand look into the medical industry and the jobs within it five
industry and the jobs within it five
industry and the jobs within it five years later I still remember the moment
years later I still remember the moment
years later I still remember the moment my mom looked me in the eyes and said
my mom looked me in the eyes and said
my mom looked me in the eyes and said the cancer is gone they got it I also
the cancer is gone they got it I also
the cancer is gone they got it I also remember the moment medicine clicked for
remember the moment medicine clicked for
remember the moment medicine clicked for me medicine is now something that I’ve
me medicine is now something that I’ve
me medicine is now something that I’ve become invested in and something that I
become invested in and something that I
become invested in and something that I probably wouldn’t have thought twice
probably wouldn’t have thought twice
probably wouldn’t have thought twice about had my mom never exposed me to the
about had my mom never exposed me to the
about had my mom never exposed me to the rawness and the speed of it the trauma
rawness and the speed of it the trauma
rawness and the speed of it the trauma that my mom went through ended up
that my mom went through ended up
that my mom went through ended up leaving me with a gift of knowledge her
leaving me with a gift of knowledge her
leaving me with a gift of knowledge her setback my family’s setback turned into
setback my family’s setback turned into
setback my family’s setback turned into being one of the diving boards that I
being one of the diving boards that I
being one of the diving boards that I jumped off of into becoming Who I am
jumped off of into becoming Who I am
jumped off of into becoming Who I am today and I’m better for it setbacks
today and I’m better for it setbacks
today and I’m better for it setbacks lead to steps forward
lead to steps forward
lead to steps forward and so that’s that and going back to why
and so that’s that and going back to why
and so that’s that and going back to why I’m standing here today standing on this
I’m standing here today standing on this
I’m standing here today standing on this red circle what’s a microphone on a
red circle what’s a microphone on a
red circle what’s a microphone on a weekday talking with you all I’m here to
weekday talking with you all I’m here to
weekday talking with you all I’m here to tell you something and I’m here to ask
tell you something and I’m here to ask
tell you something and I’m here to ask you something
you something
you something I understand that not all setbacks will
I understand that not all setbacks will
I understand that not all setbacks will lead to something good not all struggles
lead to something good not all struggles
lead to something good not all struggles have a happy ending but all setbacks
have a happy ending but all setbacks
have a happy ending but all setbacks deserve to be given a chance to render
deserve to be given a chance to render
deserve to be given a chance to render something good so my question for you is
something good so my question for you is
something good so my question for you is are you letting setbacks in your life be
are you letting setbacks in your life be
are you letting setbacks in your life be what they are setbacks or are you rising
what they are setbacks or are you rising
what they are setbacks or are you rising up from your turmoils and telling
up from your turmoils and telling
up from your turmoils and telling yourself that if you put in the work you
yourself that if you put in the work you
yourself that if you put in the work you will get something out of it
our questions we need to be asking
our questions we need to be asking ourselves every single day these are
ourselves every single day these are
ourselves every single day these are things we need to think about when we
things we need to think about when we
things we need to think about when we look at our world when we see what’s
look at our world when we see what’s
look at our world when we see what’s happening and we think to ourselves this
happening and we think to ourselves this
happening and we think to ourselves this needs to get better we are constantly in
needs to get better we are constantly in
needs to get better we are constantly in the middle of a setback it is your
the middle of a setback it is your
the middle of a setback it is your choice as to whether you will stop or
choice as to whether you will stop or
choice as to whether you will stop or whether you will take a step forward
whether you will take a step forward
whether you will take a step forward Thanks
Thanks
Thanks [Applause]
”
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