so when I was in seventh grade I moved to a new school in a new city kind of a
to a new school in a new city kind of a
to a new school in a new city kind of a raise of hands for everyone who’s in
raise of hands for everyone who’s in
raise of hands for everyone who’s in seventh grade okay a lot of you so I was
seventh grade okay a lot of you so I was
seventh grade okay a lot of you so I was terrified of moving to this new school I
terrified of moving to this new school I
terrified of moving to this new school I had been at the same school for the last
had been at the same school for the last
had been at the same school for the last eight years with the same friends we
eight years with the same friends we
eight years with the same friends we played on the same soccer team and we’re
played on the same soccer team and we’re
played on the same soccer team and we’re in the same Girl Scouts true it’s safe
in the same Girl Scouts true it’s safe
in the same Girl Scouts true it’s safe to say I was not well equipped for
to say I was not well equipped for
to say I was not well equipped for change so when my mom told me I had to
change so when my mom told me I had to
change so when my mom told me I had to take a test to see what math class I
take a test to see what math class I
take a test to see what math class I would be placed in I transferred all my
would be placed in I transferred all my
would be placed in I transferred all my anxiety about starting at a new school
anxiety about starting at a new school
anxiety about starting at a new school on to this one test
on to this one test
on to this one test so like any mature eleven-year-old I
so like any mature eleven-year-old I
so like any mature eleven-year-old I concocted a plan to get out of taking
concocted a plan to get out of taking
concocted a plan to get out of taking the test every time I passed my mother I
the test every time I passed my mother I
the test every time I passed my mother I would cough or make subtle comments
would cough or make subtle comments
would cough or make subtle comments about how warm it felt inside even
about how warm it felt inside even
about how warm it felt inside even though I had already turned up the air
though I had already turned up the air
though I had already turned up the air conditioning I hope that over this
conditioning I hope that over this
conditioning I hope that over this week’s time I could convince her that I
week’s time I could convince her that I
week’s time I could convince her that I was way too sick to go and make take
was way too sick to go and make take
was way too sick to go and make take this test so on the night before I was
this test so on the night before I was
this test so on the night before I was supposed to take the test I knew I had
supposed to take the test I knew I had
supposed to take the test I knew I had to go all in I came to her room and I
to go all in I came to her room and I
to go all in I came to her room and I said mom I really want to take this test
said mom I really want to take this test
said mom I really want to take this test but if I’m sick on the first day of
but if I’m sick on the first day of
but if I’m sick on the first day of school because I pushed myself too hard
school because I pushed myself too hard
school because I pushed myself too hard to take this test well then I’m gonna
to take this test well then I’m gonna
to take this test well then I’m gonna start the year off on the wrong foot so
start the year off on the wrong foot so
start the year off on the wrong foot so my mom who’s a very nice woman
my mom who’s a very nice woman
my mom who’s a very nice woman capitulated and called the school and
capitulated and called the school and
capitulated and called the school and rescheduled on the first day of my math
rescheduled on the first day of my math
rescheduled on the first day of my math class the teacher went over all the
class the teacher went over all the
class the teacher went over all the topics we would be covering that year
topics we would be covering that year
topics we would be covering that year and one by one I realized I’d already
and one by one I realized I’d already
and one by one I realized I’d already learned all this stuff to be completely
learned all this stuff to be completely
learned all this stuff to be completely honest I was thrilled I was going to be
honest I was thrilled I was going to be
honest I was thrilled I was going to be able to coast through seventh grade math
able to coast through seventh grade math
able to coast through seventh grade math without ever having to study my parents
without ever having to study my parents
without ever having to study my parents on the other hand a little less thrilled
on the other hand a little less thrilled
on the other hand a little less thrilled and immediately my mom called the school
and immediately my mom called the school
and immediately my mom called the school and scheduled another placement exam I
and scheduled another placement exam I
and scheduled another placement exam I found out that I would be placed in the
found out that I would be placed in the
found out that I would be placed in the eighth grade advanced algebra class and
eighth grade advanced algebra class and
eighth grade advanced algebra class and I was terrified I hadn’t made any
I was terrified I hadn’t made any
I was terrified I hadn’t made any friends yet at this new school and I
friends yet at this new school and I
friends yet at this new school and I knew that if I was the one dork in the
knew that if I was the one dork in the
knew that if I was the one dork in the 8th grade math class the making friends
8th grade math class the making friends
8th grade math class the making friends would get a little harder for me in the
would get a little harder for me in the
would get a little harder for me in the upcoming weeks so on that day that I
upcoming weeks so on that day that I
upcoming weeks so on that day that I moved into my new class I was shaking I
moved into my new class I was shaking I
moved into my new class I was shaking I spent ten minutes outside the door of
spent ten minutes outside the door of
spent ten minutes outside the door of that classroom walking back and forth
that classroom walking back and forth
that classroom walking back and forth pacing just trying to convince myself to
pacing just trying to convince myself to
pacing just trying to convince myself to take that step into the classroom
take that step into the classroom
take that step into the classroom finally I realized I would have to enter
finally I realized I would have to enter
finally I realized I would have to enter the room of venture
the room of venture
the room of venture so I just went in immediately one of the
so I just went in immediately one of the
so I just went in immediately one of the boys in the classroom stood up and
boys in the classroom stood up and
boys in the classroom stood up and looked at me and goes are you lost I was
looked at me and goes are you lost I was
looked at me and goes are you lost I was terrified I didn’t know what to say so I
terrified I didn’t know what to say so I
terrified I didn’t know what to say so I just giggled and kind of looked at the
just giggled and kind of looked at the
just giggled and kind of looked at the ground avoided eye contact he was not
ground avoided eye contact he was not
ground avoided eye contact he was not satisfied with that response so he asked
satisfied with that response so he asked
satisfied with that response so he asked me again are you sure your loss the
me again are you sure your loss the
me again are you sure your loss the elementary schools in a different
elementary schools in a different
elementary schools in a different building I was so sad sure I was five
building I was so sad sure I was five
building I was so sad sure I was five four feet and a half tall
four feet and a half tall
four feet and a half tall I weighed maybe 70 pounds I didn’t look
I weighed maybe 70 pounds I didn’t look
I weighed maybe 70 pounds I didn’t look like your typical seventh grader but I
like your typical seventh grader but I
like your typical seventh grader but I was not in elementary school I was so
was not in elementary school I was so
was not in elementary school I was so offended I wish I could tell you that
offended I wish I could tell you that
offended I wish I could tell you that this story ended with me wowing my
this story ended with me wowing my
this story ended with me wowing my classmates earning their friendship
classmates earning their friendship
classmates earning their friendship their respect and that that boy who made
their respect and that that boy who made
their respect and that that boy who made fun of me is still my friend today but I
fun of me is still my friend today but I
fun of me is still my friend today but I can the next week I moved out of the
can the next week I moved out of the
can the next week I moved out of the state and I never looked back I’m not
state and I never looked back I’m not
state and I never looked back I’m not here to tell you that that’s the way
here to tell you that that’s the way
here to tell you that that’s the way that you should behave in fact I’m here
that you should behave in fact I’m here
that you should behave in fact I’m here to tell you the opposite but I want you
to tell you the opposite but I want you
to tell you the opposite but I want you to know that the people who stand on
to know that the people who stand on
to know that the people who stand on this stage
this stage
this stage we haven’t always been as confident as
we haven’t always been as confident as
we haven’t always been as confident as we seem today we were the girl who ran
we seem today we were the girl who ran
we seem today we were the girl who ran out of her math class crying after
out of her math class crying after
out of her math class crying after someone called you an elementary school
someone called you an elementary school
someone called you an elementary school student so a year later my middle school
student so a year later my middle school
student so a year later my middle school principal nominated me to go to a
principal nominated me to go to a
principal nominated me to go to a program at Yale where I would learn how
program at Yale where I would learn how
program at Yale where I would learn how to be a better leader I clearly needed
to be a better leader I clearly needed
to be a better leader I clearly needed that right I was a bit of a coward so on
that right I was a bit of a coward so on
that right I was a bit of a coward so on the first night of that session they
the first night of that session they
the first night of that session they asked us to come up with a list of all
asked us to come up with a list of all
asked us to come up with a list of all the problems that our world faced and I
the problems that our world faced and I
the problems that our world faced and I thought man this is gonna be a breeze
thought man this is gonna be a breeze
thought man this is gonna be a breeze the world faces so many problems child
the world faces so many problems child
the world faces so many problems child poverty the lack of animals in
poverty the lack of animals in
poverty the lack of animals in sub-saharan Africa global warming the
sub-saharan Africa global warming the
sub-saharan Africa global warming the list could go on and on and I did I
list could go on and on and I did I
list could go on and on and I did I wrote a list of maybe 50 problems that
wrote a list of maybe 50 problems that
wrote a list of maybe 50 problems that the world faced and I felt so confident
the world faced and I felt so confident
the world faced and I felt so confident that I had aced this assignment so the
that I had aced this assignment so the
that I had aced this assignment so the next morning I walk into the session and
next morning I walk into the session and
next morning I walk into the session and they say okay you have your list now
they say okay you have your list now
they say okay you have your list now come up with the solution I was so mad I
come up with the solution I was so mad I
come up with the solution I was so mad I picked the war in Afghanistan how does a
picked the war in Afghanistan how does a
picked the war in Afghanistan how does a 13 year old know how to solve the
13 year old know how to solve the
13 year old know how to solve the conflict in Afghanistan well there was
conflict in Afghanistan well there was
conflict in Afghanistan well there was one thing on my list that I felt really
one thing on my list that I felt really
one thing on my list that I felt really passionate about and that was women’s
passionate about and that was women’s
passionate about and that was women’s inequality I have been very privileged
inequality I have been very privileged
inequality I have been very privileged to go to Hockaday since I was four years
to go to Hockaday since I was four years
to go to Hockaday since I was four years old and I was taught there that I could
old and I was taught there that I could
old and I was taught there that I could do anything I wanted if I put my mind to
do anything I wanted if I put my mind to
do anything I wanted if I put my mind to but I knew that my peers didn’t always
but I knew that my peers didn’t always
but I knew that my peers didn’t always get that same advice and so I did some
get that same advice and so I did some
get that same advice and so I did some research and to show you the lack of
research and to show you the lack of
research and to show you the lack of equality in leadership positions we’re
equality in leadership positions we’re
equality in leadership positions we’re gonna play a little game so can I have
gonna play a little game so can I have
gonna play a little game so can I have everyone in the room whose name is John
everyone in the room whose name is John
everyone in the room whose name is John stand up okay
stand up okay
stand up okay about four or five you can sit down now
about four or five you can sit down now
about four or five you can sit down now thank you guys and now can I have all
thank you guys and now can I have all
thank you guys and now can I have all the women in the room stand up okay a
the women in the room stand up okay a
the women in the room stand up okay a little more right a little more than
little more right a little more than
little more right a little more than four or five you guys can sit down now
four or five you guys can sit down now
four or five you guys can sit down now thank you so the New York Times two
thank you so the New York Times two
thank you so the New York Times two years ago did a study of the CEOs of the
years ago did a study of the CEOs of the
years ago did a study of the CEOs of the 15 hundred largest corporations in
15 hundred largest corporations in
15 hundred largest corporations in America the S&P 1500 and they found that
America the S&P 1500 and they found that
America the S&P 1500 and they found that there were more CEOs by the name of John
there were more CEOs by the name of John
there were more CEOs by the name of John than all the women CEOs combined so I’m
than all the women CEOs combined so I’m
than all the women CEOs combined so I’m sure you John’s are a very bright bunch
sure you John’s are a very bright bunch
sure you John’s are a very bright bunch and deserve to be CEOs but if this
and deserve to be CEOs but if this
and deserve to be CEOs but if this sample size is quite representative of
sample size is quite representative of
sample size is quite representative of the nation there should be a few more
the nation there should be a few more
the nation there should be a few more women CEOs than those by the name of
women CEOs than those by the name of
women CEOs than those by the name of John and if that doesn’t scare you
John and if that doesn’t scare you
John and if that doesn’t scare you enough about the lack of women in
enough about the lack of women in
enough about the lack of women in leadership positions hopefully this will
leadership positions hopefully this will
leadership positions hopefully this will so is anyone familiar with Elle magazine
so is anyone familiar with Elle magazine
so is anyone familiar with Elle magazine a little bit okay so two years ago they
a little bit okay so two years ago they
a little bit okay so two years ago they started campaign called more women to
started campaign called more women to
started campaign called more women to show the lack of women in leadership
show the lack of women in leadership
show the lack of women in leadership positions they took photos of high-level
positions they took photos of high-level
positions they took photos of high-level conversations and they photoshopped the
conversations and they photoshopped the
conversations and they photoshopped the men out of it so here is the German
men out of it so here is the German
men out of it so here is the German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a cabinet
Chancellor Angela Merkel at a cabinet
Chancellor Angela Merkel at a cabinet meeting seems pretty interesting to talk
meeting seems pretty interesting to talk
meeting seems pretty interesting to talk to yourself right here are the leaders
to yourself right here are the leaders
to yourself right here are the leaders of Europe here is this one’s quite
of Europe here is this one’s quite
of Europe here is this one’s quite ironic this is Emma Watson you guys may
ironic this is Emma Watson you guys may
ironic this is Emma Watson you guys may know her from Beauty and the Beast or my
know her from Beauty and the Beast or my
know her from Beauty and the Beast or my Potter my Harry Potter fans may know her
Potter my Harry Potter fans may know her
Potter my Harry Potter fans may know her as Hermione
here she is at the UN talking about
here she is at the UN talking about women’s rights yes that I did say that
women’s rights yes that I did say that
women’s rights yes that I did say that women’s rights and she’s sitting there
women’s rights and she’s sitting there
women’s rights and she’s sitting there by herself and here is the British House
by herself and here is the British House
by herself and here is the British House of Commons which is our equivalent to
of Commons which is our equivalent to
of Commons which is our equivalent to the US House of Representatives these
the US House of Representatives these
the US House of Representatives these are the women these are the women who
are the women these are the women who
are the women these are the women who serve in the British government the rest
serve in the British government the rest
serve in the British government the rest of the room would be filled with men so
of the room would be filled with men so
of the room would be filled with men so I was quite appalled by what I saw and
I was quite appalled by what I saw and
I was quite appalled by what I saw and so how do you tackle this issue well I
so how do you tackle this issue well I
so how do you tackle this issue well I was 13 I couldn’t eradicate all the
was 13 I couldn’t eradicate all the
was 13 I couldn’t eradicate all the systemic behaviors that this that hurt
systemic behaviors that this that hurt
systemic behaviors that this that hurt women in leadership positions instead I
women in leadership positions instead I
women in leadership positions instead I thought I can inspire young girls to
thought I can inspire young girls to
thought I can inspire young girls to enter fields that they never thought
enter fields that they never thought
enter fields that they never thought were even open to them so I came back
were even open to them so I came back
were even open to them so I came back from this program at Yale University and
from this program at Yale University and
from this program at Yale University and I created a non-profit story power Inc I
I created a non-profit story power Inc I
I created a non-profit story power Inc I got together a group of my friends and
got together a group of my friends and
got together a group of my friends and we started raising money we went to
we started raising money we went to
we started raising money we went to corporations like floor with mr.
corporations like floor with mr.
corporations like floor with mr. Robinson we went to individual donors
Robinson we went to individual donors
Robinson we went to individual donors and we asked for money and eventually we
and we asked for money and eventually we
and we asked for money and eventually we raised over $10,000 to buy books about
raised over $10,000 to buy books about
raised over $10,000 to buy books about and by inspiring women to donate to
and by inspiring women to donate to
and by inspiring women to donate to middle school libraries across Texas and
middle school libraries across Texas and
middle school libraries across Texas and so once we had raised that money and we
so once we had raised that money and we
so once we had raised that money and we had donated these books well I’ve been
had donated these books well I’ve been
had donated these books well I’ve been to a library I’m sure many of you have
to a library I’m sure many of you have
to a library I’m sure many of you have and those books might sit in a far
and those books might sit in a far
and those books might sit in a far corner just collecting dust so how do we
corner just collecting dust so how do we
corner just collecting dust so how do we get these books to come to life we
get these books to come to life we
get these books to come to life we decided to approach the head of D ist
decided to approach the head of D ist
decided to approach the head of D ist middle school of di C libraries and ask
middle school of di C libraries and ask
middle school of di C libraries and ask her can we run a program in your summer
her can we run a program in your summer
her can we run a program in your summer schools I was 13 at the time and I am
schools I was 13 at the time and I am
schools I was 13 at the time and I am very surprised to this day that she said
very surprised to this day that she said
very surprised to this day that she said yes
yes
yes we started in Thomas Edison middle
we started in Thomas Edison middle
we started in Thomas Edison middle schools anyone here from Thomas Edison
schools anyone here from Thomas Edison
schools anyone here from Thomas Edison no okay but the school so we worked with
no okay but the school so we worked with
no okay but the school so we worked with the summer school students these are
the summer school students these are
the summer school students these are students who had either failed two or
students who had either failed two or
students who had either failed two or more classes or had problems with
more classes or had problems with
more classes or had problems with truancy and each week we would pick a
truancy and each week we would pick a
truancy and each week we would pick a different topic whether that was women
different topic whether that was women
different topic whether that was women in stem or women in the arts and we
in stem or women in the arts and we
in stem or women in the arts and we would read from these set of ten books
would read from these set of ten books
would read from these set of ten books once we were done with our reading then
once we were done with our reading then
once we were done with our reading then we would do activities to engage the
we would do activities to engage the
we would do activities to engage the students in these fields when we did
students in these fields when we did
students in these fields when we did women in military we learned about all
women in military we learned about all
women in military we learned about all the military terms and the global
the military terms and the global
the military terms and the global conflicts of the day we did women in
conflicts of the day we did women in
conflicts of the day we did women in arts we had everyone draw portraits in
arts we had everyone draw portraits in
arts we had everyone draw portraits in the style of Frida Kahlo and we hope
the style of Frida Kahlo and we hope
the style of Frida Kahlo and we hope that we can inspire these students to go
that we can inspire these students to go
that we can inspire these students to go out in person
out in person
out in person these fields that they may have never
these fields that they may have never
these fields that they may have never known were even available to them so
known were even available to them so
known were even available to them so after that summer we were able to have
after that summer we were able to have
after that summer we were able to have three more summer programs in the next
three more summer programs in the next
three more summer programs in the next three years and I was really excited
three years and I was really excited
three years and I was really excited about this but at the same time I heard
about this but at the same time I heard
about this but at the same time I heard a lot of people say well you’re too
a lot of people say well you’re too
a lot of people say well you’re too young you’re not qualified enough to
young you’re not qualified enough to
young you’re not qualified enough to handle such a big topic this is women’s
handle such a big topic this is women’s
handle such a big topic this is women’s inequality it faces 50% of the
inequality it faces 50% of the
inequality it faces 50% of the population you’re 13 you don’t have a
population you’re 13 you don’t have a
population you’re 13 you don’t have a solution and I’m not here to tell you
solution and I’m not here to tell you
solution and I’m not here to tell you that I do I don’t have the solution
that I do I don’t have the solution
that I do I don’t have the solution I’d probably don’t even have a solution
I’d probably don’t even have a solution
I’d probably don’t even have a solution but what I’m here to tell you is that
but what I’m here to tell you is that
but what I’m here to tell you is that it’s okay if you’re 10 or you’re 13 or
it’s okay if you’re 10 or you’re 13 or
it’s okay if you’re 10 or you’re 13 or you’re 18 to participate in these
you’re 18 to participate in these
you’re 18 to participate in these high-level discussions in fact you bring
high-level discussions in fact you bring
high-level discussions in fact you bring something to the table that none of the
something to the table that none of the
something to the table that none of the adults in the room do your age you know
adults in the room do your age you know
adults in the room do your age you know what students are like you know that
what students are like you know that
what students are like you know that they like snapchat and a few of them
they like snapchat and a few of them
they like snapchat and a few of them have Facebook’s and you know what a
have Facebook’s and you know what a
have Facebook’s and you know what a fidget spinner is right yeah okay so you
fidget spinner is right yeah okay so you
fidget spinner is right yeah okay so you bring something to the table that the
bring something to the table that the
bring something to the table that the adults who bring other things don’t and
adults who bring other things don’t and
adults who bring other things don’t and that brings me to my next point
that brings me to my next point
that brings me to my next point this year I had the great opportunity of
this year I had the great opportunity of
this year I had the great opportunity of serving on the mayor’s Task Force on
serving on the mayor’s Task Force on
serving on the mayor’s Task Force on Confederate monuments I was the youngest
Confederate monuments I was the youngest
Confederate monuments I was the youngest member on the task force by several
member on the task force by several
member on the task force by several decades and I was terrified to show up I
decades and I was terrified to show up I
decades and I was terrified to show up I didn’t have a PhD or a law degree or any
didn’t have a PhD or a law degree or any
didn’t have a PhD or a law degree or any knowledge of sculpture at all in fact
knowledge of sculpture at all in fact
knowledge of sculpture at all in fact the only thing that I knew was how to
the only thing that I knew was how to
the only thing that I knew was how to use snapchat and even that I’m pretty
use snapchat and even that I’m pretty
use snapchat and even that I’m pretty bad at so I said why am I here no one
bad at so I said why am I here no one
bad at so I said why am I here no one wants me to be talking here but I found
wants me to be talking here but I found
wants me to be talking here but I found that the task force was so receptive to
that the task force was so receptive to
that the task force was so receptive to what I had to say I brought something to
what I had to say I brought something to
what I had to say I brought something to the table that none of the other people
the table that none of the other people
the table that none of the other people with PhDs or law degrees did I brought
with PhDs or law degrees did I brought
with PhDs or law degrees did I brought the knowledge of what students in Dallas
the knowledge of what students in Dallas
the knowledge of what students in Dallas feel about these monuments and I would
feel about these monuments and I would
feel about these monuments and I would like to say that I contributed a lot to
like to say that I contributed a lot to
like to say that I contributed a lot to this task force I clearly didn’t do it
this task force I clearly didn’t do it
this task force I clearly didn’t do it on my own I have a lot to thank my chair
on my own I have a lot to thank my chair
on my own I have a lot to thank my chair miss waters who is here today and I’m
miss waters who is here today and I’m
miss waters who is here today and I’m not just saying it because she’s sitting
not just saying it because she’s sitting
not just saying it because she’s sitting in the audience but I also want to thank
in the audience but I also want to thank
in the audience but I also want to thank the members of the task force for just
the members of the task force for just
the members of the task force for just being so open and receptive to what the
being so open and receptive to what the
being so open and receptive to what the youth in Dallas want to say and you all
youth in Dallas want to say and you all
youth in Dallas want to say and you all have a very unique and important voice I
have a very unique and important voice I
have a very unique and important voice I imagine you have great ideas and great
imagine you have great ideas and great
imagine you have great ideas and great perspectives
perspectives
perspectives some of the nation’s most complicated
some of the nation’s most complicated
some of the nation’s most complicated topics and so I encourage you to take
topics and so I encourage you to take
topics and so I encourage you to take your seat at the table it’s okay if
your seat at the table it’s okay if
your seat at the table it’s okay if you’re scared you know when I walked
you’re scared you know when I walked
you’re scared you know when I walked into the mayor’s task force I was
into the mayor’s task force I was
into the mayor’s task force I was terrified just like I was when I was
terrified just like I was when I was
terrified just like I was when I was walking into my eighth grade math
walking into my eighth grade math
walking into my eighth grade math classroom but you have to realize that
classroom but you have to realize that
classroom but you have to realize that you bring something so important and
you bring something so important and
you bring something so important and that you just need to cast off your
that you just need to cast off your
that you just need to cast off your fears and walk in the room so I
fears and walk in the room so I
fears and walk in the room so I encourage you if you have an opinion if
encourage you if you have an opinion if
encourage you if you have an opinion if you have an idea take a seat at the
you have an idea take a seat at the
you have an idea take a seat at the table with the adults and make your
table with the adults and make your
table with the adults and make your opinion known I promise you the world
opinion known I promise you the world
opinion known I promise you the world will be better for it thank you
will be better for it thank you
will be better for it thank you [Applause]
”
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