annika Vey I am a sophomore at Michigan I’m a
I am a sophomore at Michigan I’m a
I am a sophomore at Michigan I’m a self-proclaimed mad scientist and
self-proclaimed mad scientist and
self-proclaimed mad scientist and inventor of molecules and I really
inventor of molecules and I really
inventor of molecules and I really really wanted to come out here today and
really wanted to come out here today and
really wanted to come out here today and lecture you guys about my scientific
lecture you guys about my scientific
lecture you guys about my scientific research but I was told that that would
research but I was told that that would
research but I was told that that would be a little bit boring so lucky for you
be a little bit boring so lucky for you
be a little bit boring so lucky for you guys I’m actually here to talk about my
guys I’m actually here to talk about my
guys I’m actually here to talk about my long term goals and more specifically
long term goals and more specifically
long term goals and more specifically why I stopped setting them okay I’m
why I stopped setting them okay I’m
why I stopped setting them okay I’m sorry I lied this is a little bit of
sorry I lied this is a little bit of
sorry I lied this is a little bit of chemistry so in chemistry we have
chemistry so in chemistry we have
chemistry so in chemistry we have something called a limiting reagent and
something called a limiting reagent and
something called a limiting reagent and in a chemical reaction the limiting
in a chemical reaction the limiting
in a chemical reaction the limiting reagent is the substance that is
reagent is the substance that is
reagent is the substance that is completely consumed by the time the
completely consumed by the time the
completely consumed by the time the reaction is complete so basically it
reaction is complete so basically it
reaction is complete so basically it just limits the entire reaction and
just limits the entire reaction and
just limits the entire reaction and without it the reaction cannot continue
without it the reaction cannot continue
without it the reaction cannot continue so then we’re left with something called
so then we’re left with something called
so then we’re left with something called an excess reagent but the excess reagent
an excess reagent but the excess reagent
an excess reagent but the excess reagent is the substance that is left over after
is the substance that is left over after
is the substance that is left over after the reaction is complete so let’s think
the reaction is complete so let’s think
the reaction is complete so let’s think of our long term goals as the limiting
of our long term goals as the limiting
of our long term goals as the limiting reagent and let’s think of our potential
reagent and let’s think of our potential
reagent and let’s think of our potential as the excess reagent why settle for
as the excess reagent why settle for
as the excess reagent why settle for making for hotdogs if you could arguably
making for hotdogs if you could arguably
making for hotdogs if you could arguably make an infinite amount of hotdogs and
make an infinite amount of hotdogs and
make an infinite amount of hotdogs and just for the record I don’t really like
just for the record I don’t really like
just for the record I don’t really like hotdogs but it was the easiest example
hotdogs but it was the easiest example
hotdogs but it was the easiest example that I could find
that I could find
that I could find visually anyways the issue with setting
visually anyways the issue with setting
visually anyways the issue with setting long term goals is that it causes us to
long term goals is that it causes us to
long term goals is that it causes us to be practical conventional wisdom tells
be practical conventional wisdom tells
be practical conventional wisdom tells us to set goals that are mark they’re
us to set goals that are mark they’re
us to set goals that are mark they’re specific measurable achievable realistic
specific measurable achievable realistic
specific measurable achievable realistic timely
timely
timely and many highly successful people over
and many highly successful people over
and many highly successful people over the course of their careers have
the course of their careers have
the course of their careers have realized that setting SMART goals is
realized that setting SMART goals is
realized that setting SMART goals is really effective for the short-term but
really effective for the short-term but
really effective for the short-term but they also realized that to have a real
they also realized that to have a real
they also realized that to have a real impact they need to chase dreams and I
impact they need to chase dreams and I
impact they need to chase dreams and I know that sounds like a cliche like
know that sounds like a cliche like
know that sounds like a cliche like dream yeah we get it but I’ve been to a
dream yeah we get it but I’ve been to a
dream yeah we get it but I’ve been to a few speeches in the past couple of years
few speeches in the past couple of years
few speeches in the past couple of years and some of the things that they’ve said
and some of the things that they’ve said
and some of the things that they’ve said have really inspired me so there are
have really inspired me so there are
have really inspired me so there are some caveats to dreaming and a few rules
some caveats to dreaming and a few rules
some caveats to dreaming and a few rules that go along with it
that go along with it
that go along with it for example you can’t just wake up one
for example you can’t just wake up one
for example you can’t just wake up one day and say okay my new goal is to
day and say okay my new goal is to
day and say okay my new goal is to become a billionaire as self-made
become a billionaire as self-made
become a billionaire as self-made billionaire john d rockefeller said if
billionaire john d rockefeller said if
billionaire john d rockefeller said if your only goal in life is to become a
your only goal in life is to become a
your only goal in life is to become a billionaire then you’ll never achieve it
billionaire then you’ll never achieve it
billionaire then you’ll never achieve it and jason silva
and jason silva
and jason silva also has a very dream where the approach
also has a very dream where the approach
also has a very dream where the approach to life i was at one of his speeches and
to life i was at one of his speeches and
to life i was at one of his speeches and he says something that really stuck with
he says something that really stuck with
he says something that really stuck with me
me
me he said to be a billionaire is not to
he said to be a billionaire is not to
he said to be a billionaire is not to make billions of dollars but to affect
make billions of dollars but to affect
make billions of dollars but to affect the lives of billions of people and the
the lives of billions of people and the
the lives of billions of people and the most important thing to me something
most important thing to me something
most important thing to me something that Michael Dell says because it’s
that Michael Dell says because it’s
that Michael Dell says because it’s happened to me a lot and it kind of
happened to me a lot and it kind of
happened to me a lot and it kind of justifies my actions he says that if
justifies my actions he says that if
justifies my actions he says that if people are not laughing at your goals
people are not laughing at your goals
people are not laughing at your goals then they’re not big enough to ever
then they’re not big enough to ever
then they’re not big enough to ever evolve into a dream I’m gonna say that
evolve into a dream I’m gonna say that
evolve into a dream I’m gonna say that again it’s just it’s so important to me
again it’s just it’s so important to me
again it’s just it’s so important to me if people are not laughing at your goals
if people are not laughing at your goals
if people are not laughing at your goals they’re not big enough to ever evolve
they’re not big enough to ever evolve
they’re not big enough to ever evolve into a dream and if you don’t take
into a dream and if you don’t take
into a dream and if you don’t take anything else away from my talk I want
anything else away from my talk I want
anything else away from my talk I want you to remember that so the last
you to remember that so the last
you to remember that so the last the last rule to dreaming and I’ve
the last rule to dreaming and I’ve
the last rule to dreaming and I’ve already said it avoid setting SMART
already said it avoid setting SMART
already said it avoid setting SMART goals at all costs otherwise you might
goals at all costs otherwise you might
goals at all costs otherwise you might wake up ten years from now and you might
wake up ten years from now and you might
wake up ten years from now and you might say where the rest of my buns were
say where the rest of my buns were
say where the rest of my buns were similarly why did I settle for making
similarly why did I settle for making
similarly why did I settle for making four hot dogs when I could have made an
four hot dogs when I could have made an
four hot dogs when I could have made an infinite amount of hot dogs no I’ll tell
infinite amount of hot dogs no I’ll tell
infinite amount of hot dogs no I’ll tell you a story about someone who set SMART
you a story about someone who set SMART
you a story about someone who set SMART goals me sophomore year of high school I
goals me sophomore year of high school I
goals me sophomore year of high school I was going to be the first person in my
was going to be the first person in my
was going to be the first person in my immediate family to attend a four-year
immediate family to attend a four-year
immediate family to attend a four-year university
university
university so I started preparing pretty early
so I started preparing pretty early
so I started preparing pretty early early sophomore year I went to my family
early sophomore year I went to my family
early sophomore year I went to my family I think it was over dinner I don’t
I think it was over dinner I don’t
I think it was over dinner I don’t remember and I said guys I have my plan
remember and I said guys I have my plan
remember and I said guys I have my plan I am going to attend Texas A&M
I am going to attend Texas A&M
I am going to attend Texas A&M University to study petroleum
University to study petroleum
University to study petroleum engineering and then I’m going to go on
engineering and then I’m going to go on
engineering and then I’m going to go on and become a Drilling Engineer at
and become a Drilling Engineer at
and become a Drilling Engineer at Chevron and I’m going to climb up the
Chevron and I’m going to climb up the
Chevron and I’m going to climb up the corporate ladder
corporate ladder
corporate ladder just like Chevron’s the CEO did and I
just like Chevron’s the CEO did and I
just like Chevron’s the CEO did and I lived in New Orleans and so the oil
lived in New Orleans and so the oil
lived in New Orleans and so the oil industry is very big there so that’s why
industry is very big there so that’s why
industry is very big there so that’s why that was my specific goal but here’s
that was my specific goal but here’s
that was my specific goal but here’s where I went wrong I went to my family
where I went wrong I went to my family
where I went wrong I went to my family and I said that and they didn’t laugh
and I said that and they didn’t laugh
and I said that and they didn’t laugh instead my mom said okay great let’s
instead my mom said okay great let’s
instead my mom said okay great let’s plan a road trip let’s let’s go to Texas
plan a road trip let’s let’s go to Texas
plan a road trip let’s let’s go to Texas A&M and that burgundy tank top isn’t a
A&M and that burgundy tank top isn’t a
A&M and that burgundy tank top isn’t a coincidence and I loved it
coincidence and I loved it
coincidence and I loved it but that’s where I went wrong I I fell
but that’s where I went wrong I I fell
but that’s where I went wrong I I fell into the trap of security I loved the
into the trap of security I loved the
into the trap of security I loved the idea of knowing where I would be in four
idea of knowing where I would be in four
idea of knowing where I would be in four years my goal was it was so smart it was
years my goal was it was so smart it was
years my goal was it was so smart it was specific it was measurable I had even
specific it was measurable I had even
specific it was measurable I had even met with an advisor from Texas A&M to
met with an advisor from Texas A&M to
met with an advisor from Texas A&M to figure out how I could get into their
figure out how I could get into their
figure out how I could get into their Honors Program by the time I was a
Honors Program by the time I was a
Honors Program by the time I was a sophomore not in high school in college
sophomore not in high school in college
sophomore not in high school in college I was planning ahead to be a sophomore
I was planning ahead to be a sophomore
I was planning ahead to be a sophomore in college so that’s where I went wrong
in college so that’s where I went wrong
in college so that’s where I went wrong fast-forward
fast-forward
fast-forward to the end of sophomore year and I got
to the end of sophomore year and I got
to the end of sophomore year and I got an idea I was watching the news it
an idea I was watching the news it
an idea I was watching the news it wasn’t this specific one I just really
wasn’t this specific one I just really
wasn’t this specific one I just really like Bill Nye I was watching the news
like Bill Nye I was watching the news
like Bill Nye I was watching the news and the news anchor was discussing the
and the news anchor was discussing the
and the news anchor was discussing the BP oil spill in the aftermath
BP oil spill in the aftermath
BP oil spill in the aftermath specifically they were talking about
specifically they were talking about
specifically they were talking about their cleanup efforts and I don’t know
their cleanup efforts and I don’t know
their cleanup efforts and I don’t know why my 16 year old mine drifted towards
why my 16 year old mine drifted towards
why my 16 year old mine drifted towards the idea that they’re not getting
the idea that they’re not getting
the idea that they’re not getting everything I didn’t even know what I
everything I didn’t even know what I
everything I didn’t even know what I meant by that I didn’t know where where
meant by that I didn’t know where where
meant by that I didn’t know where where my thought process was taking me I
my thought process was taking me I
my thought process was taking me I didn’t know what everything was but this
didn’t know what everything was but this
didn’t know what everything was but this is the image that popped into my head so
is the image that popped into my head so
is the image that popped into my head so we’ve got UV rays coming out of the Sun
we’ve got UV rays coming out of the Sun
we’ve got UV rays coming out of the Sun coming from the Sun and they’re hitting
coming from the Sun and they’re hitting
coming from the Sun and they’re hitting this layer of oil and that oils on top
this layer of oil and that oils on top
this layer of oil and that oils on top of the seawater and I remembered
of the seawater and I remembered
of the seawater and I remembered learning something it’s a very basic
learning something it’s a very basic
learning something it’s a very basic chemistry concept called a photo product
chemistry concept called a photo product
chemistry concept called a photo product a product of something reacting with
a product of something reacting with
a product of something reacting with light something has to be forming and
light something has to be forming and
light something has to be forming and it’s going into the ocean but what is it
it’s going into the ocean but what is it
it’s going into the ocean but what is it so I thought okay well obviously like my
so I thought okay well obviously like my
so I thought okay well obviously like my 16 year old brain like can’t really
16 year old brain like can’t really
16 year old brain like can’t really conceptualize this but I’m sure
conceptualize this but I’m sure
conceptualize this but I’m sure someone’s got it handled right so I
someone’s got it handled right so I
someone’s got it handled right so I googled it I typed in BP oil spill photo
googled it I typed in BP oil spill photo
googled it I typed in BP oil spill photo chemicals toxic and first of all it
chemicals toxic and first of all it
chemicals toxic and first of all it didn’t even pick up on photo chemicals
didn’t even pick up on photo chemicals
didn’t even pick up on photo chemicals it said did you mean phytochemicals no
it said did you mean phytochemicals no
it said did you mean phytochemicals no that’s something completely different
that’s something completely different
that’s something completely different thank you and then if you notice here
thank you and then if you notice here
thank you and then if you notice here the word missing and all of the results
the word missing and all of the results
the word missing and all of the results the word photo chemicals I thought okay
the word photo chemicals I thought okay
the word photo chemicals I thought okay this is not a new word I mean they
this is not a new word I mean they
this is not a new word I mean they taught us about photo chemicals in like
taught us about photo chemicals in like
taught us about photo chemicals in like middle school science so why isn’t it
middle school science so why isn’t it
middle school science so why isn’t it popping up there’s obviously a reaction
popping up there’s obviously a reaction
popping up there’s obviously a reaction happening between the Sun and the oil
happening between the Sun and the oil
happening between the Sun and the oil what’s going on so I said all right
what’s going on so I said all right
what’s going on so I said all right maybe I’m just missing something maybe
maybe I’m just missing something maybe
maybe I’m just missing something maybe I’m really not in the twilight zone I’m
I’m really not in the twilight zone I’m
I’m really not in the twilight zone I’m just
just
just gonna verify so I called emailed about
gonna verify so I called emailed about
gonna verify so I called emailed about 30 professors and my emails went
30 professors and my emails went
30 professors and my emails went something like hi I’m Keanu cavae I’m 16
something like hi I’m Keanu cavae I’m 16
something like hi I’m Keanu cavae I’m 16 I’m a sophomore in high school I was
I’m a sophomore in high school I was
I’m a sophomore in high school I was wondering do you guys know anything
wondering do you guys know anything
wondering do you guys know anything about the photo chemicals that happened
about the photo chemicals that happened
about the photo chemicals that happened after the oil spill 28 of them responded
after the oil spill 28 of them responded
after the oil spill 28 of them responded a little something like this
I wasn’t laughing I was pretty sad but
I wasn’t laughing I was pretty sad but two of them two out of the 30 they took
two of them two out of the 30 they took
two of them two out of the 30 they took me under their wing and I actually ended
me under their wing and I actually ended
me under their wing and I actually ended up working under one of them for so long
up working under one of them for so long
up working under one of them for so long that not only did I become acquainted
that not only did I become acquainted
that not only did I become acquainted with lab technique how to explore a
with lab technique how to explore a
with lab technique how to explore a hypothesis if I have one I ended up
hypothesis if I have one I ended up
hypothesis if I have one I ended up publishing my first paper this was about
publishing my first paper this was about
publishing my first paper this was about one and a half years after this this
one and a half years after this this
one and a half years after this this cold email incident and this was the
cold email incident and this was the
cold email incident and this was the title of my paper a method for
title of my paper a method for
title of my paper a method for identifying the photo products the rest
identifying the photo products the rest
identifying the photo products the rest doesn’t matter keyword photo products
doesn’t matter keyword photo products
doesn’t matter keyword photo products thank you very much this is what I found
thank you very much this is what I found
thank you very much this is what I found in the research the picture that popped
in the research the picture that popped
in the research the picture that popped into my head that one day that I was
into my head that one day that I was
into my head that one day that I was watching the news I filled in the blanks
watching the news I filled in the blanks
watching the news I filled in the blanks and that’s what I found in the paper
and that’s what I found in the paper
and that’s what I found in the paper people laughed but that was the first
people laughed but that was the first
people laughed but that was the first time that I realized that maybe it’s a
time that I realized that maybe it’s a
time that I realized that maybe it’s a good thing to have people laughing
good thing to have people laughing
good thing to have people laughing because if your idea is so crazy and so
because if your idea is so crazy and so
because if your idea is so crazy and so far out of this world
far out of this world
far out of this world maybe maybe it’ll revolutionize an
maybe maybe it’ll revolutionize an
maybe maybe it’ll revolutionize an industry maybe it’ll change the way that
industry maybe it’ll change the way that
industry maybe it’ll change the way that people conduct research in a specific
people conduct research in a specific
people conduct research in a specific field maybe you could introduce a new
field maybe you could introduce a new
field maybe you could introduce a new vocabulary word photo products to the
vocabulary word photo products to the
vocabulary word photo products to the world of oil spills and my mind really
world of oil spills and my mind really
world of oil spills and my mind really opened up after that I started coming
opened up after that I started coming
opened up after that I started coming home and saying things like hey mom
home and saying things like hey mom
home and saying things like hey mom today I’m gonna learn how to fly a plane
today I’m gonna learn how to fly a plane
today I’m gonna learn how to fly a plane she almost had a heart attack that day
she almost had a heart attack that day
she almost had a heart attack that day or hey mom today I think I’m gonna cross
or hey mom today I think I’m gonna cross
or hey mom today I think I’m gonna cross a log with alligators beneath me in the
a log with alligators beneath me in the
a log with alligators beneath me in the middle of the Panamanian rainforest and
middle of the Panamanian rainforest and
middle of the Panamanian rainforest and every time I would I would tell my mom
every time I would I would tell my mom
every time I would I would tell my mom things like this
things like this
things like this I got a reaction something like this I’m
I got a reaction something like this I’m
I got a reaction something like this I’m sorry for using this photo mom I have to
sorry for using this photo mom I have to
sorry for using this photo mom I have to see her after this
and then the calls started to get a
and then the calls started to get a little bit more intense hey mom
little bit more intense hey mom
little bit more intense hey mom NASA just named a planet after me to
NASA just named a planet after me to
NASA just named a planet after me to honor me for my research findings or
[Music]
[Music] hey mom I made it in Forbes all of this
hey mom I made it in Forbes all of this
hey mom I made it in Forbes all of this crazy stuff and one day I called my mom
crazy stuff and one day I called my mom
crazy stuff and one day I called my mom and I was really serious it wasn’t like
and I was really serious it wasn’t like
and I was really serious it wasn’t like I was trying to make her laugh kind of
I was trying to make her laugh kind of
I was trying to make her laugh kind of thing because after a while I really did
thing because after a while I really did
thing because after a while I really did I thought okay well whatever try it
I thought okay well whatever try it
I thought okay well whatever try it makes my mom laugh it must be a good
makes my mom laugh it must be a good
makes my mom laugh it must be a good idea but this was I called her and I was
idea but this was I called her and I was
idea but this was I called her and I was so serious and I said mom I’m going to
so serious and I said mom I’m going to
so serious and I said mom I’m going to invent or develop this molecule and it
invent or develop this molecule and it
invent or develop this molecule and it targets these toxins these photo
targets these toxins these photo
targets these toxins these photo chemicals that I found in my research
chemicals that I found in my research
chemicals that I found in my research those toxins that cause cancer I’m going
those toxins that cause cancer I’m going
those toxins that cause cancer I’m going to take them and invent a molecule that
to take them and invent a molecule that
to take them and invent a molecule that turns them into water and it’s going to
turns them into water and it’s going to
turns them into water and it’s going to affect the lives of millions if not
affect the lives of millions if not
affect the lives of millions if not billions of people mom and then one day
billions of people mom and then one day
billions of people mom and then one day I called my mom and I said hey MA I did
I called my mom and I said hey MA I did
I called my mom and I said hey MA I did it and all of this it just makes me
it and all of this it just makes me
it and all of this it just makes me reflect on the time when I wanted to
reflect on the time when I wanted to
reflect on the time when I wanted to just go to college
just go to college
just go to college I just wanted to graduate I just wanted
I just wanted to graduate I just wanted
I just wanted to graduate I just wanted to go work for Chevron and now I’m
to go work for Chevron and now I’m
to go work for Chevron and now I’m working with Chevron and it just reminds
working with Chevron and it just reminds
working with Chevron and it just reminds me that had I stayed so closed minded
me that had I stayed so closed minded
me that had I stayed so closed minded about that one goal to attend that one
about that one goal to attend that one
about that one goal to attend that one University and go do that one job for
University and go do that one job for
University and go do that one job for the rest of my life had I stayed close
the rest of my life had I stayed close
the rest of my life had I stayed close minded and not said yes to the research
minded and not said yes to the research
minded and not said yes to the research opportunities or said yes to anything
opportunities or said yes to anything
opportunities or said yes to anything else because it didn’t align with my
else because it didn’t align with my
else because it didn’t align with my goal then I would be there yeah I would
goal then I would be there yeah I would
goal then I would be there yeah I would probably graduate from Texas A&M and do
probably graduate from Texas A&M and do
probably graduate from Texas A&M and do do the thing I had planned to but I’m a
do the thing I had planned to but I’m a
do the thing I had planned to but I’m a lot happier where I am now
lot happier where I am now
lot happier where I am now so I have one advice or one piece of
so I have one advice or one piece of
so I have one advice or one piece of advice for you guys and that is to
advice for you guys and that is to
advice for you guys and that is to eliminate yourselves from a reaction
eliminate yourselves from a reaction
eliminate yourselves from a reaction containing a limiting reagent
containing a limiting reagent
containing a limiting reagent well technically all reactions do but
well technically all reactions do but
well technically all reactions do but make an infinite amount of hotdogs
make an infinite amount of hotdogs
make an infinite amount of hotdogs don’t settle for four thank you
don’t settle for four thank you
don’t settle for four thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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