[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] long ago there was a small frog who live
long ago there was a small frog who live
long ago there was a small frog who live deep underground in an old well he lived
deep underground in an old well he lived
deep underground in an old well he lived there all his life but it was dull in
there all his life but it was dull in
there all his life but it was dull in that emotion only catching glimpses of
that emotion only catching glimpses of
that emotion only catching glimpses of the Sun above one day due to an
the Sun above one day due to an
the Sun above one day due to an impending storm the well beckoned the
impending storm the well beckoned the
impending storm the well beckoned the bird to come down to take shelter who
bird to come down to take shelter who
bird to come down to take shelter who said to the Frog
said to the Frog
said to the Frog come outside into the real world where
come outside into the real world where
come outside into the real world where there’s warmth and laughter but the Frog
there’s warmth and laughter but the Frog
there’s warmth and laughter but the Frog merely scoffed at the bird thinking that
merely scoffed at the bird thinking that
merely scoffed at the bird thinking that the well was his only world this is a
the well was his only world this is a
the well was his only world this is a sad story of the frog in a well from the
sad story of the frog in a well from the
sad story of the frog in a well from the Chinese fable Sindhi Java it’s a story
Chinese fable Sindhi Java it’s a story
Chinese fable Sindhi Java it’s a story about finding opportunities when I heard
about finding opportunities when I heard
about finding opportunities when I heard the story for my mother when I was young
the story for my mother when I was young
the story for my mother when I was young I would always feel sorry for the
I would always feel sorry for the
I would always feel sorry for the problem but looking back at it now I
problem but looking back at it now I
problem but looking back at it now I realized that I was the Frog all my life
realized that I was the Frog all my life
realized that I was the Frog all my life I knew this legend just imagine someone
I knew this legend just imagine someone
I knew this legend just imagine someone who could reach the national level in
who could reach the national level in
who could reach the national level in math science and computer science as
math science and computer science as
math science and computer science as well as be one of the top writers out of
well as be one of the top writers out of
well as be one of the top writers out of school I’ve been living in the same
school I’ve been living in the same
school I’ve been living in the same household as a legend all my life my
household as a legend all my life my
household as a legend all my life my brother as you may imagine living under
brother as you may imagine living under
brother as you may imagine living under a shadow was tough I was constantly
a shadow was tough I was constantly
a shadow was tough I was constantly compared with my peers and teachers and
compared with my peers and teachers and
compared with my peers and teachers and I found myself stuck in the math him due
I found myself stuck in the math him due
I found myself stuck in the math him due to his influence although math never
to his influence although math never
to his influence although math never really clicked with me so I lacked
really clicked with me so I lacked
really clicked with me so I lacked exposures to new opportunities and more
exposures to new opportunities and more
exposures to new opportunities and more importantly I felt trapped in a well I
importantly I felt trapped in a well I
importantly I felt trapped in a well I lacked the individual drive to find
lacked the individual drive to find
lacked the individual drive to find these new opportunities for myself which
these new opportunities for myself which
these new opportunities for myself which I knew could only be done by trying new
I knew could only be done by trying new
I knew could only be done by trying new things stepping out of my comfort zone
things stepping out of my comfort zone
things stepping out of my comfort zone and taking risks so in these situations
and taking risks so in these situations
and taking risks so in these situations we are always told that making a change
we are always told that making a change
we are always told that making a change for better or worse is always better
for better or worse is always better
for better or worse is always better than staying still so leaving my family
than staying still so leaving my family
than staying still so leaving my family for a boarding school was my first step
for a boarding school was my first step
for a boarding school was my first step in the getting out of that well although
in the getting out of that well although
in the getting out of that well although I didn’t know what I wanted to do at
I didn’t know what I wanted to do at
I didn’t know what I wanted to do at this
this
this near school I knew I had to do something
near school I knew I had to do something
near school I knew I had to do something to forge my own path outside of my
to forge my own path outside of my
to forge my own path outside of my brother’s influence so due to all the
brother’s influence so due to all the
brother’s influence so due to all the talk and hype about computer science
talk and hype about computer science
talk and hype about computer science I found myself learning a variety of
I found myself learning a variety of
I found myself learning a variety of technologies frameworks programming
technologies frameworks programming
technologies frameworks programming languages but nothing to committing yet
languages but nothing to committing yet
languages but nothing to committing yet one day a friend suggested going to a
one day a friend suggested going to a
one day a friend suggested going to a hackathon widgeon with him which is a
hackathon widgeon with him which is a
hackathon widgeon with him which is a gathering of designers developers and
gathering of designers developers and
gathering of designers developers and entrepreneurs for a day all for the sake
entrepreneurs for a day all for the sake
entrepreneurs for a day all for the sake of innovation and utilizing primarily
of innovation and utilizing primarily
of innovation and utilizing primarily these computer science skills so I went
these computer science skills so I went
these computer science skills so I went to this first hackathon of mine
to this first hackathon of mine
to this first hackathon of mine primarily due to an obligation to try
primarily due to an obligation to try
primarily due to an obligation to try new things and I didn’t expect much from
new things and I didn’t expect much from
new things and I didn’t expect much from it but actually being there I realized
it but actually being there I realized
it but actually being there I realized there is much more to this thing called
there is much more to this thing called
there is much more to this thing called hackathon I was truly able to allow my
hackathon I was truly able to allow my
hackathon I was truly able to allow my mind to wander into the realms of
mind to wander into the realms of
mind to wander into the realms of innovation and making aside from all the
innovation and making aside from all the
innovation and making aside from all the jury confines of score commitments
jury confines of score commitments
jury confines of score commitments homework so what got me so inspired at
homework so what got me so inspired at
homework so what got me so inspired at these hackathons being able to
these hackathons being able to
these hackathons being able to brainstorm a multitude of ideas was one
brainstorm a multitude of ideas was one
brainstorm a multitude of ideas was one thing but the thing that struck me the
thing but the thing that struck me the
thing but the thing that struck me the most was the fact that I can Amelie get
most was the fact that I can Amelie get
most was the fact that I can Amelie get down to coding in the makerspace and
down to coding in the makerspace and
down to coding in the makerspace and execute on an idea that excited both me
execute on an idea that excited both me
execute on an idea that excited both me and my partner I was able to see my ab
and my partner I was able to see my ab
and my partner I was able to see my ab ideas come to life during these tiring
ideas come to life during these tiring
ideas come to life during these tiring gatherings which were previously just
gatherings which were previously just
gatherings which were previously just dreams
dreams
dreams for example from just talk about
for example from just talk about
for example from just talk about bringing the peer tutor system online we
bringing the peer tutor system online we
bringing the peer tutor system online we were able to build an incomplete but
were able to build an incomplete but
were able to build an incomplete but robust web application allowing users to
robust web application allowing users to
robust web application allowing users to create virtual study groups and with
create virtual study groups and with
create virtual study groups and with cool features such as virtual classrooms
cool features such as virtual classrooms
cool features such as virtual classrooms even today I’m still in close contact
even today I’m still in close contact
even today I’m still in close contact with that hackathon partner we’re
with that hackathon partner we’re
with that hackathon partner we’re constantly challenging each other to add
constantly challenging each other to add
constantly challenging each other to add new complex features to our app well the
new complex features to our app well the
new complex features to our app well the important thing is this hackathons were
important thing is this hackathons were
important thing is this hackathons were the catalyst to get all these projects
the catalyst to get all these projects
the catalyst to get all these projects started they were the door openers the
started they were the door openers the
started they were the door openers the birds that whispered into my ears all
birds that whispered into my ears all
birds that whispered into my ears all the exciting new opportunities out there
the exciting new opportunities out there
the exciting new opportunities out there in the world of coding projects once I
in the world of coding projects once I
in the world of coding projects once I can start actually utilizing my computer
can start actually utilizing my computer
can start actually utilizing my computer science skills to actually do something
science skills to actually do something
science skills to actually do something formed a strong passion me for computer
formed a strong passion me for computer
formed a strong passion me for computer science and for the first time I felt in
science and for the first time I felt in
science and for the first time I felt in identity away for my brother away from
identity away for my brother away from
identity away for my brother away from the middle school math team and away
the middle school math team and away
the middle school math team and away from the confining well but just coding
from the confining well but just coding
from the confining well but just coding by myself and with my partner was not
by myself and with my partner was not
by myself and with my partner was not enough at least for me to truly enjoy
enough at least for me to truly enjoy
enough at least for me to truly enjoy what I’m doing is really important to
what I’m doing is really important to
what I’m doing is really important to engage with the community not only does
engage with the community not only does
engage with the community not only does it help others but also commits myself
it help others but also commits myself
it help others but also commits myself in a good way
in a good way
in a good way once my actions start affecting others
once my actions start affecting others
once my actions start affecting others sure
sure
sure I taught Java and Python at the youth
I taught Java and Python at the youth
I taught Java and Python at the youth summer camps I built websites for local
summer camps I built websites for local
summer camps I built websites for local businesses with this constant
businesses with this constant
businesses with this constant reoccurring thought nagged my brain they
reoccurring thought nagged my brain they
reoccurring thought nagged my brain they thought that I wish I had the Hakka
thought that I wish I had the Hakka
thought that I wish I had the Hakka hackathon opportunity at an earlier age
hackathon opportunity at an earlier age
hackathon opportunity at an earlier age and I realized that there is this larger
and I realized that there is this larger
and I realized that there is this larger need for young teens to engage with
need for young teens to engage with
need for young teens to engage with innovation I’m not talking about all
innovation I’m not talking about all
innovation I’m not talking about all those entrepreneurship 101 courses that
those entrepreneurship 101 courses that
those entrepreneurship 101 courses that are starting to appear everywhere I’m
are starting to appear everywhere I’m
are starting to appear everywhere I’m talking about learning by doing in the
talking about learning by doing in the
talking about learning by doing in the environment that is hands-on engaging
environment that is hands-on engaging
environment that is hands-on engaging and collaborative hackathons are just
and collaborative hackathons are just
and collaborative hackathons are just simply one subset of these kind of
simply one subset of these kind of
simply one subset of these kind of environments but they too are scarce
environments but they too are scarce
environments but they too are scarce especially at the East Coast at the high
especially at the East Coast at the high
especially at the East Coast at the high school level so one day my roommate
school level so one day my roommate
school level so one day my roommate suggested starting our own hackathon
suggested starting our own hackathon
suggested starting our own hackathon hack miss hack New England High School’s
hack miss hack New England High School’s
hack miss hack New England High School’s one that is open to all high scores in
one that is open to all high scores in
one that is open to all high scores in the area with more swag food prizes all
the area with more swag food prizes all
the area with more swag food prizes all the good stuff something clicked in my
the good stuff something clicked in my
the good stuff something clicked in my brain that was it started my own
brain that was it started my own
brain that was it started my own hackathon was the perfect way to address
hackathon was the perfect way to address
hackathon was the perfect way to address that nagging feeling inside my brain but
that nagging feeling inside my brain but
that nagging feeling inside my brain but after all my initial excitement I felt
after all my initial excitement I felt
after all my initial excitement I felt lost I had no idea where to start with
lost I had no idea where to start with
lost I had no idea where to start with finding sponsorships managing finance
finding sponsorships managing finance
finding sponsorships managing finance marketing all for the sake of providing
marketing all for the sake of providing
marketing all for the sake of providing a free open the public fun Saturday of
a free open the public fun Saturday of
a free open the public fun Saturday of coding but despite this I was really
coding but despite this I was really
coding but despite this I was really motivated to an eager to get through
motivated to an eager to get through
motivated to an eager to get through these struggles because I had made that
these struggles because I had made that
these struggles because I had made that commitment to others and I didn’t want
commitment to others and I didn’t want
commitment to others and I didn’t want to let my participants down so
to let my participants down so
to let my participants down so overcoming these struggles I’ve bought
overcoming these struggles I’ve bought
overcoming these struggles I’ve bought the game from them but fast forward to
the game from them but fast forward to
the game from them but fast forward to the night after the hack
the night after the hack
the night after the hack I was grinning with my roommate after
I was grinning with my roommate after
I was grinning with my roommate after successfully running a hackathon we
successfully running a hackathon we
successfully running a hackathon we gathered over 250 high school students
gathered over 250 high school students
gathered over 250 high school students from all over the area even as far as
from all over the area even as far as
from all over the area even as far as New Hampshire although I was dazed the
New Hampshire although I was dazed the
New Hampshire although I was dazed the feeling when people came up to me
feeling when people came up to me
feeling when people came up to me thanking me for providing an experience
thanking me for providing an experience
thanking me for providing an experience they never felt before at school teeming
they never felt before at school teeming
they never felt before at school teeming with all their ideas and projects
with all their ideas and projects
with all their ideas and projects invited me of my first experience with
invited me of my first experience with
invited me of my first experience with the hackathon and I realized that I’m
the hackathon and I realized that I’m
the hackathon and I realized that I’m truly working towards my goal pursuing
truly working towards my goal pursuing
truly working towards my goal pursuing my love for programming even further but
my love for programming even further but
my love for programming even further but also sharing the opportunity with others
also sharing the opportunity with others
also sharing the opportunity with others later I was glad to hear that even today
later I was glad to hear that even today
later I was glad to hear that even today many teams are continuing their projects
many teams are continuing their projects
many teams are continuing their projects that were started at HACC Ness
that were started at HACC Ness
that were started at HACC Ness so finding opportunity is a process the
so finding opportunity is a process the
so finding opportunity is a process the first step is that we have to make the
first step is that we have to make the
first step is that we have to make the change
change
change it means listening to all your peers
it means listening to all your peers
it means listening to all your peers teachers when they say to try every club
teachers when they say to try every club
teachers when they say to try every club every offering there is second to engage
every offering there is second to engage
every offering there is second to engage yourself with that opportunity that you
yourself with that opportunity that you
yourself with that opportunity that you will find eventually engage by doing
will find eventually engage by doing
will find eventually engage by doing starting a project third commitment is
starting a project third commitment is
starting a project third commitment is key when my friends ask me how I managed
key when my friends ask me how I managed
key when my friends ask me how I managed to pull off such a large-scale hackathon
to pull off such a large-scale hackathon
to pull off such a large-scale hackathon it’s all about making that commitment to
it’s all about making that commitment to
it’s all about making that commitment to the participants to the sponsors through
the participants to the sponsors through
the participants to the sponsors through phone calls and of course my teammates
phone calls and of course my teammates
phone calls and of course my teammates and all those who supported me through
and all those who supported me through
and all those who supported me through my journey through weekly Skype calls
my journey through weekly Skype calls
my journey through weekly Skype calls and finally the most important part
and finally the most important part
and finally the most important part chances are people are feeling the same
chances are people are feeling the same
chances are people are feeling the same lack of opportunity as you did and to
lack of opportunity as you did and to
lack of opportunity as you did and to make an even greater social impact is
make an even greater social impact is
make an even greater social impact is important to share your opportunity your
important to share your opportunity your
important to share your opportunity your discoveries with others so with this
discoveries with others so with this
discoveries with others so with this process of finding opportunity in mind
process of finding opportunity in mind
process of finding opportunity in mind our generation will be set on a mission
our generation will be set on a mission
our generation will be set on a mission to find new discoveries be more
to find new discoveries be more
to find new discoveries be more interconnected with each other pushing
interconnected with each other pushing
interconnected with each other pushing the boundaries for future innovation
the boundaries for future innovation
the boundaries for future innovation thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment