[Music] good evening so look at me see me tell
good evening so look at me see me tell
good evening so look at me see me tell me what do you see
[Music]
[Music] [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] participation yes I am a triple e an
participation yes I am a triple e an
participation yes I am a triple e an educator and entrepreneur and engineer
educator and entrepreneur and engineer
educator and entrepreneur and engineer I’m a mathematician I’m an analyst I’m a
I’m a mathematician I’m an analyst I’m a
I’m a mathematician I’m an analyst I’m a manager to a team of cyber security
manager to a team of cyber security
manager to a team of cyber security engineers
engineers
engineers I am Nesby one of Nesbo’s DFW hidden
I am Nesby one of Nesbo’s DFW hidden
I am Nesby one of Nesbo’s DFW hidden figures I am a congressional Award
figures I am a congressional Award
figures I am a congressional Award recipient u.s. congressional war
recipient u.s. congressional war
recipient u.s. congressional war recipient I am all of these things but
recipient I am all of these things but
recipient I am all of these things but when I asked you to see me is that what
when I asked you to see me is that what
when I asked you to see me is that what you see so I went to college and I had
you see so I went to college and I had
you see so I went to college and I had to read this book it was called
to read this book it was called
to read this book it was called Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison maybe you
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison maybe you
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison maybe you know about it now don’t ask me anything
know about it now don’t ask me anything
know about it now don’t ask me anything I could not tell you the details of that
I could not tell you the details of that
I could not tell you the details of that book because it was so long ago when I
book because it was so long ago when I
book because it was so long ago when I read it but two distinct quotes stood
read it but two distinct quotes stood
read it but two distinct quotes stood out to me and the first one is this one
out to me and the first one is this one
out to me and the first one is this one I am invisible understand simply because
I am invisible understand simply because
I am invisible understand simply because people refuse to see me when they
people refuse to see me when they
people refuse to see me when they approach me they see my surroundings
approach me they see my surroundings
approach me they see my surroundings themselves or figments of their
themselves or figments of their
themselves or figments of their imagination indeed anything and
imagination indeed anything and
imagination indeed anything and everything except for me so it’s the
everything except for me so it’s the
everything except for me so it’s the second day of class and I am a professor
second day of class and I am a professor
second day of class and I am a professor of this higher-level math
of this higher-level math
of this higher-level math and a lot of students didn’t believe
and a lot of students didn’t believe
and a lot of students didn’t believe that I could be the actual professor of
that I could be the actual professor of
that I could be the actual professor of this class I was young in my early 20s
this class I was young in my early 20s
this class I was young in my early 20s at the time after he de cámara
at the time after he de cámara
at the time after he de cámara african-american and female and I was
african-american and female and I was
african-american and female and I was counseling a student and so I could see
counseling a student and so I could see
counseling a student and so I could see out of the corner of my eye a student
out of the corner of my eye a student
out of the corner of my eye a student waiting to talk to the professor so when
waiting to talk to the professor so when
waiting to talk to the professor so when I finished talking to student ID through
I finished talking to student ID through
I finished talking to student ID through counseling he walks away and the waiting
counseling he walks away and the waiting
counseling he walks away and the waiting student does not walk to me he walks to
student does not walk to me he walks to
student does not walk to me he walks to the student that I’ve been talking to
the student that I’ve been talking to
the student that I’ve been talking to and proceeded to ask him questions about
and proceeded to ask him questions about
and proceeded to ask him questions about the class and so I found it funny and I
the class and so I found it funny and I
the class and so I found it funny and I just stood to the side and just kind of
just stood to the side and just kind of
just stood to the side and just kind of smiled but this interchange went on for
smiled but this interchange went on for
smiled but this interchange went on for maybe five minutes and then the student
maybe five minutes and then the student
maybe five minutes and then the student I had been counselor said you know dude
I had been counselor said you know dude
I had been counselor said you know dude I’m not the professor she is the
I’m not the professor she is the
I’m not the professor she is the professor of the class you need to be
professor of the class you need to be
professor of the class you need to be asking those questions of her and then
asking those questions of her and then
asking those questions of her and then you should have seen the look on this
you should have seen the look on this
you should have seen the look on this guy’s face he could not believe that I
guy’s face he could not believe that I
guy’s face he could not believe that I was actually the professor of this math
was actually the professor of this math
was actually the professor of this math class he thought it was a joke but now I
class he thought it was a joke but now I
class he thought it was a joke but now I look back on that incident and I wonder
look back on that incident and I wonder
look back on that incident and I wonder why didn’t I correct him when he
why didn’t I correct him when he
why didn’t I correct him when he initially approached why did I allow
initially approached why did I allow
initially approached why did I allow that interchange to go on for as long as
that interchange to go on for as long as
that interchange to go on for as long as it did I was engulfed at that time in
it did I was engulfed at that time in
it did I was engulfed at that time in this curse of invisibility
this curse of invisibility
this curse of invisibility I found the situation funny
I found the situation funny
I found the situation funny I found it humorous and I laughed at it
I found it humorous and I laughed at it
I found it humorous and I laughed at it then but had I known that that error
then but had I known that that error
then but had I known that that error would manifest itself throughout my
would manifest itself throughout my
would manifest itself throughout my career as an educator and entrepreneur
career as an educator and entrepreneur
career as an educator and entrepreneur and an engineer I would have taken it a
and an engineer I would have taken it a
and an engineer I would have taken it a little bit more serious because I know I
little bit more serious because I know I
little bit more serious because I know I could analyze that code I know I could
could analyze that code I know I could
could analyze that code I know I could solve that problem I know I could do all
solve that problem I know I could do all
solve that problem I know I could do all those things but I always felt
those things but I always felt
those things but I always felt throughout my career as I had to perform
throughout my career as I had to perform
throughout my career as I had to perform some type of trick I had to yell to be
some type of trick I had to yell to be
some type of trick I had to yell to be seen
seen
seen trying constantly to remain visible so
trying constantly to remain visible so
trying constantly to remain visible so you know about this movie
you know about this movie
you know about this movie it came out last year over the summer
it came out last year over the summer
it came out last year over the summer it’s hidden figures and when it first
it’s hidden figures and when it first
it’s hidden figures and when it first came out I don’t know why I was
came out I don’t know why I was
came out I don’t know why I was hesitating I didn’t go see it but a lot
hesitating I didn’t go see it but a lot
hesitating I didn’t go see it but a lot of people in my circle a lot of my
of people in my circle a lot of my
of people in my circle a lot of my friends a lot of my family a lot of my
friends a lot of my family a lot of my
friends a lot of my family a lot of my peers a lot of my co-workers they all
peers a lot of my co-workers they all
peers a lot of my co-workers they all would tell me the same thing they saw
would tell me the same thing they saw
would tell me the same thing they saw this movie and it reminded them of me I
this movie and it reminded them of me I
this movie and it reminded them of me I would get im’s
would get im’s
would get im’s on social media I would get texts just
on social media I would get texts just
on social media I would get texts just all around saying this movie reminds me
all around saying this movie reminds me
all around saying this movie reminds me of you so I don’t know why I waited so
of you so I don’t know why I waited so
of you so I don’t know why I waited so long to go see the movie but I’ll get
long to go see the movie but I’ll get
long to go see the movie but I’ll get truly I want to saw it and you know what
truly I want to saw it and you know what
truly I want to saw it and you know what that movie reminded me of myself and I
that movie reminded me of myself and I
that movie reminded me of myself and I cried through the entire thing because
cried through the entire thing because
cried through the entire thing because Miss Catherine Miss Dorothy and Miss
Miss Catherine Miss Dorothy and Miss
Miss Catherine Miss Dorothy and Miss Mary all those things that they had gone
Mary all those things that they had gone
Mary all those things that they had gone through all their slights all of the
through all their slights all of the
through all their slights all of the times of being invisible I had also
times of being invisible I had also
times of being invisible I had also experienced and it just it just teared
experienced and it just it just teared
experienced and it just it just teared me up
me up
me up and so cried through the whole movie and
and so cried through the whole movie and
and so cried through the whole movie and get to the credits I’m in the car and I
get to the credits I’m in the car and I
get to the credits I’m in the car and I stopped crying and I got mad and I was
stopped crying and I got mad and I was
stopped crying and I got mad and I was mad at myself because I asked myself why
mad at myself because I asked myself why
mad at myself because I asked myself why didn’t I know about these women why
didn’t I know about these women why
didn’t I know about these women why didn’t I know about their contributions
didn’t I know about their contributions
didn’t I know about their contributions they were invisible to me and that
they were invisible to me and that
they were invisible to me and that frustrated me because I felt that I
frustrated me because I felt that I
frustrated me because I felt that I should have known so I started looking
should have known so I started looking
should have known so I started looking up some statistics and these are women
up some statistics and these are women
up some statistics and these are women in stem and I was curious to know how
in stem and I was curious to know how
in stem and I was curious to know how many women are in stem now science
many women are in stem now science
many women are in stem now science technology engineering and math how many
technology engineering and math how many
technology engineering and math how many are in this stem careers so this is a
are in this stem careers so this is a
are in this stem careers so this is a 2015 statistic from the National Science
2015 statistic from the National Science
2015 statistic from the National Science Foundation and as you can see there is a
Foundation and as you can see there is a
Foundation and as you can see there is a small percentage of women in 2015 that
small percentage of women in 2015 that
small percentage of women in 2015 that are taken apart in these STEM careers
are taken apart in these STEM careers
are taken apart in these STEM careers and don’t even add women of color then
and don’t even add women of color then
and don’t even add women of color then the percentage drops significantly and
the percentage drops significantly and
the percentage drops significantly and so I begin thinking again so I know
so I begin thinking again so I know
so I begin thinking again so I know these women
these women
these women when did it start are they feeling
when did it start are they feeling
when did it start are they feeling invisible this
invisible this
invisible this artists young girls were they feeling
artists young girls were they feeling
artists young girls were they feeling invisible in their STEM subjects and so
invisible in their STEM subjects and so
invisible in their STEM subjects and so I found another statistic from the Girl
I found another statistic from the Girl
I found another statistic from the Girl Scouts and 57% of girls won’t even
Scouts and 57% of girls won’t even
Scouts and 57% of girls won’t even consider a career in the STEM fields so
consider a career in the STEM fields so
consider a career in the STEM fields so I’m wondering why is that why is it that
I’m wondering why is that why is it that
I’m wondering why is that why is it that so many people young girls specifically
so many people young girls specifically
so many people young girls specifically why aren’t they considering careers in
why aren’t they considering careers in
why aren’t they considering careers in stem so I bought back on another
stem so I bought back on another
stem so I bought back on another incident in my life and this is goes
incident in my life and this is goes
incident in my life and this is goes back to the seventh grade
back to the seventh grade
back to the seventh grade it’s a seventh grade biology class and
it’s a seventh grade biology class and
it’s a seventh grade biology class and so I’ve been preparing for this biology
so I’ve been preparing for this biology
so I’ve been preparing for this biology test and I studied really really hard I
test and I studied really really hard I
test and I studied really really hard I studied really hard and I ended up
studied really hard and I ended up
studied really hard and I ended up making a hundred on that biology test
making a hundred on that biology test
making a hundred on that biology test and I was proud yes I was proud of that
and I was proud yes I was proud of that
and I was proud yes I was proud of that hundred I was proud and but back then
hundred I was proud and but back then
hundred I was proud and but back then young girls we weren’t supposed to be
young girls we weren’t supposed to be
young girls we weren’t supposed to be smart especially in the subjects where I
smart especially in the subjects where I
smart especially in the subjects where I excelled were math and the sciences it
excelled were math and the sciences it
excelled were math and the sciences it was okay for us to be cute but it wasn’t
was okay for us to be cute but it wasn’t
was okay for us to be cute but it wasn’t okay for us to be smart and so I’ve made
okay for us to be smart and so I’ve made
okay for us to be smart and so I’ve made that hundred but the teacher didn’t
that hundred but the teacher didn’t
that hundred but the teacher didn’t believe I deserved that hundred they
believe I deserved that hundred they
believe I deserved that hundred they thought I cheated so they made me take
thought I cheated so they made me take
thought I cheated so they made me take the test again and you know what guess
the test again and you know what guess
the test again and you know what guess what I made another hundred and so I
what I made another hundred and so I
what I made another hundred and so I thought in my mind I’m like every time
thought in my mind I’m like every time
thought in my mind I’m like every time you give me this test I’d studied for it
you give me this test I’d studied for it
you give me this test I’d studied for it I am gonna make a 100 that’s the first
I am gonna make a 100 that’s the first
I am gonna make a 100 that’s the first thought but then the second thought was
thought but then the second thought was
thought but then the second thought was why bother if my intelligence is always
why bother if my intelligence is always
why bother if my intelligence is always going to be challenged if I’m always
going to be challenged if I’m always
going to be challenged if I’m always going to be challenged every time why
going to be challenged every time why
going to be challenged every time why even do it so you know what I did I made
even do it so you know what I did I made
even do it so you know what I did I made myself invisible I did just enough to
myself invisible I did just enough to
myself invisible I did just enough to get a good grade but I stopped doing
get a good grade but I stopped doing
get a good grade but I stopped doing more to stand out and so I’m wondering
more to stand out and so I’m wondering
more to stand out and so I’m wondering is that’s what’s happened to these young
is that’s what’s happened to these young
is that’s what’s happened to these young girls who are excelling in these
girls who are excelling in these
girls who are excelling in these subjects they’re they like them but
subjects they’re they like them but
subjects they’re they like them but they’re not supposed to be smart in
they’re not supposed to be smart in
they’re not supposed to be smart in these STEM subjects are they be
these STEM subjects are they be
these STEM subjects are they be encouraged or are there saying no you
encouraged or are there saying no you
encouraged or are there saying no you can’t do that no I don’t I don’t believe
can’t do that no I don’t I don’t believe
can’t do that no I don’t I don’t believe you
you
you what’s what’s going on so I thought how
what’s what’s going on so I thought how
what’s what’s going on so I thought how do we break that curse of invisibility
do we break that curse of invisibility
do we break that curse of invisibility what can you do so for me it took an
what can you do so for me it took an
what can you do so for me it took an internal realization that I matter what
internal realization that I matter what
internal realization that I matter what I say say matters what I do matter I
I say say matters what I do matter I
I say say matters what I do matter I know what I know and I stopped jumping
know what I know and I stopped jumping
know what I know and I stopped jumping through those hoops
through those hoops
through those hoops I dared people to see me and I began to
I dared people to see me and I began to
I dared people to see me and I began to be bold in the knowledge that I had so
be bold in the knowledge that I had so
be bold in the knowledge that I had so those are the three things that I have
those are the three things that I have
those are the three things that I have here on the screen that I said you can
here on the screen that I said you can
here on the screen that I said you can do to break the curse the first one is
do to break the curse the first one is
do to break the curse the first one is be bold it is okay there are millions of
be bold it is okay there are millions of
be bold it is okay there are millions of young women young ladies older women who
young women young ladies older women who
young women young ladies older women who are proficient in the STEM careers
are proficient in the STEM careers
are proficient in the STEM careers science technology engineering and math
science technology engineering and math
science technology engineering and math and you can be cute you can be athletic
and you can be cute you can be athletic
and you can be cute you can be athletic you can be smart
you can be smart
you can be smart you can be all these things you don’t
you can be all these things you don’t
you can be all these things you don’t have to be in that one box be bold
have to be in that one box be bold
have to be in that one box be bold they’re people to see you there are
they’re people to see you there are
they’re people to see you there are people to challenge you be so visible
people to challenge you be so visible
people to challenge you be so visible that if they’re forced to see you want
that if they’re forced to see you want
that if they’re forced to see you want to be you and want to be where you are
to be you and want to be where you are
to be you and want to be where you are embrace embrace your passion especially
embrace embrace your passion especially
embrace embrace your passion especially is in the STEM careers like I skip
is in the STEM careers like I skip
is in the STEM careers like I skip saying it’s okay embrace especially the
saying it’s okay embrace especially the
saying it’s okay embrace especially the subjects just was not supposed to be
subjects just was not supposed to be
subjects just was not supposed to be good in I did enough to support others
good in I did enough to support others
good in I did enough to support others comfort for a long time and I can tell
comfort for a long time and I can tell
comfort for a long time and I can tell you you will not be happy
you you will not be happy
you you will not be happy supporting someone else’s comfort
supporting someone else’s comfort
supporting someone else’s comfort embrace where you are and finally no
embrace where you are and finally no
embrace where you are and finally no fear being invisible allows you to hide
fear being invisible allows you to hide
fear being invisible allows you to hide don’t don’t be afraid so
don’t don’t be afraid so
don’t don’t be afraid so I mentioned before the Ralph Ellison
I mentioned before the Ralph Ellison
I mentioned before the Ralph Ellison Invisible Man book two quotes and here’s
Invisible Man book two quotes and here’s
Invisible Man book two quotes and here’s the second one I was searching for
the second one I was searching for
the second one I was searching for myself and asking everyone
myself and asking everyone
myself and asking everyone sent myself questions in which I and
sent myself questions in which I and
sent myself questions in which I and only I could answer it took me a long
only I could answer it took me a long
only I could answer it took me a long time to come to the realization which
time to come to the realization which
time to come to the realization which seems like everybody else has been born
seems like everybody else has been born
seems like everybody else has been born with that I am nobody but myself
with that I am nobody but myself
with that I am nobody but myself so invisibility is a choice choose to be
so invisibility is a choice choose to be
so invisibility is a choice choose to be seen choose to be heard
seen choose to be heard
seen choose to be heard choose your stem career if this your
choose your stem career if this your
choose your stem career if this your stem career choose to be thank you
stem career choose to be thank you
stem career choose to be thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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