when we look at the human spectrum and in the course of human lives very few
in the course of human lives very few
in the course of human lives very few things are consistent amongst
things are consistent amongst
things are consistent amongst person-to-person but one of those things
person-to-person but one of those things
person-to-person but one of those things that are consistent is that we’re going
that are consistent is that we’re going
that are consistent is that we’re going to experience a change and whether you
to experience a change and whether you
to experience a change and whether you embrace change or fear it it’s going to
embrace change or fear it it’s going to
embrace change or fear it it’s going to happen and sometimes it’s even shoved
happen and sometimes it’s even shoved
happen and sometimes it’s even shoved down our throats like right now during
down our throats like right now during
down our throats like right now during the campaign season so why do
the campaign season so why do
the campaign season so why do politicians and many of us experience
politicians and many of us experience
politicians and many of us experience such intense feelings with change to
such intense feelings with change to
such intense feelings with change to kind of understand that I want you to
kind of understand that I want you to
kind of understand that I want you to take you back to my service trip in
take you back to my service trip in
take you back to my service trip in Africa in the summer 2014 we went to the
Africa in the summer 2014 we went to the
Africa in the summer 2014 we went to the island of Zanzibar in the country of
island of Zanzibar in the country of
island of Zanzibar in the country of Tanzania where we worked on some
Tanzania where we worked on some
Tanzania where we worked on some educational projects we were tutoring
educational projects we were tutoring
educational projects we were tutoring students in English science mathematics
students in English science mathematics
students in English science mathematics as well as even computer science and we
as well as even computer science and we
as well as even computer science and we got to really work with these students
got to really work with these students
got to really work with these students on a whole different level of
on a whole different level of
on a whole different level of educational issues we also even got to
educational issues we also even got to
educational issues we also even got to help him with some infrastructure
help him with some infrastructure
help him with some infrastructure projects we were building a library as
projects we were building a library as
projects we were building a library as well as a school in their own community
well as a school in their own community
well as a school in their own community so that way they didn’t have to travel
so that way they didn’t have to travel
so that way they didn’t have to travel many miles to get to one in a different
many miles to get to one in a different
many miles to get to one in a different community and in the meantime we even
community and in the meantime we even
community and in the meantime we even had a lot of fun and this is my sad
had a lot of fun and this is my sad
had a lot of fun and this is my sad attempt of dancing with my favorite hat
attempt of dancing with my favorite hat
attempt of dancing with my favorite hat on as well but unfortunately all good
on as well but unfortunately all good
on as well but unfortunately all good things must come to an end what was
things must come to an end what was
things must come to an end what was unsettling about this to me was while I
unsettling about this to me was while I
unsettling about this to me was while I was in Africa I felt this intense
was in Africa I felt this intense
was in Africa I felt this intense purpose I woke up every day and even
purpose I woke up every day and even
purpose I woke up every day and even though I knew I was going to have to
though I knew I was going to have to
though I knew I was going to have to tutor for about eight hours and then
tutor for about eight hours and then
tutor for about eight hours and then continue to work instruction projects I
continue to work instruction projects I
continue to work instruction projects I was ready to go I’d never felt more
was ready to go I’d never felt more
was ready to go I’d never felt more happy in my life and on the last night
happy in my life and on the last night
happy in my life and on the last night of the trip our guide told us kind of a
of the trip our guide told us kind of a
of the trip our guide told us kind of a sad story and it was basically that
sad story and it was basically that
sad story and it was basically that volunteers when they go home they lose
volunteers when they go home they lose
volunteers when they go home they lose this and that was very unsettling to me
this and that was very unsettling to me
this and that was very unsettling to me even though I knew I was young and I
even though I knew I was young and I
even though I knew I was young and I could volunteer again I don’t have ample
could volunteer again I don’t have ample
could volunteer again I don’t have ample amounts of money and time to go to
amounts of money and time to go to
amounts of money and time to go to countries such as Tanzania and to me it
countries such as Tanzania and to me it
countries such as Tanzania and to me it seemed like she was trying to make a
seemed like she was trying to make a
seemed like she was trying to make a statement about service and I couldn’t
statement about service and I couldn’t
statement about service and I couldn’t quite grab my hand around hands around
quite grab my hand around hands around
quite grab my hand around hands around it so I decided to relate it in science
it so I decided to relate it in science
it so I decided to relate it in science terms because I’m a biochemistry major
terms because I’m a biochemistry major
terms because I’m a biochemistry major and that’s the
and that’s the
and that’s the I can relate to things so I was coming
I can relate to things so I was coming
I can relate to things so I was coming back to this idea of the central dogma
back to this idea of the central dogma
back to this idea of the central dogma which basically explains why life exists
which basically explains why life exists
which basically explains why life exists and that is DNA makes RNA makes proteins
and that is DNA makes RNA makes proteins
and that is DNA makes RNA makes proteins and if you don’t understand that it’s
and if you don’t understand that it’s
and if you don’t understand that it’s all right what we just have to
all right what we just have to
all right what we just have to understand is that it’s a simple
understand is that it’s a simple
understand is that it’s a simple three-step process and so I tried to
three-step process and so I tried to
three-step process and so I tried to relate that to what our guide was saying
relate that to what our guide was saying
relate that to what our guide was saying and basically what I found was she was
and basically what I found was she was
and basically what I found was she was trying to complain I explained that
trying to complain I explained that
trying to complain I explained that service requires spending lots of money
service requires spending lots of money
service requires spending lots of money and doing on long trips and that was
and doing on long trips and that was
and doing on long trips and that was rather unsettling to me so when I went
rather unsettling to me so when I went
rather unsettling to me so when I went home I set a goal of mine and that was
home I set a goal of mine and that was
home I set a goal of mine and that was to try and redefine this central dogma
to try and redefine this central dogma
to try and redefine this central dogma of service and find a way that we could
of service and find a way that we could
of service and find a way that we could use that to make us feel that sense of
use that to make us feel that sense of
use that to make us feel that sense of purpose every day in our lives and what
purpose every day in our lives and what
purpose every day in our lives and what I came to realize was that reflection
I came to realize was that reflection
I came to realize was that reflection drive service which drives that feeling
drive service which drives that feeling
drive service which drives that feeling of purpose and I ultimately came to a
of purpose and I ultimately came to a
of purpose and I ultimately came to a 3-step process and how we can get to
3-step process and how we can get to
3-step process and how we can get to accomplishing the central dogma but
accomplishing the central dogma but
accomplishing the central dogma but before I get to that I want to talk to
before I get to that I want to talk to
before I get to that I want to talk to you about why you know why should I go
you about why you know why should I go
you about why you know why should I go and be a go above and beyond of what I’m
and be a go above and beyond of what I’m
and be a go above and beyond of what I’m expected to do you know just because
expected to do you know just because
expected to do you know just because you’re not breaking a law doesn’t mean
you’re not breaking a law doesn’t mean
you’re not breaking a law doesn’t mean you’re doing a service to someone you
you’re doing a service to someone you
you’re doing a service to someone you know service is going above and beyond
know service is going above and beyond
know service is going above and beyond what’s expected in doing something
what’s expected in doing something
what’s expected in doing something outstanding and the reason you should do
outstanding and the reason you should do
outstanding and the reason you should do that is basically rooted in psychology
that is basically rooted in psychology
that is basically rooted in psychology if we look at Maslow’s hierarchy of
if we look at Maslow’s hierarchy of
if we look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs it explains how we can live a life
needs it explains how we can live a life
needs it explains how we can live a life of purpose the life of well-being so
of purpose the life of well-being so
of purpose the life of well-being so that way on our final day we can say I
that way on our final day we can say I
that way on our final day we can say I have done what’s needs to be done and
have done what’s needs to be done and
have done what’s needs to be done and for the sake of today’s speech we can
for the sake of today’s speech we can
for the sake of today’s speech we can just assume that our physiological needs
just assume that our physiological needs
just assume that our physiological needs and safety which are the first to have
and safety which are the first to have
and safety which are the first to have been met because we can’t really achieve
been met because we can’t really achieve
been met because we can’t really achieve the self-actualization the final pillar
the self-actualization the final pillar
the self-actualization the final pillar until the bottom ones have been met so
until the bottom ones have been met so
until the bottom ones have been met so if we assume the first two are completed
if we assume the first two are completed
if we assume the first two are completed that leaves us to step three which is
that leaves us to step three which is
that leaves us to step three which is love and belonging and if we’re serving
love and belonging and if we’re serving
love and belonging and if we’re serving others we’re showing them that we care
others we’re showing them that we care
others we’re showing them that we care we’re showing them those feelings of
we’re showing them those feelings of
we’re showing them those feelings of love and belonging and if they are
love and belonging and if they are
love and belonging and if they are thankful enough to give us recognition
thankful enough to give us recognition
thankful enough to give us recognition we can feel that in return
we can feel that in return
we can feel that in return and we can begin to move up on that
and we can begin to move up on that
and we can begin to move up on that hierarchy and then if we look at esteem
hierarchy and then if we look at esteem
hierarchy and then if we look at esteem it says lead a life of honor and
it says lead a life of honor and
it says lead a life of honor and recognition and like I said not every
recognition and like I said not every
recognition and like I said not every act of service comes with recognition
act of service comes with recognition
act of service comes with recognition but what’s more honorable than to lead a
but what’s more honorable than to lead a
but what’s more honorable than to lead a life of service so there is a cycle
life of service so there is a cycle
life of service so there is a cycle magical aspect of this that we need to
magical aspect of this that we need to
magical aspect of this that we need to serve others to help us feel this sort
serve others to help us feel this sort
serve others to help us feel this sort of purpose plus we have a need for it I
of purpose plus we have a need for it I
of purpose plus we have a need for it I know I saw it in Africa when these
know I saw it in Africa when these
know I saw it in Africa when these students didn’t have enough food to eat
students didn’t have enough food to eat
students didn’t have enough food to eat every day and they didn’t have good
every day and they didn’t have good
every day and they didn’t have good access to education but the reality is
access to education but the reality is
access to education but the reality is that same scenario occurs here in our
that same scenario occurs here in our
that same scenario occurs here in our communities there are students that
communities there are students that
communities there are students that don’t have access to public education
don’t have access to public education
don’t have access to public education there are students that go home hungry
there are students that go home hungry
there are students that go home hungry and if we look at meeting the grand
and if we look at meeting the grand
and if we look at meeting the grand scheme of things there’s more problems
scheme of things there’s more problems
scheme of things there’s more problems such as suicide is the second most
such as suicide is the second most
such as suicide is the second most common rate amongst teenagers and
common rate amongst teenagers and
common rate amongst teenagers and suicides 100 percent preventable so we
suicides 100 percent preventable so we
suicides 100 percent preventable so we have these issues that we could be
have these issues that we could be
have these issues that we could be addressing but maybe we’re just not
addressing but maybe we’re just not
addressing but maybe we’re just not quite putting the time into doing so so
quite putting the time into doing so so
quite putting the time into doing so so now let’s get into that how because it
now let’s get into that how because it
now let’s get into that how because it might seem to address such issues as
might seem to address such issues as
might seem to address such issues as that we might need a lot of time and
that we might need a lot of time and
that we might need a lot of time and money in order to achieve those such as
money in order to achieve those such as
money in order to achieve those such as services but I promise you this
services but I promise you this
services but I promise you this three-step process that I message is
three-step process that I message is
three-step process that I message is achievable I mean I’m a college student
achievable I mean I’m a college student
achievable I mean I’m a college student so budgeting is what I do
so budgeting is what I do
so budgeting is what I do ramen diets amazing I encourage you to
ramen diets amazing I encourage you to
ramen diets amazing I encourage you to try it you know so it is possible I
try it you know so it is possible I
try it you know so it is possible I promise you it’s possible and and here’s
promise you it’s possible and and here’s
promise you it’s possible and and here’s how it’s gonna work is step one I need
how it’s gonna work is step one I need
how it’s gonna work is step one I need you to reflect and I don’t care what
you to reflect and I don’t care what
you to reflect and I don’t care what time during the day you do this I choose
time during the day you do this I choose
time during the day you do this I choose to do this right before I go to bed
to do this right before I go to bed
to do this right before I go to bed before I close my eyes I sit down and I
before I close my eyes I sit down and I
before I close my eyes I sit down and I make a list of every good thing that
make a list of every good thing that
make a list of every good thing that happened to me that day and I don’t I
happened to me that day and I don’t I
happened to me that day and I don’t I don’t short out anyone whether they just
don’t short out anyone whether they just
don’t short out anyone whether they just open the door for me I gave me a nice
open the door for me I gave me a nice
open the door for me I gave me a nice smile I put them on that list because
smile I put them on that list because
smile I put them on that list because that’s the fuel that I’m gonna need it’s
that’s the fuel that I’m gonna need it’s
that’s the fuel that I’m gonna need it’s gonna what’s gonna drive me to want to
gonna what’s gonna drive me to want to
gonna what’s gonna drive me to want to return that to someone else so step one
return that to someone else so step one
return that to someone else so step one reflect step two is plan right after
reflect step two is plan right after
reflect step two is plan right after that make a second list and this one I
that make a second list and this one I
that make a second list and this one I want you to list of every good thing you
want you to list of every good thing you
want you to list of every good thing you could do for someone else
could do for someone else
could do for someone else again don’t short it it could be
again don’t short it it could be
again don’t short it it could be something really big such as a service
something really big such as a service
something really big such as a service trip or it could be something small like
trip or it could be something small like
trip or it could be something small like maybe calling your parents on your way
maybe calling your parents on your way
maybe calling your parents on your way to work instead of just listening to the
to work instead of just listening to the
to work instead of just listening to the radio or maybe asking your friend how
radio or maybe asking your friend how
radio or maybe asking your friend how are they and not settling for just okay
are they and not settling for just okay
are they and not settling for just okay but make that list this is a list of
but make that list this is a list of
but make that list this is a list of opportunities a list of possibilities
opportunities a list of possibilities
opportunities a list of possibilities that you could do to make an impact in
that you could do to make an impact in
that you could do to make an impact in someone else’s life and then third step
someone else’s life and then third step
someone else’s life and then third step is achieve pick one of those things
is achieve pick one of those things
is achieve pick one of those things – or if you really want to get crazy
– or if you really want to get crazy
– or if you really want to get crazy pick three of them and make it happen
pick three of them and make it happen
pick three of them and make it happen the very next day
the very next day
the very next day do not wait you’ve already proven to
do not wait you’ve already proven to
do not wait you’ve already proven to yourself that people have done it for
yourself that people have done it for
yourself that people have done it for you in that first step you’ve already
you in that first step you’ve already
you in that first step you’ve already shown the second step that you can make
shown the second step that you can make
shown the second step that you can make it happen so don’t wait make a plan to
it happen so don’t wait make a plan to
it happen so don’t wait make a plan to achieve it and make it happen and I
achieve it and make it happen and I
achieve it and make it happen and I promise you this does work I see it my
promise you this does work I see it my
promise you this does work I see it my friends and in my family I see it when I
friends and in my family I see it when I
friends and in my family I see it when I have an idea such as giving a TED talk
have an idea such as giving a TED talk
have an idea such as giving a TED talk and they listen to me give these
and they listen to me give these
and they listen to me give these proposals in these speeches they take
proposals in these speeches they take
proposals in these speeches they take the time out of their day to help me I
the time out of their day to help me I
the time out of their day to help me I see it when they drive multiple hours to
see it when they drive multiple hours to
see it when they drive multiple hours to come to my TED talk but the problem is
come to my TED talk but the problem is
come to my TED talk but the problem is so many of us just stop right there at
so many of us just stop right there at
so many of us just stop right there at our family and friends and we miss out
our family and friends and we miss out
our family and friends and we miss out on opportunities every day to serve
on opportunities every day to serve
on opportunities every day to serve someone else it could be someone that’s
someone else it could be someone that’s
someone else it could be someone that’s walking to class that drops their books
walking to class that drops their books
walking to class that drops their books we just pass by because we think we
we just pass by because we think we
we just pass by because we think we don’t have time but we do it’s it’s such
don’t have time but we do it’s it’s such
don’t have time but we do it’s it’s such a small much such a small audition
a small much such a small audition
a small much such a small audition the thing about Africa was that I
the thing about Africa was that I
the thing about Africa was that I learned that ignorance was bliss full
learned that ignorance was bliss full
learned that ignorance was bliss full when I didn’t go to Africa I didn’t know
when I didn’t go to Africa I didn’t know
when I didn’t go to Africa I didn’t know about the problems era I could read
about the problems era I could read
about the problems era I could read about and I could see pictures but I
about and I could see pictures but I
about and I could see pictures but I didn’t really fully understand it and
didn’t really fully understand it and
didn’t really fully understand it and it’s true ignorance is bliss but now I
it’s true ignorance is bliss but now I
it’s true ignorance is bliss but now I just told you that you do need to serve
just told you that you do need to serve
just told you that you do need to serve people you have a psychological need to
people you have a psychological need to
people you have a psychological need to do it I showed you how you can get it
do it I showed you how you can get it
do it I showed you how you can get it done I showed you that there is a need
done I showed you that there is a need
done I showed you that there is a need to do it so we are no longer ignorant to
to do it so we are no longer ignorant to
to do it so we are no longer ignorant to the ability we have to change the lives
the ability we have to change the lives
the ability we have to change the lives around us so what are we waiting for
around us so what are we waiting for
around us so what are we waiting for thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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