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World Revolves Around Us | Payam Shwani | TEDxNishtimanWomen


so all of you should have a piece of

so all of you should have a piece of paper if you don’t have it just raise

paper if you don’t have it just raise

paper if you don’t have it just raise your hand and one of the volunteers will

your hand and one of the volunteers will

your hand and one of the volunteers will give it to you there are two questions

give it to you there are two questions

give it to you there are two questions on this piece of paper I want you to

on this piece of paper I want you to

on this piece of paper I want you to think about it don’t start answering it

think about it don’t start answering it

think about it don’t start answering it now but think as I go through my speech

what will it take to change our

what will it take to change our communities and in changing our

communities and in changing our

communities and in changing our communities we’re changing this world

communities we’re changing this world

communities we’re changing this world one little step at a time

my name is Pam Shani

my name is Pam Shani and I’m here today whether you’re a

and I’m here today whether you’re a

and I’m here today whether you’re a young old woman or man to get out into

young old woman or man to get out into

young old woman or man to get out into communities and to start volunteering to

communities and to start volunteering to

communities and to start volunteering to start giving services for a good cause

start giving services for a good cause

start giving services for a good cause whenever my friends or my family come to

whenever my friends or my family come to

whenever my friends or my family come to me and they tell me they are lost unsure

me and they tell me they are lost unsure

me and they tell me they are lost unsure of what they’re doing

of what they’re doing

of what they’re doing what kind of occupation they should have

what kind of occupation they should have

what kind of occupation they should have what they should study in college I tell

what they should study in college I tell

what they should study in college I tell them one very important thing that

them one very important thing that

them one very important thing that worked for me and that is start by doing

worked for me and that is start by doing

worked for me and that is start by doing community service because they’ll be

community service because they’ll be

community service because they’ll be able to find your occupation your dream

able to find your occupation your dream

able to find your occupation your dream job it wasn’t a long time ago when I was

job it wasn’t a long time ago when I was

job it wasn’t a long time ago when I was in the same place I felt lost

in the same place I felt lost

in the same place I felt lost unsure what I was doing everything in my

unsure what I was doing everything in my

unsure what I was doing everything in my life was different I was a new girl in a

life was different I was a new girl in a

life was different I was a new girl in a new country with the whole new world

new country with the whole new world

new country with the whole new world around me and fortunately one day one of

around me and fortunately one day one of

around me and fortunately one day one of my most amazing professors approached me

my most amazing professors approached me

my most amazing professors approached me and she told me we have this program for

and she told me we have this program for

and she told me we have this program for the highly academic students in our

the highly academic students in our

the highly academic students in our school

school

school she sat through this program will do

she sat through this program will do

she sat through this program will do mounting activities Lee

mounting activities Lee

mounting activities Lee activities personal development

activities personal development

activities personal development activities and even though I had a very

activities and even though I had a very

activities and even though I had a very very busy life

very busy life

very busy life I said yes I decided to do it because

I said yes I decided to do it because

I said yes I decided to do it because every morning I woke up from five

every morning I woke up from five

every morning I woke up from five o’clock and I wouldn’t get home until

o’clock and I wouldn’t get home until

o’clock and I wouldn’t get home until 9:00 or 10:00 at night I was working I

9:00 or 10:00 at night I was working I

9:00 or 10:00 at night I was working I was taking full-time college courses

was taking full-time college courses

was taking full-time college courses while still in high school and on top of

while still in high school and on top of

while still in high school and on top of all that I had just decided to volunteer

all that I had just decided to volunteer

all that I had just decided to volunteer I worked because I knew it was very

I worked because I knew it was very

I worked because I knew it was very difficult for my father to afford five

difficult for my father to afford five

difficult for my father to afford five kids when he was only doing a part-time

kids when he was only doing a part-time

kids when he was only doing a part-time job

job

job he was also studying at a university for

he was also studying at a university for

he was also studying at a university for his PhD in engineering that was two

his PhD in engineering that was two

his PhD in engineering that was two hours away from us so I only got to see

hours away from us so I only got to see

hours away from us so I only got to see my father on the weekends my mom she was

my father on the weekends my mom she was

my father on the weekends my mom she was also very busy she was studying in

also very busy she was studying in

also very busy she was studying in college she had to take care of

college she had to take care of

college she had to take care of responsibilities for five kids while my

responsibilities for five kids while my

responsibilities for five kids while my dad was away and I thought maybe if I

dad was away and I thought maybe if I

dad was away and I thought maybe if I did this I could put up a lot of

did this I could put up a lot of

did this I could put up a lot of pressure off of my father’s shoulders I

pressure off of my father’s shoulders I

pressure off of my father’s shoulders I thought my mom’s shoulders every morning

thought my mom’s shoulders every morning

thought my mom’s shoulders every morning I woke up and I took the bus or the

I woke up and I took the bus or the

I woke up and I took the bus or the train to get to my destination so that I

train to get to my destination so that I

train to get to my destination so that I wouldn’t have to bother my parents with

wouldn’t have to bother my parents with

wouldn’t have to bother my parents with that as well

that as well

that as well and you see when we do these things they

and you see when we do these things they

and you see when we do these things they all started to add up for me my

all started to add up for me my

all started to add up for me my volunteering activities my highly

volunteering activities my highly

volunteering activities my highly academics in high school and in college

academics in high school and in college

academics in high school and in college by the time I graduated from high school

by the time I graduated from high school

by the time I graduated from high school I had already done two years of my

I had already done two years of my

I had already done two years of my college and I also graduated earlier

college and I also graduated earlier

college and I also graduated earlier than my peers and all these things they

than my peers and all these things they

than my peers and all these things they started to add up and I was able to gain

started to add up and I was able to gain

started to add up and I was able to gain my gold medal from Washington DC

my gold medal from Washington DC

my gold medal from Washington DC Congress Building

that wasn’t the only thing that I

that wasn’t the only thing that I received I received my silver my bronze

received I received my silver my bronze

received I received my silver my bronze many other certificates for my

many other certificates for my

many other certificates for my achievement from one of the senators in

achievement from one of the senators in

achievement from one of the senators in my state you see the person you’ll be in

my state you see the person you’ll be in

my state you see the person you’ll be in five years is all based on the

five years is all based on the

five years is all based on the activities you do today what kind of

activities you do today what kind of

activities you do today what kind of books you read today what kind of videos

books you read today what kind of videos

books you read today what kind of videos do you watch today what do you do in

do you watch today what do you do in

do you watch today what do you do in your daily life all depends on the

your daily life all depends on the

your daily life all depends on the person you’ll be in five years so if you

person you’ll be in five years so if you

person you’ll be in five years so if you don’t like it change it right now

don’t like it change it right now

don’t like it change it right now because now is the time to change it so

because now is the time to change it so

because now is the time to change it so that in five years when you look back on

that in five years when you look back on

that in five years when you look back on what you’ve done you’ll be proud of it

what you’ve done you’ll be proud of it

what you’ve done you’ll be proud of it you won’t regret how you spend your time

you won’t regret how you spend your time

you won’t regret how you spend your time you’ll be part of all your achievements

people tell me I’m lucky to be where I

people tell me I’m lucky to be where I am they tell me you were lucky to get

am they tell me you were lucky to get

am they tell me you were lucky to get the gold medal you were lucky to be

the gold medal you were lucky to be

the gold medal you were lucky to be successful but that’s not true it wasn’t

successful but that’s not true it wasn’t

successful but that’s not true it wasn’t luck they got all backwards if it was

luck they got all backwards if it was

luck they got all backwards if it was luck I’m gonna have had so many

luck I’m gonna have had so many

luck I’m gonna have had so many sleepless nights it felt was luck I

sleepless nights it felt was luck I

sleepless nights it felt was luck I would have failed on my face so many

would have failed on my face so many

would have failed on my face so many times I wouldn’t have been on the verge

times I wouldn’t have been on the verge

times I wouldn’t have been on the verge of giving up it was true perseverance

of giving up it was true perseverance

of giving up it was true perseverance perseverance is the key to success and

perseverance is the key to success and

perseverance is the key to success and don’t stop with success go for greatness

don’t stop with success go for greatness

don’t stop with success go for greatness because that’s well that’s what will

because that’s well that’s what will

because that’s well that’s what will make you different from the people

make you different from the people

make you different from the people around you now let me get back to my

around you now let me get back to my

around you now let me get back to my volunteering activities I first started

volunteering activities I first started

volunteering activities I first started volunteering at a hospital because I’ve

volunteering at a hospital because I’ve

volunteering at a hospital because I’ve always wanted to see the environment

always wanted to see the environment

always wanted to see the environment I’ve always wanted to know how I felt to

I’ve always wanted to know how I felt to

I’ve always wanted to know how I felt to work there so I volunteered at the acute

work there so I volunteered at the acute

work there so I volunteered at the acute care unit and in this unit we had

care unit and in this unit we had

care unit and in this unit we had patients who’ve just had surgeries so

patients who’ve just had surgeries so

patients who’ve just had surgeries so they were in a very difficult time of

they were in a very difficult time of

they were in a very difficult time of their lives

their lives

their lives very vulnerable and every day I went

very vulnerable and every day I went

very vulnerable and every day I went into all the patient’s rooms and I

into all the patient’s rooms and I

into all the patient’s rooms and I knocked on every door and I talked to my

knocked on every door and I talked to my

knocked on every door and I talked to my patients

patients

patients as a friend I wouldn’t go in to ask many

as a friend I wouldn’t go in to ask many

as a friend I wouldn’t go in to ask many endless health questions I wouldn’t go

endless health questions I wouldn’t go

endless health questions I wouldn’t go in to poke them with a needle as a

in to poke them with a needle as a

in to poke them with a needle as a doctor as a nurse would do but it was my

doctor as a nurse would do but it was my

doctor as a nurse would do but it was my job to be their friend it was my job to

job to be their friend it was my job to

job to be their friend it was my job to give them hope that they will get

give them hope that they will get

give them hope that they will get through these hard situations for

through these hard situations for

through these hard situations for example one day there was a patient who

example one day there was a patient who

example one day there was a patient who shared a very difficult disease she was

shared a very difficult disease she was

shared a very difficult disease she was diagnosed with and she forgot everything

diagnosed with and she forgot everything

diagnosed with and she forgot everything like she forgot how to write how to read

like she forgot how to write how to read

like she forgot how to write how to read she forgot all the basic necessities

she forgot all the basic necessities

she forgot all the basic necessities necessaries that we learn in elementary

necessaries that we learn in elementary

necessaries that we learn in elementary school and it only took her a year to

school and it only took her a year to

school and it only took her a year to learn all these things back she she

learn all these things back she she

learn all these things back she she learned how to write how treat all the

learned how to write how treat all the

learned how to write how treat all the math skills that she lost and she was

math skills that she lost and she was

math skills that she lost and she was able to go to college from one of my

able to go to college from one of my

able to go to college from one of my classes in chemistry and she was the

classes in chemistry and she was the

classes in chemistry and she was the most amazing person ever and I decided

most amazing person ever and I decided

most amazing person ever and I decided if she went through all these hardships

if she went through all these hardships

if she went through all these hardships and she was able to do it why can’t I do

and she was able to do it why can’t I do

and she was able to do it why can’t I do it why can’t everybody else do it it’s

it why can’t everybody else do it it’s

it why can’t everybody else do it it’s all in our hands even though I was very

all in our hands even though I was very

all in our hands even though I was very busy every time because of school

busy every time because of school

busy every time because of school because of work and every morning I woke

because of work and every morning I woke

because of work and every morning I woke up with a smile on my face because I was

up with a smile on my face because I was

up with a smile on my face because I was so excited to go volunteering I was so

so excited to go volunteering I was so

so excited to go volunteering I was so excited to go and by the time I went

excited to go and by the time I went

excited to go and by the time I went there I’d be so engrossed in what I was

there I’d be so engrossed in what I was

there I’d be so engrossed in what I was doing that I would never realize how for

doing that I would never realize how for

doing that I would never realize how for hours how three hours would pass by

hours how three hours would pass by

hours how three hours would pass by because I was so engrossed in my

because I was so engrossed in my

because I was so engrossed in my activities and by the by the time I had

activities and by the by the time I had

activities and by the by the time I had to leave I would be reluctant to leave

to leave I would be reluctant to leave

to leave I would be reluctant to leave because I just need five more minutes

because I just need five more minutes

because I just need five more minutes with the people now you may ask yourself

with the people now you may ask yourself

with the people now you may ask yourself why should I volunteer why should I give

why should I volunteer why should I give

why should I volunteer why should I give up my precious time my energy for this

up my precious time my energy for this

up my precious time my energy for this cause and if you’re not convinced I’ll

cause and if you’re not convinced I’ll

cause and if you’re not convinced I’ll give you two points that will for sure

give you two points that will for sure

give you two points that will for sure convince you number one to volunteering

convince you number one to volunteering

convince you number one to volunteering you’ll be able to realize that you will

you’ll be able to realize that you will

you’ll be able to realize that you will get way more

get way more

get way more you give you will gain leadership skills

you give you will gain leadership skills

you give you will gain leadership skills personal development skills you’ll be

personal development skills you’ll be

personal development skills you’ll be more self-sufficient more self-confident

more self-sufficient more self-confident

more self-sufficient more self-confident and all these talents will start to show

and all these talents will start to show

and all these talents will start to show in you and when you apply for a job when

in you and when you apply for a job when

in you and when you apply for a job when you decide to go to a different

you decide to go to a different

you decide to go to a different occupation you will be the better

occupation you will be the better

occupation you will be the better candidate than someone who hasn’t had

candidate than someone who hasn’t had

candidate than someone who hasn’t had these experiences number two through

these experiences number two through

these experiences number two through volunteering you’ll have a better

volunteering you’ll have a better

volunteering you’ll have a better community

community

community there’s many research done on this topic

there’s many research done on this topic

there’s many research done on this topic all of them on volunteering and they

all of them on volunteering and they

all of them on volunteering and they lead to one single conclusion one single

lead to one single conclusion one single

lead to one single conclusion one single result what is that that you’ll have a

result what is that that you’ll have a

result what is that that you’ll have a better community a community where

better community a community where

better community a community where there’s less crime less violence where

there’s less crime less violence where

there’s less crime less violence where students perform better on their exams

students perform better on their exams

students perform better on their exams overall a happier safer community for

overall a happier safer community for

overall a happier safer community for you for your children next

now were you all to imagine imagine at

now were you all to imagine imagine at the back of your mind what it would feel

the back of your mind what it would feel

the back of your mind what it would feel like if you put a smile on a little

like if you put a smile on a little

like if you put a smile on a little child’s face imagine how that would feel

child’s face imagine how that would feel

child’s face imagine how that would feel what it would feel like if you receive a

what it would feel like if you receive a

what it would feel like if you receive a thank-you from someone who’s in the

thank-you from someone who’s in the

thank-you from someone who’s in the hardest most difficult time of their

hardest most difficult time of their

hardest most difficult time of their lives

lives

lives just imagining this gives me chills now

just imagining this gives me chills now

just imagining this gives me chills now I imagine what would happen if you got

I imagine what would happen if you got

I imagine what would happen if you got this feeling for real if you receive

this feeling for real if you receive

this feeling for real if you receive this feeling in real life with real

this feeling in real life with real

this feeling in real life with real experiences with real people not from

experiences with real people not from

experiences with real people not from the media not from the newspaper but you

the media not from the newspaper but you

the media not from the newspaper but you actually got it for real and believe me

actually got it for real and believe me

actually got it for real and believe me it’s way better than imagination now the

it’s way better than imagination now the

it’s way better than imagination now the papers that I gave you there are two

papers that I gave you there are two

papers that I gave you there are two questions on it please look at it now

questions on it please look at it now

questions on it please look at it now and think about how much free time do

and think about how much free time do

and think about how much free time do you have in a week what kind of

you have in a week what kind of

you have in a week what kind of activities do you do you see there are

activities do you do you see there are

activities do you do you see there are 168 hours in one single week that’s a

168 hours in one single week that’s a

168 hours in one single week that’s a lot of hours if you think about it if

lot of hours if you think about it if

lot of hours if you think about it if you sleep eight hours a day that’s 52

you sleep eight hours a day that’s 52

you sleep eight hours a day that’s 52 hours and if you work full-time job

hours and if you work full-time job

hours and if you work full-time job let’s say a full-time job is usually 40

let’s say a full-time job is usually 40

let’s say a full-time job is usually 40 hours and the most anyone would work

hours and the most anyone would work

hours and the most anyone would work it’s 70 so if you add all these up you

it’s 70 so if you add all these up you

it’s 70 so if you add all these up you still have 42 hours extra even with a

still have 42 hours extra even with a

still have 42 hours extra even with a full-time job I’m not telling you to use

full-time job I’m not telling you to use

full-time job I’m not telling you to use all your 42 hours for volunteering I’m

all your 42 hours for volunteering I’m

all your 42 hours for volunteering I’m just telling you use 2 hours of it 3

just telling you use 2 hours of it 3

just telling you use 2 hours of it 3 hours of it to make this place better

and now you might be convinced and you

and now you might be convinced and you tell me I don’t know what kind of

tell me I don’t know what kind of

tell me I don’t know what kind of volunteering activities I should do I

volunteering activities I should do I

volunteering activities I should do I don’t know what’s out there in my

don’t know what’s out there in my

don’t know what’s out there in my community you see today is the time

community you see today is the time

community you see today is the time where Kurdistan needs the most

where Kurdistan needs the most

where Kurdistan needs the most volunteers case’ was only about a week

volunteers case’ was only about a week

volunteers case’ was only about a week ago when many people had to flee their

ago when many people had to flee their

ago when many people had to flee their homes they became homeless and there

homes they became homeless and there

homes they became homeless and there right now they’re on the streets it’s

right now they’re on the streets it’s

right now they’re on the streets it’s our job our responsibility to make these

our job our responsibility to make these

our job our responsibility to make these people help them at the hardest time of

people help them at the hardest time of

people help them at the hardest time of their life you can start by forming a

their life you can start by forming a

their life you can start by forming a group and plant trees in your

group and plant trees in your

group and plant trees in your neighborhood start by volunteering at a

neighborhood start by volunteering at a

neighborhood start by volunteering at a preschool start their start but little

preschool start their start but little

preschool start their start but little pieces at a time so that we can make our

pieces at a time so that we can make our

pieces at a time so that we can make our next generation of kids successful in

next generation of kids successful in

next generation of kids successful in the life they had they have ahead of

the life they had they have ahead of

the life they had they have ahead of them you see this world it’s very small

them you see this world it’s very small

them you see this world it’s very small there are people out there with the same

there are people out there with the same

there are people out there with the same age as me with the same ambition with

age as me with the same ambition with

age as me with the same ambition with the same life goals with the same dreams

the same life goals with the same dreams

the same life goals with the same dreams but they are not able to follow their

but they are not able to follow their

but they are not able to follow their dreams they are not able to follow their

dreams they are not able to follow their

dreams they are not able to follow their occupation because they have to worry

occupation because they have to worry

occupation because they have to worry about if they’re gonna have enough food

about if they’re gonna have enough food

about if they’re gonna have enough food for the day they have to worry about if

for the day they have to worry about if

for the day they have to worry about if they’re gonna have somewhere to sleep

they’re gonna have somewhere to sleep

they’re gonna have somewhere to sleep all night I was born with these

all night I was born with these

all night I was born with these blessings they weren’t I was born with

blessings they weren’t I was born with

blessings they weren’t I was born with warm food with a loving family with

warm food with a loving family with

warm food with a loving family with shelter every day and if I know with my

shelter every day and if I know with my

shelter every day and if I know with my blessings I can make it for make it help

blessings I can make it for make it help

blessings I can make it for make it help them have a better place so that when

them have a better place so that when

them have a better place so that when they go they can follow their dreams and

they go they can follow their dreams and

they go they can follow their dreams and make our world better this world doesn’t

make our world better this world doesn’t

make our world better this world doesn’t revolve around me it doesn’t revolve

revolve around me it doesn’t revolve

revolve around me it doesn’t revolve around you

around you

around you but it revolves around all of us as a

but it revolves around all of us as a

but it revolves around all of us as a whole we are all part of it part of a

whole we are all part of it part of a

whole we are all part of it part of a community part of a country part of a

community part of a country part of a

community part of a country part of a nation and if you grasp this in your

nation and if you grasp this in your

nation and if you grasp this in your mind think think about a little bit if

mind think think about a little bit if

mind think think about a little bit if you grasp it you will realize that these

you grasp it you will realize that these

you grasp it you will realize that these people are our responsibility

people are our responsibility

people are our responsibility because we are all like a big family

because we are all like a big family

because we are all like a big family billions of people all like a big family

billions of people all like a big family

billions of people all like a big family and this world is like a big house where

and this world is like a big house where

and this world is like a big house where we live in it thank you

”

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