so this morning when you were driving to school on a Monday in mid-april
school on a Monday in mid-april early in the morning probably before
early in the morning probably before your caffeine kicked in you may have
your caffeine kicked in you may have asked yourself why do I have to go to
asked yourself why do I have to go to school and when you did this what you
school and when you did this what you were actually doing was engaging and one
were actually doing was engaging and one of man’s great philosophical debates
of man’s great philosophical debates whether or not you really realize that
whether or not you really realize that for centuries we’ve asked ourselves
for centuries we’ve asked ourselves what’s really the point of Education
what’s really the point of Education what’s the purpose what does it mean to
what’s the purpose what does it mean to be educated people like Plato and
be educated people like Plato and Socrates wrestled with this issue
Socrates wrestled with this issue currently leaders from the local to the
currently leaders from the local to the global level think about education when
global level think about education when they set policy for their constituents
they set policy for their constituents so that we can have an educated populace
so that we can have an educated populace as a teacher somebody who’s decided that
as a teacher somebody who’s decided that I want to dedicate myself to working
I want to dedicate myself to working within the educational system this is a
within the educational system this is a question that I think about on a daily
question that I think about on a daily basis even early on Monday mornings
basis even early on Monday mornings so what I want what a when I needed to
so what I want what a when I needed to come up with a topic to address in my
come up with a topic to address in my speech I thought the purpose of
speech I thought the purpose of Education was a natural thing for me to
Education was a natural thing for me to talk about and what I’d like to talk to
talk about and what I’d like to talk to you in particular about is how the
you in particular about is how the choices you make in high school connect
choices you make in high school connect to your educational path which doesn’t
to your educational path which doesn’t end with the granting of a diploma we
end with the granting of a diploma we need to be lifelong learners and you
need to be lifelong learners and you hear your teachers and you hear people
hear your teachers and you hear people who give motivational speeches talk
who give motivational speeches talk
who give motivational speeches talk about that all the time and I want to
about that all the time and I want to expand on that a little bit for you so
expand on that a little bit for you so the very first thing that we need to do
the very first thing that we need to do is define education what does it mean
is define education what does it mean when we talk about being educated so
when we talk about being educated so Jean Piaget who is a scientist who
Jean Piaget who is a scientist who studies human cognitive development
studies human cognitive development reminds us that the goal of education is
reminds us that the goal of education is not really about accumulating knowledge
not really about accumulating knowledge in fact being an educated person doesn’t
in fact being an educated person doesn’t just mean that we can define terms and
just mean that we can define terms and we can solve math problems and we have
we can solve math problems and we have an extensive vocabulary it’s not about
an extensive vocabulary it’s not about knowing names and dates it’s about what
knowing names and dates it’s about what we can do with that knowledge
we can do with that knowledge how can we create new things and create
how can we create new things and create new ideas in this world how can we make
new ideas in this world how can we make connections to the world around us and
connections to the world around us and so he tells us that if we have this
so he tells us that if we have this great education if we are dedicated to
great education if we are dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge to being the
the pursuit of knowledge to being the most educated person that we can be then
most educated person that we can be then we are capable of doing new things that
we are capable of doing new things that can change the world and this is how we
can change the world and this is how we have progress this is a really important
have progress this is a really important thing to consider because a lot of times
thing to consider because a lot of times we get caught up in the day-to-day
we get caught up in the day-to-day process of Education and it’s a really
process of Education and it’s a really hard thing I know I have stacks of
hard thing I know I have stacks of papers to grade I have to make lesson
papers to grade I have to make lesson plans and I think about things sometimes
plans and I think about things sometimes in a class-by-class period or a day to
in a class-by-class period or a day to day schedule and I know that you do too
day schedule and I know that you do too we tend to compartmentalize things so
we tend to compartmentalize things so that it can be manageable but what we
that it can be manageable but what we need to do sometimes is step back and
need to do sometimes is step back and think about the bigger picture what are
think about the bigger picture what are we really trying to achieve when we go
we really trying to achieve when we go to school we have these opportunities in
to school we have these opportunities in high school many of us are going to go
high school many of us are going to go to college we’re going to pursue our
to college we’re going to pursue our education in different ways and we need
education in different ways and we need to make sure that we understand our
to make sure that we understand our educational path and we make choices
educational path and we make choices that are going to allow us to experience
that are going to allow us to experience our world in the fullest deepest way
our world in the fullest deepest way possible so John Dewey who is another
possible so John Dewey who is another leader in the field of education tells
leader in the field of education tells us education is not preparation for life
us education is not preparation for life education is life itself I think this is
education is life itself I think this is a really important thing for us to
a really important thing for us to remember we get really wrapped up
remember we get really wrapped up sometimes and these small day-to-day
sometimes and these small day-to-day things that do seem like a big deal
things that do seem like a big deal because they are I know you guys are in
because they are I know you guys are in high school you were thinking a lot
high school you were thinking a lot about how the choices you make now are
about how the choices you make now are going to influence your future the
going to influence your future the grades that you make the test scores
grades that you make the test scores that you have they are important they
that you have they are important they are going to help determine where you go
are going to help determine where you go to college but they are not the only
to college but they are not the only thing that matters we can’t let
thing that matters we can’t let ourselves think that education is the
ourselves think that education is the means to an end that the resume that we
means to an end that the resume that we build the grades that we have our class
build the grades that we have our class our test scores the list of activities
our test scores the list of activities that we put on our resume are what
that we put on our resume are what define us because that’s not all we are
define us because that’s not all we are we are more than that we are more than a
we are more than that we are more than a sum of our parts we are more than the
sum of our parts we are more than the data on a sheet and we can’t let that be
data on a sheet and we can’t let that be lost and are in our discussion of
lost and are in our discussion of education so when we think about
education so when we think about education is not a preparation for life
education is not a preparation for life that it is in fact life we go back to
that it is in fact life we go back to these concepts that Coach cherry and
these concepts that Coach cherry and that Virage and that lucy have talked to
that Virage and that lucy have talked to us about we think the choices that we
us about we think the choices that we make in high school and college about
make in high school and college about which classes do we make which books do
which classes do we make which books do we read what do we study that’s going to
we read what do we study that’s going to help us create this foundation in which
help us create this foundation in which we can engage with our world in a
we can engage with our world in a different way the more we know about
different way the more we know about things the more meaningful a trip to a
things the more meaningful a trip to a museum or travels around the world or
museum or travels around the world or listening to a symphony or reading a
listening to a symphony or reading a book the more meaningful those things
book the more meaningful those things are for us we have more of an
are for us we have more of an understanding of the world around us we
understanding of the world around us we can engage deeper and the thing that we
can engage deeper and the thing that we have to remember is that the small
have to remember is that the small finite things that we create for
finite things that we create for ourselves in terms of Education are
ourselves in terms of Education are really a foundation there will come a
really a foundation there will come a point in our in our lives where we’ve
point in our in our lives where we’ve gotten that last diploma we’ve taken
gotten that last diploma we’ve taken that last class and then we have to go
that last class and then we have to go out in the world we have to do something
out in the world we have to do something with this knowledge that we’ve gained we
with this knowledge that we’ve gained we have to have leadership skills we have
have to have leadership skills we have to be creative we have to be curious we
to be creative we have to be curious we have to make connections and we have to
have to make connections and we have to be able to take that knowledge that we
be able to take that knowledge that we have and create something new to make
have and create something new to make the world a better place
the world a better place to be a leader to develop those
to be a leader to develop those intrinsic qualities in ourselves that
intrinsic qualities in ourselves that separate us from people who don’t have
separate us from people who don’t have that education if you think about
that education if you think about leaders in the world it’s not just that
leaders in the world it’s not just that they have facts that they know things
they have facts that they know things it’s what they do with it it’s their
it’s what they do with it it’s their unique perspective about how they can
unique perspective about how they can take all that information and generate
take all that information and generate new ideas they’re creative
new ideas they’re creative leaders you need a firm foundation in
leaders you need a firm foundation in education for that and so the choices
education for that and so the choices that you make in high school are very
that you make in high school are very important the choices that you make in
important the choices that you make in college are very important but they’re
college are very important but they’re not the end result they’re not the final
not the end result they’re not the final thing they’re not our ultimate goal so
thing they’re not our ultimate goal so once we’re thinking about our
once we’re thinking about our educational path and we’re thinking
educational path and we’re thinking about where we’re altima League owing to
about where we’re altima League owing to be what kind of person we want to be so
be what kind of person we want to be so we can experience the world around us
we can experience the world around us there are a couple of other things that
there are a couple of other things that we have to consider and so we probably
we have to consider and so we probably all know the story of JK Rowling right
all know the story of JK Rowling right we love Harry Potter the world is a
we love Harry Potter the world is a different place because so many adults
different place because so many adults and children have been able to
and children have been able to experience the magic of that story and
experience the magic of that story and we know her personal story the idea of
we know her personal story the idea of rags to riches the struggles that she
rags to riches the struggles that she faced and she reminds us that failure is
faced and she reminds us that failure is not a bad thing
not a bad thing that there’s value in a struggle and
that there’s value in a struggle and that sometimes if we’re afraid to take
that sometimes if we’re afraid to take risks because we’re afraid that we’re
risks because we’re afraid that we’re not going to make the highest grade
not going to make the highest grade we’re not going to pass that test we’re
we’re not going to pass that test we’re not going to make a team we limit
not going to make a team we limit ourselves when we do that we deprive
ourselves when we do that we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to grow and
ourselves of the opportunity to grow and to develop leadership skills she tells
to develop leadership skills she tells us that she’s seen people who don’t want
us that she’s seen people who don’t want to try new things because they’re afraid
to try new things because they’re afraid to fail and I ask you what if she was
to fail and I ask you what if she was afraid to fail what if she said I
afraid to fail what if she said I haven’t written anything before I
haven’t written anything before I haven’t been published I don’t have the
haven’t been published I don’t have the
haven’t been published I don’t have the educational background for this I’m not
educational background for this I’m not entirely sure that this is something
entirely sure that this is something that I can do and she never tried and
that I can do and she never tried and she never persisted and all of these
she never persisted and all of these people who have experienced the
people who have experienced the connection of loving this story the
connection of loving this story the themes that connect people the the
themes that connect people the the connection that happens between parents
connection that happens between parents and children when they when they
and children when they when they experience these movies and books
experience these movies and books together they wouldn’t be there because
together they wouldn’t be there because she was afraid to fail and I know this
she was afraid to fail and I know this is a hard thing it was a hard thing for
is a hard thing it was a hard thing for me to say sure I’ll go ahead and give
me to say sure I’ll go ahead and give that speech okay I had to say I would do
that speech okay I had to say I would do it despite the fact that I was
it despite the fact that I was word that you know it could be a
word that you know it could be a catastrophic failure but I have to think
catastrophic failure but I have to think how do I grow from this experience and
how do I grow from this experience and how can my participation help other
how can my participation help other people that’s what we have to do when
people that’s what we have to do when we’re thinking about becoming a great a
we’re thinking about becoming a great a leader when we have to when we think
leader when we have to when we think about creating our own education we’ve
about creating our own education we’ve got to be bold and we’ve got to take
got to be bold and we’ve got to take risks and we can’t let that fear of
risks and we can’t let that fear of failure hold us back the next thing we
failure hold us back the next thing we have to think about is passion when
have to think about is passion when we’re passionate about something when
we’re passionate about something when the joy of participating in an activity
the joy of participating in an activity or studying a topic corresponds with our
or studying a topic corresponds with our purpose we think that this study or this
purpose we think that this study or this engagement is actually creating some
engagement is actually creating some change in the world around us then we
change in the world around us then we found that point in our life when we’re
found that point in our life when we’re passionate about things high school and
passionate about things high school and college are great places for you guys to
college are great places for you guys to both take risks and to develop your
both take risks and to develop your passion don’t be afraid to take that
passion don’t be afraid to take that class that seems interesting but you
class that seems interesting but you don’t really have that background in
don’t really have that background in especially when you go to college there
especially when you go to college there will be so many opportunities for you
will be so many opportunities for you take that anthropology class sign up for
take that anthropology class sign up for astronomy do those things that are a
astronomy do those things that are a little bit out of your comfort zone
little bit out of your comfort zone because that’s where growth happens
because that’s where growth happens that’s where we develop grit that’s
that’s where we develop grit that’s where we develop fortitude and sometimes
where we develop fortitude and sometimes we uncover passions that we didn’t even
we uncover passions that we didn’t even know that we had when you are able to go
know that we had when you are able to go forth and make choices setting aside
forth and make choices setting aside your fear of failure and when you are
your fear of failure and when you are ready to embrace the world around you to
ready to embrace the world around you to step out and to take the risk so that
step out and to take the risk so that you can develop new interest that’s when
you can develop new interest that’s when you can really figure out what your
you can really figure out what your purpose is and that’s the ultimate
purpose is and that’s the ultimate result of an education that’s where
result of an education that’s where we’re trying to go we’re trying to
we’re trying to go we’re trying to figure out how do we change this world
figure out how do we change this world what is our purpose that’s what we’ve
what is our purpose that’s what we’ve been talking about as humans for as long
been talking about as humans for as long as we could communicate
as we could communicate it’s in books send poems it’s in music
it’s in books send poems it’s in music we want to know what’s our purpose how
we want to know what’s our purpose how do we change the world and education is
do we change the world and education is a great way for us to start determining
a great way for us to start determining where we should go with that your high
where we should go with that your high school choices are a really strong
school choices are a really strong indicator of where you’re going to
indicator of where you’re going to ultimately end up and so I can’t think
ultimately end up and so I can’t think of a better more inspirational person to
of a better more inspirational person to leave you with tonight then Malala
leave you with tonight then Malala we know her story she’s been a
we know her story she’s been a passionate supporter of education all
passionate supporter of education all around the world particularly for girls
around the world particularly for girls and women to make sure that they have
and women to make sure that they have the right to education and she tells us
the right to education and she tells us that one child one teacher one book in
that one child one teacher one book in one pen really can change the world she
one pen really can change the world she reminds us that the choices that we make
reminds us that the choices that we make are important we don’t have to be JK
are important we don’t have to be JK Rowling we don’t have to be a famous
Rowling we don’t have to be a famous person with a lot of power to do
person with a lot of power to do something that makes a difference we can
something that makes a difference we can make a difference every day in our life
make a difference every day in our life and education is a way that we can do
and education is a way that we can do that when we extend education to
that when we extend education to everyone we maximize people’s potential
everyone we maximize people’s potential we allow them to find their passion to
we allow them to find their passion to develop their purpose and so what I want
develop their purpose and so what I want you to take away from this is the idea
you to take away from this is the idea that you have so many options right now
that you have so many options right now you have the ability to study so many
you have the ability to study so many things to expose yourself to new ideas
things to expose yourself to new ideas and you do still have many more options
and you do still have many more options that are going to be available to you in
that are going to be available to you in the future it’s an exciting time for you
the future it’s an exciting time for you as you continue on your educational path
as you continue on your educational path what we need to do is make sure that
what we need to do is make sure that we’re making choices for the right
we’re making choices for the right reasons
reasons we’re not always making decisions based
we’re not always making decisions based on the grade that we’re going to make to
on the grade that we’re going to make to score that we’re going to run a test and
score that we’re going to run a test and our class rate we’re thinking about how
our class rate we’re thinking about how do we grow as people how do we develop
do we grow as people how do we develop those skills that are going to make sure
those skills that are going to make sure that we are able to fulfill our
that we are able to fulfill our potential for the world around us how
potential for the world around us how can we contribute to others how can we
can we contribute to others how can we lead them and motivate them and inspire
lead them and motivate them and inspire them how can we create things that are
them how can we create things that are new how can we contribute to our society
new how can we contribute to our society as we go on our path we need to make
as we go on our path we need to make sure that our choices are made for the
sure that our choices are made for the right reason and that reason is so that
right reason and that reason is so that we can live the best possible life for
we can live the best possible life for ourselves and for others thank you
ourselves and for others thank you [Applause]
school on a Monday in mid-april early in the morning probably before
early in the morning probably before your caffeine kicked in you may have
your caffeine kicked in you may have asked yourself why do I have to go to
asked yourself why do I have to go to school and when you did this what you
school and when you did this what you were actually doing was engaging and one
were actually doing was engaging and one of man’s great philosophical debates
of man’s great philosophical debates whether or not you really realize that
whether or not you really realize that for centuries we’ve asked ourselves
for centuries we’ve asked ourselves what’s really the point of Education
what’s really the point of Education what’s the purpose what does it mean to
what’s the purpose what does it mean to be educated people like Plato and
be educated people like Plato and Socrates wrestled with this issue
Socrates wrestled with this issue currently leaders from the local to the
currently leaders from the local to the global level think about education when
global level think about education when they set policy for their constituents
they set policy for their constituents so that we can have an educated populace
so that we can have an educated populace as a teacher somebody who’s decided that
as a teacher somebody who’s decided that I want to dedicate myself to working
I want to dedicate myself to working within the educational system this is a
within the educational system this is a question that I think about on a daily
question that I think about on a daily basis even early on Monday mornings
basis even early on Monday mornings so what I want what a when I needed to
so what I want what a when I needed to come up with a topic to address in my
come up with a topic to address in my speech I thought the purpose of
speech I thought the purpose of Education was a natural thing for me to
Education was a natural thing for me to talk about and what I’d like to talk to
talk about and what I’d like to talk to you in particular about is how the
you in particular about is how the choices you make in high school connect
choices you make in high school connect to your educational path which doesn’t
to your educational path which doesn’t end with the granting of a diploma we
end with the granting of a diploma we need to be lifelong learners and you
need to be lifelong learners and you hear your teachers and you hear people
hear your teachers and you hear people who give motivational speeches talk
who give motivational speeches talk
who give motivational speeches talk about that all the time and I want to
about that all the time and I want to expand on that a little bit for you so
expand on that a little bit for you so the very first thing that we need to do
the very first thing that we need to do is define education what does it mean
is define education what does it mean when we talk about being educated so
when we talk about being educated so Jean Piaget who is a scientist who
Jean Piaget who is a scientist who studies human cognitive development
studies human cognitive development reminds us that the goal of education is
reminds us that the goal of education is not really about accumulating knowledge
not really about accumulating knowledge in fact being an educated person doesn’t
in fact being an educated person doesn’t just mean that we can define terms and
just mean that we can define terms and we can solve math problems and we have
we can solve math problems and we have an extensive vocabulary it’s not about
an extensive vocabulary it’s not about knowing names and dates it’s about what
knowing names and dates it’s about what we can do with that knowledge
we can do with that knowledge how can we create new things and create
how can we create new things and create new ideas in this world how can we make
new ideas in this world how can we make connections to the world around us and
connections to the world around us and so he tells us that if we have this
so he tells us that if we have this great education if we are dedicated to
great education if we are dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge to being the
the pursuit of knowledge to being the most educated person that we can be then
most educated person that we can be then we are capable of doing new things that
we are capable of doing new things that can change the world and this is how we
can change the world and this is how we have progress this is a really important
have progress this is a really important thing to consider because a lot of times
thing to consider because a lot of times we get caught up in the day-to-day
we get caught up in the day-to-day process of Education and it’s a really
process of Education and it’s a really hard thing I know I have stacks of
hard thing I know I have stacks of papers to grade I have to make lesson
papers to grade I have to make lesson plans and I think about things sometimes
plans and I think about things sometimes in a class-by-class period or a day to
in a class-by-class period or a day to day schedule and I know that you do too
day schedule and I know that you do too we tend to compartmentalize things so
we tend to compartmentalize things so that it can be manageable but what we
that it can be manageable but what we need to do sometimes is step back and
need to do sometimes is step back and think about the bigger picture what are
think about the bigger picture what are we really trying to achieve when we go
we really trying to achieve when we go to school we have these opportunities in
to school we have these opportunities in high school many of us are going to go
high school many of us are going to go to college we’re going to pursue our
to college we’re going to pursue our education in different ways and we need
education in different ways and we need to make sure that we understand our
to make sure that we understand our educational path and we make choices
educational path and we make choices that are going to allow us to experience
that are going to allow us to experience our world in the fullest deepest way
our world in the fullest deepest way possible so John Dewey who is another
possible so John Dewey who is another leader in the field of education tells
leader in the field of education tells us education is not preparation for life
us education is not preparation for life education is life itself I think this is
education is life itself I think this is a really important thing for us to
a really important thing for us to remember we get really wrapped up
remember we get really wrapped up sometimes and these small day-to-day
sometimes and these small day-to-day things that do seem like a big deal
things that do seem like a big deal because they are I know you guys are in
because they are I know you guys are in high school you were thinking a lot
high school you were thinking a lot about how the choices you make now are
about how the choices you make now are going to influence your future the
going to influence your future the grades that you make the test scores
grades that you make the test scores that you have they are important they
that you have they are important they are going to help determine where you go
are going to help determine where you go to college but they are not the only
to college but they are not the only thing that matters we can’t let
thing that matters we can’t let ourselves think that education is the
ourselves think that education is the means to an end that the resume that we
means to an end that the resume that we build the grades that we have our class
build the grades that we have our class our test scores the list of activities
our test scores the list of activities that we put on our resume are what
that we put on our resume are what define us because that’s not all we are
define us because that’s not all we are we are more than that we are more than a
we are more than that we are more than a sum of our parts we are more than the
sum of our parts we are more than the data on a sheet and we can’t let that be
data on a sheet and we can’t let that be lost and are in our discussion of
lost and are in our discussion of education so when we think about
education so when we think about education is not a preparation for life
education is not a preparation for life that it is in fact life we go back to
that it is in fact life we go back to these concepts that Coach cherry and
these concepts that Coach cherry and that Virage and that lucy have talked to
that Virage and that lucy have talked to us about we think the choices that we
us about we think the choices that we make in high school and college about
make in high school and college about which classes do we make which books do
which classes do we make which books do we read what do we study that’s going to
we read what do we study that’s going to help us create this foundation in which
help us create this foundation in which we can engage with our world in a
we can engage with our world in a different way the more we know about
different way the more we know about things the more meaningful a trip to a
things the more meaningful a trip to a museum or travels around the world or
museum or travels around the world or listening to a symphony or reading a
listening to a symphony or reading a book the more meaningful those things
book the more meaningful those things are for us we have more of an
are for us we have more of an understanding of the world around us we
understanding of the world around us we can engage deeper and the thing that we
can engage deeper and the thing that we have to remember is that the small
have to remember is that the small finite things that we create for
finite things that we create for ourselves in terms of Education are
ourselves in terms of Education are really a foundation there will come a
really a foundation there will come a point in our in our lives where we’ve
point in our in our lives where we’ve gotten that last diploma we’ve taken
gotten that last diploma we’ve taken that last class and then we have to go
that last class and then we have to go out in the world we have to do something
out in the world we have to do something with this knowledge that we’ve gained we
with this knowledge that we’ve gained we have to have leadership skills we have
have to have leadership skills we have to be creative we have to be curious we
to be creative we have to be curious we have to make connections and we have to
have to make connections and we have to be able to take that knowledge that we
be able to take that knowledge that we have and create something new to make
have and create something new to make the world a better place
the world a better place to be a leader to develop those
to be a leader to develop those intrinsic qualities in ourselves that
intrinsic qualities in ourselves that separate us from people who don’t have
separate us from people who don’t have that education if you think about
that education if you think about leaders in the world it’s not just that
leaders in the world it’s not just that they have facts that they know things
they have facts that they know things it’s what they do with it it’s their
it’s what they do with it it’s their unique perspective about how they can
unique perspective about how they can take all that information and generate
take all that information and generate new ideas they’re creative
new ideas they’re creative leaders you need a firm foundation in
leaders you need a firm foundation in education for that and so the choices
education for that and so the choices that you make in high school are very
that you make in high school are very important the choices that you make in
important the choices that you make in college are very important but they’re
college are very important but they’re not the end result they’re not the final
not the end result they’re not the final thing they’re not our ultimate goal so
thing they’re not our ultimate goal so once we’re thinking about our
once we’re thinking about our educational path and we’re thinking
educational path and we’re thinking about where we’re altima League owing to
about where we’re altima League owing to be what kind of person we want to be so
be what kind of person we want to be so we can experience the world around us
we can experience the world around us there are a couple of other things that
there are a couple of other things that we have to consider and so we probably
we have to consider and so we probably all know the story of JK Rowling right
all know the story of JK Rowling right we love Harry Potter the world is a
we love Harry Potter the world is a different place because so many adults
different place because so many adults and children have been able to
and children have been able to experience the magic of that story and
experience the magic of that story and we know her personal story the idea of
we know her personal story the idea of rags to riches the struggles that she
rags to riches the struggles that she faced and she reminds us that failure is
faced and she reminds us that failure is not a bad thing
not a bad thing that there’s value in a struggle and
that there’s value in a struggle and that sometimes if we’re afraid to take
that sometimes if we’re afraid to take risks because we’re afraid that we’re
risks because we’re afraid that we’re not going to make the highest grade
not going to make the highest grade we’re not going to pass that test we’re
we’re not going to pass that test we’re not going to make a team we limit
not going to make a team we limit ourselves when we do that we deprive
ourselves when we do that we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to grow and
ourselves of the opportunity to grow and to develop leadership skills she tells
to develop leadership skills she tells us that she’s seen people who don’t want
us that she’s seen people who don’t want to try new things because they’re afraid
to try new things because they’re afraid to fail and I ask you what if she was
to fail and I ask you what if she was afraid to fail what if she said I
afraid to fail what if she said I haven’t written anything before I
haven’t written anything before I haven’t been published I don’t have the
haven’t been published I don’t have the
haven’t been published I don’t have the educational background for this I’m not
educational background for this I’m not entirely sure that this is something
entirely sure that this is something that I can do and she never tried and
that I can do and she never tried and she never persisted and all of these
she never persisted and all of these people who have experienced the
people who have experienced the connection of loving this story the
connection of loving this story the themes that connect people the the
themes that connect people the the connection that happens between parents
connection that happens between parents and children when they when they
and children when they when they experience these movies and books
experience these movies and books together they wouldn’t be there because
together they wouldn’t be there because she was afraid to fail and I know this
she was afraid to fail and I know this is a hard thing it was a hard thing for
is a hard thing it was a hard thing for me to say sure I’ll go ahead and give
me to say sure I’ll go ahead and give that speech okay I had to say I would do
that speech okay I had to say I would do it despite the fact that I was
it despite the fact that I was word that you know it could be a
word that you know it could be a catastrophic failure but I have to think
catastrophic failure but I have to think how do I grow from this experience and
how do I grow from this experience and how can my participation help other
how can my participation help other people that’s what we have to do when
people that’s what we have to do when we’re thinking about becoming a great a
we’re thinking about becoming a great a leader when we have to when we think
leader when we have to when we think about creating our own education we’ve
about creating our own education we’ve got to be bold and we’ve got to take
got to be bold and we’ve got to take risks and we can’t let that fear of
risks and we can’t let that fear of failure hold us back the next thing we
failure hold us back the next thing we have to think about is passion when
have to think about is passion when we’re passionate about something when
we’re passionate about something when the joy of participating in an activity
the joy of participating in an activity or studying a topic corresponds with our
or studying a topic corresponds with our purpose we think that this study or this
purpose we think that this study or this engagement is actually creating some
engagement is actually creating some change in the world around us then we
change in the world around us then we found that point in our life when we’re
found that point in our life when we’re passionate about things high school and
passionate about things high school and college are great places for you guys to
college are great places for you guys to both take risks and to develop your
both take risks and to develop your passion don’t be afraid to take that
passion don’t be afraid to take that class that seems interesting but you
class that seems interesting but you don’t really have that background in
don’t really have that background in especially when you go to college there
especially when you go to college there will be so many opportunities for you
will be so many opportunities for you take that anthropology class sign up for
take that anthropology class sign up for astronomy do those things that are a
astronomy do those things that are a little bit out of your comfort zone
little bit out of your comfort zone because that’s where growth happens
because that’s where growth happens that’s where we develop grit that’s
that’s where we develop grit that’s where we develop fortitude and sometimes
where we develop fortitude and sometimes we uncover passions that we didn’t even
we uncover passions that we didn’t even know that we had when you are able to go
know that we had when you are able to go forth and make choices setting aside
forth and make choices setting aside your fear of failure and when you are
your fear of failure and when you are ready to embrace the world around you to
ready to embrace the world around you to step out and to take the risk so that
step out and to take the risk so that you can develop new interest that’s when
you can develop new interest that’s when you can really figure out what your
you can really figure out what your purpose is and that’s the ultimate
purpose is and that’s the ultimate result of an education that’s where
result of an education that’s where we’re trying to go we’re trying to
we’re trying to go we’re trying to figure out how do we change this world
figure out how do we change this world what is our purpose that’s what we’ve
what is our purpose that’s what we’ve been talking about as humans for as long
been talking about as humans for as long as we could communicate
as we could communicate it’s in books send poems it’s in music
it’s in books send poems it’s in music we want to know what’s our purpose how
we want to know what’s our purpose how do we change the world and education is
do we change the world and education is a great way for us to start determining
a great way for us to start determining where we should go with that your high
where we should go with that your high school choices are a really strong
school choices are a really strong indicator of where you’re going to
indicator of where you’re going to ultimately end up and so I can’t think
ultimately end up and so I can’t think of a better more inspirational person to
of a better more inspirational person to leave you with tonight then Malala
leave you with tonight then Malala we know her story she’s been a
we know her story she’s been a passionate supporter of education all
passionate supporter of education all around the world particularly for girls
around the world particularly for girls and women to make sure that they have
and women to make sure that they have the right to education and she tells us
the right to education and she tells us that one child one teacher one book in
that one child one teacher one book in one pen really can change the world she
one pen really can change the world she reminds us that the choices that we make
reminds us that the choices that we make are important we don’t have to be JK
are important we don’t have to be JK Rowling we don’t have to be a famous
Rowling we don’t have to be a famous person with a lot of power to do
person with a lot of power to do something that makes a difference we can
something that makes a difference we can make a difference every day in our life
make a difference every day in our life and education is a way that we can do
and education is a way that we can do that when we extend education to
that when we extend education to everyone we maximize people’s potential
everyone we maximize people’s potential we allow them to find their passion to
we allow them to find their passion to develop their purpose and so what I want
develop their purpose and so what I want you to take away from this is the idea
you to take away from this is the idea that you have so many options right now
that you have so many options right now you have the ability to study so many
you have the ability to study so many things to expose yourself to new ideas
things to expose yourself to new ideas and you do still have many more options
and you do still have many more options that are going to be available to you in
that are going to be available to you in the future it’s an exciting time for you
the future it’s an exciting time for you as you continue on your educational path
as you continue on your educational path what we need to do is make sure that
what we need to do is make sure that we’re making choices for the right
we’re making choices for the right reasons
reasons we’re not always making decisions based
we’re not always making decisions based on the grade that we’re going to make to
on the grade that we’re going to make to score that we’re going to run a test and
score that we’re going to run a test and our class rate we’re thinking about how
our class rate we’re thinking about how do we grow as people how do we develop
do we grow as people how do we develop those skills that are going to make sure
those skills that are going to make sure that we are able to fulfill our
that we are able to fulfill our potential for the world around us how
potential for the world around us how can we contribute to others how can we
can we contribute to others how can we lead them and motivate them and inspire
lead them and motivate them and inspire them how can we create things that are
them how can we create things that are new how can we contribute to our society
new how can we contribute to our society as we go on our path we need to make
as we go on our path we need to make sure that our choices are made for the
sure that our choices are made for the right reason and that reason is so that
right reason and that reason is so that we can live the best possible life for
we can live the best possible life for ourselves and for others thank you
ourselves and for others thank you [Applause]
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