[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
like many others I often find myself
like many others I often find myself asking the endlessly complex yet
asking the endlessly complex yet
asking the endlessly complex yet Universal question Who am I
Universal question Who am I
Universal question Who am I despite how ubiquitous this question is
despite how ubiquitous this question is
despite how ubiquitous this question is it’s not one that lends itself to being
it’s not one that lends itself to being
it’s not one that lends itself to being answered in any functional way as it
answered in any functional way as it
answered in any functional way as it searches for a question for an answer
searches for a question for an answer
searches for a question for an answer that’s not only endlessly complicated
that’s not only endlessly complicated
that’s not only endlessly complicated but also searches for it in an immensely
but also searches for it in an immensely
but also searches for it in an immensely vague way so how do we answer this
vague way so how do we answer this
vague way so how do we answer this question for ourselves
question for ourselves
question for ourselves how do we take the enormous amounts of
how do we take the enormous amounts of
how do we take the enormous amounts of information that comprise our identities
information that comprise our identities
information that comprise our identities and understand them well we can try and
and understand them well we can try and
and understand them well we can try and begin on a completely literal level with
begin on a completely literal level with
begin on a completely literal level with inherited identities labels that society
inherited identities labels that society
inherited identities labels that society has given us take a moment to consider
has given us take a moment to consider
has given us take a moment to consider your nationality sexuality religion and
your nationality sexuality religion and
your nationality sexuality religion and ethnicity what do these traits mean to
ethnicity what do these traits mean to
ethnicity what do these traits mean to you are they incidental things you
you are they incidental things you
you are they incidental things you rarely think about or are they deeply
rarely think about or are they deeply
rarely think about or are they deeply important identities that affect your
important identities that affect your
important identities that affect your everyday life to name a few of my traits
everyday life to name a few of my traits
everyday life to name a few of my traits I’m male homosexual American and of
I’m male homosexual American and of
I’m male homosexual American and of Jewish descent now this isn’t a
Jewish descent now this isn’t a
Jewish descent now this isn’t a conventional way to view identity with a
conventional way to view identity with a
conventional way to view identity with a heightened cultural awareness of the
heightened cultural awareness of the
heightened cultural awareness of the harmful impact of stereotypes
harmful impact of stereotypes
harmful impact of stereotypes it’s easy to argue that to reduce
it’s easy to argue that to reduce
it’s easy to argue that to reduce identity to a question of nationality
identity to a question of nationality
identity to a question of nationality sex and race is an offensive
sex and race is an offensive
sex and race is an offensive oversimplification and in some ways this
oversimplification and in some ways this
oversimplification and in some ways this is true nothing about me is inherently
is true nothing about me is inherently
is true nothing about me is inherently different because I’m male or gay or
different because I’m male or gay or
different because I’m male or gay or Jewish but at the same time these
Jewish but at the same time these
Jewish but at the same time these identities have impacted my life I
identities have impacted my life I
identities have impacted my life I wouldn’t have dealt with toxic
wouldn’t have dealt with toxic
wouldn’t have dealt with toxic masculinity if I wasn’t male wouldn’t
masculinity if I wasn’t male wouldn’t
masculinity if I wasn’t male wouldn’t have had to come out if I wasn’t gay and
have had to come out if I wasn’t gay and
have had to come out if I wasn’t gay and wouldn’t have had a Bar Mitzvah a Jewish
wouldn’t have had a Bar Mitzvah a Jewish
wouldn’t have had a Bar Mitzvah a Jewish coming-of-age ceremony if I wasn’t
coming-of-age ceremony if I wasn’t
coming-of-age ceremony if I wasn’t Jewish
Jewish
Jewish now it’s not third labels that society
now it’s not third labels that society
now it’s not third labels that society has assigned to us that matter but the
has assigned to us that matter but the
has assigned to us that matter but the way in which we react to them and how
way in which we react to them and how
way in which we react to them and how they play out in our lives specifically
they play out in our lives specifically
they play out in our lives specifically in creating relationships with others we
in creating relationships with others we
in creating relationships with others we have the tendency to take these traits
have the tendency to take these traits
have the tendency to take these traits at face value but when we allow us our
at face value but when we allow us our
at face value but when we allow us our selves to view them as narratives it
selves to view them as narratives it
selves to view them as narratives it becomes much easier to relate to those
becomes much easier to relate to those
becomes much easier to relate to those who may seem very different from us for
who may seem very different from us for
who may seem very different from us for example my Jewish identity is not a
example my Jewish identity is not a
example my Jewish identity is not a birthright
birthright
birthright but a personal narrative of attempting
but a personal narrative of attempting
but a personal narrative of attempting to reconcile my relative privilege
to reconcile my relative privilege
to reconcile my relative privilege in the modern day with the deeply tragic
in the modern day with the deeply tragic
in the modern day with the deeply tragic history referring to the Holocaust
history referring to the Holocaust
history referring to the Holocaust growing up in the impoverished nation of
growing up in the impoverished nation of
growing up in the impoverished nation of Cambodia this gave me a certain sense of
Cambodia this gave me a certain sense of
Cambodia this gave me a certain sense of insight into the brutal and murderous
insight into the brutal and murderous
insight into the brutal and murderous Khmer Rouge regime that it existed in
Khmer Rouge regime that it existed in
Khmer Rouge regime that it existed in the nation only 40 years prior this
the nation only 40 years prior this
the nation only 40 years prior this abstraction and the viewing of
abstraction and the viewing of
abstraction and the viewing of identities as narratives allows us to
identities as narratives allows us to
identities as narratives allows us to view others who may seem very different
view others who may seem very different
view others who may seem very different to us as similar in creating
to us as similar in creating
to us as similar in creating relationships with others we have the
relationships with others we have the
relationships with others we have the tendency to take these traits at face
tendency to take these traits at face
tendency to take these traits at face value we all have our preconceptions
value we all have our preconceptions
value we all have our preconceptions about what different traits mean and
about what different traits mean and
about what different traits mean and this can manifest itself in prejudice
this can manifest itself in prejudice
this can manifest itself in prejudice often with disastrous effects a hundred
often with disastrous effects a hundred
often with disastrous effects a hundred years ago you could be arrested for
years ago you could be arrested for
years ago you could be arrested for being gay or afforded special privileges
being gay or afforded special privileges
being gay or afforded special privileges for being male and today as well there’s
for being male and today as well there’s
for being male and today as well there’s a strong argument to be made that both
a strong argument to be made that both
a strong argument to be made that both these traits maintain a similar
these traits maintain a similar
these traits maintain a similar implication sexual assault remains a
implication sexual assault remains a
implication sexual assault remains a pressing concern for women and many
pressing concern for women and many
pressing concern for women and many lgbtq+ populations still continue to
lgbtq+ populations still continue to
lgbtq+ populations still continue to fight for legal equality such as
fight for legal equality such as
fight for legal equality such as marriage however we undoubtedly have
marriage however we undoubtedly have
marriage however we undoubtedly have progressed as women feel increasingly
progressed as women feel increasingly
progressed as women feel increasingly liberated to report cases of sexual
liberated to report cases of sexual
liberated to report cases of sexual assault and an increasing number of
assault and an increasing number of
assault and an increasing number of nations legalized same-sex marriage so
nations legalized same-sex marriage so
nations legalized same-sex marriage so how do we continue this trend line and
how do we continue this trend line and
how do we continue this trend line and how do we move forward in our
how do we move forward in our
how do we move forward in our relationships with others do we begin to
relationships with others do we begin to
relationships with others do we begin to make assumptions about them based on
make assumptions about them based on
make assumptions about them based on based on their traits if we recognize
based on their traits if we recognize
based on their traits if we recognize their importance this would be
their importance this would be
their importance this would be counterproductive
counterproductive
counterproductive and counter to the attempt to reclassify
and counter to the attempt to reclassify
and counter to the attempt to reclassify labels as narratives we must remain open
labels as narratives we must remain open
labels as narratives we must remain open attaching no value to traits themselves
attaching no value to traits themselves
attaching no value to traits themselves but allowing others to share with us
but allowing others to share with us
but allowing others to share with us what they feel is important in
what they feel is important in
what they feel is important in themselves and what they feel is
themselves and what they feel is
themselves and what they feel is important to them we must allow no
important to them we must allow no
important to them we must allow no limits not only to the manifestations of
limits not only to the manifestations of
limits not only to the manifestations of identity we allow others but also turn a
identity we allow others but also turn a
identity we allow others but also turn a critical eye on ourselves and the
critical eye on ourselves and the
critical eye on ourselves and the limitations that we may place on
limitations that we may place on
limitations that we may place on ourselves due to whatever traits we see
ourselves due to whatever traits we see
ourselves due to whatever traits we see as our own in an international community
as our own in an international community
as our own in an international community like the one I grew up in these
like the one I grew up in these
like the one I grew up in these identities often become confused
identities often become confused
identities often become confused nationality in the face of
nationality in the face of
nationality in the face of internationalism often leads to a
internationalism often leads to a
internationalism often leads to a cynical world view towards the nations
cynical world view towards the nations
cynical world view towards the nations from which people originate an American
from which people originate an American
from which people originate an American student at international school may feel
student at international school may feel
student at international school may feel disconnected from their nationality due
disconnected from their nationality due
disconnected from their nationality due to their location just as a foreign
to their location just as a foreign
to their location just as a foreign student may feel disconnected from their
student may feel disconnected from their
student may feel disconnected from their nationality
nationality
nationality due to the language of their education
due to the language of their education
due to the language of their education conversely an American may desire more
conversely an American may desire more
conversely an American may desire more strongly to hold on to their nationality
strongly to hold on to their nationality
strongly to hold on to their nationality despite their location and a foreigner
despite their location and a foreigner
despite their location and a foreigner to hold on to theirs despite the
to hold on to theirs despite the
to hold on to theirs despite the language of their education what’s
language of their education what’s
language of their education what’s important about this example is that
important about this example is that
important about this example is that one’s relationship to their identity to
one’s relationship to their identity to
one’s relationship to their identity to their trait overrides the importance of
their trait overrides the importance of
their trait overrides the importance of the label itself and it creates a
the label itself and it creates a
the label itself and it creates a parallel between people who on the
parallel between people who on the
parallel between people who on the surface seem to identify very
surface seem to identify very
surface seem to identify very differently in our international school
differently in our international school
differently in our international school we have chosen to divide ourselves by a
we have chosen to divide ourselves by a
we have chosen to divide ourselves by a series of labels economics race gender
series of labels economics race gender
series of labels economics race gender sexuality nationality all served to
sexuality nationality all served to
sexuality nationality all served to limit our social circles farther than
limit our social circles farther than
limit our social circles farther than the Rd existing constraints of our small
the Rd existing constraints of our small
the Rd existing constraints of our small international school when we as a
international school when we as a
international school when we as a community are the ones that must stand
community are the ones that must stand
community are the ones that must stand up and redefine and reinterpret these
up and redefine and reinterpret these
up and redefine and reinterpret these labels more than anyone else I would be
labels more than anyone else I would be
labels more than anyone else I would be lying if I said I was ever hesitant to
lying if I said I was ever hesitant to
lying if I said I was ever hesitant to include a classmate due to their
include a classmate due to their
include a classmate due to their nationality or mother tongue or never
nationality or mother tongue or never
nationality or mother tongue or never took the cost of apears clothing as a
took the cost of apears clothing as a
took the cost of apears clothing as a statement about their personality but
statement about their personality but
statement about their personality but progress is essential if we as a
progress is essential if we as a
progress is essential if we as a community are to remain dynamic
community are to remain dynamic
community are to remain dynamic tight-knit and diverse Bulgarian
tight-knit and diverse Bulgarian
tight-knit and diverse Bulgarian American affluent middle-class Christian
American affluent middle-class Christian
American affluent middle-class Christian atheist we more than any other community
atheist we more than any other community
atheist we more than any other community must be able to redefine and reinterpret
must be able to redefine and reinterpret
must be able to redefine and reinterpret who it is that the world tells us we are
who it is that the world tells us we are
who it is that the world tells us we are thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music] [Applause]
like many others I often find myself
like many others I often find myself asking the endlessly complex yet
asking the endlessly complex yet
asking the endlessly complex yet Universal question Who am I
Universal question Who am I
Universal question Who am I despite how ubiquitous this question is
despite how ubiquitous this question is
despite how ubiquitous this question is it’s not one that lends itself to being
it’s not one that lends itself to being
it’s not one that lends itself to being answered in any functional way as it
answered in any functional way as it
answered in any functional way as it searches for a question for an answer
searches for a question for an answer
searches for a question for an answer that’s not only endlessly complicated
that’s not only endlessly complicated
that’s not only endlessly complicated but also searches for it in an immensely
but also searches for it in an immensely
but also searches for it in an immensely vague way so how do we answer this
vague way so how do we answer this
vague way so how do we answer this question for ourselves
question for ourselves
question for ourselves how do we take the enormous amounts of
how do we take the enormous amounts of
how do we take the enormous amounts of information that comprise our identities
information that comprise our identities
information that comprise our identities and understand them well we can try and
and understand them well we can try and
and understand them well we can try and begin on a completely literal level with
begin on a completely literal level with
begin on a completely literal level with inherited identities labels that society
inherited identities labels that society
inherited identities labels that society has given us take a moment to consider
has given us take a moment to consider
has given us take a moment to consider your nationality sexuality religion and
your nationality sexuality religion and
your nationality sexuality religion and ethnicity what do these traits mean to
ethnicity what do these traits mean to
ethnicity what do these traits mean to you are they incidental things you
you are they incidental things you
you are they incidental things you rarely think about or are they deeply
rarely think about or are they deeply
rarely think about or are they deeply important identities that affect your
important identities that affect your
important identities that affect your everyday life to name a few of my traits
everyday life to name a few of my traits
everyday life to name a few of my traits I’m male homosexual American and of
I’m male homosexual American and of
I’m male homosexual American and of Jewish descent now this isn’t a
Jewish descent now this isn’t a
Jewish descent now this isn’t a conventional way to view identity with a
conventional way to view identity with a
conventional way to view identity with a heightened cultural awareness of the
heightened cultural awareness of the
heightened cultural awareness of the harmful impact of stereotypes
harmful impact of stereotypes
harmful impact of stereotypes it’s easy to argue that to reduce
it’s easy to argue that to reduce
it’s easy to argue that to reduce identity to a question of nationality
identity to a question of nationality
identity to a question of nationality sex and race is an offensive
sex and race is an offensive
sex and race is an offensive oversimplification and in some ways this
oversimplification and in some ways this
oversimplification and in some ways this is true nothing about me is inherently
is true nothing about me is inherently
is true nothing about me is inherently different because I’m male or gay or
different because I’m male or gay or
different because I’m male or gay or Jewish but at the same time these
Jewish but at the same time these
Jewish but at the same time these identities have impacted my life I
identities have impacted my life I
identities have impacted my life I wouldn’t have dealt with toxic
wouldn’t have dealt with toxic
wouldn’t have dealt with toxic masculinity if I wasn’t male wouldn’t
masculinity if I wasn’t male wouldn’t
masculinity if I wasn’t male wouldn’t have had to come out if I wasn’t gay and
have had to come out if I wasn’t gay and
have had to come out if I wasn’t gay and wouldn’t have had a Bar Mitzvah a Jewish
wouldn’t have had a Bar Mitzvah a Jewish
wouldn’t have had a Bar Mitzvah a Jewish coming-of-age ceremony if I wasn’t
coming-of-age ceremony if I wasn’t
coming-of-age ceremony if I wasn’t Jewish
Jewish
Jewish now it’s not third labels that society
now it’s not third labels that society
now it’s not third labels that society has assigned to us that matter but the
has assigned to us that matter but the
has assigned to us that matter but the way in which we react to them and how
way in which we react to them and how
way in which we react to them and how they play out in our lives specifically
they play out in our lives specifically
they play out in our lives specifically in creating relationships with others we
in creating relationships with others we
in creating relationships with others we have the tendency to take these traits
have the tendency to take these traits
have the tendency to take these traits at face value but when we allow us our
at face value but when we allow us our
at face value but when we allow us our selves to view them as narratives it
selves to view them as narratives it
selves to view them as narratives it becomes much easier to relate to those
becomes much easier to relate to those
becomes much easier to relate to those who may seem very different from us for
who may seem very different from us for
who may seem very different from us for example my Jewish identity is not a
example my Jewish identity is not a
example my Jewish identity is not a birthright
birthright
birthright but a personal narrative of attempting
but a personal narrative of attempting
but a personal narrative of attempting to reconcile my relative privilege
to reconcile my relative privilege
to reconcile my relative privilege in the modern day with the deeply tragic
in the modern day with the deeply tragic
in the modern day with the deeply tragic history referring to the Holocaust
history referring to the Holocaust
history referring to the Holocaust growing up in the impoverished nation of
growing up in the impoverished nation of
growing up in the impoverished nation of Cambodia this gave me a certain sense of
Cambodia this gave me a certain sense of
Cambodia this gave me a certain sense of insight into the brutal and murderous
insight into the brutal and murderous
insight into the brutal and murderous Khmer Rouge regime that it existed in
Khmer Rouge regime that it existed in
Khmer Rouge regime that it existed in the nation only 40 years prior this
the nation only 40 years prior this
the nation only 40 years prior this abstraction and the viewing of
abstraction and the viewing of
abstraction and the viewing of identities as narratives allows us to
identities as narratives allows us to
identities as narratives allows us to view others who may seem very different
view others who may seem very different
view others who may seem very different to us as similar in creating
to us as similar in creating
to us as similar in creating relationships with others we have the
relationships with others we have the
relationships with others we have the tendency to take these traits at face
tendency to take these traits at face
tendency to take these traits at face value we all have our preconceptions
value we all have our preconceptions
value we all have our preconceptions about what different traits mean and
about what different traits mean and
about what different traits mean and this can manifest itself in prejudice
this can manifest itself in prejudice
this can manifest itself in prejudice often with disastrous effects a hundred
often with disastrous effects a hundred
often with disastrous effects a hundred years ago you could be arrested for
years ago you could be arrested for
years ago you could be arrested for being gay or afforded special privileges
being gay or afforded special privileges
being gay or afforded special privileges for being male and today as well there’s
for being male and today as well there’s
for being male and today as well there’s a strong argument to be made that both
a strong argument to be made that both
a strong argument to be made that both these traits maintain a similar
these traits maintain a similar
these traits maintain a similar implication sexual assault remains a
implication sexual assault remains a
implication sexual assault remains a pressing concern for women and many
pressing concern for women and many
pressing concern for women and many lgbtq+ populations still continue to
lgbtq+ populations still continue to
lgbtq+ populations still continue to fight for legal equality such as
fight for legal equality such as
fight for legal equality such as marriage however we undoubtedly have
marriage however we undoubtedly have
marriage however we undoubtedly have progressed as women feel increasingly
progressed as women feel increasingly
progressed as women feel increasingly liberated to report cases of sexual
liberated to report cases of sexual
liberated to report cases of sexual assault and an increasing number of
assault and an increasing number of
assault and an increasing number of nations legalized same-sex marriage so
nations legalized same-sex marriage so
nations legalized same-sex marriage so how do we continue this trend line and
how do we continue this trend line and
how do we continue this trend line and how do we move forward in our
how do we move forward in our
how do we move forward in our relationships with others do we begin to
relationships with others do we begin to
relationships with others do we begin to make assumptions about them based on
make assumptions about them based on
make assumptions about them based on based on their traits if we recognize
based on their traits if we recognize
based on their traits if we recognize their importance this would be
their importance this would be
their importance this would be counterproductive
counterproductive
counterproductive and counter to the attempt to reclassify
and counter to the attempt to reclassify
and counter to the attempt to reclassify labels as narratives we must remain open
labels as narratives we must remain open
labels as narratives we must remain open attaching no value to traits themselves
attaching no value to traits themselves
attaching no value to traits themselves but allowing others to share with us
but allowing others to share with us
but allowing others to share with us what they feel is important in
what they feel is important in
what they feel is important in themselves and what they feel is
themselves and what they feel is
themselves and what they feel is important to them we must allow no
important to them we must allow no
important to them we must allow no limits not only to the manifestations of
limits not only to the manifestations of
limits not only to the manifestations of identity we allow others but also turn a
identity we allow others but also turn a
identity we allow others but also turn a critical eye on ourselves and the
critical eye on ourselves and the
critical eye on ourselves and the limitations that we may place on
limitations that we may place on
limitations that we may place on ourselves due to whatever traits we see
ourselves due to whatever traits we see
ourselves due to whatever traits we see as our own in an international community
as our own in an international community
as our own in an international community like the one I grew up in these
like the one I grew up in these
like the one I grew up in these identities often become confused
identities often become confused
identities often become confused nationality in the face of
nationality in the face of
nationality in the face of internationalism often leads to a
internationalism often leads to a
internationalism often leads to a cynical world view towards the nations
cynical world view towards the nations
cynical world view towards the nations from which people originate an American
from which people originate an American
from which people originate an American student at international school may feel
student at international school may feel
student at international school may feel disconnected from their nationality due
disconnected from their nationality due
disconnected from their nationality due to their location just as a foreign
to their location just as a foreign
to their location just as a foreign student may feel disconnected from their
student may feel disconnected from their
student may feel disconnected from their nationality
nationality
nationality due to the language of their education
due to the language of their education
due to the language of their education conversely an American may desire more
conversely an American may desire more
conversely an American may desire more strongly to hold on to their nationality
strongly to hold on to their nationality
strongly to hold on to their nationality despite their location and a foreigner
despite their location and a foreigner
despite their location and a foreigner to hold on to theirs despite the
to hold on to theirs despite the
to hold on to theirs despite the language of their education what’s
language of their education what’s
language of their education what’s important about this example is that
important about this example is that
important about this example is that one’s relationship to their identity to
one’s relationship to their identity to
one’s relationship to their identity to their trait overrides the importance of
their trait overrides the importance of
their trait overrides the importance of the label itself and it creates a
the label itself and it creates a
the label itself and it creates a parallel between people who on the
parallel between people who on the
parallel between people who on the surface seem to identify very
surface seem to identify very
surface seem to identify very differently in our international school
differently in our international school
differently in our international school we have chosen to divide ourselves by a
we have chosen to divide ourselves by a
we have chosen to divide ourselves by a series of labels economics race gender
series of labels economics race gender
series of labels economics race gender sexuality nationality all served to
sexuality nationality all served to
sexuality nationality all served to limit our social circles farther than
limit our social circles farther than
limit our social circles farther than the Rd existing constraints of our small
the Rd existing constraints of our small
the Rd existing constraints of our small international school when we as a
international school when we as a
international school when we as a community are the ones that must stand
community are the ones that must stand
community are the ones that must stand up and redefine and reinterpret these
up and redefine and reinterpret these
up and redefine and reinterpret these labels more than anyone else I would be
labels more than anyone else I would be
labels more than anyone else I would be lying if I said I was ever hesitant to
lying if I said I was ever hesitant to
lying if I said I was ever hesitant to include a classmate due to their
include a classmate due to their
include a classmate due to their nationality or mother tongue or never
nationality or mother tongue or never
nationality or mother tongue or never took the cost of apears clothing as a
took the cost of apears clothing as a
took the cost of apears clothing as a statement about their personality but
statement about their personality but
statement about their personality but progress is essential if we as a
progress is essential if we as a
progress is essential if we as a community are to remain dynamic
community are to remain dynamic
community are to remain dynamic tight-knit and diverse Bulgarian
tight-knit and diverse Bulgarian
tight-knit and diverse Bulgarian American affluent middle-class Christian
American affluent middle-class Christian
American affluent middle-class Christian atheist we more than any other community
atheist we more than any other community
atheist we more than any other community must be able to redefine and reinterpret
must be able to redefine and reinterpret
must be able to redefine and reinterpret who it is that the world tells us we are
who it is that the world tells us we are
who it is that the world tells us we are thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
Please follow and like us: