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[00:00.41]And when i talk about students
[00:02.35]Needing to take responsibility for their education
[00:04.93]I want you all to know that
[00:06.11]I'm speaking from my own personal life experience like mbbrea growing up
[00:11.53]I considered myself pretty lucky
[00:13.97]Even though my parents didn't have a lot of money
[00:15.91]They never went to college themselves they had an unwavering belief in the power of education
[00:24.27]So they always pushed me and my brothers to do whatever it took to succeed in school
[00:30.07]So when it came time for me to go to high school
[00:33.94]They encourage me to enroll in one of the best schools in chicago
[00:39.20]It was a school a lot like this one
[00:41.26]And listening to embarra story was so similar
[00:43.92]Because my school was way across the other side of the city
[00:48.02]From where i lived so at six
[00:50.34]I am every morning i had to get on a city bus and write for an hour sometimes more just to get to school
[00:59.05]And i was willing to do that
[01:00.59]Because i was willing to do whatever it took for me to go to college
[01:04.07]I set my site tie ii decided that i was on to princeton
[01:10.25]But i quickly realized that for me a kid
[01:13.73]Like me getting into prinstwwasn't just onna happen on its own
[01:18.85]I went to a great school school at my school
[01:20.95]School had so many kids
[01:22.01]So few
[01:22.39]Guids councl
[01:23.27]They were dealing with hundreds of students
[01:25.98]So they had always have much time to help me personally get my applications together
[01:31.28]Plus i know i couldn't afford to go on a bunch of college visits
[01:36.46]I couldn't hire a personal tutor ii couldn't enroll in sat prep classes
[01:42.06]We didn't have money
[01:43.98]And then yet this some of my teachers straight up told me
[01:49.50]That i was setting my sights too high
[01:53.16]They told me
[01:53.82]I was never going to get into a school
[01:56.08]I princehim
[01:57.44]And i still hear that dout ring ing in my head
[02:02.09]So it was clear to me
[02:03.45]That nobody was going to take my hand and lead me to where i needed to go
[02:10.15]Instead it was gonnbe up to me to reach my goal
[02:15.43]I would have to chart my own course
[02:18.34]And i knew that the first thing i needed to do
[02:20.36]Was have the strongest academic record possible
[02:23.72]So i worked hard to get the best grades i could in all of my classes
[02:28.66]I got involved in leadership opportunities in school
[02:31.24]Where i developed relationships with some of my teachers and administrators
[02:36.04]I knew i needed to present very solid and thoughtful college application
[02:41.28]So i stayed up late
[02:42.84]Got aa lly in the morning to work on my essays and personal statements
[02:47.32]I knew my parents would not be able to pay for all of my tuition
[02:51.92]So i made sure that i applied for financial a that fast perform was my best friend
[02:56.84]I knew the deadlines
[02:58.40]Everything most importantly
[03:02.28]When i encountered oubtters
[03:04.80]When people told me
[03:06.04]That i wasn't going to cut it and let that stop me in fact
[03:11.58]I did the opposite
[03:13.18]I use that negativity to fuel me
[03:16.60]To keep me going
[03:18.32]And at the end i got in to princeton
[03:20.50]And i was one of the proud st days of my life
[03:24.14]But getting in to princeton was only the beginning graduating from princeton was my ultimate goal
[03:32.87]So i'd start all over again developing an executing a plan that would lead me to my goal
[03:40.31]And of course i struggle a little bit
[03:43.27]I had to work hard again to find a base of friends and build a community of support for myself in this iv league university
[03:51.17]I remember as a freshmman am mistakenly rolled into a class
[03:57.01]That was met for juniors and seniors
[04:00.43]And there were times when i felt like i could barely keep my head above water
[04:05.89]Water
[04:06.13]But through it all i kept that college diploma as my north star and four years later i reach that goal
[04:14.03]And then i went on to build a life
[04:15.59]I never could have imagined from myself
[04:17.81]I went to law school became a lawyer
[04:20.49]Have been a vice president for a hospital
[04:22.33]I've been the head of a nonprofit organization
[04:25.01]And i am here today
[04:26.25]Because i want you to know that my story can be your story
[04:32.47]The details might be little different
[04:34.09]But let me tell you so many of the challenges and the triumph will be just the same
[04:42.15]You might be dreaming of becoming a doctor
[04:44.35]A teacher may be a mechanic or a software designer
[04:48.03]Or you might not know what you want to do right now
[04:51.67]And that's fine
[04:54.01]But no matter what path you choose
[04:56.13]No matter what dreams you have
[04:58.49]You have got to do
[04:59.71]Whatever it takes to continue your education after high school again
[05:04.93]Whether that's going to community college
[05:06.77]Getting a technical certificate or completing a training opportunity or go on off to a four year college
[05:13.80]And once you've completed your education
[05:16.32]You will have the foundation
[05:18.36]You need to build a successful life
[05:22.10]That's how me
[05:22.98]That's how mebara
[05:24.56]That's how so many other students have overcome adversities to reach our goals