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Whether fans remember him as coach Walter Oakes from "The Cosby Show" spin-off "A Different World," his role as Andre Krimm beside Scott Bakula in the movie "Necessary Roughness," or dozens of stand-up specials, Sinbad has been a part of most people's lives since the 1980s.
The comedian is hitting new territory now, bringing his show "Make Me Wanna Holla" to movie theaters across the country for one night only. Fathom Events will show the special locally in Germantown, Bowie, Alexandria and Fairfax at 8 p.m. on Aug. 22. The show will feature Sinbad's classic style of comedy and showcase his love of funk music.
Sinbad spoke with A&E to talk about the show, his love of music and how basketball changed his life.
A&E: First off, what can you tell me about "Make Me Wanna Holla?"
Sinbad: Man, that's a big question! It's funny and we shot some really good film. Why don't you break it down and tell me what you wanna know.
A&E: Along with the music, is it a little about your life or is it stuff that you've noticed over the past few years? What's the big theme for it?
Sinbad: It's a mix of everything. Just like with all comedians, it's a mix of life, it's a mix of stuff you've seen and stuff you're tired of seeing. Some of it's about Detroit – my home's in Michigan. I'm from Benton Harbor. It's about things happening in Detroit. My show is just a mixture of everything – my life, what's going on around me, what I've observed and what I see. Some of it's just me talking crazy.
A&E: Talking a little about the music, you've incorporated music into several of your shows. How important is funk and blues and jazz to you?
Sinbad: For me, see, it was always music before comedy when I was coming up. I was in bands growing up and I was playing drums by the time I was in fifth grade. I had been playing music for 30 years as I became a comic right after I went to college to play basketball. It was always in me. I was a DJ and I was collecting music and listening to music. I would rather go see a live band than go to the clubs to hang out. For me, as I saw the music I love, the thing I love, start to leave … it's not just about being old. You listen at these young folks' music, they have live music growing up, but it was just that it was going away. It was dying. It just bothered me. So I do everything that I can to keep it alive. I always talk about it because I think when you take away a culture's music, you lose that culture.
A&E: It does seem like nowadays younger men and women don't fully understand what it's like to listen to a record on vinyl …
Sinbad: You know what's funny – vinyl's coming back! It's true. Vinyl outsells everything. So yeah, that's cool. I think what's more important … it's not just about hearing the sonic quality. When we were listening to vinyl we didn't know about the sonic quality. We didn't know what exactly the quality really was. When you listened to vinyl, you listened to it all. Now you have the ability to just skip right to the next song, or better yet, you don't need to download the whole album. You just download one song off the album. I like the fact that once you put the record on, you don't want to keep getting up to move the needle. I think it pushed bands to make better music because you had to make sure people stayed interested. Also, I like reading the album covers. I don't want to know just the band, I want to know who produced it. I always wanted to know the story because the artwork, remember the album artwork was just as important as the music.
A&E: Yeah, they used to spend a lot of time putting together the cover art back then. That was the big thing.
Sinbad: Oh man, please! That could make or break an album. When I was DJing, I was buying albums people had never heard of because I loved the way the album looked. My first Bootsy Collins album, man, with the star sunglasses, the Jheri curl … looked like a photo of him was an animated version. I said, 'I don't know who this is, but he looks funky.' That was it.
A&E: You've spent your career working clean and avoiding R and NC-17 material. Was that a conscious decision by you or was that just came naturally because you grew up the son of a preacher?
Sinbad: Well, just because you're a son of a preacher doesn't make you that way. Sometimes you're more crazy. I always liked controversial stuff. I think sometimes you need to push the limit. When I first started out, I was dirty, but we were trying to be Richard Pryor, man. All of us was trying to be Richard. He had set that standard. I said, "Man, we all sound the same." We were a cheap imitation – it's like being a Gucci bag knockoff. We were like Gocci – we would never be Gucci. One night, I was doing my standup in a little club. It was at the start of my career, I was doing the military set … yeah, I hadn't been kicked out yet … and my dad drove to see me from Michigan at this little club in Chicago. I just cleaned it up because he was there and all these guys had been talking all this stupidness. He never would have judged me. My father would have dug whatever I did. I just wanted to do something different. I flipped it – I didn't change my routine, I just changed the words. I didn't change one thing that I talked about. I realized, "Man, not only can I be funny, I actually can become more controversial and talk about more stuff because I'm not cussing because I can get your attention." Now, as far as doing movies and TV shows, I don't want to lend myself to "Oh no, I won't do any roles unless they're wholesome." I don't believe in that, man. I want to be crazy and do everything, but I think people saw me as this so-called clean comic, which I hate that term. They decided what kind of person I must be or what kind of roles I must play and they put you in a box that didn't really exist.
A&E: Some comedians like Andrew Dice Clay and Lisa Lampanelli have said their stage show is just an act and that they're nothing like that off stage. Would you consider Sinbad a character or is Sinbad mostly you?
Sinbad: Dice Clay is a character and I don't know about Lisa as a character, but you have to be careful when you say that because when you do something like that on stage, then off stage you're "Oh, don't approach me that way, that's not who I am," I think that throws off a mixed signal. I'm not judging somebody, but a lot of what I say on stage, I am. A lot of the things I do on stage is me. It's not like, "Oh, that's a different guy on stage," no. A lot of what I say is me.
A&E: Here recently, you've done some voiceover work with "American Dad" and the just-released Disney movie "Planes" – is that something you can see yourself doing more of in the future?
Sinbad: I did a lot of it back when I first came in. I did "Homeward Bound" where I played a horse. I've done quite a few voiceovers. For me, it's fun. And it's quick. I have fun in there. I know a lot of people don't, but I have a ball. I found a way that works for me. When I came in to do "Planes," my character was a one-afternoon taping and they liked what I did and I came back in about two more times and they expanded the character.
A&E: Sports seem to be a big part of your life – you played basketball and you starred as a defensive lineman in "Necessary Roughness." Are you still big into sports?
Sinbad: There was a time in my life when I was coming up – I love basketball like a person needs water to live. I loved it. I think basketball got me to where I need to be as a comedian. When I first started, I was a terrible athlete. I mean, I cried I was so bad. That's why I love my father so much. He's the one that said, "Look, we can change this if you work hard." And I got mad because I didn't have this natural ability. He said, "There's this thing called persistence and not giving up." I said, "That's not a talent!" And I realized it is.
He told me, "If you don't mind being the worst one in the room for a short period of time, you can become great." I didn't realize what lesson he had given me. No matter what I was going to do – I was going to play drums, I was going to play guitar – if you don't mind suffering for that short period of time … I'm even laughing about it. There's a quote he gave me: If you want to become something, forget what you are today and think about what you want to become. People would laugh at me, but I was already seeing this other guy in my mind and I applied that to everything I did. I use a lot of sports analogies when I'm talking about life or something on stage because I think everybody should play sports whether you're good at it or not because it teaches you how to go beyond – how to go beyond in pain, how to go beyond and deal with different personalities. But when I went to college to play basketball, it was a painful experience. My college experience was a terrible four years. So I'm not a sports fanatic. I watch sports, but I'm not one of those guys that says "Let's get to the sports bar, I can't miss this game!" Unless, of course, my man LeBron is playing. And what I love about LeBron … how could anybody have ever doubted him, man? I've been watching him since he was what, 15? When did people start believing he couldn't win? That's all he did! That boy was 18 years old and took an NBA team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to the NBA finals. Detroit trades a whole team because of him. So I was like this, he's like Apple computers – they're so good at what they do, they demand a revolution every time they show up. I'm so glad this last [season] he had that moment, that sixth game changed everything for him.
A&E: Yeah, he took off the headband and that was it.
Sinbad: They can say what they want now – he's the man. [Laughs]
A&E: People always compare him to Kobe and Jordan. Can we just say LeBron is LeBron and he doesn't have to be compared to anybody?
Sinbad: Look man, Michael was Michael. Michael didn't try to be nobody else. Michael Jordan snuck up on everybody. Nobody saw that coming. You know? And Kobe's a whole different kind of animal than LeBron. You know what LeBron is? LeBron is Michael, he's Magic, and he's George McGinnis, who used to play for Indiana … big Hercules. [LeBron]'s a beast, man.
A&E: ESPN made a big deal about Jordan being able to dunk at 50. Can you still get out there and throw the ball down?
Sinbad: Man, please. No. No. [Laughs] My vertical left. [Laughs]
A&E: You've done movies, TV, standup shows – if you had to choose, could you pick one thing you've done that you're most proud of?
Sinbad: Ah, man. You know, as far as what I've done, there's no one project I'm most proud of. I'm most proud ... that I'm still here. I'm most proud of that I'm still relevant and I still think my best work is ahead of me.
A&E: You've got the show coming out through Fathom in theaters across the country, but after that, what's on the horizon? What's next for Sinbad?
Sinbad; I want to do some more TV and some more movies, but I want to do what I've been trying to do since I got here. I said let me do the stuff I've been writing. I want to direct. I want to produce other things. That's what I'm excited about. As far as TV, I don't know if I'll do sitcom work again because once reality shows came in, you can't make anything funnier than real cable now. Pawn boys and duck people, you can't write that.
A&E: What do you hope people take away from your shows?
Sinbad: I was watching this Eagles special the other day. It was with Glenn Frey and Don Henley. They said their fun thing was there was always a hidden meaning behind every song. It's not obvious, but every song has got to have some meaning. I hope when you leave, I'm not just telling jokes, I'm leaving you with something. I'm trying to push it so when you leave, you say "Wait a minute, what was he saying?" Yeah, I hid it through comedy, but some of that stuff I'm talking about ain't funny in real life. We use funny to take the pain off, to take the edge off. But I'm still angry and it's still there. I have to find a way to express my anger that doesn't turn the audience off, but I refuse not to talk about it.


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hoops scoops 2012 season ..."in 2014 ryan tannehill etches his name in stone amongst the games elite qbs"..."ryan tannehill and andrew luck will carry the afc for the next decade plus the way peyton manning and tom brady have this last decade plus"
for the love of god get a real freaking mike already!!!
He's 6'1 200lbs. Hardly big enough to play at the next level. No way in any life is he the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
Ryan Tannehill or Johnny Manziel lolol.
How this is even a question at all is beyond all rational thought.
I'm really looking forward to digging up this thread in 2 years. 😜
Chris J. Nelson
About me:
I am a production assistant for Turner Sports and I love my job. I also love the Dolphins and have been writing my own blog since 2007. I would love if you gave it a look and considered it as part of your regular Dolphins web rotation.
Visit my blog at phins-spotlight.com and follow me on twitter @phinsspotlight!
No, Johnny Football is fun to watch but not sure he will be able to take the pounding in the NFL. Tannehill has a lot of upside and as our team gets better players and play makers Tannehill will excell.
Have to go with Johnny. Much higher ceiling.
Actually Tebow played some as a freshman, Manziel is the one who sat the bench his freshman year. People need to remember Manziel was a REDSHIRT freshman this year & not a true freshman so he basically achieved the same thing as Tebow.Originally Posted by Birdmond
Manziel is not a NFL QB at this stage of his career. He doesn't possess the arm or the measureables but he has a few more years to work on that.

subset: commoncrawl


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The precise specificity of the approximately 3,000 known restriction enzymes for their >200 different target sequences could be considered their most interesting characteristic. Although all restriction enzymes bind DNA nonspecifically, under optimal conditions the difference in cleavage rates at the cognate site and the next best site (single-base substitution) is very high. For example, the rate difference for EcoRI at its cognate site (5´-GAATTC-3´) and next best site (5´-TAATTC-3´) is of the order of 105 (1)
. Similarly, for EcoRV, cleavage at its cognate site (5´-GATATC-3´) is 106 times faster than at the next best site (5´-GTTATC-3´) (2)
However, under nonoptimal conditions, the differences in cleavage rates between cognate and next-best sites change dramatically for many enzymes. This loss of fidelity or increase in cleavage at sites similar to the cognate site is commonly referred to as star activity. A number of reaction parameters can increase the rate of cleavage at star sites relative to cognate sites. These include pH, type of ions present, ionic strength, metal cofactors other than Mg2+, high enzyme:DNA ratios and the presence of volume excluders (glycerol, ethylene glycol, etc.). In conjunction with this increase in star activity, cleavage rates at the cognate site generally decrease. For example, for EcoRI, the rate difference between cognate and star sites approaches zero as ethylene glycol concentration increases up to 4M (3)
, and for EcoRV, the rate difference drops to only sixfold when Mn2+ is substituted for Mg2+ (2)
For more information on the proposed mechanisms for star activity and a list of enzymes that exhibit star activity, see the Restriction Enzymes Resource.
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Young Volunteers
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- Grace Chai
- Bellevue, WA
- United States
Junior State of America
This conversation is closed.
How can today's youth get involved and help initiate change in the world?
I am sixteen years old. It is 7AM here in Seattle, and I have not slept all night because I have been watching all of these TED videos. This is one of the most invigorating and inspiring websites I have ever had the fortune of stumbling upon.
As a young citizen, I am constantly trying to determine what role I want to play in my community, my country, and ultimately the world. The trouble is that I don't really know myself. I don't really know what I'm passionate about. I go back and forth between an inspired, i-can-do-anything mentality and a state of complete and utter despair because I have no idea what to do with myself.
TED videos remind me of my desire to initiate change. They encourage me to find what it is that I'm passionate about and to commit myself to the cause, yet it seems like they give us youth very few resources to experiment, discover, and participate in a way that has any significant effects.
What I'm seeking isn't vague, unhelpful (though well-intentioned) encouragement saying, "Don't give up! You can do it!"-type things. What are some specific ways I can get involved? (Ex: Names of some nonprofit organizations I can volunteer/intern at?)
*Edit: I know that, ultimately, I have to find out for myself what I'm passionate about. Perhaps I should be asking for you to share some of your experiences in which you discovered your passion(s).
Vernon Nolan
Jan 5 2012: Hello Grace,
- +4
I am over 80 and I am as enthusiastic and excited about the future as you are. It is after 4 am (W.A.) and I am working. There is no chance of me experiencing what you will, so I can only try to encourage all of you, and offer such wisdom as I have gained. There are some comments, etc. of mine on TED, Avazz ++
The main trouble is, right now. all the people trying to sort out the mess, are almost all. rich, Elitist, tradition riddled and observably elderly. If you believe in freedom and equality, then you have to recognize that you are just as equal as anyone. You have exactly the same right to speak out as the most gifted orator. more in fact, you have to live the consequences longer.
Jan 6 2012: Thanks for your input!Jan 16 2012: This is a great question and one of real importance as young people across the world find their voice and shout out against the status quo. Grace, you may not know yourself yet - you're only 17 after all, but you have the desire to get involved and that's half the battle won already! I have some suggestions…
If you have a family that talks to each other (!), raise local social, political or environmental issues with them and ask their opinion.
Join a debating society - it will help you identify different opinions, formulate your own point of view and communicate with confidence. A highly valuable life skill.
Visit your local library and ask to speak to the qualified librarian. Ask them for information about local or state trust funds that focus on youth aspirations. You will learn that Librarians know everything - it's like having your own PA for free - and, they're a real live person rather than a computer screen!
Learn how to cook ten nutritionally balanced meals, from scratch, and learn about portion sizes. Swap junk food for real food. Get to know your local farmer's market. Grow your own veg and herbs in your garden or in pots inside.
Put something into action on a small, local scale…If there's something your friends want provided in your community - formulate an action plan, gain wider support, and then petition your local council. This happened to me when a group of about 15 local kids and teens descended on my office to ask for a new skate park. It took a while (because of budgets) but we worked with them and they chose the equipment and design of the site.
Have fun and don't stress about it…your opinions will change in time and with age and experience.
Kat Haber
Jan 14 2012: Go for it, Grace!
- +3
1. Immerse yourself in TED talks (1,000) & TEDx talks (10,000 so far) and find ways to bring solutions to teens attention. Watch them also with the sound off, to learn how they communicate effectively.
2. Link with changemaking youth orgs: Ashoka, enviro's, UN, Rotary, find the thing that matters to you. Find the best group that is doing something about it & offer to start a youth advisory council, if they do not already have one.
3. Master a form of expression that brings you joy & then use it to make the world more as you want it to be in the arena that you see could be changed.
4. Enter competitions which will give you greater access to experts, platforms to express yourself, & impact on policy makers.
5. Find your spiritual center. If you are going to step up to be a leader in a world of dramatic disruption, you will need to act from a deep sense of personal grounding.
6. Fill a need. Excellently. This will likely return to you resources which you then can invest in changing more of the world you see needs to be shifted. Learn through by being a social entrepreneur.
7. Practice daily compassion. Learn to listen to the other, as they will be the ones you will need to influence. Use your young voice wisely. Find big stages to speak up on. If you listen carefully, you will learn how compel others to see the world you imagine.
8. Laugh-a lot. When you are happy, others will follow. This magnetic attraction brings help. You will need lots of help if you are really going to change the world. Why not have fun while doing your daily deeds of difference making?
9. Honor your elders. Parents are your biggest advocates. Respect is your key to the kingdom. Find the elders who have dedicated their lives to whatever field you find fascinating.
10. OJT: on the job training. Organize your own TEDxYouth event. Find a team. Set a stage. Gather your tribe. Speak out. Video it. Post it. You are changing your world.
Welcome to being a changemaker, fellow TEDxer!
Jan 14 2012: I would have to say you are earning your 1000 + Ted credits just by being the first responder to this post, I wonder is there a best ? question of the week/ month or some such that could be sent in full to TED members separate from the notification and links ? If not could something like that be established and say be open to posters under 18? as a prize they could send 1 email to TED and have the people in TED try to deliver the message to the adressee and receive a personal reply?
Jan 15 2012: The closest thing existing now is most active. There is no distinction within the TED community for age. They tackled last year though restricting attendees to 18 years old at TED. Youth will surely be a topic of conversation among TEDx organizers this year. Stay tuned.
Can you fill in the details for your idea, Russell?
tishe Hires
Jan 4 2012: Hi, do not get pregnant, do not live off the government, do not listen to your peers. Your passion, should be, to save the world! ( kidding ) Your passion should be, continue to be an intelligent human. :)
- +3
Jan 5 2012: I will try my best to be a responsible, informed, and self-sustaining citizen. ;D
Jan 5 2012: Yea! :) Do not live off the government. ( You are pretty cool! ) Impressive! :)Jan 16 2012: Grace, I admire your thinking and A-type personality and all your worries for the matters in the world.
As Mother Teresa said: "Not every one can do Great things, but every one can do little things with great love"
If I say, encourage your generation to stop watching MTV, I might sound a bit old-fashioned.
but where do we get the needed information to become inspired and act on our thoughts/ideas?
Start from there. Take your first step in faith.
I personally think, that we should better start from education.
Financial Education, Sex Education, Drug Education ... Things that makes our society sick and hungry.
School trains us to be good boys and girls, work hard and pay taxes... It makes us doing constantly the same things over and over again, but expect different results... Times changes but Education System stayed the same only adopted some technology to make the work easy.
Watch this, You might get the idea what I am talking about.
bad sound, but I hope you will get the messageJan 15 2012: I might just get this one. Your role in life as a sixteen year old is to simply be a happy sixteen your old. Do what sixteen year olds' do, establish friendships, go to partys, and be open to learning everything or aspects there of.
Life ahead is unimaginable, amazing, unpredictable and also scary at times. It is your job to hold onto peace of mind and to know that what ever takes away your peace of mind is distracting you from the real path in life you are called to follow.
So relax, and don't take life too seriously, and the real life you are being called to know will simply unfold.
New Zealand
Jon Miner
Jan 11 2012: Hi Grace
- +2
I think you can follow your own footsteps. How did you arrive at this mental and emotional state of heightened motivation? TED. Your goal is to use TED to motivate others in your community to become aware of TED.
So study TED and determine which areas are relevant to your personal situation. I was amazed by the story of a boy you built his own windmill. (William Kamkwamba: How I harnessed the wind.) But building your own windmill is probably not relevant to a young woman in Bellevue, WA. is it? So what is relevant? What TED presentations would make a difference to your community? Find them and find a way to share them with others. Become a TED video librarian, a TED expert.
Is there an opportunity at your school to organize a club in which you can watch and discuss TED videos? Perhaps you have a social studies class with a teacher willing to allow extra credit presentations using TED.
This is something that you can do. You can determine what is relevant. You can organize a club in which you share what is relevant. You can make a real contribution to your peers and your community.
Maybe someday you can share your achievements as a TED promoter and advocate and become a speaker at a TED event yourself. "How TED made a difference for..."
Get yourself organized. Don't quit when ides don't just pop into your head very easily. Talk to others about what you want to do. Get help. Work hard. Make something wonderful happen.
Jan 12 2012: This is a really great idea. I've already started sharing the TED videos with friends and classmates. I will look into sharing it with teachers too! Maybe they will be inspired to show their classes. Thanks a bunch, Jon.Jan 7 2012: Grace, when I was 16 I was bulllied and had few friends. I came from a very dysfunctional home. I am now 59. I believe that if you want to do something to help, you can start right now in your school and amongst your friends. Speak out against bullying and harassment, befriend a person who is being bullied, not because it will look good, but because you want to be that persons friend. When my middle son was in elementary school he became involved in a "circle of friends" befriending a developmentaly challenged child, with a couple of his peers, they stayed together all the way through high school. You might want to consider that idea. Volunteer at a Shelter for Abused Women, your local homeless shelter where they provide food, at your local food bank. As David Pellecer has stated, don't wait to find something to work with, if you have to, be a leader. If you have done all of that, then sit down and draw a line down the middle of the page, with the names of a place you have volunteered at the top and write the pros and cons for each. Do this with every place you have volunteered at, this might help you to narrow the field down somewhat. Also, do not forget about having fun and smelling the roses along the way. To be a whole person you need to be in touch with the playful, as well as the intellect and spiritual. The fact that you have asked this question is a great start. I haven't often come across young people with this attitude, I am so glad that you have shown me differently. May you be blessed in your continued growth. Sincerely. Kathleen, Never stop seeking.
Jan 12 2012: Yes, I'm thinking about working with a local teen suicide prevention organization! It seems very rewarding :)
Thank you! I won't.Jan 13 2012: YEA! :)Jan 6 2012: Hey Grace,
I love encountering people like you. I was just like you at 16 (okay, so that wasn't that long ago.. I'm 22 currently), and I was bored out of my mind with pure academics and sports. I needed somewhere to put forth my energy and inspiration. By pure chance, I was invited to become a youth board member on my county's American Red Cross, and since then, I have moved to the national sphere. I'm currently on the executive board of the American Red Cross National Youth Council, advising the national movement about how to involve youth, how to inspire youth to seek leadership positions within the organization, and developing initiatives that youth can take part in and help build. I became involved with this organization by chance, and I couldn't tell you (some 6 years ago, now), why I loved the Red Cross so much. Now, having experienced every realm of the organization, I have found the answer to that often-asked question of "why?". I love the Red Cross because of their dedication to youth involvement, and their belief that youth can truly make a difference at the local, regional and national level. The amount of respect that they give to their youth volunteers is unmatched, and I am proud to be part of such a dynamic, though historical, organization.
This is not an advertisement for the Red Cross; rather, it is my own story. I happened upon this organization by chance some 6 years ago, and grew to love it. I have grown as a person in more ways than I can explain, and my leadership and public speaking skills have been honed by my time as a volunteer and youth adviser. So, put your feelers out and take every opportunity as it comes at you -- and I guarantee, if you dedicate yourself to something that you love, you will receive more satisfaction than I can possible convey and, in the end, you will make a change.
Jan 11 2012: Your story is great. Not so many people soonly find out what they love in life. Good point to remember.Jan 12 2012: Red Cross - what a great organization. I have friends that do search-and-rescue missions with Red Cross! I have heard nothing but great things about the work environment there - I'll be sure to look into what local opportunities there are for me. Thanks for your story
Jan 14 2012: I should take this moment to ask you to look at the P.E.G.C. website. Its a great and noble cause that needs help. Hopefully the mystery twill draw you to it.Jan 8 2012: The question is a relevant one, in resume it comes to how and where to serve?
I believe that change has started to be the moment you started feeling that need to participate. As everyone has his own sensibility and hopes, the first step for me would be to go through a brainstorming and line up all the point that you find relevant in the life around you: what is disturbing you emotionally in your own life, in your neighborhood, in your society, in your country or around the world? Anything that might come to your mind will surely find its solution too.
You should continue your search patiently until your heart is touched by something that means a lot to you. Keep the search and at each step, you will see answers unveilling to you as magic. You'll be able to take certain actions and you might not feel the power to sort out or reach other situations. But you should always keep in mind that the most important is "DOING YOUR BEST".
A wise man said to his son: " Be a good and charitable person. If you have money power, use it to end pain around you and give hope; if you have no money, then use your hands and time to secure others; if you have no harm nor the required time, then give a compassionate smile as you go accross those who suffer; if that is not possible, then make a good wish that will help end their pain."
Jan 12 2012: Great advice, thank you so much. I will take it to heart :)
paska rinda
Jan 8 2012: As young generation you have a lot of chance to develop,increase your capability,trying something new. Sometime youth voice really important to change future generation. As we know its a bit hard young generation to realize they have important role on the society.
- +1
Development technology changing a lot and its influenced youth generation, sometime technology can affect become positive way but sometime it can be negative way, so we should filtering which is good and bad things should we choose. I grateful know you like joined TEDX, Its great site i ever visited too, we can found postive aspect which is can change our point of view and see problem from every perspective its tool to changing opinion and transfer knowledge.
Probably you also can joined some club which is you have passion on it, just explore yourself because if oneday when we getting old we never regret spend our teenage on the positive way. I always support young generation to develop. As senior in university i always make coaching new students to develop their skilled i love to help them because its my duty to shared my knowledge with them.
Dont think how is hard it would be just take your action because you never know what would be happened on the next future, what was you do today will influenced with your next step..
best regards
Jan 11 2012: Your students are very lucky because of their grateful teacher!
tishe Hires
Jan 8 2012: Hi Grace! Example and a specific way. Volunteer at a shelter for abused children. They need an enlightened human! You will smile at these kids! You will listen to these kids. It is tough, it is worth it! The best part., they will respond to YOU! ( try it ) As for the, personal experience, you can understand. :) Impressive, young human!Jan 5 2012: Hi Grace, I know exactly how you feel right now. First of all, I have to say to you, that you are a great person, not many people of our ages think like you. I think that even when I'm not responsible of all the problems that are out there in the world, I have the decision of taking actions so I can change this reality that is so full of sadness and pain.
- +1
Grace if you don't find any opportunities or invitations to participate with a group of people that think like you, DON'T WAIT!! You can be a leader; you can create a place for you in society where creative people gather and take actions by themselves.
This year I'm planning to start a movement in my school. I'm going to take the risk and go for it. Everyone is asking the same question, what to do? I don't think that this is the priority, a most important question is, who is going to do it?
Grace I really think that you can be a leader. You want extraordinary things to happen?
For these things to happen, it needs an extraordinary group of people, and you decide being one of them!
Grace another thing, read this book, "Seven habits of highly effective people", is going to help you to accomplish all the goals that you have. And Grace, if you need something else, or just talk with some one, you can count on me, ok? Take care.
Jan 6 2012: Thanks David! It's nice hearing from another youth, especially from other countries! I love how TED connects people from all over the world.
That sounds very exciting. However, I do think that your classmates have a point; You can't really accomplish anything if you don't have a specific, realistic goal that you're passionate about. But you're right; you can't accomplish anything if you don't have a committed and innovative group of people to do it!
I do have a version of that book for teens, but have yet to dive into it.
Thanks again for all the encouragement and support. Keep me informed on your school movement thing - it sounds really interesting!
Jan 6 2012: Just a tip; Leaders will take you where he or she wants to go. A Guide will show you where you want to go. Which do you seek?
Jan 6 2012: GuidanceJan 8 2012: I will seek a teacher. He will give me the rudiments necessary in my search to know who I am really and to BE, and the best teach is Life itself, in resumé: Expérience.
Megan DaGata
Jan 5 2012: Several of your responses aren't very helpful. To find what you are passionate about you have to try everything. Volunteer at the animal shelter, the nursing home, or the local food bank. If you want to make a difference in the future you can educate yourself. If the idea of going to college and getting bogged down in debt is not appealing to you research the UN programs...or there was an article in Fast Company recently about a company that finds 19 people under 19 with the brains to succeed, but no desire to go to college. He takes these people and helps them on the path to success and an education. In Seattle there should be politcal campaign offices if that appeals to you. The occupy movement is strong there, but the thing about the occupy movement is the lack of definition. Everyone wants to change the world, but no one wants to be the person to stand up and say this is what needs to be done. Months ago there was an online vote to define the movement and really aside from getting TV coverage no changes have been made. Put yourself in positive situations to achieve a positive result. Red Cross, Nursing homes, hospitals, SPCA, UN, Political campaigns, interships
- +1
Jan 6 2012: So far, I've worked at youth summer camps, animal adoption programs, homeless shelters, my school newspaper, leadership councils, political debate clubs, etc, etc. Trouble is, I seem to like everything, which is both lucky and a curse haha. Red Cross and Peace Corps both seem very hands-on and rewarding, but since I do have a lot of schoolwork and whatnot nowadays in preparation for college, I don't know if I can do something that intensive. Maybe I will find a way to make time in the summer.
I value education very much and intending on attending at least undergraduate school for four years.
Yeah, the occupy movement hasn't seemed to be accomplishing much, despite the publicity it's gotten.
I'm very interested in the idea of volunteering with the UN.Jan 5 2012: Well, the fact that you have even recognised that you have to pursue your dream is in tself a great step. It will come soon to you what you have a passion for and when it does, you will realize that the work is just about to begin. Perhaps i can share some of my experiences...
Jan 6 2012: Please do!Jan 5 2012: Start thinking a lot about what you love to do... you may take an year or two or say three... but the day you will end up locking your passion, start thinking about how can you integrate your passion for the benefit of mankind.. you will surely find your way! We all are glad that you have started thinking about it at this tender age, In terms of experience.. just one advise at the moment; don't get dragged by charm of life people living near by you, just stick to your thought and stay focused.
Jan 6 2012: Thank you for the wonderful advice and encouragement. I've been having trouble choosing between what I like and what is practical - when people my age have earning loads of money as a top priority, it's completely understandable but makes me a little bit sad inside.
Daniel Vais
Jan 5 2012: whatever you do will help.Jan 3 2012: I like to cultivate a culture amongst my friends whereby we discuss global events, and make plans to recycle, grow community gardens, and volunteer together. The culture you builds with your friends will extend and grow into the larger society.
- +1
You must be really excited to start voting!
You can always start a club at school. I started a UNICEF Club on campus when I was in University. Otherwise, you can suggest new initiatives in your own school.
Take care!
Peace :D
Jan 5 2012: Andrew-
Interesting idea with the culture initiation thing. Thanks!
Yes, yes I am excited.
There are already a lot of clubs at my school, but none of them really accomplish much. I have been getting much more involved in volunteering with nonprofits though, as well as my city's youth council and action teams.
I'm also considering traveling with the People to People Ambassador program, as I have been invited to do so for the past three summers, but my parents are afraid that it's a scam/ripoff. Does anybody know about that program?
Thanks for replying!Jan 17 2012: grace be in touch email@example.com as a fellow washingtonian I want to keep in touch with active posters from our state.Jan 17 2012: Wow, Grace! After reading your prompt I believe you do know yourself more that the majority of the 17 year-olds around!
At a recent talk, TEDx speaker Brene Brown (also TED 2012 speaker) portrayed a critically ill profile of our current society, but she concluded that there was hope for a change. And it was not going to be in the form of a sweeping storm, it would take setting up small campfires of strength, innovation, good will, authenticity, and resilience.
I second Heather White below, light up your own small fire, surround yourself with people like you, and persevere.
Participate as much as possible, soon the one mission that will drive your life will become evident.
Start with one close by, take up your own.
You don't need to change the whole world right now, just start and let it change you a little too. It all needs time...Jan 16 2012: Hi Grace,
I am seventeen years old, and I am in a very similar situation right now. I'm finishing highschool this year and I have to decide what I want to study at college. When I started to think what I want to do in my life I realized that I want to do something that makes the world better. So I looked for a career that can give me what I wanted. But then, I understood that there is not such career and waht's more, I didn't need something lke that. I think that I just need to learn more about people and I will do so being with people. So I decided to start doing things for other people, like helping younger students with maths, geography and hystory, for example. And I've learned a lot of things with them and I think they have learned too. So that's the piece of advice I can give you: Help other people with something you're good, and you will learn lots of things that will inspire you to do more and more other things that will make the world better.
I hope this helped a little.
GabrielJan 16 2012: wow!! i seriously l love this conversation and i must admit, i really admire your desire Grace. i think what you are experiencing now is a phase everyone gets to in our lifetime...and i really have been there. when u really want to do something to change the world, especially when u are a youth. i think the baton is now in our hands...our leaders and our parents are doing their best for us. but sincerely, they are also looking up to us...what will we do when we get to where they are now? can we accomplish greater achievements than their generations?? or we will just be satisfied with our petty accomplishments and with what our leaders and the older generations have accomplished?? will there be greater scientists, greater inventors, more transformational and proactive leaders in our generation than theirs?
the desire to change your community, your nation and the world...is a legitimate desire which when rightly fed will lead to various and great accomplishments! but what i can advise is, first, let us lead ourselves, before we can create that change we want.
by leading ourselves, we are improving ourselves, being the best we can in our homes, schools, wherever we find ourselves and in whatever we find ourselves doing. follow hard after excellence in all you do.
and one very important factor, is not leaving the God-factor out! knowing and trusting God to lead us to accomplish His plan for our lives which is our innermost desires.
Grace, i hope this helped.Jan 15 2012: Hey Grace,
I am sixteen, still fighting to figure out what I truly believe in, but I am still reminded at every time I am down, of my favorite Spanish song, probably from Mexico, 'Hay no que llorrar, por que la vida es un carnaval" and then it pretty much goes on to say, we have to go on life singing. I still sometimes face some weird things, and I know what I am passionate about, education for everyone and letting the truth out about mental illness.
Where I live, most of the time language and culture matters, but the one thing that is constantly hidden behind closed windows, and blank eyes is this, mental illness. People forget that everyone is different and at times we break down, and when you break down so bad you need to get help. Though when you do, there is a chance you might get ridiculed and treated differently for it, but I didn't care. I told all my friends I had a mental illness, and hoped that they would treat me the same.
I am a youth, but I am still learning, and hopefully, teens and kids can show that we can make an impact.
I am sixteen, looking at the impossible and hoping I can reach it, I have fun doing the things I do, friends and family matter to me, but still I am passionate about education and the truth behind mental illness.
So follow what you believe to be right and let that guide you.
AmyJan 15 2012: Hi Grace,
I am a 21 yr old boy, studying engineering. Even I want to do something of that sort, because personally I believe that we youth have the potential. For days I wondered about the right way. I am presently studying, so generally anyone elder around asks me to focus upon studies. I know that they are not wrong because that should be my first priority.
That's why for many days i kept waiting for the right time to come. I kept thinking that once I start earning and be off my studies then I would look towards such things. I expected then, to find some organisation to like some NGO. In effect I was just putting everything in terms of money. Like the only solution to this problem was the availability of money.
One fine day i realised that then I may have money but I will have more responsibilities too. Now, even if i don't have money I have an important resource that's time. So I just started looking around myself for things that need to be improved. Or the the things that are lacking presently. I am studying engineering, and we have different entrance exams to opt for courses of post graduation. This is the world of technology. i realised that there is one exam that doesn't have any sort resource for the students. In college we used to complain that we don't have proper guidance for this exam. The college doesn't support us. But what am I doing for it? nothing. So I thought of creating database of questions that can be used by my juniors to prepare for this exam. Its actually a tedious job since it requires feeding of lots of data. I then put up this idea in front of few friends who liked this idea but were reluctant. I convinced them for it. Now we have a small group that has started the work and are slowly moving in the right direction.
We intend to give this software to our college for free. This requires no monetary investment. Just our time which we were previously wasting. so i suggest look around you n u will find ur inspiration.Jan 15 2012: Grace - please listen to your intuition and go in that direction. i think the most successful women I know have done that.Jan 15 2012: Yes,
I propose that a randomly selected jury of five TED members with at least 5 TED CREDITS for each week be
given a weeks postings by contributors under 18 years in age. These postings separated into 5 lists of links
would go one to each member of the jury.obviously this would be after the week had passed,
the time spent reviewing the huge number of posts would be limited to 5 days
On the sixth day this Jury would select there favorite contribution (one each) then each would rank the list of
contributions from 5 to 1 with 5 being the best. The results could be sent to two(2) volunteer members who have
50 or more TED Credits These volunteers would be placed in rotation each pair serving 6 weeks. They're votes
would finalize the results resolving ties and splits by the casting of there ranked votes. The winners idea would
be posted in a thread titled best of the week ,and along with the original post a message asking the contributor to
send an email with a question that they would like to ask if they could choose anyone who is on the TED site to
answer. The question and the members reply would be posted similarly,
An email and a snail mail paper copy of the reply would be sent as to the weeks winner. Bells and whistles
would be at the responding parties discretion, hand signed? a photo? whatever.
TED might choose to include some sort of standard package as well. Being new
here I don't know how TED as a corporate body chooses its course of action, but I know that somewhere
policies like the rules are worked out and its in that direction I hope this is kicked.
I am recalling the movie "October Sky" the young star was about
space flight and rockets and how meeting Werner Von Bran was his dream, and the ironic scene where he
meets but does not have a chance to recognize or ask him anything. I have a motto that might be apt for
encouraging young TED posters.
Never to old to learn, never to young to teach
Russ Lester.Jan 14 2012: I would like to pass on a saying, it might fall into platitude category sorry:
"Never to old to learn, never to young to teach."Jan 14 2012: Grace - Your question about what you are most passionate can be answered. I work with young people who are trying to decide what life path to choose and the one thing that is key to making this decision is knowing about yourself so that you can make a decision based on the best information - The first thing I tell young people like you is to sit down and make a list of the 5 things you love to do more than anything else i.e "I could spend all day reading about _____________(fill in the blank), I love to write, I love to work in the yard with plants, I love to sew and design clothes, I love to work puzzles, I love to cook, I love to build things with my hands, etc. WHen you can identify the five things you love to do the most then you can begin to ask yourself - How could I make a living doing that or how could I help other people with my gifts or talents - We all look for the BIG answer but sometimes that answer is a little thing that you love to do and do well now. Maybe your next door neighbor is a single mother and you love children - volunteer to let her have an afternoon to herself once a month. IF you see an older person struggling to get their groceries in the car - go help them. Smile at someone who looks sad - start small and then you can begin to build.
Use Ted to find people who are doing what you would like to do and find out how they did it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Curiousity is the greatest tool we have. Use websites like http://sixthousand.blogspot.com/ to find out more about someone who maybe is just like you. READ - the library is the best hidden resource that you can have. Spend Saturday there just looking - Read - read - read - Remember "Those who read - Lead." Try these on
* The Google Story
* The Art of the Start
* ReWork
* The Inmates are Running the Asylum
* Book Yourself Solid
* Four Steps to the Epiphany
* Made to Stick
* 22 Laws of Positioning
* 22 Laws of Branding
* Firms of Endearment
Good LuckJan 14 2012: Welcome Grace, you're alive and on earth. It's time you find out why you're here.
I am pleased to say that you are on the right track. Meeting people and getting to know what they're about will help you know what you are about.
I was about nineteen (19) when I started to feel my way to my callings. I can clearly remember. I started out admiring the things I liked. Then I met people who liked the same. Then we formed a group to protect and share the thing we liked. Then somehow it became more than about the things we liked.
They were there for me.
Then that must mean that I was there for them.
I am even more pleased to say that finding your passion can happen much earlier than when I did mine.
Also, if your not an atheist, I'd recommend you join a (good and true) religious org.
Religious orgs can also double as Teen Suicide Prevention orgs you know.
I turn twenty (20) in a few months. :D
Don't worry, we're all in this together.Jan 12 2012: Grace - compliment for not wanting all the typical grown-up encouragement phrases. I try not to give them to my children, but sometimes I am afraid I still do so....
Here is the engagement and participation which I have worked with in the last two years: streetart turning from a hobby to a national success and show. And still all the students are interested in having fun and doing what they want. if they start earning money or making people happy - or even both... take it as a greatful gift on top of finding yourself.
Now this sounds almost like phrases... ? I better stop now. I hope you enjoy the exampel / video: http://bit.ly/zxNebrJan 12 2012: Thank you for the advice Grace!, now i know i'm not the only one, and i wish you the best with your studies :)
Jan 13 2012: Same to you :)Jan 11 2012: i feel exactly the same way, i am a 14 y/o boy, living in the UK (unfortunately). i also do find it very difficult to be creative and feel as if thought, the schools are actually killing our creativity, and training us instead of teaching us, i still have no idea what to do with my life, one day i'm interested in medicine the other, finance.
My advice to you would be to, just carry on watching motivational videos on the internet, or buy some books which would make you think very deep. Also, i recommend watching a talk on TED, Richard St John, on success and others might be nick vujicic who is a very inspiring and motivational speaker.
i hope this helped.
Jan 12 2012: Zohaib,
It's nice to hear from someone who's in the same boat as me! In general, as long as you keep up with your grades and continue taking classes and participating in activities that interest you, you should end up fine :) Work hard, play hard.
Thanks for the words of advice!Jan 11 2012: World needs person with yours conciense, and I think that young people will improve mentality. Althought; sometimes, they don´t comunicate a lot because they are afraid.In my opinion, the childrens education is the most important at the society. So, I think too that mothers can change the world.Jan 11 2012: There are a few ways that really spark the light of enthusiasm in the youth (13-18) and young adults (18+). One of them is to make them feel as though the community wants or needs them, make them feel like they are making a differnce. When the feeling of "Wow, I'm actually doing something for others." Hits a younger person there isn't a lot of things in the world that can snuff the flame that keeps them going. For me being a youth in the U.S. (17) working with a wildlife center that takes in sick, injured, and orphaned animals is one of the most uplifting and glorious experiences I have ever felt. Seeing in Arizona that many children and young adults didn't know much about wildlife disturbed me, so I decided to take this role further and go from school to school making education programs that involve much of Arizona's wildlife. To hear from schools that I have presented at that the students will still quote my speeches and reference me months after my presentation just makes me want to try harder and create more expereinces that broaden the horizens of the youth today.
Jan 12 2012: Thank you for your story - education is where it all starts, yeah?Jan 11 2012: Bring TED into your daily life.
Watch 1 video in the morning, think about idea behind it and come up with the result we got by the end of day.Jan 10 2012: They could join the zeitgeist movement, It's hard to tell what it is with just one comment and probably one single movie can't describe it even if that's one of the most beautiful pieces of art (www.zeitgeistmovingforward.com) however I could describe it as an international initiative to raise awareness about the world's problems, and not just to identify them but to understand them so deeply that the solutions become self-evident.
It's not only about a movie and hippies, we have a lot of free available materials created in several languages from several members from all over the world, and we don't charge a peny for it. We donate it. :)
www.thezeitgeistmovement.comJan 9 2012: I think youth should compromise with yourself, treating get a good up bringing, good formation level, good habits and keeping frinds an family. Other theorys could be mutants, but a solid foundation is the basis to be good human beiings.Jan 8 2012: hey well done, i'm 45 and ive just spent the last four days immersed, if not obsessed or addicted to TED talks, its life changing stuff, i'm studying again to become a teacher and this content has made me feel its all worthwhile.
i hope you dont mind an old git like me passing comment, I grew up as a punk rocker in the UK and the spirit of you can make a change, you're an individual, don't listen to authority seems alive in TED regardless of age, have you listened to Bunker Roy about Barefoot Colleges? stunning stuff...
i think its important to start locally so think about what you buy and how you consume, think about what you wear, eat and how you deal with waste in your own life first. Then check out the next step, you may well find the answers to what you can do are directly linked to the actions above... by being aware of the moral choices inherent in these actions you'll find the types of action you need to follow will be the causes you want to help.
are you at school, college, are you a scientist or an artist? a techie or a poet? a designer or a sculptor? an engineer or a musician? the pathway for you might be in conducting experiments or sending messages...i might sound vague but i don't think the point is to tell you what to do, if you care you'll find a way...just think of what you are good at and what you care about and how to merge the two.
then go online and do the research
good luck
Jan 12 2012: Thanks for the advice! Yeah, I plan on attending college for at least 4 years - I still am not sure what really makes me tick. Hopefully, by then I will have developed even more skills that can be used to help my community... and the world. It's gonna be greattttttttJan 8 2012: Grace,
Came across a comment you made saying you worked at youth summer camps-this is an AWESOME place to start! I've been in camping/outdoor education for about 6 years now, working with all age groups, and it truly is the best thing I have ever done. I started at 16, and would spend the summer 110 miles from home. That was my first real taste of independence, as well as living in an environment that wasn't my own. It helps to make you grow as a person, and in turn, help others. Fast forward, I'm now 22, and spent the past summer working with the Chicago Park District. One of the coolest things our program did was have our campers spend a night in their city park, which can be absolutely terrifying for kids who have never been away from home, never slept in a tent before, and, not to mention, sleeping in an area that can be seen as dangerous. BUT, it was an experience that they really took to heart, and being able to provide a positive, new experience for someone who might not get that at home, is truly astounding. It's those kids who'll grow up and become counselors because of what YOU taught them.
Sorry, that was long winded. I get excited when I see other people who are excited about youth empowerment AND summer camp.
Jan 12 2012: Alex,
I think youth empowerment is a huge thing that we need to deal with nowadays. By the time we reach around high school age, we start to stop believing that we have the power to really change things. I refuse to forget :)Jan 8 2012: Grace ( is one of my daughter's names, so you are endeared to me already)
Be bold.
If there are a few of the speakers you love and feel a connection with, write to them-email or snail mail. Tell them how you are changed because of their message. With technology we are able to have this incredible platform, yet we can easily not reach out and say hello....in person.
I agree, volunteerism is a great path, though you might find by surrounding yourself with the people you connect with greatness is born.
The elation and despair are incredible vehicles of change. Harness that energy, use it to spring higher.
Jan 12 2012: Huh! I never thought of directly contacting any of the TED speakers... thanks for the great idea.Jan 7 2012: Grace, you can start right where you are. Look all around you. Today you will have numerous opportunities to elevate the joy level of miscellaneous people. You may be aware of your positive impact on some, e.g., if you go next to the housing unit in which you live and clean the windows of your neighbor or remove their trash or wash their car. You may be unaware of the stream of positive impacts you cause, when the people you help or make happy, spill that good feeling and acts on to other people. So what? Just keep doing one positive thing after another everytime you are aware of an opportunity to help someone or make someone happy and you have the freedom, time, resources, energy to do that. Right now where you are you possess a lot of power to change our world for the better and I suspect you do that in the ordinary course of your days. HAPPY TODAY.Jan 7 2012: Hello You are on the right track right here. THis is a place where your ideas can be noticed by people with the skills and rescourses to make them real. Mean while try to do something to adress an issue that you find that somehow affects you, deeply and emotionally. I grow apples for a living over here in Chelan Wa. and I was watching a great documentary on wasred food, when suddenly they showed a picture of a beach covered as far as the eye could see with perfectly regular mud pies, these wee not childrens games they were childrens food. This was in Haiti prior to the earth quake and the children were being fed mud mixed with salt and lard to fill their bellies. I am violently affected, I cant explain why its so so hugly infuriating to me. But these children....how do we grow our saviors of tommarrow on mud? I get angry thinking about it. So I have decided to contact the Haitian Consul(the closest seems to be in Chicago) and try to work out a way to donate to them those apples that I would normally send to treetop, and those that i would send to make baby food, that is perfectly good apples which just are not pretty enough to sell, to these children. Find issues that enrage you and confront them. P.I.L. sang a song a million years ago called "Anger is an energy" well its true but use your anger and others to build not to destroy. Much love to you.
Jan 12 2012: Wow, what an amazing way to figure out how you can have a large impact using what you already have. Thank you for your story.Jan 6 2012: Hi Grace, I was 16 some 53 years ago and still remember some of the dilemma you describe. You received a lot of very good comments here, all of which contain valuable hints and advice. I would add one more aspect, since you stated in responses you are looking for guidance: meditation. I recommend meditation to listen to God, if you have a religion and a relationship with the Father. Everyone's development of relationship is unique, so likely you will not be able to copy others.
If you have interest, there is a vast host of heavenly personalities waiting to assist you. These unseen personalities are actually friendly and you can only do good by choosing God and learning what kind of god is God! This Original Personality wants your ultimate good and if you choose a life career of doing good for others, you will have found a marvelous joy you cannot describe for others. And you would be preparing nicely for the next life stage.
Choose the religion you want, but try to find heavenly guidance through prayer and then take time after prayer to listen to your thoughts. There is no real "magic" to meditation; just go inward toward the God fragment inside and listen in a quiet place. The guidance you receive this way might just surprise you.
Good guidance has been given you here on TED; now the important resource is available to you anytime by going inward daily in a quiet place.
I wish you well. We need leaders like you!
Peace!Jan 6 2012: Start by trying to change YOUR world, do it in a positive way, add to, rather than take away - Find your gift and share it. Your world will change...
Also don't throw rocks at those brave enough to build fences and walk on them (put themselves out there) - join them, or build your own fence and start walking. Some will throw rocks, some will join you.
Encourge others to share of themselves, and take the time to apprecite why they are special - You've just changed THEIR world as well - good luck. Have fun, never stop sharing.Jan 6 2012: It is no secret that at the stage of youth... we become idealistic and want to change the world! This is a great help for human beings, but unfortunately many people miss this window of opportunity. The fact that a forum such as this exists is because we all are more or less of the same goals and we want to change the world. It can happen. and its already happening.
However, Grace, only he that seeks shall find and i am sure you have been pointed in some right directions already. Whatever, you do, do it well.
You will eventually find your passion, but it will take some inner searching of yourself, What you love to do and why you love to do it and ultimately for who's benefit you do it. It will become clearer as you mature. All you need to do is keep your goal in sight, even if at times you find yourself in circumstances that seem like a detour from your goal; don't worry, they are necessary detours. Just keep your goal in sight.
Cheers friend!
Jan 12 2012: Thanks for the encouragement :)Jan 5 2012: I'm really short on time but check this, it's the UN's online volunteering portal. http://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en/index.html
Jan 6 2012: This looks really great - thank you so much!
Comment deleted
Jan 6 2012: Haha I suppose that option is always there - thanks for the suggestion!Jan 4 2012: Start up your own blog. Become a icon a icon in your CIty or Town. A first step would be in your school.
Jan 5 2012: I have an anonymous blog, more for personal journal writing-type purposes, though. I have been thinking about putting my name on it - it would be a good place to voice an opinion, you're right. Thanks! :)Jan 3 2012: First of all you could just go to sleep, give yourself some rest. Just relax.
Very coincidental, I'm also a sixteen year old with the same good intentions to get involved and help wherever I can. And I also just stumbled upon this site, I still have got part of the night left to sleep though. Not like I need much of it, but still.
Anyways, back to the point.. I can't really give you any names of any organizations you could volunteer or intern at, since I'm not an American myself and so I don't really know any specific organizations. But I do know that there's probably alot out there to do, to volunteer at, to help people with and to get involved with. You could go to hospitals, places for disabled people or to places for elders. (Not sure how you call these places in English.) You could help homeless people find a job. Or jobless people. I don't know. You could do anything, if you just go out there and look for things. =)
I myself at the time work with disabled people and am planning to volunteer in a psychiatric hospital as well. I just happen to have to much free time so I might as well spend it learning, experiencing and helping. Same as you probably.
Also, I'm sure you could find a lot of ways to get involved by yourself, it's not like there aren't many people who could use a hand out there! =)
Jan 3 2012: Hi Tommy! Thanks for commenting :)
Yes, I've already volunteered with many organizations, and the experiences have all been really rewarding, but seem small compared to everything that people present in TED videos haha. I guess I just see so many areas that have room for improvement, and I don't know where to start. Not to mention that it's very easy to feel small when you're sixteen.


text:
- Gogo della Luna
- Rome Italy
- Italy
This conversation is closed.
What if nothing comes from our devotion, effort, faith and work?
Samuel Beckett said:
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.
But...what's the measure of failure? When should we declare 'time-out'?
Jan 31 2013: I've found this to be true in my life:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~ Mark Twain
If failure does harm to you or others, it's time for some time out.Jan 29 2013: I learned some words of a good businessman recently, in a book I read. It goes, "There is no such thing as failure - only feedback."
Since I read those words, when I have had moments of wondering if what stirs my heart is worth doing anything about because no one seems to care or the effort seems so large ... I just remember that there is no failure. Only feedback.
Sometimes maybe we just need to rest, re-coup, and re-organize for another way.
Good luck my friendFeb 3 2013: I wonder what it would be like to live in a time and place where money wasn't needed to live, where people lived in a community disconnected from technology, living off the land and connected to the earth?Jan 30 2013: Why are we devoted? Why do we make effort? Why do we have faith? Why are we doing what we are doing?
There is no way that sustained effort, patience and passion would not produce something worthwhile. Life is about sowing and reaping; and quality seeds, when planted and properly nurtured, produces bountiful harvests.
The major problem we have as human beings is that we expect our fictional and fantasy ideas of success to become reality, fully formed.
Not everything we do would bring the exact results we've been anticipating; but there are lessons to be learnt; and lessons in themselves build the human being, they are a reservoir of knowledge and insight.
For as long as we are alive we should know that nothing good comes easy; and that patience is an essentail ingridient of progress.Jan 30 2013: The risk you take when trying and putting all your efforts into a task is failure. That is what makes accomplishments so great. It is stepping out on a ledge and not being afraid to fail multiple times or maybe never succeed at all. There are many great people who never found success in their field, but they still set the platform to help others finish their work. .It is the human experience at its finest.Jan 29 2013: Is not a story filled with devotion, effort, faith and work a meaningful story regardless of how it ends?Jan 27 2013: time out will be announced by nature, so you won't have to care about that. the thing is, neither of devotion, effort, faith or work guaranties success. these are pretty much needed, but not sufficient. you can dig a hole, and then fill it up with all the devotion, effort faith and work in the universe, you still end up exactly where you have started. because you also need to do the right thing, the thing that effectively brings you somewhere. so if all of the above fails, change your tactic. understanding how things work helps. we call that science.Feb 2 2013: Perhaps, it's about the way, not about the destination... The destination is death, as far as we know.
Jazz Sutto
Feb 2 2013: Failure only happens when you give up. Everything else is a learning experience.
- +2
Feb 2 2013: or die
Atul Jadhav
Feb 2 2013: no..thats not a solution
- +1
Jazz Sutto
Feb 2 2013: Well, dieing isn't failing in my book. Simply means that you tried with everything you had. Good way to die in my book :)Feb 2 2013: Well....after the brain-storm created by your comments I can finally say that the secret is all in a simple action: TO OPEN.
- +2
The Door
Go and open the door.
Perhaps outside
there's a tree, or a wood,
or a garden,
or a magic town.
Go and open the door.
Perhaps outside
there's a dog scratching.
Perhaps there's a face outside,
or an eye
or the picture
of a picture.
Go and open the door.
If there's fog outside
it will go.
Go and open the door.
There could be outside only
singing darkness,
and there could be outside only
wind's hollow breath
and there could be
absolutely nothing
go and open the door.
At least
there would be
a draught.
Miroslav Holub
Feb 2 2013: PERFECT concept Gogo....be willing, ready and able to open another door. You have heard the saying.....when one door closes, another door opens? We need to be open minded/open hearted and curious enough to perceive another door opening:>)Jan 31 2013: Faith and Devotion should be practiced without any expectation for any results. That's not an easy thing to do. But at least it should be acknowledged that this is the real nature of true faith or devotion, and the believer or the devoted should aspire for this state of mind. True faith or devotion are effortless. If one needs to struggle to keep his//her faith or devotion, it means he has still a way to go for reaching the goal of true faith or devotion. If one feels disappointed for not achieving the goals he//she was hoping for by his faith or devotion, it means his faith or devotion are imperfect//faulty. Because pure faith or devotion are egoless, and the disappointment is the evidence that his faith or devotion are just one more mean in our endless earthly attempts to gratify our ego.
Faith or devotion are tricky in the sense that their inquiry, like the one you started hereby, is originated from the ego. This inquiry by itself can be very gratifying because it reveals rationally the nature of faith or devotion. But unlike the inquiry, their implementation or practice in their highest form is meant to be egoless.Jan 31 2013: I get up, go out, and everything is changed. The blood drains from my head, the noise of things bursting, merging, avoiding one another, assails me on all sides, my eyes search in vain for two things alike, each pinpoint of skin screams a different message, I drown in the spray of phenomena."
"To decompose is to live too, I know, I know, don't torment me, but one sometimes forgets. And of that life too I shall tell you perhaps one day, the day I know that when I thought I knew I was merely existing and that passion without form or stations will have devoured me down to the rotting flesh itself and that when I know that I know nothing, am only crying out as I have always cried out, more or less piercingly, more or less openly. Let me cry out then, it's said to be good for you. Yes let me cry out, this time, then another time perhaps, then perhaps a last time. "
two quotes from "Molloy" (1951) Samuel Beckett
Jan 31 2013: Theodore,
This is beautifully written....kudos to you if you are the author.
It reminds me of a quote:
"I have lived on the lip of insanity
Wanting to know reasons
Knocking at the door
It opens
I've been knocking from the inside"
I perceive the life adventure as an opportunity to learn, grow and evolve as an individual, while contributing to the whole of humankind. Every single moment is an opportunity to learn something, so I see no "failures" in the life exploration.....I perceive opportunity. For me, there is passion, joy and challenge in exploring everything that presents itself in every moment of the day. I take "time out" every once in awhile to evaluate where I have been, what I have learned, how I will use that information, and what direction I will travel next.
Life is like climbing a mountain......we may be challenged at certain points when we encounter a very steep slope, and sometimes have to use our skills simply to hold on and continue the climb. Then hopefully, we reach a plateau, where we can rest, recharge and evaluate what our next move will be.
I also like Lejan's reference to high-tide, low tide and discovering the new shores.
"A ship in a safe harbor is safe, but that is not what a ship is built for"
(William Shedd)
Jan 31 2013: It was late when I posted this, These are two quotes from "Molloy" (1951) Samuel Beckett
Jan 31 2013: Thanks for clarification Theodore, and for editing the comment to give credit to the author. Very profound quotes.Feb 2 2013: Dear Sam(uel) was a very wise guy and maybe it's not by chance that I'm called Gogo. I wish he could take part to our TED conversation...I'm sure he would smile and post:
"Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness."
Samuel Beckett
Thank you Theodore....Jan 28 2013: In my honest and humble opinion, your success is measured in trying already alone. Wether you succeeded in something yes or no is not important. By trying your very best you already succeeded.
Fritzie -
Jan 28 2013: Are you asking when to decide it is time to shift your energy from your present course to work on something else? Or are you asking whether it can be worthwhile to work hard and devotedly and in some cases for a lifetime at something that might not work in the end?
- +2
Don Anderson
Jan 28 2013: The only time you fail is when you don't learn from what you did, and that is also true for any event in your life.
- +2
In the grander scheme of things I'm covering as many possibilities as possible.
I'm enjoying this life and going to leave the world a better place, in the off chance that this is all there and there is nothing after life.
Also I'm living life by the nine noble virtues, in the off chase that life is just a pass/fail test.
Mainly I'm pondering and learning from the events in my life so I will be a better heavenly soul.
Atul Jadhav
Feb 2 2013: Stay put..find some creative ways to deal with the problem..for one day, the probability of you winning will be 1/1.Feb 2 2013: I believe that if you think this way then you are not exhibiting faith to begin with. I am personally a woman of faith and believe that it makes all the difference. Yet for those who are not so sure, when you faith enables you to show compassion to another human being, to clothe a naked child, or feed a hungry man, it makes all the difference if only the person who received that kindness. And when that simple act is done, you have no idea the impact it could have that one life and, in turn, how many lives, that person will impact because you in your faith decided to act in compassion.
- +1
Now on a personal level, I have a personal relationship with the God who created me. He is my Father; He talks to me, teaches me things, chastises me, and, ultimately, enables me to reach the destiny that He created me to fulfill. That is the proof that there are lasting benefits and fruit demonstrating the efficacy of my faith in my God. However, if one's religion does consist of mere routines and a constant reaching without ever finding anything to fill the void within, then I would be as concerned as anyone about the potential failure of my faith. That is no way to live.
Kunal Shah
Feb 2 2013: When can you declare time-out? well my own spiritual leader says that it is your own karma that is not bringing in the results you want, so keep trying as u may never know when your karma of failure is going to end?. If it is in your fate that you shall never be successful then that is it, but of course no one ever has only bad circumstances in their entire life. His advise was that if you've failed for now, then try again after a while (don't know how long a while would mean), but maybe the next time you try you might just make it??? give your failures a break, and when you feel good about yourself then ask your intuition again, let it guide you.
- +1
Try and remember the speech Steve Jobs gave at Stanford university, whereby he was once poor, he kept trying when most of us would have given up, and then we now know how he created the companies he created. I remember him saying that just have faith that the dots shall connect. I know his video is there on ted.com.Feb 1 2013: If you mean nothing afterward - what about while or during? Perhaps the doing is the reward itself. I think that the traits you list are more positively rewarding while we live that way, in how we feel and experience Life now. I don't think that it feels good to be bad or selfish or mean, or slothful, etc, etc. Thusly, those who believe in a God and a Hereafter (of whaetever spiritual or religious flavour), as well as those who do not believe - would benefit now.
If nothing comes either now or later - and we cannot experience any satisfaction or joy, then perhaps we are just machines doing what we are made to do, with no feelings. At least it helps in our daily interactions with others.Jan 31 2013: Thank you to you all.Your comments make sense and I actually thought the same things myself but....we seem to be all dreamers. Unfortunately the real life always asks for a bill to be paid and that's when the big question mark arises, when we can not afford to do what we believe in. And it's awful to face the dilemma between keep going and stop. In the specific, I'm a writer in a country where corruption has spread also to literature. I do not write for myself but for you all 'out there'. I keep receiving letters from publisher and they are all full of praises but....they always end with a 'BUT' that doesn't make any sense.
Writing is perhaps the most difficult, solitary and generous form of art; I love it for these reasons but what to do if my only dream (being read) doesn't come true?
Thank you again,
Jan 31 2013: Gogo,
Maybe we ARE all dreamers.....and....in my humble perception.....everything starts with a dream:>)
You say you do not write for yourself? You write for all of us "out there"? Why don't you recognize that you may be doing it for your own pleasure.....is that true?
Actually, letters giving you praises, and also ending with "BUT", are probably very good feedback, don't you think? Listen to the praise and build on it. Listen also to the "BUT" and learn how you can make your creation more marketable. You say your dream is "being read", so you may have to alter something in your writing to entice people to read and appreciate it?
I suggest recognizing that you are not only writing for others.....you may be writing for yourself as well. When you recognize all parts of a project, the project tends to be more exciting, and may bring a new energy to your work/play:>)Jan 31 2013: Nothing....
Lejan .
Jan 31 2013: Questions like these could be takes as a measure for the time has come for having a 'time out'.
- +1
Besides our usual lot of frustration and disappointments, which are part of the game and usually gone by the next 'high-tide', a serious sign to me is to little or no water to return, compared by my 'internal' average, which makes me move to discover new shores... :o)
Feb 2 2013: Yes, I agree. And maybe following the road to the new shore we arrive where we intended to arrive.... Life moves in circles ;-)
Lejan .
Feb 2 2013: And as long those circles aren't vicious, we ought to be fine ...
- +1
Sometimes intentional destinations are just initiations to make us move and maybe to find places we like even better and would never have found otherwise. The true beauty of chance ... :o)
Scot Wilcox
Jan 30 2013: It's not about the result. What's important in life is who you become, and that has nothing to do with the outward results of your efforts. You can choose to improve regardless of success or failure. I don't care if you're a garbage man or a brilliant corporate executive, it's all about how you love other people and how unselfish you become. But maybe you're talking about your efforts to improve yourself? That's a harder issue. You might need some help in that case. Friends, family, a mentor can all support you. God's there too. I can promise you that.
- +1
Jan 31 2013: Well said. I also don't care if you are a simple coorporate executive or a brilliant sanaitation engineer either. You can always imporve yourself, unless you have some kind of debilitating brain disfunction.
I can't promise you if God is there but having faith doesn't really hurt anyone.Jan 30 2013: The best remedy is to laugh it off, and keep doing what you love doing best. Expectations are sure spoil sport.Jan 30 2013: Hello Gogo,
I want to first direct you to this link.
Part of this short thread is talking about a poem called "Anyways".
Here's a link to the poem.
I say, if you have a dream, then try, though you may or will fail, then try again, but each time try something different and use your creativity with imagination to continue. Know that you may never get the expected results, but be mindful and live in the moments of your successes and failures. If, at the end of your life, you think nothing comes from your work, then I would disagree with you and ask you to think of every person you affected for good or for worse and all the new paths and knowledge you have created for future individuals to use. =)
Linda Taylor
Jan 30 2013: I deal with this all the time and I think the best of all worlds is to have someone you trust give you solid external feedback. Maybe two or three people to make sure you have a good representation of possible options.
- +1
Sometimes we cannot see the mountain we are trying to move because we are too close to it. It helps to have a different viewpoint.
In the end, we come from nothing, we return to nothing. All is equal if we accomplish nothing
Bob Stiglitz
Jan 30 2013: The whole idea of success is problematic to begin with, since most people don't fully understand themselves how can they really truly know what they want?
- +1
It usually takes years before one understands one's limitations and to live within those limits. All human beings are subject to the laws of nature and hence not everyone can 'be successful' through sheer logic of how nature operates.
If nothing comes from your devotion to something that means you never thought clearly about yourself or the world to begin with to be able to predict in some general sense whether or not you are capable of enduring the risks of things not working out on the paths you take.
All life is risk, so one should simply seek to think clearly and either 1) accept those risks regardless of outcome or 2) mitigate those risks (live within your limits).
W. Ying
Jan 30 2013: ..
- +1
Let us edit it into:
"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. 'Ever think before, in between and after whole-night SLEEP.' Try Again. Fail again. 'Ever think before, in between and after whole-night sleeping.' Fail better." .... 'Succeed mostly before 'time-out'.
(For SLEEP, see the 1st article, point 12 (3), at https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D&id=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D%21283&sc=documents.)Jan 29 2013: I would say: try intelligence, logic, re-evaluation and learning.
The definition of Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.- Albert Einstein
Jan 31 2013: Maaher.
doesn't matter if Albert said it.
It still isn't the definition of insanity.
It's only a description of insane behavior.
Otherwise, it is known as "practice"
Jan 31 2013: relax, he didn't.
Feb 2 2013: who did?Feb 2 2013: google the quote
Feb 3 2013: I havent heard it from him myself. Hence I can neither confirm or deny. But it is commonly attributed to him...hence...
Roy Bourque
Jan 29 2013: Are you trying to discover what you are good at, or are you trying to do what others think you should be doing. Find your passion and maybe you won't fail. The truth has to come from within.Jan 29 2013: When your truly devoted to something the rewards are not always external. Sometimes you will receive praise from others in response to your passion, effort, and commitment. At other times the praise needs to come from within you through your soul and faith. This becomes tough when life is truly hard. This being said, failure is not always something we choose and can just add to doubt. But when you have the opportunity to choose how failure will affect you, that's when the power is in your hand and the freedom to truly care for yourself.Jan 28 2013: if nothing comes from our effort, it is because we din't put all our devotion in our work because if we had done that we could had say: "this comes from my work!" and then we will be much happier with ourself!Jan 28 2013: I think your question means to me:
- +1
what if at the end of your life, you find that nothing worked, nothing worked out, everything was a dead end?
Some suggest the silver lining is, "what did you learn?"
Apparently, one didn't give up but didn't learn how to give up.
"Doing it wrong" doesn't' sound like the right answer to me. That's just judgment.
Ghandi said, "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."
So, to finally answer your question, "if nothing comes, then nothing comes."
Jan 28 2013: Of course your question is very general....it is difficult to answer.
- +1
Failure would be to do something over and over in the same way and getting the same bad results and not realizing that you have to change the way you are doing things.
Just learn from your failures, and change how you do things.
Sometimes we want to see the results of our devotion and effort quickly....we have a time limit.....but more often than not success requires diligence and perseverence.
Success is attainable.......Look at this TED talk on success:
Gail .
Jan 28 2013: There is no failure. If I can learn from something, I have succeeded. If I learn that a certain talent is not my forte, I can learn that and move on to something else. When something loses its joy (the challenge is gone), it's time to move on. I am not the world's best pianist, nor will I ever be, but I still enjoy my piano.Jan 28 2013: If the effort is not the enjoyment, you're probably doing it wrong.
- +1
Jan 28 2013: for example, our great ancestors obviously enjoyed the hell out of mammoth hunting, in the freezing cold, barefoot, with spears and stones, risking injury or death. if not, they were doing it wrong.
Jan 28 2013: I think that on some level they may have. We still have people who willingly sit for hours in the cold and wet while waiting for the opportunity to prove their skills as hunters. The obstacles add to the pride of accomplishment, they don't diminish it.
greg dahlen
Jan 27 2013: I believe that as you do anything, you will get feedback of some kind or another from other people. It is important to keep listening to them. If you find they are raising objections to whatever you are doing, you must listen to the objections and see if you think they're right or wrong. If you think they're wrong, present your reasons for continuing to do whatever you are doing, and see what they say. Possibly they will change their mind and support you. Possibly they will disagree with whatever you just said, and give their reasons why. If they disagree, you can think about what they said. If what they said seems true, you may have to change and give up your project; or if you disagree, you can present your reasons why you continue to disagree. In this way, with this back-and-forth conversation, the truth will emerge whether your project is a good one. You must always keep an open mind that you might be wrong.Feb 3 2013: The measure of failure is not attempting to live a a decent life with no self-centered expectations for reward
- +1
As for time out, well that will happen soon enough as part of the natural process.Jan 31 2013: Of course I write also for myself because it gives me infinite pleasure (even though it's very hard) but -believe me- the 'BUT' are not something you might build on. I give you one :'Your book is too good for an Italian audience'. Yhis of course, pens a can of worms regarding the social-political issues we have here.
But I'll go on...
Thank you, Colleen!
Jan 31 2013: Gogo,
Yes, we CAN indeed build on the "BUT".
I was a professional actor for awhile, and when I started auditioning for roles, I thought the casting directors had the same imagination as I did, and could see that I could play the roles. Often times, they would say....you can act, sing and dance ok, but you don't look the part. Well, I know that with make-up hair and costume we can look almost ANY part. So, I started showing up for auditions "looking" the part. Guess what? I started getting the jobs!
I altered my perception and practices to "fit" what they wanted, so I could get what I wanted.....make any sense?
If they are telling you your book is too good for an Italian audience, have you tried to market it somewhere else....to a different audience?


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