Hamilton, Kiyomi, 00

English

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: DigitalCommons@IMSA

1		Thank	you	for	the	wonderful	introduction.	I’m	very	excited	to	be	here	today.	It’s	an	honor	to	be	a	part	of	a	longstanding	tradition.	I	want	to	take	a	moment	to	thank	the	IMSA	faculty	and	staff,	President	Torres,	Principal	Bob	Hernandez—Bob	and	I	go	way	back	and	it’s	great	to	see	him	continuing	to	shepherd	IMSA’s	mission.	I’d	also	like	to	want	to	thank	my	family	today	who’s	here	today…can	you	give	them	a	hand?	My	son	was	very	specific	in	wanting	me	to	give	him	a	shout	out!	So	hello,	Tristan.		He’ll	be	attending	4th	grade	at	Avery	Coonley	in	the	fall.	To	the	Sophomore	Class…the	class	of	2021,	welcome	to	the	beginning	of	what	I	promise	will	be	the	most	transformative	3	years	of	your	life.	Give	yourselves	a	hand.	My	first	day	at	IMSA	was	August	22,	1997.	As	I	think	back	to	that	time,	I	remember	meeting	my	roommate	who	became	of	my	best	friends	and	we	still	rely	on	each	other	today	as	we	did	over	20	year	ago.	When	I	decided	to	change	careers	and	go	into	medicine,	it	was	my	IMSA	roommate	that	I	relied	on	for	help.		I	also	remember	the	feeling	I	had	when	I	arrived	on	campus…it	was	intimidating	for	me.	I	wondered,	did	they	make	a	mistake?	Show	of	hands	if	you	thought	the	same	thing.	I	was	suffering	from	imposter	syndrome	during	my	early	weeks	of	school.	But,	I	can	assure	you	that	they	didn’t	make	a	mistake.	You	are	here,	because	you	possess	talents	and	gifts	that	still	have	yet	to	be	realized.	You	are	here,	because	of	the	hard	work	put	forth	by	both	you	and	your	parents.	You	are	here	because	you	embody	the	purpose	and	the	mission	of	the	Academy.	So	don’t	worry,	you’re	in	the	capable	hands	of	a	community	that’s	ready	to	embrace	you.	To	my	juniors,	the	class	of	2020!	Give	yourselves	a	hand!	I	will	be	celebrating	right	along	with	you	at	graduation	as	it	will	be	a	milestone	2		year	as	an	alumnus.	Twenty	years	since	my	own	graduation...As	you	look	ahead	this	year,	be	proud	of	your	accomplishments	so	far.	You’ve	figured	this	place	out,	and	you’re	probably	already	planning	your	routines	for	the	Clash	of	the	Halls.	I	remember	junior	year	going	by	very	fast.	It	was	one	of	my	busiest	years.	I	was	a	student	ambassador,	actively	involved	in	community	service	projects	both	here	at	IMSA	and	at	home,	I	was	on	the	Future	Problem	Solving	Bowl	team,	and	I	studied	for	and	took	college	entrance	exams.	So,	get	ready.	As	you	prepare	for	the	future,	think	about	what	it’s	like	to	be	new	and	be	helpful	to	the	sophomores.	It’ll	pay	off	later.		To	the	seniors,	the	class	of	2019…give	yourselves	a	hand!	You’re	almost	at	the	finish	line.	I	know	it’s	early	for	“senioritis”.	At	least	I	hope	so!	Wait	until	the	spring	time.	But,	you’ll	want	to	finish	strong.	Be	proud	of	the	legacy	you	leave	behind.		In	fact,	that’s	one	of	the	three	topics	I	wanted	to	discuss	today.	When	I	was	asked	to	speak	about	my	time	here,	I	thought	about	all	of	stories	I’d	share,	but	what’s	most	important	to	share	with	you	is	the	lessons	I	learned.	IMSA	is	truly	a	learning	laboratory.	In	addition	to	learning	about	chemistry,	physics,	and	BC	Calculus	I	hope	you	take	the	time	to	embrace	what	life	is	teaching	you	along	the	way.	So,	I	wanted	to	share	3	fundamental	lessons	that	I	hope	you	can	carry	with	you	beyond	today.		Lesson	#1:		Be	Your	Authentic	Self	The	ability	to	be	yourself	is	within	itself	a	superpower.	Let	anyone	who	dares	to	know	the	real	you	be	filled	with	your	uniqueness.	At	times,	this	may	seem	hard.	You	might	be	afraid	to	reveal	your	authentic	self	or	you	may	still	be	discovering	who	you	are,	and	that’s	okay	too.	All	of	that	3		becomes	part	of	your	unique	story.	Whether	you’re	from	Effingham,	East	St.	Louis,	Chicago,	or	Naperville,	your	environment	is	an	important	part	of	who	you	are.	Your	family	traditions,	your	friends	old	and	new,	and	the	experiences	that	helped	shape	you	made	you	who	you	are	today.	When	I	begin	my	IMSA	journey	I	was	afraid	to	tell	people	that	I	was	from	Englewood	a	neighborhood	on	the	south	side	of	Chicago,	plagued	by	many	socioeconomic	challenges.	In	that	environment,	I	was	raised	by	a	single	mother.	I	was	afraid	that	that	part	of	my	home	life	would	lend	itself	to	judgement	and	that	people	would	think	that	I	didn’t	belong	here.	But	it	was	here,	where	I	truly	discovered	how	to	be	authentic.		To	quote	one	of	my	favorite	authors,	Brené	Brown,	“Authenticity	is	a	collection	of	choices	that	we	have	to	make	every	day.	It's	about	the	choice	to	show	up	and	be	real.	The	choice	to	be	honest.	The	choice	to	let	our	true	selves	be	seen.”		That	was	from	the	book,	the	Gifts	of	Imperfection.	And	as	recovering	perfectionist…I	know	how	hard	it	is	to	let	your	true	self	be	seen.	But,	I’m	here	to	tell	you	that	it	can	be	done,	let	your	authentic	self	show	up	every	time	and	you	won’t	regret	it.	The	2nd	lesson	that	I	want	to	share	is	that	you	are	in	the	midst	of	a	powerful	network—cultivate	it	and	cherish	it.	Take	a	moment	and	look	around	the	room.	I	mean	really	look	at	the	person	on	your	left,	on	your	right,	in	front	and	behind	you.	This	is	your	network,	a	group	of	interconnected	complex	systems	that	operates	on	your	behalf.	Within	this	room,	right	now	is	a	future	entrepreneur,	doctor,	lawyer,	developer—and	all	around	change	agents.	There’s	nothing	like	the	network	of	your	peers	and	the	community	that	you’re	a	part	of	today.	So,	be	kind	to	each	other.	Cultivate	relationships	as	if	your	life	depended	on	it—you’d	be	surprised	at	the	benefits	you	reap	later	on.	I	4		have	a	few	examples	to	share	of	how	being	connected	to	the	IMSA	community	changed	the	trajectory	of	my	life.	Just	a	few	months	ago,	I	got	a	call	from	one	of	my	IMSA	friends.	He	was	working	for	a	start-up	company	and	they	were	looking	for	someone	to	help	them	build	24/7	servicing	capabilities	as	they	launched	into	new	markets.	He	said,	“I	couldn’t	think	of	anyone	better	to	help	them	than	you.”	I’m	so	grateful	for	that—it	led	to	an	opportunity	to	be	a	part	of	world	changing	technology	and	it	was	because	my	friend	and	I	developed	life-long	connection	while	at	IMSA.	Another	example…during	my	senior	year	I	found	out	about	an	organization	called	INROADS.	Their	mission	is	to	connect	talented,	underrepresented	high	school	and	college	student	to	fortune	500	companies	and	provide	them	with	summer	internships.	I	applied,	but	I	received	a	small	envelope	in	the	mail.	Do	you	know	what	that	means?	For	those	of	who	don’t	lean	in,	I’m	going	to	tell	you	a	secret…When	you	get	a	small	envelope	that	usually	means,	no.	But	when	you	get	a	big	envelope	that’s	usually	a	good	sign	because	they	want	to	share	more	information.	So	I	open	that	small	envelop,	and	it	read	that	I	wasn’t	accepted	into	the	program.	I	was	in	shock.	I	had	good	grades,	and	what	I	thought	was	the	right	experience,	how	can	I	be	denied?	But	after	reading	the	letter,	I	recognized	the	name	at	the	bottom.	Ironically,	it	was	the	same	name	of	a	college	representative	that	I	met	while	attending	a	college	fair.	When	I	would	attend	college	fairs,	I	stayed	away	from	the	crowded	tables,	because	I	knew	what	those	schools	had	to	offer.	I	visited	the	lesser	known	schools,	and	this	representative	remembered	me.	He	changed	jobs	and	now	worked	for	INROADS.	I	said,	well	I	received	a	denial	letter	and	I	was	calling	to	find	out,	why?	He	said,	tear	up	the	letter	and	come	to	our	office.	I	bypassed	the	formal	intake	process.	I	was	sent	to	an	interview	at	IBM.	I	beat	out	5		some	tough	competition	and	became	the	youngest	intern	in	the	history	of	central	region.	Talk	about	the	power	of	a	network…who	would	have	thought	that	someone	I	met	at	a	college	fair	would	be	the	catalyst	to	my	career	at	IBM.	That	connection	changed	a	no,	to	a	yes.	Even	a	chance	encounter	with	someone	in	the	IMSA	community	can	lead	to	great	things,	so	don’t	take	anyone	here	for	granted.	The	3rd	and	final	lesson	that	I	want	to	share	with	you	is	that	it’s	important	to	build	a	legacy.	It’s	critical	that	you	make	every	place	better	than	it	was	before.	You	owe	a	debt	to	those	who	came	before	you	to	pay	it	for	to	those	who	come	after	you.		It	doesn’t	have	to	be	some	grand	gesture—but	it	does	have	to	be	meaningful.	You	can	create	a	student	organization	that	tackles	problems	that	you	care	about.	There	are	plenty	of	opportunities	to	do	that	here.	Find	something,	and	make	it	better.	When	I	thought	about	my	lasting	impact—it	all	started	when	I	decided	to	get	involved	in	the	early	stages	of	educational	outreach.	Because	I	believed	in	IMSA’s	mission	and	wanted	to	expand	access	to	programs	outside	of	these	walls.	I	was	amongst	the	first	students	to	develop	curriculum	for	Science	Explorers,	and	then	I	had	a	chance	to	teach	that	curriculum	during	a	summer	camp.	I’m	proud	to	see	that	IMSA	continues	those	summer	camps	and	remains	committed	to	educating,	not	just	the	students	here,	but	the	entire	community.	I	challenge	you	to	find	something	you’re	passionate	about.	Whatever	you	decide	to	do,	you	have	an	obligation	to	make	it	better,	pay	it	forward,	and	see	it	come	to	fruition.	I’m	counting	on	your	legacy	to	make	an	impact.	Before	I	leave	you	today,	I	want	you	to	conduct	a	thought	experiment.	Take	a	few	moments	right	now	and	image	your	future	self,	being	authentic,	cultivating	your	network	and	building	a	legacy.	Then	take	6		that	thought	and	place	it	on	your	heart—and	remember	to	carry	your	future	self	with	you	each	day	as	you	go	boldly	out	into	the	world.	Thank	you.		

2018 Convocation Keynote

https://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&amp;context=alumni_speeches

2018 Convocation Keynote

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: DigitalCommons@IMSA