Erika+G’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2017

=Truth is, i’m not exactly sure why I am intimidated. Compared to the brilliant speeches I have just heard, my speech is relatively short, and probably not as hard-hitting on an important issue, again, compared to other people. Then again, why? Why do the thoughts of inadequacy or the imaginary scenarios of my speech being torn apart and dissected by each person in this room even cross my mind? I wrote something I am proud of, something that makes me happy. Why should it matter what other people think?= = = =When I was a kid, the last thing I cared about was what people thought of me. I wore patched jeans and bedazzled hats because they made me happy. My stress mostly consisted of whether Miley was going to choose Jake or Jessie, or if Sharkboy and Lavagirl would make it in time to save Planet Drool.= = = = = =My friends tease that i’m like a grown up kid, because up until freshman year (& if we’re completely honest a little bit of this year), my evenings usually consist of me watching the Disney Channel. But what is so wrong in myself finding a stress free outlet in channeling inner 11 year old me?= = = =I want to grow old in an America where it’s okay not to grow old.= = = =I want to spend my golden years in a place where it is acceptable to have a childlike wonder about life and the world around me. Where I am able to find complete infatuation in how the moon continues to follow me, and can spend hours trying to point out the brightest star in the sky. Where it is still totally acceptable to believe that every forest is Narnia, and where I still can believe I can be anything I want to be.= = = =I want to see an America that communicates. A place that openly feels liberty to ask a random stranger to pet their dog, with no shame in inviting the new neighbor to ride bikes. I want my children to be able to express their emotions to other humans, rather than a black screen with text on Snapchat. I want them to talk, if anything, too much.= = = =I want to thrive in a place of value. A place where we are taught the importance of please and thank you. Somewhere where manners are still relevant, and I do not have to fear for my child being played with for who they are, or who they are not. I want them to feel confident in whatever they wear, or don’t wear. I want them to feel comfortable, and proud to wear their own fashion choices.= = = =These ideals of an America may seemed far fetched, but when put into perspective into our personal lives, they really are not that far at all. Less than 8 years ago, we were still in elementary school. Spending our summer days sliding down plastic backyard slides with sticky Otter Pop fingers or practicing the timeless phase “My name is … and your watching Disney Channel!”.= = = =What if we stayed there? What if we stayed in a place with seemingly senseless wonder and joy. What if we stayed somewhere where it’s still okay to not find my infatuation within the newest device or hit show. Somewhere where I can have trust in my friends when they pinky promise, and it’s not cool to be mean. We can get there, we can. I encourage you to take a breath from your grownup self, and reminisce on the qualities you had as a child. Remember your wonder towards life, and confidence towards anything you loved.=

= If it was America to be the land in which could fulfill my desires for my last years of life, it would most certainly be the place in which I would like to grow old in. =