Casey+O’s+Final+AmEx+2015+Speech

Everybody Has a Story

I couldn’t decide what to write my speech about, so I practiced one of my talents and put off writing this speech for Future Casey to deal with. But then as I sat and listened to you all give personal, powerful speeches, my topic fell right in my lap, so thank you for that!

Last week we sat here and I heard some of you share some truly heart wrenching stories from your past, and these reminded me that Everyone Has a Story. This is a theme that I learned through one of the summer trips my church does, called Into the Deep. During this camp, we bring 20 or so inner city teens from Steubenville Ohio. These kids come from poverty, abuse, drug-ridden homes, and many other terrible situations. The trip is filled with getting to know new people and not judging, just having fun. It is not about harping on the past, or letting it define you, but looking to the future. Everyone comes from different backgrounds, whether they have had some really tough challenges or not. But overall these experiences and environments of our past are what make us the people we are today.

For example, Nicole and McKenna, they started the speeches in class with some stories of where they come from and their past. These stories they told shocked me; all year I would come into class and see these girls always smiling, laughing, and working their butt off. I never knew some of the hardships that have had to overcome. It breaks my heart that some of the kindest people are dealt with the crappy life cards, but their stories just show how even the happiest people are carrying sorrows, and that is why it is so important to be kind and compassionate to everyone.

One of my best friends, who shall remain nameless for this speech, is one of the strongest people I know. She has had many struggles in her past, and yet she remains resilient. To begin, she was born with a skin disease that has had some physical effects that you can see. Her mother passed away when she was young as well. These tragedies have hurt her, but in many ways they have also helped her become the strong women she is today; and ultimately she is one of the most joyful people I know. Now there are many other people, who have had rough lives like this, and I am not here to say that one life of more difficult than another, but everyone comes from somewhere and has a story.

We have all encountered grouchy people who are stuck in a rut, but it is pretty unlikely that they are genuinely mean. Instead of reacting like, “Eww, rude”, I propose that we bring kindness and understanding back. Let’s stop getting angry at people for being annoying or rude; because chances are that they are cranky for a reason that is not your fault; they just had a crappy day. Try and think about that when you go through the TSA line in the airport.

So let’s stop being quick to judge, because people are always carrying their “baggage” with them. Some people call it baggage, but baggage is really heavy and is a nuisance. We should not let our past have that kind of power or weight, pun intended, over us. Instead, let’s us take it as a short story that adds to the whole novel. Something that builds us into a whole person.

In the America I grow old in, I want it to be a nation of compassion. I want people to remember that everyone has a story.