How do you define a hero. In 1995, the great Christopher Ree, aka Superman, was involved in a horrific accident which left him paralyzed from the neck down. In 1998, he wrote this quote, defining a hero.A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. Good evening everyone. My name is Griffin Block.I'm just an ordinary individual, but I'm here tonight to talk to you about my superpower. It took me many years to discover it, but I could be a ...

[Applause] Susan David, a renowned psychologist, once said that discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life. It's past midnight. I am biking home after an eight-hour shift delivering food.My hands freezing, my legs aching, my stomach empty. Then I reflect. Just a year ago, I was speaking at global stages.I was facilitating policy discussions and most importantly I was happy and fulfilled advocating for young people. Yet I feel invisible. Then I start to question myself.Why am I here. Why did I ...

Overcoming Limitations & Achieving Excellence - The narrative emphasizes that limitations are self-defined illusions, highlighting the importance of mindset in achieving goals [1][2] - The individual excelled in the challenging International Baccalaureate (IB) program and pursued rigorous majors at the American University in Cairo, demonstrating academic achievement and leadership [2] - The individual became the first blind Egyptian woman to obtain the IB diploma and was the class valedictorian, showcasing exceptional academic performance [7] Advocacy & Awareness - Advocacy is a powerful tool for shaping lives and evoking change, encouraging individuals to stand up for their beliefs and rights [21][22] - The individual advocates for the success of visually impaired individuals, particularly within the IB diploma program, using assistive devices like talking calculators and screen readers [18] - The individual spoke at international schools and multinational companies, conducting workshops about disability and how to deal with it, promoting awareness and understanding [20] - The individual emphasizes that blind and visually impaired individuals are open to answering questions about their experiences, promoting open communication and understanding [17] Adaptability & Resourcefulness - The individual utilized extraordinary devices and machines to overcome visual challenges in subjects like biology, geometry, and trigonometry [9][10] - The individual participated in various sports and activities, including cycling, skiing, and ziplining, demonstrating adaptability and a willingness to push boundaries [12][13][14] - The individual memorized spacious places like the AU campus and traveled independently using a white cane, showcasing independence and resourcefulness [15] Philosophy & Inspiration - The individual's philosophy is that they can do everything that sighted people do, but in different ways, emphasizing adaptability and innovation [25] - The quote "disabled doesn't mean defective the same way that able-bodied doesn't mean perfect" promotes acceptance and equality [26]

[Applause] 23rd of September 2023, my father received an email from my school. It said my family and I were invited to the school awards dinner. He looked at the email, then at me. He was a tad bit confused and maybe even a little bit concerned. We thought the email wasn't meant for me. So, naturally, he asked me to check in with the school, and I did. I sent the most awkward email ever. Hi, just curious. Was this email actually meant for me? It'd be great if you could check and let me know as soon as possi ...

[Applause] Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated by the world around me. I marveled at each new discovery that I made like I was the first person to ever see it. I was particularly drawn to animals. I wanted to know everything about each new animal that I saw. And I would take care to memorize different facts about them so that I can bombard my parents and siblings at opportune moments. I wanted to grow up to become a scientist and study the animals that lived all around the world. I learned about many d ...