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What can we do to unlock
the inherent superpowers of our youth?

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Well, we all start off as a blank slate,

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with the ability to do
or accomplish anything.

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We're lucky enough
that we don't have to be hit by lightning,

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or bit by a spider to unleash
these latent superpowers.

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(Laughter)

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However, as we grow older,
we begin to pick up labels.

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These labels are not specific,

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and they end up putting limitations
on what we think we can do.

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Eventually, they start to define us.

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These labels, along with other
present day super villains -

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too much screen time,

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a lack of unstructured free time outside,

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and our focus
on rigorous academic standards -

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have begun to suppress
the natural abilities of our youth

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and have begun to lock up
the potential superpowers.

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So what can we do to ensure
the future is in good hands?

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Well, I believe that we've come up
with the answer,

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and it lies in the acronym C.A.R.I.N.G.

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As I began my research for this talk,

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I realized that many of the kids
I work with every day

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were just like the superheroes
I was studying:

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simply misunderstood,

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with so much to offer.

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They're caught in this kind of flux
where they don't fit

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with what society is telling them
and what's innately within them.

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So, as we begin to decode
the acronym C.A.R.I.N.G,

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we start with "C" for "compassion".

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When we teach compassion to our kids,

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we help them understand
their and other people's emotions

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without judgment.

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As adults, it's much more than this.

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We must truly understand
their strengths and interests

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to make a difference.

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What could they do
if they could accomplish the impossible?

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I asked this question to my community,
and the responses blew me away.

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Compassion for me is to continue
to encourage everyone I meet

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to live your strengths and your interests,

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to make a positive difference,

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because I know you can.

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The next letter in this acronym
leads us to "A" for "adventure".

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This doesn't have to be
hanging-off-the-top-of-the-ropes course.

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However, I've seen many people
thrive in this environment,

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particularly kids who may struggle
in the classroom.

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I've known the kid in this picture
for a few years now,

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and I've seen him sit in a class,

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feeling completely powerless
and frustrated,

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because he could not accomplish
what was being asked of him.

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But once we got him
into a situation like this,

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his true leadership power shined through.

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Not only was he the first one
up this specific element,

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but he continued to encourage
his peers to overcome their fears

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and reach new heights.

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We're missing out on opportunities
to teach these tools to kids.

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With kids sitting in a classroom
for eight hours a day,

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how much are they truly learning?

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Let me back up and say
that some do thrive in this environment

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and others can survive,

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but are we really asking all kids
to reach their full potential?

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When we provide the opportunity for kids
to step into their adventure zone,

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whether it's a physical, mental,
or emotional challenge,

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magic happens.

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They start to believe in themselves
and all they can accomplish,

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and they start to form bonds

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with the people that help them
overcome these challenges.

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This leads us
to the next letter in C.A.R.I.N.G.,

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and we start with relationships.

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This may seem strange,

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the idea of needing
to teach relationship skills,

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especially in the time when we have
the ability to be so connected.

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It's interesting
how disconnected we've become.

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Does anyone know the average time
a kid is in front of a screen?

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It's between five and seven hours a day.

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With this much time spent attached to TV,

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video games, the Internet, and our phones,

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we leave very little time for building
strong relationships with others,

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which was something else
that I realized with my research:

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that most superheroes have a team

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that they can share their secrets with

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and help guide them

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when they're not sure
they're on the right path.

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It's extremely important,

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since being a superhero,
or a kid for that matter,

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comes with super responsibilities.

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Not only do you have to decipher
what's right and what's wrong,

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but how to live with integrity
and how to be true to yourself.

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Integrity also teaches us that we are more
than what society has labeled us.

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Jorge, who I think
is a real life superhero,

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came to my camp this year
in a leadership role,

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as a counselor in training,

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and the message he took away
speaks to the true meaning of integrity.

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(Video)

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Jorge: During camp this summer,
I met a special kid named Tyler.

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When he woke me up
in the middle of the night -

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and there were many counselors,
but he chose me -

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I think that showed
I was one of his leaders.

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I had a different responsibility,
I had to act as an adult.

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I don't think it was Tyler.

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It's just like something
I knew I had to do,

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something I had to do as a CIT.

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Amy: So, how do you know
how to be who you are?

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Jorge: Uhm, I don’t know.

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I just… you know,
like you said, you just know.

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Amy: You know what's right?

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Jorge: Yeah, and what's wrong, yeah.

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Amy Ben-Horin: So I asked that,
as we teach integrity to our kids,

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we remember that it's more
than just right and wrong.

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It's allowing them to accomplish
what they think they can.

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Okay, so back to my acronym,

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and with only a couple of letters left,

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we find ourselves
with an "N" for "nature".

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Nature is seen as the key connection

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to many mental, physical,
and emotional health benefits.

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But for me, it's where I grew up.

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It's part of me.

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It's how I connect to everything,

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and it's how the clarity
for my work with kids came through.

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Kids learn through play,

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and as soon as we limit their time
and creativity in natural places,

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we create a snowball of negative effects.

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This disconnect has already led
to increased rates of obesity

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and other mental, physical,
and behavioral challenges.

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It's no surprise when the average
unstructured time for kids outside

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is only four to eight minutes a day.

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Nature has great benefits,

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and it may be the key
to unlocking this entire message,

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but it's not complete
without including "G" for "giving back",

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as this is how we show gratitude
to the communities that support us

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and that have helped us
become the people we are today.

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It also helps us to remember to use
our powers for good instead of evil.

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I believe in a better future and I believe
in the potential of our youth

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because I get to work
with superheroes every day,

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just like my friend Will.

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(Applause)

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Will: My superpower
is creativity and smarts,

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because I believe in the future.

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I can help out many people,
like everyone else.

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(Laughter)

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(Applause)

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Amy: Awesome.

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(Applause)

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So what do these nine minutes
mean to you all?

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Take this C.A.R.I.N.G. acronym
home or to your classroom,

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and practice it.

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"C" for "compassion" -

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you should probably write these down -

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(Laughter)

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"C" for "compassion",

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"A" for "adventure",

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"R" for "relationships",

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"I" for "integrity",

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"N" for "nature",

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and "G" for "giving back".

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If you practice this acronym
with your youth,

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I guarantee you will unlock
their inherent superpowers.

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Thank you.

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(Applause)