Well I left college because I knew exactly
what i wanted to do and some of you know too,
but some of you don't.
Or maybe you thought you knew but are now
questioning that choice.
What you choose to do next is what we call
in the movies the character defining moment.
Now these are moments you're familiar with
like in the last Star Wars The Force Awakens,
when Rey realises the force is with her.
Or Indiana Jones choosing mission over fear
by jumping into a pile of snakes.
Now in a 2 hour movie, you get a handful of
character defining moments.
But in real life, you face them everyday.
Life is one strong long string of character
defining moments and I was lucky that at 18
I knew what I exactly wanted to do.
But I didn't know who I was.
How could I and how could any of us?
Because for the first 25 years of our lives,
we are trained to listen to voices that are
not our own.
Parents, professors fill our heads with wisdom
and information and then employers and mentors
take their place and explain how this world
really works.
And usually these voices of authority makes
sense but sometimes, doubt starts to creep
into our heads, into our hearts, and even
when we think that's not quite how I see the
world, its kinda easier to just nod in agreement
and go along.
And for awhile, I let that going alone define
my character.
because I was repressing my own point of view,
and at first the internal voice I need to
listen to was hardly audible and it was hardly
noticeable.
But then I started paying more attention and
my intuition kicked in.
And I want to be clear that your intuition
is different from your conscience.
they work in tandem but here's the distinction.
Your conscience shouts here's what you should
do.
While your intuition whispers here's what
you could do.
Listen to that voice that tells you what you
could do.
Nothing will define your character more than
that.
In your defining moments, do not let your
morals be swayed, by convenience or expediency.
Sticking to your character requires a lot
of courage.
I hope all of you find that sense of mission.
Don't turn away from what's painful.
Examine it, challenge it.
My job is to create a world that lasts 2 hours.
Your job is to create a world that last forever.
