Thank you, thank you so much. Thank you so much for you love. Are you having a great
night? There are sometimes when you have good days,
and sometimes when you have bad days. But I want to tell you to never, ever give up.
When I looked at myself, people look at me and say oh, look, he has no arms and no legs.
Can I change the fact that I have no arms and no legs? No. But I can still choose to
believe in my true value. Let me prove it to you. Do you think I’m
cool enough to be your friend? But I have no arms and no legs! Some people say well,
if I’m not popular, than I’m not cool—no, you’re cool just the way you are.
Why do I say this? Because there is not one tree in this world that is perfect. There
is not one flower or lotus that is perfect. But just as the lotus represents peace and
purity, every single one of us can actually represent beauty.
Everybody take a deep breath in. And out. That is a good sign—you are alive. You are
living today. Life is so precious. We need to be thankful, we need to be loving to one
another. Don’t judge yourself for what you don’t have. Don’t let the people’s opinion
put you down. Don’t let your past determine your future. You have the power to determine
your future. Never ever give up. You know, when I was a child, I nearly gave up. I was believing
the lies. "Oh, Nick, just give up. You’re not going to get married." I used to be worried
about how I was going to hold my wife’s hand. Am I married today? Yes. Do I have a
beautiful boy? He’s very beautiful. Remember my future is here. It was always there. But
it’s me who walks away. But if I can’t see my future, maybe I’m just wanting to
believe the lies, I need to turn my back on the lies. And there, when I see my goal, I
have to think small steps. It takes courage to not give up. It takes love, loving yourself
to not give up. When I was 10 years old, I tried to drown
myself. I tried to give up. Why? Because I couldn’t see hope. Oh, I’m so alone. Oh,
I don’t know what’s going to happen. But if I give up, there is no hope. There is hope
until I give up. There is hope for you. So many people want to give up. Because so many
people don’t see hope. I want you to know right now that I’m so thankful that I’m
still here. Don’t give up. Don’t give up.
Oh, school is so hard. Oh, my parents, they’re stressing me out. Oh, I don’t have a boyfriend,
I don’t have a girlfriend. Oh, these fears. Don’t let fear disable you. Girls, you don’t
need a boyfriend to feel loved. You’re my sister. Wait for the right guy. You don’t
have to do what everyone else is doing. Oh, let’s get drunk, let’s drink. Everyone
else is drinking. I don’t get drunk. I’m still cool. I don’t smoke cigarettes. I’m
still cool. I don’t need to do what everyone else does. You need to be you.
You know, courage, some people wait for more before we are happy. Maybe you haven’t found
happiness yet. When you’re 8 years old, do you remember how stressed you were? Oh,
my siblings are annoying me. Oh, I want that toy. Oh, homework is so hard. And then, when
you’re 13 years old, then you’re like, being 8 years old was easy. Now, I’m stressed.
Oh, my friends, they’re all gossiping about each other. Everyone’s competing with everyone.
Oh, I wish I had those shoes. Oh, my boyfriend just dumped me. We were only together for
2 days. And then, when you turn 18, then you’re
even more stressed. And you say oh no! What am I going to do with my life! I don’t know
if I’m going to go to university. I don’t know if I’m going to get a job. You think
you’re going to be happy if you can just get some money. Money money money money money.
I want money money money money, because when I have money, I can buy things things things.
Kado kado kado kado. But listen to me very carefully. At my funeral,
when I die, they’re not going to talk about Nick’s success. But they will talk about
who Nick was. I care about how much you love others. I don’t care what job you get. I
care about if you put people down or raise people up. Put your hand up if you’ve ever
been teased at school. Wow. Alright, put your hand down. Put your hand up if you ever teased
anyone. Hahahaha. Isn’t that interesting?
Sometimes all you need is one person to believe in you. One day, when I was in California,
I met a little boy with no arms and no legs. And I couldn’t believe what I saw. We could
all be a miracle for someone. I want to invite this girl now. Let’s bring her up. I heard
about this girl. And you’re very beautiful. There are times when you’re going to feel
very alone. My parents didn’t have anyone else who had a child like me. And I’m sure
you have many questions. It takes time, and it’s OK when people put you down. It hurts,
but you’re going to get through this. Thank you so much. Let’s give her a big round
of applause. I love you so much, thank you. Don’t put people down, but stand up for
the people who need help. We can all help each other. Every nation has people in need.
Who wants to see Vietnam become a better and better country?
Who wants to see a difference made in Vietnam? Yes? Well I want you to know something—you
can’t see a more positive Vietnam until you make your own schools a more positive
environment. Oh, that’s a big project! Oh, that’s impossible! Listen to this story—one
day, there was a storm on a beach. And many starfish were on the beach. And if they don’t
get back into the water, they’re going to die. One man was on the beach, picking up
the starfish and throwing them back in the sea. There were thousands of starfish, and
one guy came up to this man. He said, what are you doing? He said, I’m making a difference!
He said, you’re not making a difference, there are thousands of them! He said, I know,
and he picks up the starfish, and shows the man, and he throws it into the sea, and he
says, see? I made a difference for that one. And he picked up another one, and he said
I saved this one and threw it into the sea. I want you to know something—every day is
a gift. Make today count.