The video audience is so great.
You guys are doing a great job.
Hold up.
Let everybody see your gear.
I love it.
All right.
Our next guest made history when he became his high school's
first Black male valedictorian in 106 years.
From Oakland, California, please welcome Ahmed Muhammad.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
First of all, I want to say congratulations,
because you are making history.
How does that feel to be the first Black male valedictorian
in 106 years?
Thank you.
You know, I was happy to be valedictorian--
that was an amazing accomplishment--
a lot of hard work a lot of support and love from people
around me, but being the first Black male valedictorian
in my school 100-year history in the middle of Oakland,
it was definitely a bittersweet moment, because in 2021 I
shouldn't have to be the first.
So I'm glad I was able to be the first, so we can get it
out the way and start looking at what's next,
and moving forward.
So I'm excited about how it'll impact
the kids coming after me.
That's right.
You know, I'm proud of you.
Not only are you the valedictorian,
but you're a first-generation college student.
How does that feel?
I know your parents are proud.
You know my parents, they are proud.
They also have really high expectations of me,
so I got into college, and I was jumping up and down screaming
and they're like, OK.
Like cool.
But they were also happy.
So yeah, it's similar to the valedictorian thing.
Another barrier breaking moment to where
it shows that your parents don't have to go to college for you
to go to college or whatever it is
that you want to-- because there's
a lot of other options other than college.
What's your GPA?
Cumulative, like 9 through 12 is 4.73.
You didn't get no F's, no B's.
I wouldn't-- I would not be alive if I had got an F.
I love it.
OK, well you're not just a top student,
but you also are starting the non-profit.
Tell me about it.
OK, so the nonprofit I started is called Kids Cubed.
And we're a youth-led, non-profit organization,
and our official mission is to introduce youth
to the wonders of science through fun,
affordable, and accessible means.
Oh.
I can tell you the story like how it started.
Come on, tell me.
OK.
So, I've got older brother, and he has kids,
so that makes me an uncle, right?
And I have a younger niece and nephew, Ella and Amir,
they're 7 and 9 years old.
And I babysit them all the time.
Whenever I babysit them, we do things like play chess or board
games, video games.
They love playing Minecraft, you know, regular kids stuff.
But one time they're over in April of 2020,
I asked them if they want to try some science experiments.
And they tell me no, that they hated science.
They told me they were bad at science,
and that was shocking-- because at such a young age
they had already lost that confidence in themselves.
See?
And so I went to my room, I got some books, went to YouTube.
You know, all that stuff.
And I designed some experiments for us
to do with stuff we could find around the house.
We made a Sundial with like a stick and rocks
in the backyard.
We made a potato battery with a potato, nails, and wires.
And all hands-on stuff with materials
you could find around the house to show them
that science is all around us.
And they love the experiments.
The joy that they felt is that I wanted
to share with other children like them
other children in Oakland where I'm from, across the Bay Area,
the state, the country.
The whole thing.
Oh that is so good.
Oh I'm so proud of you.
Thank you for being an uncle like that,
because our kids need that.
But so you show people that you can be smart,
but you can also have fun.
Is it about balance?
How do you balance?
Definitely-- I definitely have trouble balancing it,
but what helps keep me in place is the support system
that I have around me.
You know, I have a younger sister.
I have a older brother, mom, dad, aunts, uncles,
grandparents, and teachers, mentors, coaches,
that all just love me and support me and keep me
on the right path.
Now, I'm sure they're proud of you, right?
But you know what?
I'm not done talking to you.
I got I got to take this quick break
and we'll talk some more after this.
We'll be right back.
We're back with Ahmed Muhammad, who
is his high school's first Black male
valedictorian over 100 years.
I'm so proud of you.
You know?
Thank you.
Now, college is in the fall.
Yes.
I heard you got 11 schools picked out, you know,
that actually chose you.
Which one are you going to?
It's definitely a tough decision,
but I decided at the very last minute.
But I'm going to be going to Stanford University next fall.
I like Stanford.
So excited.
It's close to home, really strong engineering programs
which is what I hope to major in, in college.
Some sort of engineering, I don't know what kind.
Electrical.
I'm an electrical engineer.
I read about that on Wikipedia.
I saw that.
That's what we vibe.
I can feel it.
Ahmed.
Yeah, you know, I'm super excited to be out there.
I have some friends that go there.
I'm just going to be able to meet people from all
over the world, and yeah.
Enjoy yourself.
It's your college life.
Enjoy yourself.
Do your studies, but also enjoy yourself.
The thing about college that is pretty expensive,
so you know, we wanted to help out,
and so I was looking around Ellen
set-- because I'm like maybe she got something in here,
something in the cushions, or something extra that she left.
Yeah, yeah.
There we go.
Yeah, that's what I'm talking about, my girl Ellen.
She will leave you something.
You know, uh, something in here.
Yeah, I think I got it all.
So, Ellen's friends at Shutterfly
love helping students like you, so they're
going to give you $25,000 for your college education.
What?
Who do I have to thank?
Thank Ellen and Shutterfly.
Man, I got to give all of y'all hugs.