How a 13 year old changed 'Impossible' to 'I'm Possible' | Sparsh Shah | TEDxGateway

TEDx Talks
23 May 201714:33
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script tells the inspiring story of a young individual born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition that makes their bones extremely fragile. Despite facing over 130 fractures by the age of 13 and being given a bleak prognosis, the speaker defies the odds and turns their life around by embracing music as their passion. They share their journey of overcoming challenges through four steps: finding passion in music, not holding back from pursuing their dreams, helping others by performing for non-profit organizations, and dreaming big with aspirations of performing for a billion people. The speaker's unique blend of Indian classical music and hip-hop, which they call 'ragarap,' has gained international recognition with their cover of Eminem's 'Not Afraid' under the name Purhythm. Their message is one of resilience and encouragement, urging others to never give up on their passions and to believe in their ability to turn 'impossible' into 'I'm possible.'

Takeaways
  • 🎓 **Educational Achievement**: The speaker aims to join an online bachelor's degree course in music at the age of 13, showcasing a strong commitment to education despite their challenges.
  • 🎵 **Musical Passion**: Music has been a transformative force in the speaker's life, providing both physical and emotional support, and leading them to a career as a singer and songwriter.
  • 💪 **Resilience**: Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, the speaker has faced numerous physical challenges but has shown incredible resilience, living beyond initial medical expectations.
  • 🚀 **Setting High Goals**: The speaker dreams of performing in front of a billion people and leaving a lasting legacy, emphasizing the importance of aiming high in life.
  • 🤝 **Community Support**: The support from the speaker's parents and their 'never-say-die' attitude played a crucial role in overcoming early-life challenges.
  • 🎤 **Innovation in Art**: The speaker created 'ragarap,' a fusion of Indian classical music and hip-hop, demonstrating the power of combining diverse art forms.
  • 🌐 **Global Impact**: The speaker's cover of Eminem's 'Not Afraid' became a worldwide phenomenon, with over 55 million views, highlighting the potential of the internet to amplify talent.
  • 💰 **Philanthropy**: The speaker has used their musical talent to raise at least half a million dollars for various nonprofit organizations, emphasizing the importance of giving back to the community.
  • 🤗 **Positive Influence**: The speaker has inspired and helped others facing similar challenges, such as a child with brittle bones, by sharing their story and offering emotional support.
  • 🚫 **Rejecting Limitations**: The speaker encourages not holding oneself back and pursuing one's passions despite the odds, as they did with their music career.
  • 🌟 **Inspiration to Others**: The speaker's journey and message serve as an inspiration to others, showing that with belief and perseverance, 'impossible' can become 'I'm possible'.
Q & A

  • What is the medical condition mentioned in the script that the speaker was born with?

    -The speaker was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare, incurable genetic disorder that causes extremely fragile bones.

  • How many fractures did the speaker experience during birth?

    -The speaker had over 35 fractures during birth.

  • What was the initial prognosis given by the doctors regarding the speaker's life expectancy?

    -The doctors initially gave a very bleak prognosis, stating that the speaker would only live for a day or two.

  • How many fractures has the speaker had in the first 13 years of their life?

    -The speaker has had 130 fractures in the first 13 years of their life.

  • What is the name of the rapper the speaker was inspired by?

    -The speaker was inspired by Eminem, also known as Slim Shady.

  • What is the name of the speaker's rapper persona?

    -The speaker's rapper persona is named Purhythm.

  • What is the new music genre the speaker wants to pioneer?

    -The speaker wants to pioneer a new music genre called ragarap, which is a fusion of Indian classical music and hip-hop.

  • How many views did the speaker's cover of Eminem's song receive on social media sites?

    -The cover of Eminem's song by the speaker has received over 55 million views on social media sites.

  • What is the speaker's ultimate goal as a musician?

    -The speaker's ultimate goal as a musician is to one day perform in front of a billion people.

  • What is the message the speaker wants to spread to others through their life story?

    -The speaker wants to spread the message that no matter what struggles one faces in life, one should never give up on their passion.

  • How has the speaker contributed to helping others through their music?

    -The speaker has been singing pro bono for various nonprofit organizations and has helped to raise at least half a million dollars for them.

  • What is the name of the song the speaker performed at the end of the script?

    -The speaker performed their rendition of 'Not Afraid' by Eminem in Purhythm style, which they call ragarap.

Outlines
00:00
🎼 Overcoming Adversity Through Music

The speaker, born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition that makes bones extremely fragile, shares their journey of turning 'impossible' into 'I'm possible'. Despite being given a bleak prognosis at birth and experiencing over 130 fractures by the age of 13, they found solace and strength in music. Their passion for singing began at a young age and evolved into a talent for composing songs, with their first song written at the age of ten. The speaker also humorously refers to themselves as 'Mr. Glass' and 'Iron Man' due to the numerous fractures and medical interventions they've undergone.

05:02
🎤 Embracing Creativity and Inspiring Others

The speaker discusses their creative process and the impact of music on their life. Inspired by Eminem's song 'Not Afraid', they created a cover under the rapper name 'Purhythm', incorporating Indian classical music to pioneer a new genre called 'ragarap'. This fusion of Indian classical and hip-hop music gained worldwide attention, amassing over 55 million views. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of helping others, having raised significant funds for nonprofit organizations through their music. They share a heartwarming story of how their music helped a child with similar health challenges face surgery with courage.

10:04
🌟 Pursuing Big Dreams and Spreading Positivity

The speaker outlines their future aspirations, which include obtaining a bachelor's degree in music at the age of 13, creating original albums, winning a Grammy Award, and performing for a billion people. They stress the importance of dreaming big and leaving a lasting legacy. The speaker concludes with a powerful message of perseverance and belief in oneself, urging the audience to never give up on their passions despite life's struggles. They demonstrate their commitment to this message by performing their ragarap rendition of Eminem's 'Not Afraid', showcasing their unique fusion of musical styles and their determination to inspire and uplift others.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Osteogenesis imperfecta
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare genetic disorder characterized by bones that are extremely fragile and prone to breaking. In the video, the speaker mentions being born with this condition, which has led to over 130 fractures by the age of 13. It is a central theme of the video as it represents the challenges the speaker has faced and overcome.
💡Passion
Passion refers to a strong emotional connection or enthusiasm for a subject or activity. In the context of the video, the speaker's passion is music, which has had a profound impact on their life both physically and emotionally. It is through music that the speaker finds a way to express themselves and turn 'impossible' into 'I'm possible'.
💡Indian classical music
Indian classical music is a genre of music that has ancient roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is known for its complex rhythms and melodies. The speaker mentions being enrolled in Indian classical vocal training at the age of six, which contributed to their versatility as a singer and their unique fusion of styles.
💡Ragarap
Ragarap is a term coined by the speaker to describe a new music genre that fuses Indian classical music with hip-hop. This concept represents the speaker's innovation and desire to create something unique by combining seemingly polar opposites, which is a key part of their artistic identity and message.
💡Purhythm
Purhythm is the rapper name the speaker chose for themselves, signifying a clean, curse-free style while still focusing on rhythm. This name reflects the speaker's personal values and their approach to music, which is to create art that is both meaningful and enjoyable without resorting to profanity.
💡Pro bono
Pro bono is a Latin term meaning 'for the public good' and is often used to describe professional services provided voluntarily and without payment. The speaker has performed pro bono for various nonprofit organizations, helping to raise significant funds, which demonstrates their commitment to helping others and making a positive impact.
💡Dream big
Dreaming big refers to having ambitious goals or aspirations. The speaker emphasizes the importance of dreaming big as a driving force behind their achievements and future plans. It is a central message of the video, encouraging viewers to set high goals and work towards them.
💡Grammy Award
The Grammy Award is one of the music industry's most prestigious awards, presented by The Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievement in the music field. The speaker's aspiration to win a Grammy Award is an example of their dream big mentality and their dedication to their musical career.
💡Sparsh
Sparsh is a term that the speaker uses to convey the desire to touch or influence people's hearts. It encapsulates the speaker's goal to make a meaningful connection with their audience through their music, aiming to spread positivity and inspiration.
💡Not Afraid
Not Afraid is a song by Eminem that had a significant impact on the speaker. It inspired them to create their own cover of the song, incorporating their unique style and musical influences. The song's message of overcoming adversity resonates with the speaker's own life story and serves as a powerful example of turning challenges into opportunities.
💡Impossible vs. I'm possible
The contrast between 'impossible' and 'I'm possible' is a central theme of the video. The speaker uses this concept to illustrate their personal journey of overcoming obstacles and achieving what was once thought to be impossible. It serves as a powerful message of hope and determination, encouraging viewers to believe in their own potential.
Highlights

Speaker shares the longest words in the English dictionary to illustrate the complexity of their own life.

Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic disorder causing extremely fragile bones.

Had over 35 fractures during birth and was given a bleak prognosis of living only a day or two.

Survived against the odds due to divine grace and the support of determined parents.

Speaker has experienced 130 fractures in the first 13 years of life.

Multiple surgeries have left the speaker with screws and rods in their body, likening themselves to 'Iron Man'.

Turned the word 'impossible' into 'I'm possible' by following four simple steps.

Step one is to find your passion, which for the speaker was music.

Began singing at a young age and pursued Indian classical vocal training and American vocal lessons.

Wrote the first song at age ten, leading to a total of 12 original songs.

Step two is to never hold yourself back, as illustrated by covering Eminem's 'Not Afraid'.

Created a unique style called 'ragarap', fusing Indian classical music with hip-hop.

The cover of 'Not Afraid' became a worldwide phenomenon with over 55 million views.

Step three is to help others, having raised at least half a million dollars for nonprofit organizations.

Provided emotional support to a child with the same condition, helping them face surgery without fear.

Step four is to dream big, with aspirations to perform in front of a billion people.

Plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in music, release original albums, and win a Grammy Award.

Encourages everyone to never give up on their passion, no matter the struggles faced.

Ends with a special performance of 'Not Afraid' in ragarap style, embodying the spirit of overcoming challenges.

Transcripts

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Osteogenesis ImperfectaMusic TherapyInspirational SpeakerLife ChallengesGenetic DisorderIndian ClassicalHip-Hop FusionNonprofit SupportDream BigOvercoming ObstaclesRagarapMusical TalentGlobal ImpactPerseveranceYouth AchievementSocial Media Phenomenon