B2

I thought that Raul Cuero had some very wise and true things to say. My assumption starting this video was that it was not going to hold my attention at all. However, Cuero really got through to me with what he talked about and how he is living his smartest life. He started in a poor Colombian community without many resources to be taught, so he learned to teach himself. He studied the cockroaches by his house and observed them, this started his fascination and connection with nature and science. He knew he wanted to leave his hometown in search of something more and luckily he was talented in the sport of basketball which gave him the opportunity through a scholarship to play and go to school. In doing this is where he first experienced discrimination, he talked about how he knew he wanted to succeed, and the way to to doing so is doing what others don't expect. He mentions how many people saw him as just a sports player with no other value once he got off the court. This just made him work even harder in school to sharpen his intellectual skills. Cuero says that much of his development has come from the idea of not doing what people expect of you but doing above and beyond that causing those who may constrict your actions int he past to be shocked at what you could accomplish with no boundaries whatsoever. 

One thing that really connected with me is when he said that one must have a universal conscience. meaning to get over certain predicaments one must connect with others with respect as well as have a connection to the earth and what it provides. This universal standpoint gives a broad range of possibilities to any individual. He compared this to local conscience which is more based on what others think and say before you, limiting any growth in the future. Creativity can come from all different angles stated Cuero and that is something I defiantly agree with, I feel like sometimes people think that being creative is only with your hands like arts and crafts or having a sense of style but being creative can be a tool anyone can use to make their life outcomes exactly what they aim for. 

Another idea that came up was doing everything with intensity. Cuero talked about how to get where he is now he had to do the unexpected to show people what he could really achieve just because he wanted to. He said that the one thing that people never understand when they want to succeed is eliminate fear, fear is the one thing that holds back someone's full potential. To do things with a more inductive strategy and not one where someone else tells you whats right or wrong. I also just thought it was inductive strategy and not one where someone else tells you what's right or wrong. I also just thought it was meaningful how when asked about his 'success' he refers to it more as his survival, this just shows how humble he really is, even after all he has achieved. I think it really says something about the types of people who really can succeed and make a difference in the world, people who aren't afraid of what others think and just follow their own guidelines based on what they know and gather through their own spirituality and intellectual. 

I hope in my near future I can approach life in similar ways. It really made sense to me when he talked about having a sense of salvation without living with a fortune, and without having to belong to a prestige group of society. Being able to self develop mentally, intellectually, and spiritually takes a lot of strength and faith in yourself but he said that he believes that finding that balance is really the objective of life and I agree completely.