Taraji P. Henson – Start With You

Actress Taraji P. Henson discusses her hard road to success, and urges people to ignore the naysayers and chase their dreams, because our future is always in our hands.

Transcript:

“So I moved to California with $700 in my pocket and my toddler. I have to fight the good fight because people are telling me I can’t. You can’t do this, you can’t … are you crazy? You’re moving to California with your son, you’ll never make it. I was 26 when I decided to come here. There’s the age thing. ‘Oh you’re too old.’ If you listen to people, and if you allow people to project their fears onto you, you won’t live.

“What if I believed those people who told me that when I became pregnant in college that I wouldn’t finish? I walked across that stage with my son on my hip and I collected my degree. My diploma.

“I didn’t hear the naysayers when they were like, ‘You’re too old to go to California, if you don’t hit by 25, you’re not going to make it.’ I will be 46 this year. I am just touching the surface. I am just getting started.

“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I had a passion, I had a dream and I [dove] in and I went for my dream.

“It all starts with you. You’re the temple and you have control. You’re in a bad situation? It’s up to you to get out of it. You can’t give another human the responsibility of your happiness.”