How Global Virtual Communities Can Help Kids Achieve Their Dreams | Matthew Garcia | TED

譯者: 詩寓 趙 審譯者: Shelley Tsang 曾雯海

I'm a Latinx son of immigrants from a small Texas border town.

我是拉丁裔，父母是移民， 來自德州邊境的小鎮。

Growing up, I didn’t have access to classical music,

在成長過程中，我沒機會聽到古典音樂，

and I had never been to the symphony.

也從未去過交響音樂會。

But I always knew that I wanted to play a string instrument.

但我一直都知道我想要演奏弦樂器。

So in sixth grade,

六年級時，我們有機會選擇 自己在管弦樂課要演奏的樂器。

we got the opportunity to pick our instruments for orchestra class.

I took one look at the viola and said, "Great, that'll work."

我看了一眼中提琴， 便說：「很好，這個可以。」

And as I began to play the instrument, I immediately fell in love with it.

當我開始演奏這個樂器， 我馬上愛上了它。

Even though my middle school orchestra director

雖然我中學的管弦樂團指揮 是個很出色的低音樂器老師，

was a fabulous bass teacher,

she could only teach me so much on the viola.

但對於中提琴，她能教我的有限。

And because there weren't any viola teachers in my town,

因為我的鎮上沒有任何中提琴老師，

to be able to play the things that I heard in my head,

所以為了要把我腦中的音樂演奏出來，

I turned to a teacher who seemed to know everything:

我便去求助於一位似乎無所不知的老師：

YouTube.

YouTube。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

By watching countless hours of YouTube videos

在看了無數小時偉大的音樂行家

of the great virtuosos performing everything from Beethoven

演奏各種從貝多芬到《星際大戰》組曲的 YouTube影片後，

to the musical suite from "Star Wars,"

I tried to mimic their techniques

我試著模仿他們的技巧， 再整合到我自己的演奏中。

and incorporate them into my own playing.

With a few difficult years of practice, a lot of blood, sweat and tears

在幾年辛苦的練習中， 我流了很多血、汗與淚，

and the endless support of an entire community of people

還得到了整個社區源源不斷的支持，

who really, really wanted me to succeed,

他們都非常希望我能成功。

I began to play in places that I'd never even dreamed of,

此後，我開始在從未夢想過的地方演奏， 比如卡內基音樂廳，

like Carnegie Hall,

and bring my music to audiences across four different continents.

並將我的音樂帶給四大洲各地的觀眾。

It had been one of the most difficult learning experiences of my life,

那是我人生中最困難的學習經歷之一，

but one that proved an important point:

但這段經歷證明了一個重點：

anyone from anywhere can do incredible things,

來自任何地方的任何人 都能成就非凡的事，

if you connect them with the knowledge and resources that they need to thrive.

需要的不過是讓他們能夠取得 成功所需要的知識和資源。

On my travels, I became friends with the elite young musicians

在我的旅途中，

我和似乎有各種資源的 年輕音樂菁英成為朋友。

who seemed to have all the resources.

Because they lived next to musical capitals

因為他們住的地方鄰近音樂之都，

like New York, Chicago or LA,

如紐約、芝加哥或洛杉磯，

they studied at places like Juilliard on the weekends.

因此他們週末在茱莉亞音樂學院 這類地方進修。

They watched their teachers perform at major symphony orchestras.

他們欣賞自己的老師 在大型交響管弦樂音樂會上的演出。

They had access to almost every musical opportunity that you can imagine

你能想像出來的音樂機會， 他們幾乎都能取得，

right in their home communities.

且就在他們居住的社區。

And even though I was proud of the hard work that I'd done

雖然我對於靠自己的努力 達到他們的水平感到驕傲，

to get to their level,

I hated always feeling behind

但我討厭總是覺得自己落後，

because I never had access to private lessons.

只因為我沒機會上私人課程。

So you can imagine how excited I was

各位可以想像一下我有多興奮

when I had the opportunity to take my first professional private lesson

當我終於有機會可以上我的 第一堂專業私人課程，

老師甚至是世界上最棒的中提琴家之一。

with one of the best violists in the world.

I just knew he'd be so excited about how much progress I'd made on my own

我知道在看到我靠自己進步了這麼多後 他一定會很興奮，

and encourage me to become a professional musician.

並會鼓勵我成為專業音樂家。

So it came as such a surprise when he told me to quit.

所以當他叫我放棄時，我好震驚。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

He said kids like me who didn't start playing at an early age,

他說，像我這種沒有 從小開始演奏的孩子，

who didn't have access to private teachers and the best resources,

這種沒有辦法取得私人家教 和最佳資源的孩子，

who didn't really understand

這種沒有真正了解古典音樂產業 如何運作的孩子，

how the classical music industry really operated,

generally could not make it as professional musicians.

一般來說都無法成功成為專業音樂家。

Now, classical music is incredibly competitive

古典音樂在現今的競爭非常激烈，

and sometimes people with all the resources don't even make it.

有時擁有各種資源的人也無法成功。

So I'm sure he thought he was doing me a favor,

所以我能確定他認為 他這麼做是在幫助我，

and maybe he was, but I was shocked.

也許他的確是，但我好震驚。

It hurt.

我很受傷。

But I didn’t want to disrespect him, so I smiled, said, “OK,” and left.

但我不想對他不敬， 所以我微笑說「好」並離開了。

I was a 15-year-old who loved playing the viola more than anything,

我是個愛中提琴 勝過一切的十五歲孩子，

but in that moment I seriously considered putting my instrument away forever.

但那一刻，我認真考慮 要把我的樂器永遠收起來。

Now I'm 21 years old

現在我二十一歲，

and I couldn't be more grateful to have experienced that moment of discouragement

那段勸退的經歷讓我萬分感激 ，

because it opened my eyes to the fact

因為它讓我看見了一個事實：

that for 13 million children in the United States

美國有一千三百萬名孩童

who live outside of major US cities,

沒有住在美國的大城市裡，

pursuing a career in something like classical music, ballet, art,

當他們要追求的職業夢想 是古典音樂、芭蕾、藝術、

research or many other historically exclusive fields

研究，或許多其他 在歷史上就很排外的領域，

is incredibly more difficult, if not practically impossible.

若不是極度困難， 就是實際上完全不可能。

In classical music, for example,

以古典音樂為例，

people of color make up only around 15 percent of America’s orchestras,

美國的管弦樂團成員 只有 15% 是有色人種，

despite representing almost 42 percent of the US population.

但美國人口中有近42% 是有色人種。

So in some ways, I don't blame the viola teacher for telling me to quit.

所以，在某種程度上，我並不怪 那位中提琴老師叫我放棄。

Music opportunities tend to cluster around major cities,

音樂的機會通常都聚集在大城市裡，

especially the charities and nonprofits that try to help underserved students.

特別是試圖協助弱勢學生的 慈善和非營利組織。

And I just wasn't around them.

我就不在它們附近。

But people have talent everywhere,

但有才能的人遍及各地，

and everybody deserves a chance

而且每個人都應該擁有

to grow that talent and share it with the world.

施展那份才華並和世界分享的機會。

Because when we allow people like me to systemically be prevented

因為如果我們讓像我這樣的人 被體制排除，

無法進入到這些競爭領域，

from entering into these competitive fields,

we uphold the elitist and exclusionary systems

我們就是在支持 菁英主宰和排外體制，

that allow so many children to be told

而這些體制讓許多孩童 聽到別人對他們說

that they're not worthy enough to pursue their dreams.

他們不值得去追尋他們的夢想。

I wanted to change that.

我想要改變這一點。

For many years, I had no clue how.

有好幾年，我完全不知道該怎麼做。

But when the COVID pandemic hit and our entire world went virtual,

但當新冠肺炎疫情來襲， 全世界走向虛擬時，

I saw an opportunity to help others learn music online,

我看到可以協助他人在線上 學習音樂的機會，

regardless of who they were, where they lived,

不論他們是誰，住在何處，

or what they could afford.

或能否負擔得起。

So I texted a few friends I knew from around the country

所以我傳訊息給我在 全國各地的幾位朋友，

and put together a founding team.

組成了創始團隊。

Together we reached out to 20 other musicians that we knew

我們總共向外聯絡了 我們認識的另外二十名音樂家，

and asked each of them to teach a free virtual private lesson a week

並請他們每個人每週開一堂 免費的虛擬私人課程

to an underserved young student.

來教導一位弱勢的年輕學生。

This meant that students like Samuel Igbo,

這就表示，像山謬 ‧ 伊柏這種

a 14-year-old violinist from a small town in Texas

來自德州一個小鎮的 十四歲小提琴手，

who dreams of pursuing a career as a concert violinist,

並夢想以音樂會小提琴家 為職業的學生，

could receive personalized musical mentorship from Nikki Naghavi,

就能夠得到來自妮基 ‧ 納加維的 個人音樂指導，

a prize-winning violinist at the New England Conservatory.

她是新英格蘭音樂學院的 得獎小提琴家。

My idea inspired and connected hundreds of people from all walks of life

我的想法鼓舞並集結了 來自各行各業的數百人，

to offer their time and expertise to aspiring musicians like Sam

使他們提供時間和專業給全國各地 像山謬這樣有抱負的音樂家。

from around the country.

And now, just two and a half years later,

現在，只不過經過了兩年半，

this little idea has turned into Through the Staff,

這個小點子已經轉變成了 「Through the Staff」，

a national nonprofit that has provided almost 600,000 dollars

它是全國性的非營利組織， 已提供了價值近六十萬元美金的

of free virtual private lessons

免費虛擬私人課程

to almost 1000 young musicians

給近一千名年輕音樂家，

from Fresno, California to Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

所在地從加州的佛雷斯諾 到北卡羅萊納的威爾克斯伯勒。

I didn't realize it, but I'd accidentally started a virtual nonprofit.

我本來不知道我竟意外地創立了 一個虛擬的非營利組織。

We didn’t just use the internet to deliver our services,

我們不僅只是利用網際網路 來傳遞我們的服務，

our organization existed on the internet.

我們的組織本身 就存在於網際網路上，

Because our program was run entirely by volunteers

因為我們的計畫是完全由來自全國各地

from around the country

who work together for a common cause,

為了追求共同理念 而一起努力的志工負責，

儘管他們從未真正見過面。

despite never meeting once in person.

Because our students and teachers could learn from each other online,

因為我們的學生和老師 可以在線上向彼此學習，

wherever they were,

不論身在何處，

geographic boundaries no longer mattered.

地理界線已不再重要。

This digital workspace meant virtually no startup or scaling costs.

這個數位工作空間意味著 這完全毫無開動成本或規模成本。

So we've been able to grow and make incredible changes

因此我們能夠靠著九千美金的預算

with a budget of only 9,000 dollars over two and a half years.

在兩年半內成長並做出驚人的改變。

It was only after I began to see this profound potential for impact

直到我發現了這影響的深遠潛力，

that I realized that virtual organizations

我才了解，虛擬組織

can help us better distribute educational resources

能夠協助我們 直接把教育資源分配得更好

directly to those who would benefit from them the most.

致最能從中受益的人。

And if this worked in classical music,

如果這能在古典音樂領域中行得通，

I figured it can work in other places, too.

我認為這個方法也能適用於其他地方。

This time in academic research.

這次是學術研究。

When I began to explore biological research

當我在大學二年級時 開始探索生物研究，

in my second year of college,

I remember trying to find a mentor

我記得我試圖找一個導師，

and being discouraged to only see white male researchers.

但只看到身為白人男性的研究者， 這讓我感到沮喪。

Just like in music, this trend is systemic.

和在音樂領域一樣， 這個趨勢是體制造成的。

Only 15 percent of all doctoral researchers were Native American,

在所有博士學位的研究者中， 只有15%

是美國原住民、

African-American or Hispanic.

非裔美國人或西班牙裔美國人。

I wanted to change that.

我想改變這一點。

And I knew that the virtual nonprofit model

我知道我已經開發出來的 虛擬非營利模型

that I had already developed

could make a difference here, too.

也能在這有所改善。

I could start something that could help generations of future young researchers

我可以創建些什麼來協助 未來世世代代的年輕研究者

break into academia.

闖入學術界。

So in 2021, my best friend and I gathered a founding team of 31 college students

所以，在2021 年，

我和我的摯友 找了三十一位大學生來組成創始團隊，

and started another virtual nonprofit called the Pre-College Research Institute.

成立了另一個虛擬非營利組織，

叫做「進大學前的教育研究院」。

Together, we've created four 32-hour virtual research courses

我們一起創建了四項 三十二小時的虛擬研究課程，

that have taught, trained and inspired 160 high school students of color

已經教導、訓練及鼓勵了 一百六十名為有色人種的高中生，

from Klerksdorp, South Africa

所在地從南非的克萊克斯多普 到印度的新德里，

to New Delhi, India,

to Alpharetta, Georgia.

至喬治亞的阿爾法利塔。

If I could break down barriers in access to music and academic research,

如果我能打破涉略音樂和學術研究領域時 所面臨的障礙，

anyone can do it anywhere.

任何人在任何地方都可以做到。

That's exactly what makes virtual nonprofits so powerful.

這正是虛擬非營利組織 如此強大的原因。

They transcend geographic boundaries

它們跨越了地理界線，

and bring opportunities to those

將機會帶給本來 根本不可能有機會的人。

who would literally never otherwise have them.

They're a new way to find and connect the world

它們是種新方法， 可以找到未開發人才的大量來源，

to a huge source of untapped talent

並將世界與它連結起來，

and a necessary step to nurturing the future of these industries.

也是培育這些行業未來的 一個必要步驟。

This is the future that will not only change the fabric of these institutions,

這不僅是改變這些機構結構

but ensure they survive and prosper for years to come.

也是確保他們生存 並在未來幾年繁榮昌盛的未來。

And as more and more children are connected to the opportunities

而隨著越來越多的孩子 在他們追逐自己夢想途中

and knowledge and resources that they need to chase their dreams,

獲得所需的機會、知識和資源，

I'm excited to see the people that lead every industry

我很高興能看到 引領每個行業的人們

look a lot more like the world around them.

更頻繁地給予關注， 如他們周圍的世界。

I know this transformation can happen,

我知道這種轉變能發生，

but I can't do it alone.

但我一個人是做不到的。

So if you have an idea or interest

所以如果你對如何使一個 歷史上人跡罕至的領域更公平

for how to make a historically inaccessible field more equitable,

有想法或興趣的話，

grab a few friends,

抓幾個朋友來，

brainstorm a way that you can break down the barriers in your field

集思廣益出一個 你可以使所在領域障礙瓦解的方法，

and start a virtual nonprofit.

並建立一個虛擬的非營利組織。

You may never meet the majority of the people that you serve,

你可能永遠不會遇到 大多數你所服務的人，

but the effects of your hard work

但你努力工作的效果

will touch them in ways that they will never forget.

會以某種方式感動他們， 讓他們永不忘懷。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

(掌聲)