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

Key Concepts:

• Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease)
• Turning "Impossible" into "I'm Possible"
• Finding Your Passion
• Never Holding Yourself Back
• Helping Others
• Dreaming Big
• Ragarap (Fusion of Indian Classical Music and Hip-Hop)
• Purhythm (Clean Rap Style)

1. Introduction: Overcoming the Impossible

The speaker, Sparsh Shah, begins by reciting some of the longest words in the English dictionary to illustrate complexity. He then contrasts this with his own life, where seemingly simple tasks are difficult due to osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic disorder causing extremely fragile bones. He humorously refers to himself as "Mr. Glass" and "Iron Man" due to his condition and the numerous surgeries he has undergone.

2. Early Life and Diagnosis

Sparsh recounts his birth, marked by over 35 fractures and immediate admission to the intensive care unit. Doctors initially gave him a bleak prognosis of only a day or two to live. He attributes his survival to God's grace and his parents' unwavering support. He has experienced 130 fractures in his first 13 years.

3. Turning "Impossible" into "I'm Possible": The Four Steps

Sparsh outlines four steps he followed to transform "impossible" into "I'm possible" in his life:

• Step One: Find Your Passion: Music became Sparsh's passion, providing both physical and emotional benefits. He started singing early and received Indian classical vocal training at six, later adding American vocal lessons. At ten, he wrote his first song, "This love will never fade," and has since written 11 more.
• Step Two: Never Hold Yourself Back: Inspired by Eminem's "Not Afraid," Sparsh created a cover song. He adopted the rapper name "Purhythm" to signify his clean, curse-free style. He also pioneered "ragarap," a fusion of Indian classical music and hip-hop. The cover went viral, garnering over 55 million views and praise from celebrities.
• Step Three: Help Others: Sparsh has sung pro bono for various nonprofit organizations, raising at least half a million dollars. He shares an example of a FaceTime call with a child with brittle bones before surgery, which helped alleviate the child's fear.
• Step Four: Dream Big: Sparsh's ultimate goal is to perform in front of a billion people and leave a lasting legacy. He plans to pursue an online bachelor's degree in music at 13, release original albums, win a Grammy Award, and "sparsh" (touch) everyone's hearts.

4. Ragarap and Purhythm: Musical Innovation

Sparsh explains "ragarap" as a fusion of Indian classical music and hip-hop, initially perceived as crazy but ultimately beautiful. "Purhythm" is his clean rap style, emphasizing rhythm without profanity.

5. The Power of Belief and Perseverance

Sparsh emphasizes that everyone faces struggles, and he deals with constant fractures and pain. He believes that if he can turn "impossible" into "I'm possible," others can too. He stresses the importance of faith and perseverance in achieving goals.

6. Performance: "Not Afraid" - Purhythm Style

Sparsh concludes his talk with a performance of his ragarap rendition of Eminem's "Not Afraid," showcasing his unique musical style. The performance includes both rapping and Indian classical singing.

7. Conclusion: Main Takeaways

The main takeaways are the importance of finding one's passion, overcoming limitations, helping others, dreaming big, and believing in oneself. Sparsh's story serves as an inspiration to turn "impossible" into "I'm possible" through perseverance and faith.