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

Sparsh Shah wants to show people how they can transcend every difficulty that comes their way in life, and how they can start a chain reaction to be a guide for other people who want to turn their life around as well.

Sparsh is a 13-year-old child prodigy, singer/songwriter/rapper born with brittle bones (130+ fractures), but an unbreakable spirit. He became a worldwide Internet sensation with his PURHYTHM versions of Eminem covers. He aspires to inspire and sing in front of a billion people one day.

Sparsh has been learning Hindustani classical music for the last seven-and-a-half years and American vocal music for the last three years. Sparsh is multi-talented. He performs at community events and has appeared on local radio stations and television shows, besides hosting shows as an MC.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Pneumonoultramicroscopic-
silicovolcanokoniosis.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.

Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism.

Floccinaucinihilipilification.

Antidisestablishmentarianism.

Honorificabilitudinitatibus.

Electroencephalographically.

Antitransubstantiationalist.

Disproportionableness.

Incomprehensibilities.

So, what you just heard

were some of the eleven longest words
in the English dictionary.

Such complex words, right?

Well, just as these words are complex,
so has my own life been.

And although seemingly difficult things,

such as memorizing long and complex words
and numbers, are simple for me,

seemingly simple things,

such as standing and bearing weight,
are impossible for me.

That's because I wasn't like
any other newborn baby.

I was born with osteogenesis imperfecta,

a rare, incurable genetic disorder

that causes a person's bones
to be extremely fragile.

So I guess you can call me Mr. Glass now.

(Laughter)

During my birth I had over 35 fractures

and was taken immediately
to the intensive care unit.

(Beeping)

These were the sounds that used
to resonate throughout the hospital,

because I was desperately
clinging on to my life.

The doctors gave me
the very bleak prognosis

that I'd only live for a day or two.

But due to God's grace

and the support of my parents
and their "never-say-die" attitude,

I survived.

In fact -

(Applause) Thank you.

In fact, I've had 130 fractures so far

in just the first 13 years of my life,

and only God knows
how many more will happen.

I've also had multiple screws
and rods placed in my body,

so I guess you can call me
Iron Man as well.

Ironic, am I right?

(Applause)

But anyways, no more sob stories,

because that's not what I want
to talk to you about today.

Now what do you see
in the slide in the back?

Can you tell me?

[IMPOSSIBLE]

Impossible, right.

OK. Good.

Now, what do you all see?

[I'M POSSIBLE]

(Laughter)

Thank you.

Awesome.

That's exactly what I want
to share with you all today:

how I turned the word "impossible"
into "I'm possible" in my life

by following four simple steps.

Step one: Find your passion.

Despite the fact

that I did live a very rough life
for the first few years,

God opened a new door to it

that would become my passion
and change my life forever.

And that was music.

Music has had a tremendous impact on me,
both physically and emotionally.

I started singing
ever since I could speak.

In fact, I even used to correct my parents
when they were singing off-key by saying,

"Mom, dad. You're not singing right."

At the tender age of six,

my parents enrolled me
into Indian classical vocal training.

Much later on,

I also started taking
American vocal lessons,

therefore helping to increase
my versatility as a singer.

But I found my true calling
as an artist at the age of ten

when I wrote my first song:
"This love will never fade."

Since then, I've written 11 more songs.

Two: Never hold yourself back.

One day,

I came across an amazing rap song
many of you may have heard of:

"Not Afraid,"

by none other than Eminem,
also known as Slim Shady.

This song struck my chords
and was so inspirational to me

that I could not hold myself back.

And I decided that I had to go out there
and make a cover of it myself.

(Chuckles) Who knew that the boy
with slim chances of survival

would go on to sing
Slim Shady songs one day.

But wait, there's more.

I didn't just rap the song
like any other person.

First of all, I'm not a fan of profanity,

so I decided to make
my rapper name: Purhythm.

In other words,

I'm clean, no curses,
but I'm still all about the rhythm!

(Applause)

(Giggling) Thank you.

I also added my own touch
of Indian classical music to the song

which is part of a new music genre
that I want to pioneer

called ragarap,

or the fusion
of seemingly polar opposites:

Indian classical music and hip-hop.

I know right now to some of you
the idea may sound completely crazy,

but trust me, in the end
the result is beautiful.

To my pleasant surprise, the cover blew
up all over the Internet

and it became a worldwide phenomenon.

I received praises

from some of the most famous
celebrities out there,

and today the cover has gotten
over 55 million views, and counting,

on all social media sites so far.

(Applause)

Thank you.

And because I decided
that I would not hold myself back

and instead decide to go out

and display my musical talent
to the world,

I was able to achieve these among
many other achievements

that I've been very blessed
to have achieved to this day.

Step three: Help others.

Now I've been singing pro bono
for various nonprofit organizations,

and by now I've helped to raise at least
half a million dollars for them.

(Applause)

Thank you.

Yes, that is American dollars by the way.

(Laughter)

Because I know
we're in India right now, so...

But I believe

that the biggest satisfaction
for all of us

is when we get to help change
someone else's life for the better.

Doesn't it give us
such an immense amount of gratitude?

For example,

I was once contacted by a family

who had a child
with brittle bones just like me.

He was about to go into surgery,
and was very nervous.

But his parents reached out to me,

and we had a FaceTime call
which went very well.

On the day of the surgery,

his parents sent us this pic
with a smiling Xavier

going into the surgery without any fear.

(Applause)

Thank you.

Last but not least: Dream big.

None of this would have ever happened
if I had not dreamed big.

But my ultimate goal as a musician

is still to one day perform
in front of a billion.

Yes, you heard me right -
a billion people one day.

I want to leave my footprints -
or rather track prints -

into the sand of legacies so deep
not even a tsunami can erase it.

And I firmly believe

that every one of us here
should strive for such big goals.

I mean, don't you all want
to be remembered

when you leave this earth?

I also have many plans
for my life in the future,

especially in my musical career.

I want to join an online
bachelor's degree course in music

at the age of 13,

come up with many original albums,
win a Grammy Award one day,

and most importantly,

"sparsh" everyone's hearts
all over the world.

(Cheers and Applause)

Thank you.

Oh, thank you.

But remember... it's still not over yet.

(Laughter)

I promise you.

Yeah. So, where was I?
"Sparshing" everyone's hearts, right?

I want to spread the message
that no matter what happens in your life,

you should never ever
give up on your passion.

Everyone in this world
goes through struggles of some sort,

and I know,

because I for one have to deal
with constant fractures and lots of pain.

But I believe

that if I can turn "impossible"
into "I'm possible" in my life,

you can too.

If you can believe it, you can achieve it.

And I firmly believe
that if you push forward and have faith

you will make it big anywhere in life.

Thank you so much.

(Applause)

But wait up, before you guys
do a standing ovation,

it's not over yet,

(Applause and Laughter)

because I'd like to leave you all
with a very special gift from me to you.

This is my rendition of ragarap
in Eminem's "Not Afraid" - Purhythm style.

(Cheers and Applause)

So, thank you again.

(Music)

(Indian classical singing)

(Singing) I'm not afraid to take a stand

Everybody, come take my hand

Walk this road together, through the storm

Whatever weather, cold or warm

Just letting you know
that you're not alone

Holler if you feel like
you've been down the same road

(Rhythmic clapping)

(Rapping) Yeah!

It's been a ride

I guess I had to go to that place
to get to this one

Now some of you
might still be in that place

If you're trying to get out,
just follow me

I'll get you there, I promise

You can try and read my lyrics
off of this paper before I lay 'em

You won't take the sting
out these words before I say 'em

'Cause ain't no way I'm a let you stop me
from causin' mayhem

When I say I'm a do something I do it

I don't give a damn what you think

I'm doin' this for me

Forget the world, feed it beans

It's gassed up if it thinks
it's stoppin' me

I'm a be what I set out to be,
without a doubt undoubtedly

all those who look down on me
I'm tearin' down your balcony!

No if, ands or buts, don't try
to ask him why or how can he

From "Infinite" down
to the last "Relapse" album

He's still frettin',
whether he's on salary paid hourly

Until he bows down
or he freaks his bowels out of him

Whichever comes first for better or worse

He's married to the game
like a present for Christmas

but his gift is a curse, forget the Earth

He's got the urge
to pull himself from the dirt

and curse the whole universe!

(Singing) I'm not afraid to take a stand

Everybody, come take my hand

We'll walk this road together
through the storm

Whatever weather, cold or warm

Just letting you know
that you're not alone

(Talking) For all you hip-hop fans.
If you know the lyrics, sing along.

Ready?

(Singing) 'Cause I just
can't keep living this way

So starting today
I'm breaking out of this cage

I'm standing up, I'm a face my demons

I'm manning up, I'm a hold my ground

I've had enough, now I'm so fed up

Time to put my life
back together right now

(Rapping) It was my decision to get clean

I did it for me admittedly,
I probably did it subliminally for you

So I could come back a brand new me
you helped see me through

And don't even realize what you did,
believe me, you!

I've been through the wringer

But they could do little
to the peace fingers

I think I got a tear in my eye,
I feel like the king of my world

Haters can make like bees
with no stingers and drop dead

No more beef flingers,
no more drama from now

Wanna promise to focus solely

On handlin'
my responsibilities as a brother

so I solemnly swear to always treat
this roof like my brother and raise it

You couldn't lift a single shingle on it!

'Cause the way I feel

I'm strong enough to go to the gym
or the fitness club

And go lift a 100-pounder up,
'cause I'm raising the bar

I'd shoot for the moon
but too busy gazing at stars

I feel amazing

(Singing) I'm not afraid

Yeah!

Walk this road together, through the storm

Whatever weather, cold or warm

Just lettin' you know
that you're not alone

Holler if you feel like
you've been down the same road

(Music ends)

Purhythm!

(Cheers and Applause)

Thank you so much.

Thank you.