Scott Mescudi, best known as rapper Kid Cudi, returned to his former high school in Shaker Heights earlier this year to give a TEDx Talk centered around his growth and journey to success.
In his introduction, Mescudi appealed to majority of the high school-age audience by citing his struggles with school and discussing his dreams to live in New York City to pursue his musical career. Cudi shared how important his support system and family were to his musical achievements, along with his own drive and ambition.
With his newest album Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven released earlier this year, Cudi told the crowd that, "at one point I didn't feel like I was smart enough to pass that test, or I didn't feel like I was smart enough to go this college. With music, it was like, nobody's going to take that from me."
Cudi showed the crowd of big thinkers that they are not alone in feeling lost or lonely. "Life will throw you a ton of curveballs and it's scary, but if you believe and if you want it and if you want to work hard enough for it, it can be so," he said as his speech came it an end.
Watch the full talk on YouTube and see the other talks from TEDxSHHS linked through their Twitter feed.
Phoebe Potiker is a college freshman at Ohio State University studying both Journalism and Public Affairs. Phoebe is currently a blogging intern at Cleveland Scene, covering local news stories. A graduate of Shaker Heights High School, Phoebe has resided in the East Side suburb her entire life and has been raised...
