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

Summary

The speaker, born with osteogenesis imperfecta, shares their inspiring journey of overcoming physical limitations to pursue a passion for music. Despite numerous fractures and a bleak prognosis, they found strength in singing, creating a unique 'ragarap' genre. They've raised significant funds for nonprofits and aim to perform for a billion people, demonstrating that with belief and perseverance, 'impossible' can become 'I'm possible'.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder causing extremely fragile bones.
• 🎶 Music became the speaker's passion, which had a profound impact on their life both physically and emotionally.
• 🎤 At the age of ten, the speaker wrote their first song, marking the beginning of their journey as an artist.
• 🚀 The speaker was inspired by Eminem's 'Not Afraid' and created a unique cover, integrating Indian classical music and hip-hop, calling it 'ragarap'.
• 🌐 The 'ragarap' cover became a viral sensation, garnering over 55 million views across social media platforms.
• 💰 The speaker has used their musical talent to raise at least half a million dollars for various nonprofit organizations.
• 🤝 The speaker emphasizes the importance of helping others and shares a personal story of supporting a child with similar health challenges.
• 🌟 The speaker dreams of performing in front of a billion people and leaving a lasting legacy in the music industry.
• 🎓 The speaker plans to pursue higher education in music and aims to win a Grammy Award.
• 💪 The speaker encourages everyone to never give up on their passion, no matter the struggles they face in life.

Q & A

What is the medical condition mentioned in the script that the speaker was born with?

The speaker was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare, incurable genetic disorder that causes extremely fragile bones.

How many fractures did the speaker experience during his birth?

The speaker had over 35 fractures during his birth.

What was the initial prognosis given by the doctors regarding the speaker's life expectancy?

The doctors initially gave a bleak prognosis that the speaker would only live for a day or two.

How has music impacted the speaker's life, according to the script?

Music has had a tremendous impact on the speaker, both physically and emotionally, and became his passion that changed his life.

At what age did the speaker start singing and what was his first musical training?

The speaker started singing ever since he could speak and began Indian classical vocal training at the age of six.

What was the title of the first song the speaker wrote and at what age did he write it?

The speaker wrote his first song titled 'This love will never fade' at the age of ten.

What is the name of the rapper the speaker was inspired by, and what did he do with one of the rapper's songs?

The speaker was inspired by Eminem and made a cover of his song 'Not Afraid', adding his own touch and creating a new genre called ragarap.

How did the speaker's cover of 'Not Afraid' perform online?

The cover blew up all over the Internet, became a worldwide phenomenon, and has gotten over 55 million views on all social media sites.

What is the name of the speaker's rapper persona and what does it signify?

The speaker's rapper persona is called Purhythm, signifying that his rap is clean, with no curses, but still focused on rhythm.

What is the speaker's ultimate goal as a musician?

The speaker's ultimate goal as a musician is to one day perform in front of a billion people.

How does the speaker aim to help others through his music?

The speaker has been singing pro bono for various nonprofit organizations and has helped to raise at least half a million dollars for them.