Stef Scott didn't talk much during his years at Plano high school. The teen has autism and a social communication disorder, and admits that it is not a normal thing for him to "electively speak".
However, he wanted to do something "unexpected", and, with the help of his mum, who worked with him sentence by sentence, he delivered a speech titled Unexpected, that no doubt left a profound effect on his classmates.
"Knowing that I want to be heard... I imagine that is unexpected," he said.
"In front of me I see athletes, musicians and scholars, along with shy loners and class clowns. Many of you fit into more than one of those categories. At the same time all of us have plenty about us that makes us all unique. What a wonderful mix. We all share on thing in common for sure, we all made it."
Addressing the crowd, Stef explains that while he has autism, he is also a "smart alec - unexpected, right?"
Hoping to inspire his classmates to do more "unexpected" things, he said:
"Standing in a long line at a restaurant - let the people behind you go first instead. That simple gesture could brighten what might have been a gloomy day. Unexpected."
"You can sprinkle unexpected moments throughout your every day life that can benefit those around you, with very little effort on your part."
But Stef doesn't just want his peer to do unexpected things for other people, the teen said they should do things for themselves that may surprise other.
"Are your next steps beyond tonight yours or are they what you believe those around you expect you to take? Actually, ask yourself: Are you next steps where you want to go? If they aren't, then step off that path. Will that be unexpected? It probably will be if you are not sharing your hopes and dreams with your loved ones.
"Don't follow someone else's dream. Don't waste time on something you never wanted. Do the unexpected. It is your life that you are living. Not anyone else's. So do what fulfils you. Don't fear the future. Don't fear the unknown. Will it be unexpected? Yes, yes it will. But that does not make it wrong.
"Remember, if you are following in someone else's footsteps you will only get where they want to go. Be the unexpected like me. Do the unexpected for the benefits of others. Live the unexpected for your own happiness."
You can listen to his speech in full below:
