Ke Huy Quan's TIME100 Impact Awards Acceptance Speech

TIME

Watch TIME100 Impact Awards honoree Ke Huy Quan's acceptance speech in Singapore.

Transcript

00:00 I first off, I gotta say I love this award.

00:05 I'm so, so happy.

00:06 So thank you so much to Time

00:10 for this amazing, amazing honor tonight.

00:12 (audience applauding)

00:14 Thank you, thank you.

00:15 Actors tell stories through characters

00:22 they bring to life on screen.

00:24 So it is truly, truly moving to be recognized

00:28 for the impact my own story has made.

00:32 Honestly, all this still feels

00:37 like it can't really be happening.

00:39 I spent so many years struggling to find work,

00:44 going to meetings, hoping to convince producers

00:51 and filmmakers to give me a chance, to give me a job.

00:56 And oftentimes wondering why I never got the call

01:00 and what I could have done differently.

01:02 Let me tell you, it's not a good feeling, okay?

01:07 It's hard to chase a dream

01:11 when it feels like it might be slipping away.

01:14 So the idea that one day I'd be called an inspiration

01:19 is more than I could have ever hoped for.

01:23 I admit, I still have moments of doubt.

01:28 I still wonder if I deserve all of this.

01:30 Then I meet someone who has been affected by my story

01:36 and I just feel blessed.

01:37 All the struggles that I had was worth it

01:42 if it inspired just one person.

01:44 And I couldn't be more thankful that it has reached so many.

01:48 I've had people stop me on the street

01:51 with tears in their eyes,

01:53 telling me that I helped them through a difficult time,

01:57 that I helped keep them going.

02:01 It means so much to me

02:04 because there were many, many times in my life

02:07 where I needed that exact same encouragement

02:09 and inspiration.

02:11 And all I can tell them is that I was them.

02:16 I was them.

02:21 I know what they were going through.

02:23 You know, it doesn't matter

02:25 whether you're in the film industry,

02:27 you're an activist, an athlete, a school teacher,

02:31 or even if you're just dreaming

02:33 for a better job or a better life.

02:35 Whatever you're fighting for,

02:39 please remember, change doesn't happen in a day.

02:43 Sometimes it takes more than 20 years.

02:50 (audience applauding)

02:53 The Oscars really changed everything for me.

03:02 Doors opened that I never thought

03:04 I would be able to walk through.

03:06 I didn't have to go to a meeting to win a job.

03:11 Filmmakers were looking to work with me.

03:13 Can you believe that?

03:14 Me, they were looking to work with me.

03:17 That's incredible.

03:19 And tonight, another door has opened.

03:22 I am so honored to be part of a community of people

03:27 who are doing just great and amazing things

03:31 to help the world.

03:32 I want to continue to be an inspiration.

03:36 I want to open those doors for other people.

03:40 I cannot believe the journey I am on,

03:45 and I want to bring as many people as I can along with me.

03:50 This, this hasn't been a happy ending to my story.

03:56 This has been a happy new beginning.

04:02 And just like all of you,

04:05 I cannot wait to see where it goes next.

04:09 Thank you so much.

04:10 Thank you.

04:11 Thank you, Amanda.

04:11 Thank you once again for time, for this amazing honor.

04:14 I love you all.

04:15 Thank you. I love Singapore.

04:17 [APPLAUSE]

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