A man chosen by Time Magazine as one of the most influential people in the world spoke on Wednesday night in John R. Emens Audition.
Geoffrey Canada spoke to a crowd of hundreds of students, faculty, staff and the surrounding Muncie community about his philosophies on leadership.
The event took place in at 7:30 p.m. with a brief introduction from Ball State President Jo Ann Gora.
Canada began by referring to his mention in Time Magazine but quickly changed to talk about his goals throughout his career.
"All I ever wanted to do was save my kids," Canada said. "That's all I ever wanted to do."
Canada gave a brief press conference in downtown Muncie at the Open Door Health Services to answer a few questions about his profession and advice he had for young people.
"You cannot remain on the sidelines and think that someone else is going to solve this," Canada said. "When you're young, you're in school, then you're trying to get through school, then you're trying to get a job. You don't have time to try and fix the world."
Canada said he believes the problems of today are going to be the primary issues today's younger generation will face in the future.
"I'm going to try and encourage folks - even with all that pressure - to try and take care of themselves, to think more broadly that you've got to be a player in your community," Canada said. "If you want to stay in Muncie, if you want to stay in Indiana, you better care whether or not other folks are getting an education and businesses want to come here because they feel like they have an educated work force."
During the event on campus, Canada talked about inspiring people that have touched his life throughout his career, especially when times were tough.
"The work is hard, but it isn't that hard," Canada said comparing his struggles with those of Harriet Tubman.
He also had the chance to meet Stephen Hawking and witnessed a speech Hawking had conducted.
"I wish I had something to say that I thought was so important, that no matter how I looked, I wanted to say it," he said, referring to Hawking.
Many people leaving the event could relate to Canada through education or philosophy on leadership.
"I thought it was fantastic," freshman Olivia Houin said. "I like how he took from other leaders, like Harriet Tubman. He didn't claim to be all that, you know."
Freshman psychology major Jeff Weber found Canada's thoughts on current teachers insightful.
"There's a lot that needs to be changed with the mentality of teachers and the philosophies of teachers," Weber said.
Canada finished the night with a poem he wrote entitled "Take A Stand."
"So you and I we must succeed/In this crusade, this holy deed/To say to the children of this land: Have hope. We're here. We Take A Stand."
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