Be whoever you want at any age | Ishita Katyal | TEDxGateway

Summary

This video script challenges the traditional notion of asking children what they want to be when they grow up, suggesting instead to ask them what they want to do now. The speaker argues that children are capable of achieving great things at a young age and should be encouraged to pursue their dreams and solve real-life problems today, rather than waiting for adulthood. The message emphasizes empowering the new generation to reach their full potential early on, celebrating their milestones, and supporting their vision for a better world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Asking children what they want to be when they grow up may limit their sense of capability and potential in the present.
• 🤔 The question 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' suggests that children should wait until adulthood to pursue their passions.
• 🌱 Children should be encouraged to explore and act on their dreams and abilities now, rather than waiting for adulthood.
• 💭 Age should not be seen as a barrier to achieving great things or making meaningful contributions.
• 🧠 The speaker challenges the traditional understanding of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, suggesting that children should also pursue self-actualization early in life.
• 📚 The speaker shares their own experience of pursuing a passion for writing at a young age, leading to the creation of a book called 'Siman's Diary'.
• 🚀 The speaker emphasizes that many children, like a girl named Lita, are already making significant contributions, such as inventing a low-cost water purifier at age 13.
• 🔍 Instead of asking children about their future aspirations, adults should ask them about their current goals and the real-life problems they aim to solve.
• 🌍 Encouragement should be given to children to think about their vision for a better world and how they can contribute to making it happen.
• 👏 Adults are encouraged to support and celebrate children's achievements, empowering them to progress faster than previous generations.

Q & A

What is the main issue the speaker has with the question, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'?

The speaker believes that this question implies that children should wait until they grow up to pursue their dreams, which underestimates what they are capable of doing today.

How does the speaker suggest adults should approach conversations with young people about their aspirations?

The speaker suggests that instead of asking children what they want to do when they grow up, adults should ask them what they want to do now, what real-life problems they are solving, and their vision for a better world.

According to the speaker, why is it important to encourage children to follow their dreams at a young age?

Encouraging children to follow their dreams at a young age helps them realize their full potential early on and allows them to make significant contributions regardless of their age.

How does the speaker view the concept of age in relation to achieving great things?

The speaker believes that age is just a number and that anyone, regardless of age, is capable of performing great actions and impacting the lives of others.

What does the speaker say about Abraham Maslow's theory in relation to children achieving their full potential?

The speaker references Maslow's hierarchy of needs, suggesting that while parents typically take care of a child's basic and safety needs, the higher needs like esteem and self-actualization should not be delayed until adulthood.

What personal experience does the speaker share to illustrate their point?

The speaker shares their experience of writing a book called 'Siman's Diary' during summer vacations, inspired by their role models—great authors they had read about—even at a young age.

Who is Lita, and how does she exemplify the speaker's message?

Lita is a 13-year-old girl from Orisa who invented a low-cost water purifier. She exemplifies the speaker's message by demonstrating that young people can achieve remarkable things and solve real-world problems.

What does the speaker request from the audience regarding how they engage with young people?

The speaker requests that the audience empower and support young people by celebrating their milestones and encouraging them to take action now, rather than waiting until they grow up.

What is the speaker's vision for how young people should be empowered?

The speaker envisions young people being empowered to go faster and further than any previous generation by receiving support and encouragement to pursue their dreams and solve problems today.

What is the overall message the speaker is trying to convey in their speech?

The overall message is that children should be encouraged to pursue their dreams and make meaningful contributions now, rather than being told to wait until they are adults.