Befriend Yourself | Nivetha Thomas | TEDxOMCH

Summary

Nevada Thomas shares her journey from childhood to adulthood, highlighting the challenges of balancing school and acting career. She discusses her cultural roots, the importance of holistic education, and the support from her school and family. Thomas also reflects on her college experience in architecture, the internal struggles, and how she overcame them. She emphasizes the significance of self-belief, the impact of people in her life, and her aspirations to portray diverse characters in cinema.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The speaker, Nevada Thomas, emphasizes the rapid pace of life and the importance of taking time to reflect on past experiences.
• 🌟 Nevada shares her multicultural background, highlighting the significance of cultural integration and how it shapes her identity.
• 🏫 She discusses the challenges of balancing school and work from a young age, and the support she received from various people in her life.
• 🎓 Nevada reminisces about her school days and how they laid the foundation for her character and personality.
• 🏆 A pivotal moment in her school life was when she received an award for her first film, which was a validation of her hard work and the support of her school.
• 🤔 After finishing high school, Nevada faced the difficult question of what to do next, which she describes as a 'danger zone' that many students experience.
• 🎬 She chose to pursue both acting and studying, which was a challenging decision that required managing her time and energy carefully.
• 🏛️ College life was a significant transition for Nevada, offering new freedoms and responsibilities, and it was a period of intense learning about herself.
• 🏗️ The struggle of studying architecture while acting was taxing, and she had to deal with stress, self-doubt, and the pressure of meeting expectations.
• 💪 Despite the internal struggles, Nevada found strength in the support of her family, friends, and the faith she had in herself.
• 🌐 She believes in the importance of people and interaction, and as an actor, she feels privileged to portray different characters and have a societal impact.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Nevada Thomas' speech?

The main theme of Nevada Thomas' speech is the importance of balancing multiple aspects of life, such as work and education, and the challenges and growth that come from such experiences.

How does Nevada Thomas describe her experience growing up in China City?

Nevada Thomas describes her upbringing in China City as beautiful, but she also emphasizes her strong connection to her homeland Kerala, highlighting her cultural integration and the influence of both places on her identity.

What challenges did Nevada Thomas face in school?

Nevada Thomas faced challenges in school such as attending classes infrequently due to work commitments, the pressure of keeping up with classwork, and the struggle to balance her acting career with her studies.

How did Nevada Thomas' school support her acting career?

Nevada's school was very supportive of her acting career. Her principal, Brother George, was particularly encouraging and even seemed to look forward to her returning to work.

What was the significance of the Kerala State Award for Nevada Thomas?

The Kerala State Award was significant for Nevada Thomas because it was her first film award and it was announced by her principal at school, which made the moment of recognition very special and memorable for her.

Why did Nevada Thomas decide to continue working while studying in college?

Nevada Thomas decided to continue working while studying in college because she had been doing both for most of her life and couldn't imagine choosing just one over the other.

What was Nevada Thomas' major in college?

Nevada Thomas pursued a degree in architecture for five years in college.

What difficulties did Nevada Thomas encounter while studying architecture?

Nevada Thomas struggled with managing minimum attendance, performing well academically, completing designs on time, and balancing her acting career with her studies while studying architecture.

How did Nevada Thomas cope with the stress and challenges during her college years?

Nevada Thomas coped with stress and challenges by finding support in her family, friends, and the appreciation she received for her work in films. She also found strength in her faith and her own self-belief.

What life lessons did Nevada Thomas learn from her experiences?

Nevada Thomas learned the importance of self-belief, the value of constructive criticism, and the acceptance of her own perfection with flaws. She also realized the importance of people and interactions in overcoming life's challenges.

What is Nevada Thomas' dream in terms of her acting career?

Nevada Thomas' dream is to portray different characters and experiences through cinema, aiming to have a positive impact on society without causing harm.