Inside The Mind of A Teenager | Narissa AlDayaa | TEDxChelmsfordHS
Summary
TLDRThe script narrates a personal encounter with a French exchange student in Boston, highlighting the stereotype of 'me-nagers' or 'screenagers' often associated with today's teenagers. It delves into the teenage brain's internal and external sections, illustrating how self-consciousness and societal pressures can lead to anxiety. However, it also showcases the potential of teenagers to overcome obstacles, citing inspiring examples of young individuals who have made significant impacts in various fields, proving that despite challenges, the future is bright for this generation.
Takeaways
- 🌳 The script narrates a personal experience of hosting a French exchange student who was excited to explore Boston during the vibrant fall season.
- 🦆 An awkward moment occurred during a duck tour when the tour guide made a stereotypical comment about teenagers, which the narrator had to explain to their non-English-speaking friend.
- 🧠 The script delves into the teenage brain, dividing it into three parts: internal, external, and a later-discussed 'red' section, to explain teenage behavior and thought processes.
- 🤔 The 'internal' section highlights the self-consciousness and fear of judgment that teenagers often experience, feeling as if they are constantly under scrutiny.
- 🏅 Using the character 'Clementine', the script illustrates how teenagers can be overly critical of themselves, even after achieving success, due to a fear of repeating mistakes.
- 📱 The 'external' section addresses how media and social life can exacerbate teenage anxiety, with constant exposure to news, social media, and peer interactions.
- 🔴 The 'red' part of the brain symbolizes the capacity of teenagers to overcome obstacles, despite internal fears and external pressures.
- 🌟 The script provides inspiring examples of teenagers like Kelvin Doe, Cassandra Lynn, and Malala Yousafzai, who have achieved remarkable feats despite their young age.
- 💪 It concludes by emphasizing that teenagers are capable of innovation, passion, and action, and are not defined by stereotypes such as being lazy or mediocre.
- 🌈 The message encourages viewers to look beyond the surface and support teenagers in their potential to lead and innovate for a better future.
Q & A
What was the main reason for the family to take the French exchange student on a duck tour in Boston?
-They thought the duck tour would be the best option to show her the city, especially during the week in October when the foliage was vibrant and beautiful.
How did the tour guide's comment about 'mean agers' make the speaker feel uncomfortable?
-The speaker felt uncomfortable because the French exchange student didn't understand English well and didn't know she was being stereotyped by the tour guide's comment, which made the speaker have to explain an unintended insult.
What does the term 'screenager' refer to in the context of the script?
-In the script, 'screenager' refers to the stereotype of a generation of teenagers who are perceived as being addicted to screens, seeking instant gratification, and lacking in ambition or effort.
How is the teenage brain described in the script, and what are the three parts mentioned?
-The teenage brain is described as being split into three different parts: the internal section (green), which is about self-perception and self-judgment; the external section (blue), which involves external influences like media and social life; and the red part, which is left for later discussion in the script.
Why does the script mention that teenagers feel like they are constantly being judged?
-Teenagers feel like they are constantly being judged because as they grow into their teenage years, they become more aware of others' opinions and develop a fear of being scrutinized and criticized for their actions.
What example is given to illustrate the internal pressures teenagers face?
-The example given is of a student named Clementine, who after falling during a soccer game, becomes overly self-conscious and afraid to make the same mistake again, illustrating the intense self-judgment and fear of judgment from others.
How does the script suggest that the constant access to information and social media can affect teenagers?
-The script suggests that the constant access to information and social media can lead to anxiety disorders, as teenagers are constantly exposed to news, social comparisons, and public scrutiny, which can be overwhelming.
What is the significance of the red part of the brain in the context of the script?
-The red part of the brain signifies the ability to overcome obstacles and fears. It represents the potential for teenagers to achieve remarkable things despite the internal and external pressures they face.
Can you provide examples of teenagers overcoming challenges as mentioned in the script?
-Examples include Kelvin Doe, who used recycled materials to power buildings in his village; Cassandra Lynn, who turned cooking waste into biofuel; Marley Diaz, who started a movement to promote books with black female protagonists; Greta Thunberg, who advocated for climate change action; Yash Gupta, who distributed glasses to those in need; Nicholas Lowinger, who donated shoes to homeless children; Jack Andraka, who invented an early cancer detection device; and Malala Yousafzai, who advocated for women's education despite facing violence.
What is the main message the speaker wants to convey about teenagers at the end of the script?
-The main message is that teenagers are not lazy, mediocre, or mean-agers. They are passionate, innovative, and capable of taking action to create positive change. The speaker encourages viewers to look beyond stereotypes and support the potential of the younger generation.
Outlines
🌟 'Stereotypes and the Teenage Brain'
This paragraph introduces the speaker's experience hosting a French exchange student who was excited to visit Boston. During a duck tour, the tour guide's comment about 'mean agers' puts the speaker in an awkward position, having to explain to the student what was said. The speaker then transitions into a discussion about the stereotype of teenagers as 'screenagers' who are perceived as lazy and seeking instant gratification. To explore this perception, the speaker proposes to show a brain scan of a 17-year-old, which humorously turns out to be a self-drawn, simplified illustration. The brain is divided into three parts: internal, external, and a mysterious red part left for later discussion. The internal section is linked to the self-consciousness that develops in teenagers, feeling constantly judged and leading to self-reservation.
📱 'The Impact of External Factors on Teenagers'
The second paragraph delves into the external factors affecting teenagers, such as media and social life, which contribute to a constant sense of being watched and judged. The speaker uses the example of 'Clementine,' a high-achieving student who experiences public embarrassment during a soccer game. The incident, when shared on social media, exacerbates her anxiety and fear of judgment. The speaker highlights that 32% of teenagers have an anxiety disorder, emphasizing the significant impact of social media and societal expectations. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's personal experience of overcoming fear to present an idea, leading to a discussion about the red part of the brain that enables teenagers to overcome obstacles. This part of the brain is shown to be capable of remarkable achievements, as exemplified by several young individuals who have made significant contributions to society despite their age.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Exchange Student
💡Foliage
💡Duck Tour
💡Ménager
💡Stereotype
💡Internal Section of the Brain
💡External Section of the Brain
💡Anxiety Disorder
💡Overcoming Obstacles
💡Innovation
💡Generational Action
Highlights
Hosting a French exchange student who is excited about history and visiting Boston during peak foliage season.
Choosing the duck tour as the best option to show the city, securing front row seats.
An uncomfortable situation arises when a tour guide uses the term 'mean agers', which the French student doesn't understand.
The stereotype of teenagers as a generation that expects success without effort and seeks instant gratification.
A brain scan illustration of a 17-year-old, divided into internal, external, and red parts, representing different aspects of teenage life.
The internal section of the brain and the feeling of being constantly judged, leading to self-consciousness.
Clementine, a straight-A student and soccer player, becomes overly self-conscious after a fall during a game.
The prevalence of anxiety disorders among teenagers, with 32% affected, linked to constant exposure to information and judgment.
The external pressures from media, social life, and societal expectations on teenagers.
Clementine's humiliation when a video of her fall goes viral on Barstool Sports fails.
The red part of the brain symbolizes overcoming obstacles, despite internal fears and external judgments.
Examples of teenagers overcoming challenges, including Kelvin Doe's innovation in Sierra Leone and Cassandra Lynn's biofuel project.
Marley Diaz's hashtag campaign promoting books with black female protagonists.
Greta Thunberg's activism on climate change and her speech at the U.N. climate summit at 16.
Yash Gupta's initiative to collect and distribute glasses to those in need after breaking his own glasses.
Nicholas Lowinger's non-profit that donates shoes to homeless children.
Jack Andraka's invention of a device to detect pancreatic cancer early and Malala Yousafzai's advocacy for women's education.
A call to view teenagers not as lazy or mediocre, but as passionate, innovative, and action-oriented individuals who are the future.
An optimistic outlook on the future, emphasizing the potential and positive contributions of teenagers.
Transcripts
foreign
this past October my family was
fortunate enough to host a French
exchange student she's a big history
buff and she was so excited to come see
Boston and she came during the best week
of October when all the foliage was all
like orange and awesome
and we thought that the duck tour would
be the best option to show her the city
so we got front row seats on the duck
tour we went up and she was so excited
and the tour guide looked at us and she
goes
ah
these mean agers up here
oh well it's nice to meet you too I
guess but
I was put in an uncomfortable situation
because here I have this my French buddy
next to me barely speaks English doesn't
know what a me-nager is and she's asking
me what this lady just said and I'm
trying to explain to her that this
random woman that she doesn't know just
insulted her
well I wouldn't say insulted more like
stereotyped
see when people think of today's
teenagers they think me nature
screenager they think of a generation
where everyone wins without work where
mediocrity is satisfaction and where
instant gratification and dopamine
rushes are the drugs that we can't live
without
but why is that why do we why is this
the perception of us and what actually
goes on inside our brains
well to answer that question I'm going
to show you a brain scan of a 17 year
old
I drew it myself
but if we look at it a little bit closer
we can see that the teenage brain is
split into three different parts
the green part is the internal section
the blue part is the external section
and the red part we'll just leave that
one for later
so we can start with the internal
section
which is all about ourselves
because we're massive narcissists no
see when you're a little kid
you don't nobody really judges you
now maybe it's because nobody wants to
judge an adorable little sassy
six-year-old
or maybe it's because that little sassy
six-year-old doesn't really know what
judgment is at all
I mean she could totally sit there and
tell you that your hair is a mess and
that your outfit is absolutely atrocious
even though she's probably wearing green
leggings and a purple tutu herself
um she doesn't really know what it means
to give and receive judgment that's
because developmentally as you grow into
a teenager you suddenly feel as though
you have all these eyes on you all the
time constantly watching you waiting to
pick out at your mistakes and never let
you live them down and these eyes are
constant so we get into our own heads
and we start to reserve ourselves for
fear that these imaginary eyes following
us are going to judge us all the time
so let's take a look at an example of
this
this is Clementine
I gave her that name because I don't
know anybody with that name and I
thought it'd be really weird if I named
her after somebody that I knew
um but that was like my overthinking
um so here we have Clementine
she's a straight A student at her school
for our city soccer player for four
years
and she's just an overall star student
so one day Clementine has a big soccer
game
you know her team is winning by a little
bit and you know the game's almost over
so it's pretty certain that her team's
gonna win but she has this opportunity
to go score a goal I mean like it's
practically open like she's just she
just has to kick it and it's there
so she goes she makes the kick and she
falls flat on her face
now her teammates come they pick her up
and everyone kind of moves on from the
situation but Clementine cannot get over
it
she refuses to watch game footage she
doesn't put herself out there during
practice because she's so in her own
head that this mistake will happen again
that's just too afraid to get back out
there for fear that it'll happen again
because she's got all these judging eyes
following her
now it's not just on the inside that all
this stuff happens but it's also
external
and so this is where we can rope in like
media social life and all things like
that
because of these wonderful magic little
boxes that everybody has that grant us
access to the world's knowledge with
just a touch of a button
it's impossible for anything to get past
this generation I mean the news is
everywhere
your friend who you haven't seen in a
while
she's all over your Tick Tock for you
page with her new friends
and your ex-girlfriend who you didn't
really want to see again yeah her
selfies are plastered to your Instagram
feed
but
question of
of meat knowledge is so constant for the
team for teenagers it leads to 32
percent of teenagers that have some type
of anxiety disorder which is a
mind-boggling statistic let's put it
back in the context of our friend
Clementine so we'll keep basically the
same scenario big soccer game scores the
goal completely eats it in front of the
whole school
but this time
you know after the game she starts to
get over a little bit her school's
hyping her up and she starts to feel
pretty good about herself
until one day in class
somebody comes up and shows her a video
the video of her face planting during
the soccer game
edited
and posted to Barstool Sports fails
now the video is getting so much
attention hundreds of thousands of views
likes comments and Clementine is
mortified because to her one of the most
humiliating moments that she's ever seen
is plastered on the internet for
everyone to see
and it's not just on social media that
this stuff happens as much as your mom
might tell you that social media is not
great you should probably get off of it
this stuff does happen in real world
scenarios too because believe it or not
teenagers can still actually have
face-to-face conversations
things like expect
things like expectations of getting into
colleges
are put a lot of stress on teenagers
things like trying to fit into clicks at
school
even things like
standing on stage in front of a bunch of
people that you don't really know
presenting an idea that you thought was
cool and hoping that they laughed at all
your jokes
oh thank you
but I mean I'm still up here presenting
my idea I thought that was cool even
though everything in my brain was
telling me to be too afraid to
I still did it and that brings us to the
red part of the brain which is
overcoming obstacles every teenager has
this part of their brain even though
on the inside our brain is telling us
don't do it it's embarrassing you'll be
judged someone's watching you someone's
going to make fun of you
that's not always the case and let's
take a look at a few examples
this kid he's from Sierra Leone his name
is Kelvin doe after a violent Civil War
in his country when he was just 11 years
old he started fixing technological
problems in his village
and by age 13 he was powering buildings
with batteries that he made out of
recycled material materials like soda
acid and metal from tin cans
and this girl her name is Cassandra Lynn
and when she was in fifth grade she
discovered that cooking waste can be
turned into biofuel so she went around
to local restaurants and convinced them
to donate all their cooking waste
to be recycled and then later started
project TGIF which stands for turn
grease into fuel
Marley Diaz at 11 years old she was the
master of mine behind the Twitter
phenomenon hashtag one thousand black
girls books which ended which resulted
in cataloging over 10 000 books with
black female protagonists
Greta thundberg preached to Sweden to
the Swedish government about to do more
about climate change
and spoke at the U.N climate Summit AT
just 16 years old
Yash Gupta
after breaking his glasses at 14 years
old and having to wait a week for a
replacement he started his sight
learning organization and has collected
and distributed 1.5 million dollars
worth of glasses to people in need
Nicholas lowinger started the non-profit
gotta have a soul at 12 years old and
has donated over or just about 100
000 pairs of shoes to kids in homeless
shelters
and Jack Andraka who in high school
invented a device that can sense
pancreatic cancer and other forms of
cancer early
and finally someone who I know we've all
heard of because she was just at the
Oscars
Malala yousafzai
who was an advocate for women's
education and was shot by the Taliban
three times but she survived finished
her degree and continues working with
her non-profit the Malala fund and was
just nominated for an Oscar for her
short film stranger at the gate
now these 18s are an example that this
part of our brain that allows us to
overcome our fears can do remarkable
things
teenagers are the world's next
generation of adults
we are going to be the ones to lead the
world into a better place for future
Generations
sure we might be moody now
we might argue with you now and even
right now we might not have fully
developed prefrontal cortexes but we are
capable of amazing things and those
eight examples were proof of it
so take a second to look inside a
teenager's mind and build them up
because we are not mean agers we're not
lazy and we are not mediocre we're
passionate we're Innovative and we are a
generation that takes action
teenagers are the future if you're going
to take it from me the future is bright
thank you
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