The Freedom of Being a Beginner | Rachel Amanda | TEDxUniversitasIndonesia

Summary

The speaker reflects on their journey through acting, personal growth, and the challenges of stepping into the unknown. From their childhood experiences with acting to pursuing a master's in entertainment communication, they share how they navigated failure, vulnerability, and the process of learning. They highlight the importance of embracing incompetence as a stepping stone for growth and how stepping out of their comfort zone allowed them to rediscover themselves. The speaker encourages others to embrace being beginners in various aspects of life and emphasizes that learning, rather than perfection, leads to true progress.

Takeaways

• 😀 The journey of self-discovery is often uncomfortable but ultimately rewarding. The speaker highlights that embracing challenges and failure is key to personal growth.
• 🎬 Acting became the speaker's 'playground' from a very young age, and they discovered their love for it unexpectedly, even though their family had no prior experience in the entertainment industry.
• 🎭 The speaker reflects on the freedom of acting, where they could live out different lives without real-world consequences, such as playing a villain or a big sister.
• 💪 The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a broad perspective, which they learned early on from their parents, guiding them to stay grounded despite public recognition.
• 📚 Despite being an actress, the speaker also excelled in academics and was encouraged to pursue higher education, realizing the importance of learning beyond the entertainment industry.
• 🔄 The speaker faced a major identity crisis, feeling that acting was their only worth. This led them to explore new paths and embrace the process of learning again, starting from zero.
• 🌍 The speaker chose to pursue a master's degree in entertainment communication, stepping into an unfamiliar world and learning to navigate new challenges, like writing in English and adjusting to different academic standards.
• 💔 Failure played a major role in the speaker’s journey. After failing a key test to start their master's program, they had to overcome initial disappointment and try again, eventually succeeding on the second attempt.
• 🧘‍♀️ The speaker found freedom in anonymity during their time in Amsterdam. Living without the pressures of public expectations helped them see themselves more clearly and embrace being a beginner in many areas.
• 🔓 Embracing incompetence is a powerful learning tool. The speaker learned that it’s okay not to be perfect and that vulnerability and mistakes are part of the growth process. This perspective helped them grow in areas outside of acting.
• 🚀 The speaker encourages others to also embrace being a beginner, acknowledging that no one is an expert at everything. The most liberating thing to say is, 'I'm learning,' not 'I'm an expert.'

Q & A

What is the central theme of the speaker's journey in the script?

The central theme is about personal growth, embracing vulnerability, and stepping beyond the defined roles and identities that we might be assigned. The speaker reflects on their journey from acting to pursuing academic studies and how embracing being a 'beginner' in new areas is both liberating and essential for growth.

How did the speaker’s acting career begin, and what significance does this have?

The speaker's acting career began at the age of two, which they describe as a 'playground' rather than child labor. This early exposure to acting was significant because it shaped their identity, but it also led them to question later in life whether acting was their only role or if they could evolve beyond it.

What conflict did the speaker experience regarding their identity?

The speaker struggled with the conflict of being defined solely as an actress. They realized that their identity was becoming too narrow and that they were more than just the roles they played. This led to a period of introspection and exploration of other areas of life, particularly education and media psychology.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of being a 'beginner'?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of being a beginner because it allows for growth, learning, and vulnerability. They found freedom in starting over and accepting that not being an expert at something new is not a weakness but an opportunity to evolve and give oneself permission to fail.

How did the speaker's experience in Amsterdam challenge them?

In Amsterdam, the speaker faced challenges of studying in a foreign language and culture while being away from home. They also failed an academic test on their first attempt, which was a huge setback. This experience tested their resilience and led them to reflect on the pressure of perfectionism.

What role did family and mentors play in the speaker's journey?

The speaker credits their family and mentors for providing guidance and support. Their parents, in particular, helped keep them grounded despite being in the entertainment industry. This support allowed the speaker to excel academically and find balance between their professional and personal life.

What does the speaker mean by 'the real achievement wasn't in the ceremony'?

The speaker reflects on the fact that the true victory in their journey wasn’t in completing their master's degree or receiving a certificate. Instead, it was in the struggles, growth, and discoveries made along the way, which they believe are the real markers of success.

How does the speaker view the idea of perfection in today’s society?

The speaker critiques the societal pressure of perfection, particularly in the age of social media where everything seems curated and effortless. They suggest that this illusion of perfection is damaging and that it’s okay to embrace failure and imperfection as part of the learning process.

What is the significance of the speaker's husband’s advice about incompetence?

The speaker’s husband advised them that their incompetence in the media industry was not a weakness, but an invitation to grow. The advice reinforced the idea that being open about not knowing something and being vulnerable in our learning is not only okay but essential for development.

What is the main message the speaker hopes to convey to the audience?

The main message is to embrace the beginner’s mindset and recognize that vulnerability and incompetence are key to growth. The speaker encourages the audience to step beyond their comfort zones, accept failure, and allow themselves to be learners throughout their lives.