TEDxTeen - Zander Srodes - The Moment It Found Me

Summary

The video is abnormal, and we are working hard to fix it.
Please replace the link and try again.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The speaker recalls a transformative moment at 11 years old when an old lady taught him about the impact of fireworks on sea turtles' vision and behavior.
• 🐢 The old lady, Linda Soderquist, was a sea turtle permit holder and introduced the speaker to the importance of protecting these endangered animals.
• 💡 After learning about sea turtles, the speaker became passionate about conservation and began asking how he could help protect them.
• 📚 The speaker partnered with Linda for over 10 years, creating an activity book to educate kids about sea turtles, which became a global success.
• 🌍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding a passion and acting on it to make a difference, whether it's protecting sea turtles or addressing other global issues.
• 👩‍🏫 Jane Goodall's influence is mentioned, as she found her passion for protecting chimpanzees after a similar pivotal moment in her life.
• 🐢 Another mentor, Jay Wallace Nichols, shared his childhood story of studying turtles, which eventually led to his work tracking leatherback sea turtles across the Pacific Ocean.
• 🧳 The speaker met a woman named Suzanne in Trinidad, who was moved to action after witnessing poachers harming sea turtles as a child.
• 🎮 The speaker criticizes modern distractions, like Netflix and 3D TV, encouraging people to engage with the real world and make a positive impact.
• 🔑 The final challenge to the audience is to seek out their own pivotal moment, find a cause they're passionate about, and take action to make the world a better place.

Q & A

What was the pivotal moment in the speaker's life mentioned in the transcript?

The pivotal moment was when the speaker, at 11 years old, was confronted by an old lady who told him that his fireworks were disrupting sea turtles' ability to navigate back to the ocean. This interaction sparked his lifelong passion for protecting sea turtles.

Who was the 'old lady' mentioned in the story, and why was she important?

The 'old lady' was Linda Soderquist, a state permit holder for sea turtles in that segment of the Florida beach. She played a crucial role in educating the speaker about the importance of protecting sea turtles and became his mentor for over 10 years.

How did the speaker's perspective on sea turtles change after meeting Linda Soderquist?

Initially, the speaker didn’t care about sea turtles or their protection, but after Linda educated him on the subject, he became deeply passionate about helping sea turtles and spent the next 10 years working on their conservation.

What initiatives did the speaker undertake to protect sea turtles?

The speaker began by giving school presentations to educate other kids about sea turtles. He also created an activity book about sea turtles, which has since been printed in five languages and distributed in 20 countries.

How many copies of the activity book about sea turtles have been distributed, and in how many countries?

The activity book has been printed in five languages, and over 250,000 copies have been distributed across 20 countries.

What example does the speaker provide to illustrate a similar 'moment of passion' experienced by Jane Goodall?

The speaker mentions that Jane Goodall, before becoming famous for her work with chimpanzees, had a similar moment when she saw chimpanzees in Africa and knew that she wanted to dedicate her life to protecting them.

Who is Jay Wallace Nichols, and what story did he share with the speaker?

Jay Wallace Nichols is the speaker's mentor who, as a child in Indiana, conducted a population study on freshwater turtles in a pond by marking them. He later put a transmitter on a leatherback sea turtle that traveled across the Pacific Ocean, which the speaker found incredibly inspiring.

What does the speaker suggest is the key to making a difference in the world?

The speaker believes that everyone has a moment when they find something that sparks their passion. He challenges the audience to seek out that moment, as it’s the key to making meaningful change in the world.

How does the speaker reflect on modern distractions like Netflix and video games in relation to taking action?

The speaker humorously admits that he sometimes spends days watching Netflix documentaries. He criticizes how modern technology, like 3D TVs, offers 'virtual experiences' but insists that real experiences and making a difference come from engaging with the world firsthand.

What challenge does the speaker leave the audience with at the end of the presentation?

The speaker challenges the audience to do something they haven't done before, to explore their surroundings with fresh eyes, and to look for opportunities to make a difference in the world.