UNTITLED (Cause I Have a Long Way to Go) | Vanshika Digania | TEDxYouth@BVBRaipur

Summary

This inspiring speech narrates the journey of a young girl who transitions from a routine high school life to a dynamic world of innovation and exploration. She shares her experiences at national and international fairs, where she encountered groundbreaking ideas and extraordinary individuals, leading to profound realizations. The speaker offers three 'magic potions': breaking the loop, exploring new opportunities, and mastering time management. She emphasizes the importance of stepping out of comfort zones, embracing challenges, and enjoying life's journey while continuously growing and discovering one's potential.

Takeaways

• 🔄 Life can sometimes feel monotonous and repetitive, like a stuck snooze alarm or a remote control on repeat.
• 🌟 Exposure to diverse and accomplished individuals at events like fairs in Delhi and Dallas can be a wake-up call to the breadth of possibilities beyond school.
• 📚 The speaker's realization that school is not just about passing exams, but also about discovering one's potential and interests.
• 💡 The importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone to experience growth and the 'sweet nectar of discomfort'.
• 🔑 Three 'magic potions' or secrets are offered for transforming a normal teenager into one who makes a dynamic impact on the world.
• 🛑 The first 'magic potion' is to 'break the loop' of routine and monotony by trying new things and taking up opportunities.
• 🔎 The second 'magic potion' is 'explore', encouraging the audience to seek out and engage with a variety of experiences and fields.
• 🕰 The third 'magic potion' is 'time management', emphasizing the art of training one's mind to adapt and manage various tasks effectively.
• 🎯 The value of finding and pursuing one's passion, like a captivating view on a road trip, as the ultimate goal of exploration.
• ⏳ Time is a powerful player in personal development, and managing it well can lead to a balanced life of academics, research, and social activities.
• 🚀 Taking chances and not being afraid to venture into new fields is crucial, as it can lead to unexpected moments of shining success.
• 🎉 Maintaining a balance between serious pursuits and having fun is essential, as the speaker emphasizes enjoying life while exploring personal growth.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speech?

The main theme of the speech is about breaking out of routine life, exploring new opportunities, and finding one's potential.

How does the speaker describe her initial perception of life?

The speaker initially describes life as a series of snooze alarms, with the same routine repeating day after day, and life's remote control stuck on repeat.

What was the speaker's experience at the national fair in Delhi?

The speaker was overwhelmed by the talent and achievements of people in their respective fields at the national fair in Delhi, realizing that she had only been focused on school examinations.

What was the significance of the international fair in Dallas, Texas for the speaker?

The international fair in Dallas exposed the speaker to the best minds from around the world, inspiring her with their groundbreaking ideas and projects, and showing her the importance of mutual respect and admiration among peers.

What is the first 'magic potion' or piece of advice the speaker offers?

The first 'magic potion' is to 'break the loop', encouraging the audience to step out of their monotonous routines and start exploring new experiences.

What does the speaker suggest as a method to transform a normal life into a dynamic one?

The speaker suggests exploring new things, taking up opportunities, and being open to trying different activities as a way to transform a normal life into a dynamic one.

How does the speaker relate the high school journey to a road trip?

The speaker compares the high school journey to a road trip, where one explores different paths, meets new people, and discovers their true interests and passions.

What is the third 'magic potion' the speaker introduces?

The third 'magic potion' is time management, which the speaker refers to as an art that involves training one's mind to adapt to different situations and tasks.

What is the speaker's perspective on the importance of enjoying life while pursuing personal growth?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of having fun and not sacrificing social activities or hobbies while exploring and growing, as enjoyment is an integral part of life.

Why does the speaker choose to leave the title of her narrative 'untitled'?

The speaker leaves her narrative 'untitled' because she believes her story is still unfolding and she does not want to encapsulate it in a final title.

What is the speaker's approach to managing her time effectively?

The speaker's approach to time management involves training her mind to adapt flexibly to different tasks and situations, which she refers to as the 'mind groove'.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Growth

The speaker begins by relating to the audience's experience of feeling stuck in life's routine, using the metaphor of a snooze alarm. She then shares her personal transformation from a high school student to someone who has experienced the world beyond her comfort zone. The speaker's journey includes attending a national fair in Delhi and an international fair in Dallas, Texas, where she was inspired by the innovative work and diverse ideas of people from around the world. She emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth. The speaker offers three 'magic potions' for personal transformation and invites the audience to join her on this journey of discovery.

05:03

🚀 Breaking Monotony and Embracing Exploration

In this paragraph, the speaker discusses the importance of breaking the monotony of life by trying out new things and taking up opportunities. She encourages the audience to explore their interests and passions, using the metaphor of a road trip to describe the high school journey as an opportunity to navigate through a landscape of possibilities. The speaker shares her own experiences of exploring various fields, from investment competitions to animation and graphics, to explain complex scientific concepts. She emphasizes that exploration is about finding one's true calling and suggests that high school is a time to enjoy the journey and ultimately choose the path that leads to one's personal summit.

10:06

⏰ The Art of Time Management and the Power of Taking Chances

The speaker focuses on the third 'magic potion': time management. She argues that managing time is an art that requires training the mind to adapt to different situations, which she refers to as the 'mind groove.' The speaker shares her own methods of managing time effectively, balancing academics, research, and social life. She advises the audience to not avoid opportunities, to not be fearful of trying new things, and to take chances, even if they might not be perfect at everything. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of having fun and not sacrificing enjoyment for success, concluding with the idea that life is a beautiful game to be enjoyed.

Keywords

💡Routine

Routine refers to a sequence of actions regularly followed; it is the customary or usual way of doing things. In the video, the concept of routine is used to describe the monotonous life that the speaker felt trapped in, with the metaphor of a 'snooze alarm' to illustrate the repetitive nature of daily life. The speaker encourages breaking away from this routine to explore new experiences and opportunities.

💡Metamorphoses

Metamorphoses is a term that refers to a transformation or a series of transformations. In the context of the video, it symbolizes the personal growth and development that the speaker underwent, moving from a passive observer to an active participant in life's 'world of brilliance.' The speaker's journey from high school to international fairs represents a metamorphosis in perspective and experience.

💡Discomfort

Discomfort in this video is used to describe the unease or distress caused by stepping outside of one's comfort zone. The speaker initially feared the discomfort that comes with change but later embraced it as a catalyst for growth. The 'sweetest nectar of growth' metaphor highlights the positive outcome of overcoming initial discomfort.

💡Takeaways

Takeaways are the lessons or insights gained from an experience. The speaker offers 'takeaways' from her journey, which are key learnings that have changed her perspective. These takeaways serve as advice for the audience, encouraging them to break the loop of routine, explore new opportunities, and manage time effectively.

💡Explore

To explore means to discover or investigate. In the video, exploring is presented as the second 'magic potion' for personal transformation. The speaker emphasizes the importance of trying new things, taking up opportunities, and being open to various experiences to break the monotony of life and discover one's potential.

💡Opportunities

Opportunities are chances or situations in which something can be done. The video script mentions seizing opportunities as a way to transform a normal life into a dynamic one. Examples from the script include attending international fairs and engaging in groundbreaking research, which are opportunities that allowed the speaker to grow and excel.

💡Time Management

Time management is the process of planning and controlling how much time is spent on specific activities to increase efficiency or productivity. The speaker discusses time management as a crucial skill, using the term 'mind groove' to describe the mental flexibility required to switch between different tasks and manage time effectively.

💡Mind Groove

Mind groove, a term coined by the speaker, refers to the ability to mentally adapt and adjust to different situations or tasks. It is presented as a strategy for effective time management, where one trains their mind to switch between various activities, such as from attending a party to studying philosophy, with ease and efficiency.

💡Chance

Taking a chance implies risking an action without knowing the outcome but with the potential for a positive result. The speaker encourages the audience to take chances, suggesting that it is through such risks that one might discover their moment to shine or achieve something extraordinary.

💡Enjoyment

Enjoyment is the state or process of taking pleasure in doing something. The video emphasizes the importance of having fun and not sacrificing social activities or hobbies for success. The speaker's narrative includes enjoying life while exploring and growing, suggesting that enjoyment is an integral part of the journey.

💡Untitled

The term 'untitled' in the context of the video refers to the speaker's narrative or life story not being complete or finalized. By choosing to leave the narrative 'untitled,' the speaker conveys that their story is ongoing, with many chapters yet to be written, reflecting a mindset of continuous growth and development.

Highlights

Life can feel like a repetitive routine, like a snooze alarm going off every day.

Attending a national fair in Delhi opened the speaker's eyes to the amazing achievements of people in various fields.

The speaker felt inspired by the depth of knowledge and innovative work she witnessed at the fair.

A trip to an international fair in Dallas, Texas exposed the speaker to brilliant minds from over 80 countries.

At the Dallas fair, the speaker was amazed by the diverse and impactful projects people were working on.

The mutual respect and admiration among extraordinary individuals at the fair deeply impressed the speaker.

The speaker realized stepping out of her comfort zone led to tremendous growth and new perspectives.

Three 'magic potions' or key insights from the speaker's journey are shared to help listeners transform their lives.

Breaking the loop of monotony and trying new things is the first magic potion to a dynamic life.

Exploring new opportunities and being open to different experiences is the second magic potion.

The speaker humorously references Taylor Swift and Tom and Jerry to illustrate the endless opportunities available for exploration.

High school is compared to a vast landscape waiting to be explored, with many paths to discover.

Time management is the third magic potion, described as an art that requires mental training and flexibility.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of not avoiding opportunities and being fearless in trying new things.

Taking chances and dancing to one's own beat in life is encouraged as a way to find personal success.

Maintaining fun and enjoyment in life while pursuing goals and exploration is highlighted as crucial.

The speaker leaves her narrative 'untitled', signifying that her story and journey are still unfolding.

The audience is thanked for being part of the speaker's ongoing story, with an open-ended conclusion.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Ha Phan Reviewer: Walaa Mohammed

Ever felt like. Life is a series of snooze alarm,

waking up to the same routine day after day.

Or perhaps ever felt that life's remote control is stuck on repeat,

offering you the same episode every day?

Well, I was this random schoolgirl surviving through

the corridors of high school a year back,

until the universe decides to shake things up a little bit.

First up, my friends, goes back.

When I went to Delhi for this national fair,

I was overwhelmed to see how people were so amazing in their fields.

They had done so much work, their depth of knowledge, their work spoke volumes,

and all I'd been doing these years was simply trying to talk my school

examinations. And these people, they were doing some real cool stuff.

But hold on, the plot thickens here.

Let's fast forward to Dallas, Texas,

where I went for an international fair again. Those seven days, there I was.

It was beautiful. You know what the best thing about this fair was?

When I was at Dallas, I was in a room of people,

the best of the best minds from around the world, more than 80 plus countries,

more than 1600 people. And their ideas were simply awestruck. And you know what?

They from finding biomarkers for suicide, to say,

creating AI assistance for osteoarthritis, to say,

modeling brain network dynamics for people with autism.

They had done work in various fields.

And the even cooler thing about this fair was

I had never met these people before in my life anytime.

Yet each one of them knew that the other person was extraordinary

and had done something extraordinary in their own fields,

and saw the other person with the same mutual respect and admiration.

That was beautiful for me a year back.

I was so naive, thinking that

the simple thought of going out of my comfort zone would shear strain down my

spines. But today I'm savoring the taste of discomfort as

the sweetest nectar of growth.

So, my friends, here I am to offer you some takeaways in my journey that changed

my perspective. Here's the real revelation I wasn't just

a spectator in this world of brilliance.

Instead, I became a participant soon,

from the halls of Delhi to the grand stage in Delhi's.

The series of Metamorphoses lies in a series of profound realizations.

And here I am to offer you three magic potions that can help you transform

a normal teenager into a dynamic one who the world adores.

So the secrets are to be revealed. Buckle up, my friends. It's about to get real.

So no one told you life was gonna be this way. Your job's a joke. You're broke.

Your love lies to you. It's like you're always stuck in second gear.

When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year.

But I'll be there for you to. Nah nah nah nah nah.

I'm so poor at this, I know,

but I can definitely see my friends from out there giving me the biggest,

proudest smiles. Thank you for that.

So how many of you, if you heard me right,

how many of you feel that your life is sometimes stuck in second gear?

Well, I feel it most of the time. Thank you.

I think what we are told all these years, the 12 years of our life,

is all we have to do from class one to

the end of our senior year is probably get up early, go to school, come back,

do a course, get to bed, and then get up early again. Ta da!

For 12 years, that is what we have to do.

12 years, which is 4383 days, approximately 20% of your whole life.

We're doing the same thing as if that is our life. And I agree that makes sense.

But what I believe and what I gained out of my experience is that this is

the period for you to get to know your potential.

So my first magic potion for you all.

Here it is, my friends, you need to break the loop.

When we are in school, we are competing in a small group of people.

But as we complete our senior year class 12,

we are thrown out in the world as if life be like now compete and show me your

a game. Ta da!

Well.

I don't think that is fair.

When I came back from Dallas,

I had made my mind that I'm not going to be doing the same thing, same.

And again, people, young minds are met there from around the world.

They were doing so much more.

They were doing groundbreaking research, handling their academics,

perhaps running their own businesses. One person was literally doing everything.

So here's the catch, my friends.

If you want to transform your normal life into a dynamic one, if you see me here,

you need to break the monotony of your life. And how do you do that?

You do that by trying out new things.

You do that by taking up opportunities, by being greedy for it.

I said try out new things. That is “explore”. That is the word, my friend.

And that is the second magic potion that I offer to all of you.

Well, let me ask this. How many of you are a Swifty out here? Come on.

Well, I am a big Taylor fan.

Do you know that there are international universities out there offering

Taylor Swift courses? I mean, that is so cool.

And I know all of us have played this game in our childhood.

The Tom and Jerry one, which we call Pakdam Pakdai in Hindi,

which is simply to catch the other person around.

Do you know that there is an international big league called

as the world Chase tag simply to catch the other person around?

I mean, the opportunities are endless, my friends.

All we have to do is explore and recognize the one which was made

for us. I got the opportunity to be at this university in Bhopal.

I went to Dallas. I went recently to IIT Guwahati just to recognize what is out

there. I was exploring, I had tried different things like an investment,

competition and then something totally different,

like doing animations and graphics to explain a really tough science

and math concept just to explore.

You know what,

exploring is like a road trip.

Your high school journey is like a vast landscape waiting to be explored.

It's like embarking on this beautiful road trip you come across

and navigate through the terrain of possibilities.

You join different clubs, meet new people, and do different and crazy stuff.

And like the finding trails in a hike.

And now imagine in this road trip, you come across this beautiful overlook,

something that truly captivates you, that is truly resonating to you.

That is the moment, my friends,

where you realize something that is truly made for you.

Now by the end of the road trip.

By the end of your high school journey, you're at crossroads.

Now you've explored different paths,

and now you've got to decide which one to venture further.

One that is truly made for you.

This is the time where you zero on that breathtaking view you saw earlier,

the one you discovered earlier.

So my friend, the point that I'm trying to make here is that high school

or afterlife is not a journey, not a destination to reach.

Rather, it's a beautiful landscape to be explored, enjoy the journey,

and then ultimately find the trail that leads to your own personal summit.

A little too heavy, huh? Well, in this case, there is one player who plays it.

Well, subtly, but very powerful. It is time.

And here I give you my third magic potion. People. Time management.

I know, I know, you've heard a lot about it.

People talking about how to manage time.

Well, let me tell you, it is an art not a lot of people can do.

And my friends really adore the way I manage time.

But I'm not bragging about it. Maybe a little. But yes, they do.

They feel that I manage my academics, I manage my groundbreaking research work,

and also attend all the birthday parties and outings. I don't miss on that.

So how do you manage time?

Well, the trick here is it’s all in the mind.

Your mind is the master. You need to start training your mind in order to

manage the time. But how do you do that? That's the answer we need. Vanshika.

So I call this trick the mind groove.

Just like you change your step to different songs,

you need to make your mind.

You need to train your mind to adapt to different situations flexibly.

It's like, say, suppose you are at this birthday party

and then someone suddenly picks you up and throws you in your PJs at your home

and says that now you got to study philosophy.

So you need to train your mind to switch its mood and its natural rhythm

and groove to different tasks differently. That's how you do it.

And if I talk about how do you exactly manage time other than this?

Well, the very simple answer to this very complicated question is that it's not

a very good question to ask,

because the only way you can do this is by start doing it.

The only way you can manage time is by start managing it.

I can tell you, and I can give you a list of reasons how you can do that.

But you won't be able to do that until you start doing it.

You need to make a start point.

Three things, my friends.

First, don't avoid opportunities when they hit your door.

Make sure you welcome them well,

let things in and then you see you automatically arrange

the time to handle those tasks.

Second, my friends, don't be fearful to take up opportunities.

I know a lot of us feel insecure,

and because we are naive in entering a new field about doing something new,

because we feel there are people who have already excelled in that.

I used to feel that myself,

but you never know what could be your moment to shine as a shining star in

the crowd. And third, and the most important one take a chance.

Because after all, at the end of the day, not all of us are good dancers, right?

But we do. And make our own hook step right to our own songs, to our own beats.

That's what we have to do.

And now here I am offering you another extra piece of magic potion.

This genie has got you an extra one. And this is my favorite. I'm sorry.

Parents, this is necessary. Have fun.

If you think it takes all the sacrifices to give up on social media,

to give up on binge watching,

to be a child who has probably won some international awards

and is standing in front of you narrating her narrative.

I did not do any of these.

I still have a lot of fun,

and I'll always be having fun while I'm exploring the landscape of my life.

Let me tell you, friends, you don't have to isolate yourself.

You don't have to sacrifice all of these.

Sit back, loosen up yourself, and enjoy this beautiful game called life.

Well, before I conclude, here is the last thing I promise. The last one.

Do you remember the first slide of my PPD ? Wait, let me help you out. This.

What is that? What are you trying to tell ?

That you don't have a title to your speech?

Well, I think this is the title to my speech.

Yes, with a little bit of addition.

If I do tell, if I were to call my narrative today something,

I would call it untitled, because I still have got a long way to go.

I refuse to encapsulate my story in a title because title is not final.

It is just a placeholder. And I'm still writing my story.

I'm still unfolding the chapters of my life.

So you got to wait till the next sequel comes.

I'll leave the story open ended here. See you all. Until next time.

Thank you for being the lovely audience.