What makes you special? | Mariana Atencio | TEDxUniversityofNevada

Summary

The speaker, a journalist, shares her journey from Venezuela to the US, highlighting the challenges of being an outsider and the power of embracing differences. Through personal anecdotes, including her sister's accident and recovery, she emphasizes the importance of seeing beyond labels and celebrating the unique qualities that make us human.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The speaker's journey began in Venezuela with a desire for a broader worldview instilled by her parents, emphasizing the importance of cultural exposure from a young age.
• 🏕️ An unexpected summer camp experience in Minnesota taught the speaker about the challenges and rewards of adapting to a completely different environment and culture.
• 👧 The initial feeling of being different and the struggle to fit in were significant, but also served as a catalyst for personal growth and understanding of diversity.
• 🤝 The value of making connections and friendships despite differences was highlighted as a special reward that comes with embracing diversity.
• 🏫 High school in Connecticut introduced further lessons about the complexities of fitting in and the realization of one's own biases when encountering someone different.
• 🧕 The roommate from Bahrain, Fatima, became a pivotal point of self-reflection, leading to the understanding that labeling someone as different can dehumanize them.
• 💃 A talent show experience helped the speaker recognize her own uniqueness and prompted a reevaluation of her earlier judgment of Fatima.
• 📝 The act of writing down what makes one special or different is a first step towards self-acceptance and appreciation of others' uniqueness.
• 📰 The speaker's career choice as a journalist was influenced by her experiences and the desire to change negative perceptions about her home country and people from 'the other'.
• 🌉 Becoming an immigrant in the U.S. and covering significant events like the Obama election and Trump's presidency provided insights into the complexities of race and identity in America.
• 🤔 The importance of dialogue and understanding different perspectives to avoid repeating mistakes and foster inclusivity was underscored through personal and professional experiences.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 The story of the undocumented girl, Angelina, illustrated the human impact of political decisions and the speaker's role in giving voice to the marginalized.
• 🚗 A personal tragedy involving the speaker's sister underscored the societal tendency to define people by their differences, rather than their abilities or character.
• 🌈 The sister's recovery journey highlighted the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of not allowing differences to define one's identity.
• 🌟 The speaker's experiences and reflections encourage embracing and celebrating our differences as integral parts of our humanity and success.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood experience in the United States summer camp?

The speaker, Mariana, was sent to a summer camp in Brainerd, Minnesota at the age of seven. She experienced culture shock due to the language barrier and the differences in appearance, which led to her feeling different and initially struggling to fit in.

How did the children at the summer camp react to Mariana and her sister?

The children at the camp looked at Mariana and her sister as if they were from another planet, asking them questions that revealed their curiosity and lack of understanding about their background, such as if they knew what a hamburger was or if they went to school on a donkey or a canoe.

What did Mariana learn from her experiences at the summer camp and later in high school?

Mariana learned the importance of embracing differences and the effort it takes to belong when you are seen as different. She also realized the impact of labeling someone as 'the other' and how it can dehumanize them.

What was the significance of the 'summer camp experiment' for Mariana?

The 'summer camp experiment' was significant for Mariana as it exposed her to different cultures and ways of life for eight years in various cities. It taught her about the value of making connections with others despite cultural differences.

How did Mariana's high school experience differ from her expectations?

Mariana expected a typical American high school experience similar to what she saw on TV shows like 'Saved by the Bell'. However, she was surprised to find her roommate, Fatima, was a Muslim from Bahrain, which initially made her feel disappointed as she wanted to fit in with the popular crowd.

What was the turning point for Mariana in terms of her understanding of the value of differences?

The turning point for Mariana was when she participated in a talent show at her high school and offered a dance class, which was well-received. This made her feel special and led her to reconsider her initial judgment of Fatima, realizing that she too had something special to offer.

Why did Mariana decide to become a journalist?

Mariana decided to become a journalist because of her unique experiences and sensibility gained from navigating different cultures and languages. She wanted to change the negative perceptions about her part of the world and tell stories that are often overlooked.

What was the impact of the Venezuelan government shutting down the largest television station on Mariana's career?

The shutdown of the largest television station in Venezuela due to government censorship forced Mariana to leave her country. It was a realization of the future her father had been preparing her for, leading her to move to the United States in 2008.

How did Mariana's perspective on diversity and inclusion change after covering the 2016 U.S. presidential election?

After covering the 2016 election, Mariana saw that despite the historic nature of Barack Obama's presidency, racial tensions and the perception of 'the other' persisted. The election of Donald Trump highlighted the divide and the need for dialogue and understanding.

What was the most challenging experience Mariana faced in her personal life, and what did it teach her?

The most challenging experience Mariana faced was her sister's severe car accident, which left her unable to walk. This ordeal taught Mariana that some differences are difficult to embrace, but it's important not to let them define you.

What message does Mariana want to convey to the audience with her story?

Mariana wants to convey the message that everyone's differences should be celebrated and that there is no claim on the word 'normal'. She encourages people to be curious about others' unique traits and to stand up for the human race, being humanists above all else.