“Nothing in life is for free.” This makes sense given the capitalistic nature of the world we are living in currently. Yet there are fantastic resources online that will not cost you a single rupee and help you learn about a variety of topics, give you an insight into how the world functions and empower you with skills to conquer that world.
TED(an acronym of Technology, Education and Design) started in 1984, five years before the beginning of the worldwide web. It started as a conference in California organized by Richard Saul Wurman who invited people t began as a conference in Monterrey, California, organized by architect Richard Saul Wurman giving brilliant and accomplished people a stage to talk about things that fascinated them.
Today, TED has evolved to be an entity under which any educational institute can hold a talk, known as TEDx, and invite individuals that are deemed as inspiring to talk about their personal and professional journeys.
TED talks are particularly inspiring for students and teenagers. A teenager’s mind is flexible and dynamic, and given the right direction, it can do wonders to that teenager and help him contribute to his society in a positive meaningful way.
So if you are a student who is struggling to find inspiration during this post COVID era, or you are a parent to such a student, these TED talks will be sure to help you and your child in harnessing new knowledge and focusing it over an interest:
- The surprising habits of original thinkers, Adam Grant
Best selling author and organizational scientist has made his purpose in life on how people find motivation and meaning in their lives. So it should come to no one’s surprise that his talk on original thinkers and their habits have had over 7.4 million views so far.
Watch this TED talk and learn 3 key unexpected habits of the most original thinkers. If you are someone who is afraid of failing, it is time to get to the drawing board without fear as Adam says “You need a lot of bad ideas in order to get to get a good one.”
2. Inside the mind of a master procrastinator, Tim Urban
Tim Urban is famous for being one of the internet’s most popular writers. In this hilarious yet insightful TED talk, Tim bares it all and gives a testimony of himself being a procrastinator and a masterful one. Over the course of his 14-minute talk, Tim shares his experience of failing to write his thesis paper till the bitter end, gives us an insight into the rabbit holes on the internet that trap us, and slays the stigma around procrastination.
“We need to think about what we’re really procrastinating on because everyone is procrastinating on something in life,” Tim says in his talk and underlines how prioritizing is a crucial element when it comes to getting things done.
3. 5 tips to improve your critical thinking, Samantha Agoos
Critical thinking is one of the most important building blocks of studying. As a student, one most need to be able to comprehend information, analyze it in an unbiased way, and draw out a conclusion with as few loopholes as possible.
In this short animated video on TED-Ed(TED-education) the narrates a simple but highly effective 5-step process you can inculcate in your day to day behavior and become an individual with improved critical thinking.
4. What adults can learn from kids, Adora Svitak
Children are blessed with innocence, creativity, and willful optimism. As we all grow older, we might think we have become wiser, but in the process of growing we sometimes do away with these crucial elements that can make our lives meaningful and can give us happiness.
A former child prodigy and author, Adora Svitak gives a wonderful talk on things adults can learn from kids. How childish thinking, which is laughed upon by adults also comprises of creativity, hope, and courage. Watch this TED talk and give your inner child the freedom to take over you.
5. The power of vulnerability, Brene Brown
With 14 million views so far, Brene Brown delivers a heartfelt talk on the strength our vulnerability can give us. An author of 5 New York Times bestseller books, Brene Brown studies courage, vulnerability, and empathy. During the post covid era that we are all living in, it can be difficult for us to practice compassion, but it is the only trait that can make our conscience rest easy and add more meaningful connections in our lives.
At one point in the talk, Brene says, “As it turns out we can’t practice compassion for others unless we can be kind to ourselves.” Often we forget to be kind to ourselves and judge ourselves when we are harsh to others. With kindness for self, we can practice compassion for the people around us.
For people who are highly critical of their imperfections, Brene leaves them with these beautiful words, “You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle. But you are worthy of love and belonging.”
6. “To This Day” … for the bullied and beautiful, Shane Koyczan
Watched over 3.4 million times, this TED talk is delivered by spoken word poet Shane Koyczan. If you are someone who is dealing with bullying or you are someone who has been bullied in past, this will give you an affirming pat on the back and help you head out into the world with a comforting smile on your face.
Shane delicately goes under the layers of what it is like to be young and different from others in a spoken word poem and knits a warm blanket of words that everyone can take solace in from time to time.
