TEDx Talks - Beyond Borders: Unleashing the Human Edge Through Reading | Alya Canaan | TEDxYouth@UIS
The speaker begins by highlighting a common perception among both adults and children that literature is boring and challenging, supported by statistics showing 57% of adults and 87% of children feel this way. The speaker shares a personal story of being a top student in English, but facing a setback after being moved to a higher class and receiving a lower grade. This led to a realization, prompted by their mother, that studying English is possible through reading. The speaker set a goal to read 20 books over winter break, despite initially finding the first book unenjoyable. This challenge was pivotal, leading to the understanding that success requires hard work, sometimes it's okay to take a break, and the importance of being open-minded to new experiences. The speaker read 15 books, which was less than the goal but still considered a success due to the personal growth achieved. The speaker emphasizes the importance of trying new things and pushing beyond personal limits, encouraging others to not be afraid of failure and to focus on how they want to feel after taking on challenges.
Key Points:
- 57% of adults and 87% of children find literature boring and challenging.
- Personal story of overcoming a setback in English class by setting a reading goal.
- Reading 15 books led to personal growth and a change in perception about literature.
- Success requires hard work, and it's important to be open-minded and take breaks.
- Encourages trying new things and pushing beyond personal limits.
Details:
1. 📊 The Perception of Literature: A Generational Divide
- 57% of working adults perceive literature and books as boring and a waste of time, indicating a significant generational divide in the perception of literature.
- This perception may stem from the digital age's influence, where instant gratification from digital media overshadows traditional reading.
- Younger generations might prioritize digital content over physical books, contributing to the decline in literature's perceived value.
- Educational systems could play a role in this divide by not adapting literature curricula to engage modern students effectively.
- Bridging this gap might involve integrating literature with digital platforms, making it more accessible and engaging for younger audiences.
2. 🧐 Personal Realization: From Top Student to Struggle
- 87% of children and students believe that books are boring and a waste of time, which is a huge and concerning percentage.
- The transition from being a top student to facing academic challenges often involves a shift in mindset and personal realization.
- Engagement with educational materials, such as books, plays a critical role in maintaining academic performance and interest.
- Personal anecdotes and experiences illustrate the struggle and realization of the importance of engaging with learning materials.
- Strategies to improve academic performance include finding engaging ways to interact with educational content and developing a growth mindset.
3. 💧 Overcoming Disappointment and Blame
- The speaker, once a top performer in English with consistent grades of sevens and eights, was highly regarded by peers and teachers, leading to a move to a more advanced class.
- In the new class, despite previous high achievements, the speaker received a grade of five, marking a significant drop in performance.
- This unexpected grade led to severe disappointment and emotional distress, highlighting the challenges of coping with unexpected academic outcomes.
- The experience underscores the importance of resilience and adaptability when faced with setbacks, emphasizing the need for supportive coping strategies.
4. 💡 Discovering the Power of Studying Literature
- A pivotal moment of realization was triggered by a parent's suggestion to 'study,' leading to a transformative method of learning literature.
- The common misconception that subjects like English cannot be studied like math or science was challenged, understanding that reading is fundamental for studying literature.
- This insight led to a strategic shift from blaming external factors to taking responsibility, focusing on reading as a core strategy to improve understanding and performance in English.
- The strategic implementation involved dedicating specific time to reading and analyzing texts, similar to studying formulas in math, enhancing comprehension and retention.
- By approaching literature with a structured study plan, similar to STEM subjects, the understanding of themes and literary devices improved, leading to better academic performance and deeper appreciation of the texts.
5. 📚 The Reading Challenge: Setting a Goal of 20 Books
- A goal was set to read 20 books during the winter break, representing a significant personal challenge given past disinterest in reading.
- To enhance motivation and accountability, a Tumblr blog was created for reviewing and rating each book read.
- The starting point was a trip to the mall to purchase a book, but the first book chosen was disappointing, yet still completed within two days.
- Despite the initial disappointment, perseverance was chosen over the urge to give up, demonstrating commitment to the challenge.
6. 🔍 Key Lessons from the Reading Journey
- The speaker will highlight three important insights from their reading journey without going into the details of every book read.
- The focus is on distilling actionable lessons that can be applied to personal growth and development.
- The key insights are intended to provide strategic understanding and practical value, rather than merely summarizing content.
7. 📈 Personal Growth and New Perspectives
- Achieving goals requires hard work, indicating that success is directly proportional to the effort invested.
- Forcing oneself to read excessively, such as 100 pages per session, can diminish interest and transform reading into a chore, rather than a pursuit of knowledge.
- It's important to take breaks and not force progress, as this can maintain interest and motivation in activities like reading.
- Being open-minded enhances personal growth; initially considering books as unimportant, the speaker broadened their perspective by engaging with diverse genres.
- The quote 'A person who doesn't read a book lives one life; a person who reads books lives a hundred' underscores the value of reading in experiencing multiple lives and perspectives.
8. 🚀 Embracing Challenges and New Experiences
- The speaker successfully read 15 books, highlighting the achievement even when not meeting the original target, demonstrating the importance of striving towards goals.
- A key insight is the encouragement to try new things and push through self-imposed limits, which can lead to personal growth and new opportunities.
- It is common for individuals to limit themselves due to a lack of confidence, often overestimating others' focus on their failures.
- The speaker advises reflecting on desired post-challenge feelings, promoting a mindset of doing one's best and valuing effort over perfection.
- An additional example shared involves the speaker's initial hesitation with public speaking, which was overcome by focusing on personal growth rather than fear of judgment.
9. 🙏 Conclusion: Breaking Boundaries and Self-Reflection
- Encourage breaking personal limits to achieve growth.
- Reflect on personal boundaries to understand and expand them.
- Thank participants for engaging in self-improvement and boundary expansion.