700 people. 65 countries. 5 days. 1 TEDActive experience. Need I say more?
Attending TEDActive was a dream that I never dared to dream, but one that came true. I went in as just another 21-year-old Vancouverite, but came out as a true global activator (an activator is someone who has attended TEDActive). Not only did TED have some of its best talks, the freshness of being in a new city brought a distinct vibe to the experience. The part that influenced me the most was the number of smiling faces in every direction. I still can’t believe that so many intelligent, warm-hearted, and forward-thinking leaders accepted me as one of their own. And not just me, it felt as if family members were getting together for a big reunion, even if they had never met each other before. That, was my true TED experience.
The event started right here in Vancouver. A special one day workshop was held at the Convention Centre and Grouse Mountain, including an inside tour of TED. I was blown away by the transformation of the convention centre, especially the main theatre room. The TED staff had the entire stage and seating structure built from scratch, and all that within 6 days! From there we went to Grouse Mountain, which included lots of snow activities, workshops, and engaging conversations. After an amazing start, it was time to head to Whistler and get ready for the real deal.
The next 5 days are still engrained in my head as if I just came back. The early morning talk sessions, afternoon activities, evening conversations, and late night fun will be tough to let go of, so I thought I should share some of my highlights here:
- Simon Sinek: He’s one of the most inspiring, intelligent, and humble speakers that I have had the privilege of meeting. I was able to attend his workshop and also got the chance to present in front of him. Personally, I learned how to think about social problems and collectively come up with solutions. After all, aren’t we all in it together?
- Ron Finley: If you have seen his TED talk, you may get a sense of his awesomeness. He’s a complete delight to talk to and the best part is that you won’t even realize you’re speaking to a TED speaker. He stayed with us throughout the week and really became part of the community. Ron is someone who can really get you motivated about taking action. He walks the talk and that’s what inspired me the most about him.
The International Activator Family: When I use the word family, I mean it. When I say international family, I really mean it. Egypt, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Italy, Portugal, USA, Colombia, Argentina, Norway, Denmark, Kosovo, England…and the list goes on. I feel like I have a family member in every part of the world now. I may forget some of the lessons I learned during the week, but I can never forget this family or our conversations. Don’t ever hesitate to talk to anyone, no matter who they are. You never know, one conversation may change your life.
You are better off regretting the things you did do, than the things that you didn’t do – I have to admit that this piece of advice helped me make the most out of TEDActive. A veteran attendee gave me this advice on the first day and it really stuck with me. It became my personal mission to do anything and everything that I could to make the most of this experience and guess what? I have absolutely no regrets for not doing something.
- Make It Yours – You may recognize this from TEDxSFU, but it truly had the biggest impact for me at TEDActive. I didn’t want to just sit and watch dozens of talks or just figure out ways of turning every idea into action, rather I wanted to find myself and define my own meaning of things. All you need is one idea, but more importantly, you need the dedication to make it yours
By no means did I cover everything that happened at TEDActive, but these were some of the experiences that have changed me. My biggest fear is no longer of failing, but regretting the things that could have been. I will live life one year at a time and make each day count – how do you want to live?
Here’s a quick snapshot of what makes TEDActive special (thanks to TEDxSydney):
Madhav is a fourth year Management Information Systems and Finance (Hons.) student and is currently finishing his co-op work term at TELUS. He is passionate about ideas and action, which led him to organize the TEDxSFU conference as well as attend TEDActive. His other involvements include international case competitions, Enactus SFU, BASS FROSH, and RADIUS SFU. He is also a foodie and nature lover, so you can find him hiding in food joints or the mountains.