Tracy shares her story of reclaiming herself and embracing the courage to be different. Her story reminds us that being different is not a flaw, but a clue—a clue leading to our true selves. To step out of the cave and face the light may hurt at first, but in that moment, we become truly ourselves. Tracy is an archaeology enthusiast and adventurous traveler who has challenged societal and gender expectations from an early age. Her experiences range from becoming one of the world’s only 10% of female divers under the age of 18 to exploring the deserts of Kazakhstan and conducting archaeological research. In her TEDx talk, Tracy reflects on resisting conformity, reclaiming individuality, and pursuing passion over predictability, encouraging others to break free from societal molds and embrace what makes us truly human. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx