Decode Yourself | Ujjwal Kumar Shriwastav | TEDxHimalayan International School Youth
In a world where everyone is busy defining us, “Decode Yourself” is about reclaiming our own identity. It’s about honoring the struggles, experiences, and values that shape who we are. For me, it reflects the belief that true success begins when we understand ourselves—our strengths, our flaws, our dreams—and transform them into purpose. Ujjwal Kumar Shriwastav, born into a modest middle-class family in Bihar, where dreams were often shaped by stability, not passion. My parents, both educated, hoped I’d become an officer — someone society listens to with respect. While I followed the conventional path of education and government exam preparation in Patna, my soul was pulled elsewhere. From childhood, I was encouraged to speak in English at school events — even before I knew the language. Those nervous speeches, those early applauses — they planted a seed of performance and storytelling in me.
Despite being an average student, I was always seen as the “sharp one” in my village and family. But my true transformation began when I joined an English-speaking class — not for fluency, but where i discovered my stage presence. 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
More from TED
- 10:42Why Systems Need to Start Listening to the Soul | Aditya Bajaj | TEDxSt Pauls CollegeEfficiency without empathy leads to emptiness. In this TEDx talk, Aditya Bajaj explores how systems, whether educational, corporate, or social, often prioritize optimization at the cost of human well-being. When the soul is ignored, the result is burnout, disconnection, and decline. His message urges us to restore balance by integrating compassion, purpose, and humanity into our structures, so that progress can sustain both productivity and people. Aditya Bajaj is a purpose-driven strategist, brand builder, and marketer on a mission to create technology that empowers rather than overwhelms. With a career spanning fintech, edtech, and corporate affairs, he has led impactful campaigns, crafted resonant brand identities, and helped businesses communicate with clarity and conviction. 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
- 10:34Leaves of Us: Portraits in Change | Rupam Mukherjee | TEDxSt Pauls CollegeChange touches every life, just as seasons shape the leaves. In this TEDx talk, Rupam Mukherjee reflects on the human journey of transformation—how our experiences, choices, and connections paint the portraits of who we become. Through themes of resilience, diversity, and growth, he invites us to see change not as an ending, but as renewal, a canvas for both personal and collective evolution. Rupam Mukherjee is a passionate global educator, Josh Talks speaker, and world record-holding leaf artist whose work bridges creativity, resilience, and educational transformation. Hailing from Asansol, West Bengal, he currently teaches Commerce at The Sports School, Bangalore, where he integrates 21st-century skills into the classroom. His dedication to teaching has earned him numerous national and international accolades. 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
- 14:37Hayalleri Olmayanların Gerçekleri de Olmaz | Evren Ayna | TEDxİzmir Atatürk LisesiHayaller, gerçekliğin temel taşlarıdır; onları kurmayanların dünyasında ise somut bir yaşam inşa etmek mümkün olmaz. Evren Ayna, 15 Haziran 1978’de İzmir’de doğdu. 1995 yılında Maltepe Askeri Lisesi’nden, 1999 yılında ise Hava Harp Okulu Endüstri Mühendisliği bölümünden mezun oldu. Hava Harp Okulu'ndan mezun olduktan sonra 2. Ana Jet Üssü’nde pilotaj eğitimini tamamladı ve Mart 2001'de Konya 3. Ana Jet Üssü’ne F5 savaş pilotu olarak atandı. Bu dönemde Konya Selçuk Üniversitesi'nde Halkla İlişkiler ve Tanıtım alanında yüksek lisansını tamamladı. 2004 yılında Türk Yıldızları'na seçildi ve Şubat 2014’e kadar şu pozisyonlarda görev yaptı: Numara 3 (sol iç kol) Numara 5 (sol dış kol, karşıt solo) Numara 6 (sağ dış kol, lider solo) Numara 7 (sol slot, karşıt solo) Numara 8 (sağ slot, lider solo) Numara 1 (lider) Türk Yıldızları ile 1500 saat uçuş ve 200’den fazla resmi gösteri gerçekleştirdi. Ekip için birçok yeni manevra icat etti ve gösteri koreografilerini tasarladı. Şubat 2014’te Türk Yıldızları’ndan ve Hava Kuvvetleri’nden ayrılarak Türk Hava Yolları’nda Airbus 319/320/321 tipi uçaklarla uçuş kariyerine devam etti. Kasım 2017’de Türk Hava Kuvvetleri’ne yeniden katıldı ve İzmir 2. Ana Jet Üssü'nde 121. Jet Eğitim Filosu’na öğretmen pilot olarak atandı. Hava Kuvvetleri'nden emekli olduktan sonra şu anda Türk Hava Yolları’nda kaptan pilot olarak görev yapmaktadır. Toplamda 6000 saatlik uçuş tecrübesine sahiptir. Liderlik, takım çalışması, başarı ve risk yönetimi konularında motivasyon konuşmaları yapmaktadır. Arçelik, Vodafone, Türk Hava Yolları gibi Türkiye’nin önde gelen şirketlerinde ve Hacettepe, ODTÜ, İTÜ, Hava Harp Okulu gibi üniversitelerde birçok çalışan ve öğrenciye hitap etmiştir. 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
- 15:43Yapay Zeka Çağında Mahremiyet ve Umut | Gökçe Gülcüler | TEDxİzmir Tevfik Fikret LisesiThe speech addressed the increasing role of artificial intelligence applications in our lives and their violation of personal privacy. Gökçe Gülcüler, who completed her undergraduate and graduate education in ITU Aeronautical Engineering, Koç University MBA and North Carolina MBA programs, has experience in different fields such as aviation, cyber security, risk management, social entrepreneurship and has worked in different institutions both abroad and in Turkey. Gökçe, who worked as a systems engineer in aircraft engine and missile engine design, took part in the social enterprise Ustamdan as a founder. She was selected as an entrepreneur fellow by the International Youth Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Summit, Laureate International Network, Endeavor, ITU Core, TUBITAK, and Turkish Entrepreneurship Foundation. Gülcüler, who joined the FBN-I NextGen Leadership Team in 2019 within the scope of civil society activities, is the leader of the FBN-I Podcast Project. She assumed the role of founding co-chair of the TAİDER Entrepreneurship Committee and Sports Community. 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
- 27:23Starting Up: Lessons from Failures, Restarts, and Resilience | Prince Thomas | TEDxIBS PuneIn this candid and motivating talk, Prince Sir shares his journey of repeatedly starting over from dreams of cricket, struggles with engineering, and the world of advertising, to failed startups, corporate stints, and finally building an innovative sports-tech company. Through stories of resilience, self-discovery, and bold decisions, he reveals why the first step to starting up is the hardest, how failures can be powerful teachers, and why fear of failure should never hold us back. Speaking directly to young dreamers, he urges them to embrace time as their safety net, find their true passion, and take that leap because the biggest risk is never starting at all. Prince Thomas is an ad man, marketer, and serial entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience across brand strategy, growth marketing, and product innovation. Having led impactful campaigns at Ogilvy & Mather, CreativeLand Asia, and as Head of Marketing at BankBazaar, Prince now serves as CEO and Co-Founder of MetaShot — a startup redefining cricket gaming through patented technology. Its flagship product, the MetaShot Smart Bat, mirrors real-world shots into a virtual game, delivering a console-quality experience. Featured on Shark Tank India Season 4 and backed by top investors, MetaShot is expanding globally under Prince’s leadership, inspiring innovation at the intersection of technology, sports, and entertainment. 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
- 24:17From Drought to Hope: Transforming Lives Through Water | Crispino Lobo | TEDxIBS PuneIn this powerful talk, Crispino Lobo shares his journey from witnessing the devastating droughts of Maharashtra in the 1970s to co-founding the Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR), which has transformed over 7,000 villages across India. He recounts how capturing rainwater and regenerating landscapes can break the cycle of poverty, empower women, and create climate-resilient agriculture. With stories of communities rising from despair to prosperity, he explains why water is not just a resource but the foundation of life, livelihood, and dignity and how collective action can secure our future against the growing challenges of climate change. Crispino Lobo has over 36 years of experience mobilising rural communities and working with governments, corporates, and civil society to reduce poverty and enhance climate resilience. He co-founded the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) and other non-profits, impacting 8.4 million people across India, regenerating landscapes, promoting climate-responsive agriculture, and improving livelihoods. He has led large-scale programs like the Indo-German Watershed Development Program, contributed to national adaptation funds, and advised government policy. An alumnus of Harvard University and the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Crispino holds five academic degrees and has authored 12 books. 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
