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The Mirage of Belonging | Ayaan Mehta | TEDxBDSIS

In this talk, Grade 9 student, Ayaan Mehta reflects on growing up as an extrovert who thrived on people and approval, only to experience the quiet disorientation of being left out. As friendships shifted and circles grew smaller, he began questioning not just his relationships, but his identity. Drawing on personal experience and psychological insight, Ayaan explores how the need for belonging can turn into dependence on external validation. His Eureka moment comes through a quiet shift in perspective: realizing that belonging does not come from being included by others, but from learning to stay centered within oneself. Ayaan Mehta is 15-year old Grade 9 student at BDSIS who is an avid traveler, a passionate and reflective learner, and someone deeply curious about the world around him. He often draws on what he learns to better understand the world and his own place and journey through it. With a keen interest in history and classical languages, Ayaan has studied both Latin and Greek to explore the roots of human thought, identity, and connection. Ayaan is also a musician who plays both the piano and the tabla, finding comfort and expression in rhythm and melody. From wildlife safaris to witnessing the Northern Lights, and through summer internships at e-mobility organizations and music research centers, he continues to explore the intersections of technology, creativity, and culture. Thoughtful and inquisitive, Ayaan reflects honestly on the highs and lows of being a teenager today, using every experience as an opportunity to learn more about the world - and about himself. 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

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