Wrestling With Change: DI Sports, Moving On, and… Coding? | Adar Schwarzbach | TEDxDuke
Stepping away from a Division I sport is no easy fit. How do you rebuild your identity and fill the hours once consumed by practice, travel, and competition? For Schwarzbach, leaving his DI wrestling team was both the hardest and most transformative choice he ever made. In letting go, he made room for new passions. Soon enough, Schwarzbach had traded in upper cuts for Java, diving headfirst into the world of coding. Adar Schwarzbach graduated from Duke University in December 2024 with a degree in Computer Science. While at Duke, he rebuilt and modernized GoBringIt, a food delivery app serving Durham restaurants and the Duke community. He previously interned at Apple and PlayStation and worked as a Research Engineer with the Stanford Microfluidics Lab, where he co-authored a paper in Analytica Chimica Acta.Adar originally came to Duke as a recruited Division I wrestler. During his senior year at Palo Alto High School, he won the Reno Worlds national championship at 152 lbs and earned all-state honors. Between his sophomore and junior year, Adar won the California Central Coast Section Championship in his weight class, won the California Greco-Roman state championship, placed third at the California Freestyle state tournament and became a member of the California National Team.This spring, Adar will begin working as a software engineer at a quantitative trading firm in Chicago. 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
- 17:16Loving Life in Its Entirety | Marlo Mortel | TEDxRizalStreetIn “Loving Life in Its Entirety,” Marlo Mortel shares a heartfelt reflection on embracing both the joy and pain of life. Through personal stories, he reminds us that healing and purpose come from accepting every part of our journey — not just the highlights.#TEDx #TEDxRizalStreetHe first gained recognition as an actor, appearing in numerous television shows and movies. However, at his core, he is a singer and songwriter, dedicating his recent years to his true passion.His biggest inspiration was his mother, who passed away a few years ago. Alongside his love for music, he is deeply passionate about mental health. During the pandemic, he pursued this interest further, earning two certificates in Neuroscience from HarvardX. 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
- 3:34Imagination | Iris Koumantaki | TEDxNea Smyrni YouthIris explores how imagination shapes our childhood, creativity, and even problem-solving. Through stories and questions, she reminds us that imagination doesn’t fade—it just needs a little spark. I am Iris, and I am 10 years old. If I have to describe my character, I will tell you that I am kind, polite and sometimes a little messy. My hobbies are drawing and playing games with roles. In order to do my hobbies, I have to use something that I call imagination. 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
- 3:23Growing Up with a Pet | Eva Petropoulou | TEDxNea Smyrni YouthEva talks about how pets teach kids responsibility, empathy, and confidence. She reminds us that a pet can bring joy, love, and valuable life lessons to any family. Hi, my name is Eva, and I am fourteen years old! My hobbies are dancing and tennis because that’s where I get all my anxiety and stress relieved. I love animals so much, especially pets. My dream is to be a vet when I grow up. 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
- 3:13Healthy Friendships | Angeliki Fouraki | TEDxNea Smyrni YouthAggeliki explores what makes a friendship truly strong and meaningful. Through her talk, she reminds us that healthy friendships are built on respect, trust, communication, and space. By being kind, honest, and supportive, we can create bonds that help us grow and become the best version of ourselves. Hello, my name is Angeliki, and I am 16 years old. In my free time, I like drawing as well as making puzzles with 1000 or more pieces. 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
- 3:12The Art of Feeling | Chanioti Theodora | TEDxNea Smyrni YouthTheodora shares how drawing can become a powerful way to express emotions and connect with others. Through lines, colors, and honesty, she shows that art isn’t just seen— it’s felt. I am Theodora Chanioti and I am 11 years old. I like drawing anime, dancing, listening to K-pop and doing rhythmic gymnastics. Animals love me because I love them first. 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
- 3:22The Life of a Teenager | Alex Petropoulos | TEDxNea Smyrni YouthAlex will talk about a time of life that’s exciting, confusing, and sometimes really tough — the teenage years. In his speech, he shares what many young people experience and how we can grow stronger through it all. my name is Alex and I’m twelve years old. I live in Athens with my parents and two older sisters. I am keen on tennis, and I also like playing football with my friends at the weekends. In addition, I love reading specific books which give me some information or details about our life or people, like Encyclopedias. Furthermore, I feel happy when I travel to different, beautiful places with my family and my friends too. 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
