Frederick Lalu was a Youth Speaker at TEDxEspoo Youth 2025!What does it really mean to belong? In this TEDx Talk, Frederick Lalu takes the audience on a journey through his own experience trying to find his place in a new country. It is a story about complexities of fighting in, societal expectations, and understanding the struggle to belong is something we all experience - no matter where we come from or where we end up.The Talk starts off with Frederick’s reflection on the small yet uncomfortable moments when we feel like we don't belong, like walking into the wrong classroom or feeling like an outsider. For Frederick, this feeling of “not belonging” grew even stronger when he moved to Finland, they faced a whole new set of challenges, from language barriers to cultural differences. Despite the effort he put in - learning the language, paying taxes, and following all the social rules - the feeling of being an “outsider” remained.This Talk is about the universal human experience of wanting to be seen, accepted, and included. Frederick shares his struggles with fitting in, from mimicking local behaviors to joining different groups in an attempt to find “his people”. But he soon came to the realization that it is not about erasing who you are to fit a mold - it is about finding spaces that allow you to bring your differences, your true self, and still feel valued Fitting in is not just about trying harder or changing yourself - it requires others to meet you halfway. Whether it's a society as a whole or a small group of friends, belonging requires more than just effort from one side. This is about something that touches all of us at different points in our lives.Frederick encourages all of us to look at our biases, recognize the invisible lines that divide us, and choose to make space for difference. In a world where it is easy to judge based on appearances or preconceived notions, the talk reminds us that fitting in should never mean disappearing, and true belonging takes effort from everyone involved.At the end of Frederick’s Talks he says: “We will all never fit perfectly in a group. And that is okay. But we can build communities that make space for these differences, and we can start expecting people to erase themselves just to be acceptable. We can choose to understand when it's uncomfortable, because fitting in should never mean disappearing, and belonging in should never be just an effort from one side.”This is a reminder that we all have a role in creating inclusive spaces where difference is celebrated, not erased.#TEDxEspooYouth #TEDxTalk #TEDxEspooYouth2025 Frederick Lalu is currently studying at University of Helsinki. Apart from his studies, he is currently a Board Member at the National Committee of European Youth Parliament Finland – EYP Finland ry an independent youth organization dedicated to empowering young Europeans through European Parliament simulations and promoting active citizenship. Frederick has been an active member in many other youth organizations for the last four years. 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