A year ago, even raising her hand felt impossible. But instead of running from fear, Li Zhuor decided to work with it. From musicals to mock trials to student leadership, she discovered that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s learning to dance with it. In this talk, she reveals how turning “scary” into “a friend” transformed not just her confidence, but her life. I’m Vivian Li, a Chinese G11 student at High School Affiliated To Nanjing Normal University. I used to be the kid who’d hide herself in textbooks to avoid attention. However, after entering high school, I surprised myself. I stepped onto the stage for the first time to perform a segment from the musical Six at the English Festival. Later, I acted in the play Thunderstorm for the charity show. I survived the intense IMT10 and IMT12 mock trial competitions. I even ran for financial representative in the student union—something the younger me would never have dreamed of. It turns out that courage isn’t about fearlessness. It’s about the determination to walk out of the comfort zone despite fear, and that’s how I keep becoming a better version of myself. 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