Still Waters Run Deep Uncovering Hidden Talents | Ayaan Agarwal | TEDxScindia School Youth
Have you ever been told you’re “too quiet,” “too average,” or “just not enough”? In this inspiring talk, Ayaan Agarwal, Senior School Prefect, challenges those labels by sharing his journey from blending into the background to discovering hidden talents and redefining leadership.Through personal stories, teenage reflections, and powerful historical examples, Ayaan shows how silence can hold strength, how growth often begins unnoticed, and why leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room.This talk celebrates the power of “still waters,” inspiring teenagers to trust their pace, uncover hidden talents, and lead with empathy. Ayaan reminds us that you don’t need to shine in conventional ways to make a lasting impact — sometimes, the quietest voices leave the deepest ripples. As the Senior School Prefect of The Scindia School, Ayaan Agarwal represents the voice of a generation that believes in leading through empathy, initiative, and purpose. Trusted by peers and faculty alike, Ayaan has worked to strengthen the culture of collaboration, respect, and accountability across the school community.Whether it’s leading school assemblies, mentoring juniors, or representing the student body at key forums, Ayaan stands at the intersection of tradition and transformation—deeply rooted in Scindian values, yet boldly looking ahead.A strong believer in student-led change, he is part of a growing movement of young minds who aren’t waiting for the future—they’re shaping it. 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
- 8:58Uma história que vem da alma | A-yá Kukamíria | TEDxAmazôniaA pajé A-yá Kukamíria abre o TEDxAmazônia 2024, em Manaus, com um ritual tradicional. Ela, então, compartilha com a audiência um texto poético, de coração para coração, falando sobre as dores de seu povo. É um clamor sobre a história e os sofrimentos enfrentados pelos povos originários do Brasil. Pajé, curandeira, parteira, benzedeira, raizeira e psicanalista, militante pela causa indígena e ativista na luta pela floresta Amazônica, sendo também embaixadora dos rios da Amazônia. Mulher indígena da tríplice fronteira, atualmente mora em Manaus, tendo como missão de vida reviver a medicina tradicional brasileira (medicina indígena), através dos rituais, remédios naturais e tratamentos ancestrais. Acredita no desenvolvimento de tratamentos para atualidade com base nos antigos ensinamentos, utiliza também a música, a dança e os instrumentos da ancestralidade para isso. 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
- 8:55Beyond AI: Nurturing Future Innovators | Reiko Nakauchi | TEDxKatanoAt 24, she left Japan for the U.S., and for the past 17 years in Silicon Valley she has watched thousands of children grow. She believes that in the age of AI, what children truly need is not the ability to compete with machines, but the human strengths AI cannot replicate: rich creativity, deep empathy, and the courage to act on ideas. AI can provide answers, but only humans can ask the questions that truly matter. By nurturing curiosity, honoring emotions, and supporting bold attempts, she helps children see AI not as a rival, but as a partner—empowering them to bring their visions to life and lead with heart. Reiko Nakauchi is an educator, speaker, and author of “The World’s Best Parenting – Silicon Valley Method.” Her journey as an innovator began by questioning the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional education in her native Japan, leading her to create a new model in the United States. She is the founder of bilingual schools in Silicon Valley, USA and Tsukuba, Japan. Her unique "Sora Method" blends the best of Western pedagogical approaches with the Japanese cultural emphasis on harmony and teamwork. Through this, she fosters children’s creativity, emotional intelligence, and a global mindset—qualities vital in the age of AI. Her work explores how education must evolve in response to technological acceleration, with a deep commitment to nurturing the timeless human capacities of empathy, imagination, and purpose. Through her platform ravissante.world, Reiko curates transformative global learning programs for entrepreneurs and conscious leaders, integrating cultural intelligence, intuitive leadership, and spiritual alignment. She is also a trilingual mother of three, and a lifelong advocate for soulful innovation and East-West integration in leadership and education. 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