Caregiving is hard — especially for young people | Connor Short | TEDxBrayford Pool
What if your childhood superpower was learning to survive? In this powerful and personal talk, Connor, a former young carer, reflects on how growing up with responsibility far beyond his years shaped the person he became. Blending humour with honesty, he shares the hidden strengths - and struggles - of young carers, urging us to rethink what resilience really looks like. Through his journey from fight to flight to falling, he offers a message of empathy, empowerment, and the importance of knowing when it’s okay to be selfish.Starting his developmental journey in Grimsby, Connor was a young carer for his mother from the age of six. This personal experience and its accompanying hardships sparked Connor’s passion for caring and gave him the drive to share the tips and tricks he developed to make both his and others' lives easier. Achieving what teachers said he couldn’t, Connor graduated from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in 2022 (while still working as a full-time carer). He then spent two years supporting students as the President of BGSU while working with young people in his spare time. He now works for BGU and ECHO Theatre supporting students and encouraging young carers to ignore their doubts and strive for success. Through his talks and workshops, Connor hopes to create more understanding around young carers and help others to strive towards their goals. 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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