Learning to be Heard Winner: Protecting Individual Thought

For 14-year-old Midori Mishyel Hossain, the inspiration for a winning TED idea didn’t come from a textbook, but from a Netflix binge. While watching the show You, Midori realized how easily her own opinion was swayed by online commentary. “Instead of deciding I liked the ending, I was convinced by YouTube reactions that it was bad,” she recalls. “It made me realize that if you don’t form your own opinions, you are prone to propaganda and brainwashing.”

This realization sparked a deeper investigation into psychological phenomena and the “individualized thought” we often lose in the digital age. Midori decided to enter the TED Global Speaking Challenge not to solve a massive global crisis, but to offer a solution every person can implement: critical thinking.

The transition from writing to speaking was a natural one for Midori. Having previously entered the Immerse Essay Competition, she found the TED format more liberating. “I’ve always been a little better at speaking because it’s easier to portray what you’re trying to say when someone is actually listening to you,” she explains. However, the process wasn’t without its challenges. Midori had to distill complex psychological concepts into a one-minute “brain dump,” recording multiple takes to find the perfect balance of clarity and pace.

Now a scholarship winner, Midori is considering attending the TED Summer School in Singapore or virtually. She views public speaking as the cornerstone of her future career in law. “Lawyers are advocates for their community and voices of hope for those unfairly incarcerated,” she says. “Having the confidence to say your points properly is essential.”

Her advice to other young people is rooted in the reality of the creative process: “It’s not going to be perfect the first time you try. You can over-prepare, but it won’t be perfect – and that’s okay. You’ll learn and grow either way.”

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About the author

Midori Mishyel Hossain

Midori is a Grade 9 student at the Aga Khan School in Bangladesh, studying within the IB system. An aspiring lawyer with sights set on Cambridge or Harvard, she is passionate about advocacy and justice. Midori champions individualized thought, encouraging others to guard their opinions against the influence of digital echo chambers.

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