Finding community in competitive spaces | Sydney Yee & Dylan Yee | TEDxOlentangy Liberty Youth

Key Concepts:

• Engagement in communities
• Support and encouragement within communities
• Overcoming fear and building confidence
• The Ninja community as a model for successful communities
• Importance of inclusivity and growth in communities

1. Personal Experiences on American Ninja Warrior:

• The speaker recounts their experience on American Ninja Warrior in 2023 at Universal Studios California.
• Initially excited during B-rolls and interviews, they became nervous when facing the actual course.
• Fellow competitors offered prayers, encouragement, and tips, helping them overcome their fear.
• This experience highlights the supportive nature of the Ninja community.

2. Background and Training:

• American Ninja Warrior has been a part of their lives since childhood.
• They trained at Movement Lab Ohio for nine years, leading to opportunities like American Ninja Warrior Junior and American Ninja Warrior.
• These experiences fostered lasting friendships and demonstrated that engagement is about connection.

3. The Importance of Engagement and Belonging:

• Humans are naturally drawn to form connections, leading to support and a sense of belonging.
• An engaging environment empowers individuals and reduces fear.
• An engaging community is determined to see growth within its members.

4. Overcoming Fear of Failure:

• The speaker shares a personal anecdote about being afraid to train on certain obstacles.
• Teammates encouraged them by emphasizing that failure is inevitable but what matters is getting back up.
• This encouragement helped them find the courage to attempt the challenging obstacle.
• "Failure is evident everyone is going to fail it's about what you do after you fail do you get back up or do you stay down?"

5. American Ninja Warrior Junior Experience:

• During the summer of 2021, the speaker and Sydney were in Los Angeles for American Ninja Warrior Jr.
• The speaker felt scared due to the course's size, but fellow competitors offered advice to be confident and treat it like their home gym.
• This advice boosted their confidence and improved their performance.
• The speaker gave a fist bump to their competitor and wished them good luck, showcasing the supportive environment.

6. The Ninja Community as a Model:

• The Ninja community exemplifies successful communities through engagement, inclusivity, and support.
• Even in competition, ninjas support each other, whether it's celebrating a difficult obstacle completion or a fast time.

7. Applying Engagement to Other Communities:

• The speaker applies the principles of engagement to their cross-country team.
• They encourage teammates during workouts and races, even when they are down.
• Engagement is not limited to sports; it can be found in online communities, local communities, and schools.

8. Personal Growth Through Scouting:

• The speaker shares their experience of being a shy child who hid behind their parents.
• Joining Boy Scouts (now Scouting America) in 2020 helped them develop leadership skills and overcome their fear of public speaking.
• The scouting community provided support and encouragement, boosting their confidence.

9. Call to Action:

• The speaker encourages the audience to reflect on how they can benefit their own communities through engagement.
• Engagement builds confidence and helps individuals strive to their highest potential.

10. Conclusion:

• Engagement is a vital part of successful communities.
• It fosters confidence and helps individuals grow as a whole.
• The TED talk emphasizes the importance of engagement in building strong and supportive communities.