Staying Human in a World That Moves Too Fast | Drashtant Varma | TEDxUNB

Key Concepts

• Inner Child: Maintaining a sense of wonder, joy, and humanity amidst responsibility.
• Control vs. Lack of Control: Focusing on aspects of life within one’s influence to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Impostor Syndrome: Doubting one’s abilities and feeling like a fraud.
• Reliability over Recognition: The importance of consistent effort and integrity in leadership.
• Perspective in Politics: Understanding the transient nature of issues and maintaining honesty and transparency.
• Humility & Learning: Recognizing the gaps in knowledge and seeking guidance.

The Importance of Grounding & Perspective in Leadership

The speaker, a 21-year-old with extensive experience in leadership and politics, reflects on lessons learned during his time serving in various roles, including as the 122nd president of the UNMB student union. He begins by acknowledging the audience’s potential nervousness and uses a simple engagement technique – a clapping exercise – to illustrate his central theme: the importance of staying grounded and maintaining perspective. He frames his own position as the final speaker of the night as potentially a test of endurance or a culmination of previous talks, playfully comparing himself to a Toyota Corolla following a fleet of Mercedes-Benzes.

The Three Core Lessons

Through his experiences, the speaker identifies three key lessons:

1. Your inner child is what keeps you grounded. He clarifies this isn’t about immaturity, but about preserving a sense of humanity and joy. He recounts his experience as president of the UNMB student union, a full-time role alongside his studies, overseeing a $2.5 million budget, five vice presidents, and numerous staff and student representatives. The sheer volume of responsibility and the rapid pace of events threatened to overwhelm him, highlighting the need for a grounding force.

2. There is a lot that young leaders are not told or taught. He details the often-unspoken realities of leadership, such as the inevitability of feeling useless despite significant work, the prevalence of impostor syndrome, and the importance of seeking help. He emphasizes the value of consistency and reliability – “impact often comes from reliability, not recognition” – as crucial qualities often overlooked in the pursuit of grand achievements.

3. Politics in life moves so fast that it can swallow you whole unless you learn how to breathe. He describes the chaotic nature of politics, having worked in federal, provincial, and municipal offices, as well as election campaigns. He stresses the importance of not taking things personally and remembering the people behind the issues. He recounts a particularly harsh phone call with a constituent regarding zoning changes, illustrating how quickly criticism can become personal, but emphasizing the need to remain honest and transparent. He notes the fleeting nature of news cycles – a story lasting one day is just that, while one lasting two days becomes an “issue.”

The Power of Control & Self-Reflection

The speaker shares a practical piece of advice he received from a mentor at UNB: to draw a picture of himself and write around it the things he could control – school, friends, family. This exercise served as a powerful reminder to focus on those controllable elements, regardless of external pressures. He argues that focusing on what you can control is more important than dwelling on “what ifs” or past regrets. He acknowledges that things may not have always unfolded as planned, but believes that some setbacks were ultimately beneficial. As he states, “Just because things could have been different doesn't mean they would have been better.”

Leadership, Connection & Humility

The speaker emphasizes that leadership isn’t about constant seriousness, but about wholeness – remembering who you were before titles and expectations. He highlights the importance of connection, recounting a moment when he casually mentioned his age to a colleague who had been at UNB since 2001, creating a shared moment of connection rather than a power dynamic. He argues that leadership teaches you who you are, while politics tests whether you meant it. He stresses that people remember how you make them feel, and that this is what truly endures. He also points out that those who appear powerful from a distance are often just as fallible and insecure as anyone else. He notes that what seems like the end of the world often isn’t, drawing on the experience of past problems that now seem insignificant.

Perspective & The Human Condition

The speaker concludes by referencing Charlie Chaplin’s philosophy: “life in a close-up is tragedy and in a long shot is a comedy.” He encourages the audience to step back and gain perspective, recognizing the inherent humor in life’s challenges. He acknowledges that becoming who you are is a messy, imperfect, and ongoing process, but ultimately what makes us human. He expresses a lack of significant regrets, believing that his experiences, both positive and negative, have shaped him into the person he is today. He ends with a call to embrace the part of ourselves that resists the relentless pace of the world.

Technical Terms & Concepts

• Impostor Syndrome: A psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.
• Stakeholders: Individuals or groups who have an interest in or are affected by a particular project, decision, or organization.
• Portfolio (in VP context): A collection of responsibilities and projects assigned to a vice president.
• Operating Budget: A financial plan for a specific period outlining expected revenues and expenses.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The speaker’s address is a compelling reflection on the challenges and rewards of leadership, particularly for young individuals navigating complex environments. He advocates for a holistic approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, humility, and maintaining a connection to one’s inner self. His core message is a call to prioritize what you can control, embrace imperfection, and remember that perspective is key to navigating the inevitable chaos of life and politics. The speech is not merely a recounting of experiences, but a practical guide for maintaining grounding and authenticity in the face of pressure and expectation.