Rubric:
- TED talk topic (1 point)
- Date of the talk (1 point)
- A link to the video (1 point)
- A summary of the video that is at LEAST 5 sentences long (8 points)
- A section labeled “Reflection” (12 points)
- How do you feel about this topic?
- How does topic affect you and/or the world?
- Why did you choose this video?
TED Talk Topic:
The pursuit of happiness.
Date of The Talk:
Dec 13, 2013
Link to The Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36m1o-tM05g
Summary of The Video:
Sam Berns is a 17 year old highschooler with progeria. The rare disease, which has affected only 350 people worldwide, causes rapid aging, tight skin, and heart disease. A while back Sam was interviewed by NPR, and was asked, “What is the most important thing people should know about you?” His answer? “I have a very happy life.”
Sam says there are three tenants which he follows that help him live a happier and more fulfilling life. Firstly, be ok with what you ultimately can’t do because there is so much that you can do. But it is possible to put things in the CAN DO category by making adjustments. Sam tells the story of how he very badly wanted to play snare drum with his school marching band. But the drum and rug weighed about 40 lbs, and he only weighed about 50 lbs. He and his parents worked with an engineer to design a custom rig that was only 6 lbs and ended up performing at half time. Secondly, surround yourself with people you want to be around. Appreciate you family, your friends, and you mentors, as they all can have a very significant impact on your life. Third, stay in a forward thinking state of mind. Sam says he always tries to have something to look forward to. He doesn’t waste energy feeling bad for himself, he just moves on. Sam ends his moving, and well spoken talk by adding in a fourth tenant. “Never miss a party.”
Sam says there are three tenants which he follows that help him live a happier and more fulfilling life. Firstly, be ok with what you ultimately can’t do because there is so much that you can do. But it is possible to put things in the CAN DO category by making adjustments. Sam tells the story of how he very badly wanted to play snare drum with his school marching band. But the drum and rug weighed about 40 lbs, and he only weighed about 50 lbs. He and his parents worked with an engineer to design a custom rig that was only 6 lbs and ended up performing at half time. Secondly, surround yourself with people you want to be around. Appreciate you family, your friends, and you mentors, as they all can have a very significant impact on your life. Third, stay in a forward thinking state of mind. Sam says he always tries to have something to look forward to. He doesn’t waste energy feeling bad for himself, he just moves on. Sam ends his moving, and well spoken talk by adding in a fourth tenant. “Never miss a party.”
Reflection:
- How do you feel about this topic? I think that every person on the face of the Earth gets unhappy from time to time. Sometimes the reasons for our unhappiness are trivial or meaningless but we let them affect us anyway. Sometimes to get out of an unhappy rut I think about people who have far less than I do and how grateful I am to have what I have in life.
- How does topic affect you and/or the world? If you follow the tenants Sam Berns outlines in this TED talk, you may be helped out of an unhappy rut in your life. I have followed some of Sam's tenants and have been helped tremendously by them.
- Why did you choose this video? I chose this video because every human being will get unhappy from time to time, maybe multiple times daily, if you follow Sam's advice you not only may brighten your mood but you will be perpetuating his legacy.