"We are often told that life starts at the edge of your comfort zone and indeed it is true but the question is, how do we find that edge? The answer to this question is quite simple yet important to understand. We live our daily lives based on a specific routine and we try not to make big changes for the fear that it will affect other aspects of our life. When we are at this point of deciding whether we should go for something, big or not, that's the edge of your comfort zone." - Ahad Anwar

Recently, Ahad Anwar (YES 2016-2017, Pakistan, hosted by AFS in Monterey, CA), gave a TEDx Talk at TEDxSalinas to inspire others to step out of their comfort zones. We asked Ahad some questions about his experience as the youngest speaker at this TEDx event. Check out what he had to say and watch the full video of Ahad speaking at TEDxSalinas!

How did you get involved with TEDxSalinas?

I was always a fan of TED and TEDx talks and used to watch them online. I really wanted to attend one. So one night I searched "TEDx events in California" on Google and saw one near me in Salinas, CA. That was the time I finally thought about actually giving a TEDx talk. I found the TEDxSalinas organizer's Facebook profile and then decided to send her a message. That's where it all started.

Was there a specific theme of the talk or did you choose the topic?

There wasn't a specific theme of TEDxSalinas this year. But since I was an exchange student and the only youth speaker, I had the choice to pick a topic of my own. The topic, "Life on the other side of Fear", was important to me because everyone faces fear at some point in their lives but the only way to get over it is to face that fear. I faced this fear too when I was making the choice to come to the U.S. as a youth ambassador of my country. I feared being all alone and being in a complete different environment. But that day I took that one chance and here I am today not regretting a single thing.

Were you nervous?

Since I was the only youth speaker at TEDxSalinas, I was a bit nervous at first but then I faced my fears and made it. 

How did you feel after the talk?

After the talk I had only one thing in my mind. I thought, if my talk can help even a single person in dealing with his/her fears and encourage them to take a chance to go abroad as an exchange student to learn about new things, my dream will be fulfilled.

Congratulations on becoming a TEDx speaker, Ahad!