Risk-Induced Passion Discovery

Anders Waldo gives a talk on finding passion through taking risks in life, as it brings us on a path of self-discovery. Waldo is a student and musician studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Connecticut. He shares some of the best advice he has ever received through his TEDx talk that led him towards taking risks to find his true passions during his first year at college. He begins his speech by explaining his experience working in a soup kitchen as he stepped out of his comfort zone. Waldo is slightly disabled and attending such a large school was a challenge for him.

Waldo goes on to explain his audition of joining the acapella group at the University of Connecticut. This resembles synergy, joining voices to become a fundamental group. When first joining the group, it was not a place of comfort as everyone already knew each other but found that they were all inclusive and he also found the beauty in the musical performances. As the years went on, Waldo ran for musical director and he then realized at that moment that he became those people he had idolized were closer to his position than he thought. He acquired traits he didn't realize he was developing over the years had he not taken these uncomfortable risks. He encourages his audience to explore and reach outside their comfort zones to explore territories that were once unimaginable.