The Things We Don't Measure | Farida Elmenshawy | TEDxASCSNAS Youth

About this video

In this TEDx talk, Farida explores the growing pressure to define ourselves through productivity, specialization, achievements, and metrics. From constantly changing career aspirations to the rise of AI and the culture of optimization, she reflects on how society often reduces people to titles, grades, follower counts, and outcomes. Drawing on personal experiences, literature, and observations of modern life, Farida challenges the idea that human value comes from efficiency alone. Instead, she argues that curiosity, attention, creativity, and lived experience are what truly make us human. Farida is a very confident and enthusiastic grade 12 student who became the TEDx speaker for the first time. She is part of the student council and is graduating from school this year, ready to experience university life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx