Pioneers in Plain Sight by Jack

Pioneers in Plain Sight by Jack - July 2017 Scholarship Essay

For years now, TED Talks have served as sources of inspiration with regards to topics of scientific, cultural, and academic relevance. The message that the media organization TED stands behind and preaches, which is accurately described in their company slogan, is “ideas worth spreading”. Were I to give an educational TED Talk, I believe that I have a topic that fits this mold in the most basic and rudimentary manner possible; a philosophy applicable to any person’s job or skill set, that if an individual is willing to implement into their internal reasoning processes, can make them much more innovative. Ultimately, I would talk about how any person can develop aspects of ingenuity in their profession, regardless of their particular job setting or scenario, that can in turn foster creative thoughts and ideas; all through a state of mind.
The reasoning behind the philosophical foundation of this TED Talk is that our current 21st century society is the product of innovation of both past and current generations. However, if we are to continue to not only advance as a society, but to prevent from regressing, then we are undoubtedly dependent on the continuation of these practices in future generations as well. To cite a relatively large and transparent issue, if we look at fossil fuels, there will come a day when we are unable to meet our demands. In the not-so-distant future, what is required to power all of our machinery and vehicles will exceed what we are feasibly able to provide. Stating the obvious, there are massive problems, such as the issue of fuel sources, intertwined down to the very core of how our society operates; problems that given due time, will inevitably rain down upon us and wreak havoc if they are not solved.
These are challenges that exist on a global scale and are by no means confined to borders or demographics, but instead are applicable to all current and future residents of planet Earth. While it is nice to pretend that every person can solve the world’s problems, it is not necessarily practical. Many people, the majority of people in fact, would more than likely categorize themselves as being unqualified to solve some of the more pressing issues facing the world. This is perfectly ok, because it is just a simple fact that not every person is going to make a ground-shattering discovering like curing cancer or developing a new and renewable fuel source. On the contrary, this would not be a TED Talk worthy subject if I were to just sit and talk about all the things that the majority of people across the world are not capable of doing. What I believe is an “idea worth spreading” is an emphasis on the importance of the adoption of the types of mindsets that belong to the remarkable people on the planet that do attempt to solve these problems; the pioneers and the innovators.
This Ted Talk will essentially revolve around the central theme that every person has the potential to be an innovator with respect to their own particular interests and expertise. While we may not all have a background consisting of decades of medical or scientific research, I’m sure that every person would consider themselves to have some type of background in a particular field or subject, finding passion in either their job or maybe even just a hobby. Ultimately, the central theme of this TED Talk is that every person has the potential to completely revolutionize fields respective to their own interests; all it takes is one good idea. This is where we can learn from the aforementioned accredited individuals who do try and solve some of the world’s foremost problems. Whereas these types of people work in fields where they have no choice but to march forward as pioneers of new industries, the majority other people work or show interest in fields and subjects that are likely already developed and accepted, be it a mechanic who fixes cars or farmer who grows crops; the possibilities are endless.
I believe that these types of people are often, through no fault of their own, lulled into complacency in their profession because of standardized practices set in stone before them. The central message from this TED Talk is that we can learn from the pioneers of the world, not through the specifics of their work, but through their philosophies, and then apply their thought processes to our own lives. This, in turn, means that we should be encouraged to abandon old trains of thought and reasoning, just for the sake of trying to reinvent new solutions to old problems, operating under the assumption that nothing is ever perfect and there is always a hidden improvement that could be made. All it takes is a single good idea, and no matter how small it might be, every person has the potential to change the world through the power of creative and innovative thought. This Ted Talk will challenge individuals to shy away from accepted trains of thought, solely for the purpose of fostering ingenuity; a skill that is often overlooked in today’s day and age and is necessary to facilitate the next generation of pioneers and innovators.