The Path To Finding Where You Belong | Alexander Murta | TEDxSt Peters Intl School Youth

Quick Overview

Alexander Murta concludes that finding where you belong is a long, active process requiring courage, patience, and curiosity to overcome initial feelings of not fitting in after moving to Portugal, emphasizing that belonging is built through conscious effort rather than passively waiting for it.

Key Points: The speaker, Alexander Murta, delivered a TEDx talk titled 'The Path to Finding Where You Belong' at St. Peter's Intl School Youth on February 7th, 2026. Moving to Portugal initially led to feelings of being bullied, excluded, and not belonging, which caused the speaker to stop trying new things and become closed off. The path to belonging involves actively building courage, patience, and curiosity, rather than waiting for connection or for mistakes to stop happening. Key action steps include taking initiative, being openly curious, and changing one's mindset from seeing challenges as permanent barriers to seeing them as learning opportunities. The speaker joined clubs like Drama Club and Model United Nations, finding that while some hoped-for connections didn't materialize, the experience fostered self-discovery and built confidence. Belief in deserving to belong, rather than feeling like an outsider, was the final crucial step that changed the speaker's attitude, energy, and approach to conversations.

Context: Alexander Murta shares a personal narrative about his journey to finding a sense of belonging after his family moved to Portugal. He recounts the initial struggles of feeling excluded and bullied in a new environment, which caused him to retreat and fear new experiences. The talk focuses on the active steps—courage, curiosity, and patience—required to overcome these feelings and build genuine connections, ultimately leading to self-acceptance and finding his place.

Detailed Analysis

Alexander Murta recounts his experience of moving to Portugal, where he initially felt bullied, excluded, and unwelcome, causing him to become closed off and avoid new experiences. He stresses that mistakes are part of learning, but he let them define him initially. The core message is that belonging is not passive; it must be actively built through a process involving courage, patience, and curiosity. He details his initiatives, such as joining the Drama Club and Model United Nations, which, despite not leading to immediate connections with everyone, fostered self-discovery and built confidence. He asserts that courage is not the absence of fear but moving forward despite it, and patience is required while actively seeking connection rather than waiting for it. The final realization was believing he deserved to belong, which fundamentally changed his attitude and energy, leading to positive interactions and a stronger sense of self.