# Cum să înveți să înoți aruncându-te în apă adâncă | Alecsandru Dunaev | TEDxZavoi Park Youth

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inHgyL1q6Os
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/inHgyL1q6Os
Generated: 2026-01-05T18:31:36.966+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Actor Alecsandru Dunaev shares his personal story of overcoming the impostor syndrome, detailing his decade-long journey after graduating from the National University of Theatre and Film "I.L. Caragiale" in Bucharest, during which he faced nearly 500 rejections before finally securing a leading role in a TV series, emphasizing that genuine confidence comes from consistent effort rather than external validation.

**Key Points:**
- Alecsandru Dunaev graduated from the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest in 2008 and spent the following decade facing nearly 500 rejections.
- Despite his success in landing a main role in a TV series, he experienced impostor syndrome, feeling he wasn't good enough or didn't deserve the opportunity.
- He learned from his acting professor, George Sârbu, that the impostor syndrome manifests as a fear of being judged as inadequate, leading to self-sabotage.
- The speaker contrasts his early struggles with his current success, noting that he got his first significant role after 10 years of trying.
- Dunaev advises young actors and creatives to cultivate 'active patience' and inner confidence, rather than relying solely on external validation (like casting directors or the audience).
- He relates the story of King Midas, who was blind to the value around him, as a metaphor for those who overlook their own worth due to self-doubt.
- The core message is to persist through failures (the 499 rejections) because they offer more learning than immediate success.

![Screenshot at 00:07: Alecsandru Dunaev stands on stage at TEDxZavoi Park Youth, introducing his topic: "How to learn to swim by throwing yourself into deep water."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/inHgyL1q6Os/00-00-07.jpg)

**Context:** The video features Alecsandru Dunaev, an actor, delivering a TEDxZavoi Park Youth talk centered around the theme of learning to swim by throwing oneself into deep water, using his own career trajectory as a case study. He discusses the pervasive issue of impostor syndrome within the creative industry and the necessity of developing internal validation over external approval.

## Detailed Analysis

Alecsandru Dunaev recounts his difficult start as an actor after graduating from the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest in 2008. For ten years, he struggled, receiving approximately 499 rejections before finally getting a chance to audition for a main role in a TV series in 2020. Even after getting the role, he experienced impostor syndrome, feeling he wasn't good enough or that his success was undeserved. He mentions that his acting professor, George Sârbu, taught him that the impostor syndrome manifests as an internal fear of judgment, causing one to sabotage opportunities. Dunaev contrasts his difficult path with others who might have had easier starts, highlighting that he was tempted to quit when he saw colleagues getting roles, but he persevered. He emphasizes that the nearly 500 failures taught him more than his eventual success. He concludes by urging the audience to cultivate inner confidence and an open heart, rather than seeking constant external validation from critics, colleagues, or even the audience, stressing that true security comes from within, not from external approval.

### Career Struggle & Impostor Syndrome

- Started acting after graduating in 2008; faced nearly 500 rejections over a decade
- Experienced impostor syndrome even after landing a main role in a 2020 TV series
- Professor George Sârbu pointed out his fear of judgment.

### Overcoming Self-Doubt

- Realized that external validation (from directors, media, or audience) is insufficient
- Rejected the idea that he should feel lucky for success or that others were inherently better.

### The Power of Failure

- The 499 rejections taught him more than the eventual success
- Believes failures are crucial for learning and development.

### Advice for Creatives

- Urges the audience to develop 'active patience' and internal security rather than external approval
- Encourages maintaining an open heart and recognizing one's own worth.

![Screenshot at 00:00: Alecsandru Dunaev standing on stage at TEDxZavoi Park Youth with the presentation slide visible.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/inHgyL1q6Os/00-00-00.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:24: Dunaev gesturing while discussing the difficulties of his early career, referencing a quote from poet George Sârbu.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/inHgyL1q6Os/00-00-24.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:56: Dunaev pauses while holding his notes, reflecting on the challenges he faced after graduation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/inHgyL1q6Os/00-00-56.jpg)
![Screenshot at 02:04: Dunaev animatedly discussing the hundreds of rejections he received before his first major role.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/inHgyL1q6Os/00-02-04.jpg)
![Screenshot at 04:35: Dunaev standing still, holding his notes, emphasizing the importance of perseverance despite setbacks.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/inHgyL1q6Os/00-04-35.jpg)