The Future is US | Muhammad Rayyan Alvaro | TEDxCRIBS Youth

Quick Overview

The future, which people often associate with technology like robots, flying cars, and AI, is actually found within the youth, as their voice empowers curiosity, energy, and hope to challenge the status quo and create a brilliant, brand new tomorrow.

Key Points: The voice of tomorrow, or the future, is not found in machines or technology like robots or AI, but resides in us, the youth. The speaker emphasizes that young people must speak now, stating, "We cannot just wait until we're older to be heard. We don't need to wait until tomorrow to speak." The youth's voice empowers three aspects: curiosity, which questions accepted systems; energy, which challenges old habits; and hope, which is foundational to the future. Historical examples prove the power of youth voices, citing Malala Yousafzai, who spoke out for education as a teenager and became a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Greta Thunberg is presented as another example, who skipped school to protest climate change and now speaks to world leaders at the UN. Starting small is sufficient to enact change, such as "raising your hand in class, sharing an idea, daring to say that this is my perspective and you must respect it." If the youth remain quiet, tomorrow will sound exactly like yesterday, but if they start speaking, innovating, and acting, "tomorrow will sound exactly brilliant. Tomorrow will sound brand new."

Context: Muhammad Rayyan Alvaro delivers a motivational speech, titled "The Future is US," at TEDxCRIBS Youth, addressing his audience of future leaders and global viewers. The speaker initially felt nervous about speaking as just a small student but gained confidence realizing the importance of the youth's perspective, arguing against waiting for an older age or a specific platform to express important ideas.

Detailed Analysis

Muhammad Rayyan Alvaro asserts that the future is defined by the youth, contrasting this belief with common perceptions of the future involving technology like robots and AI. He shares his personal journey from nervousness to confidence, stressing that young people must speak up in the present moment because their collective voice fuels three critical elements: curiosity to question the status quo, energy to challenge old systems and habits, and hope, which he calls the most powerful aspect. To validate this, he references successful young activists: Malala Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating for education, and Greta Thunberg, who gained international recognition by protesting climate change. Alvaro clarifies that significant impact does not require immediate major achievements like speaking at the UN; starting small, such as voicing a perspective in class, is crucial because collective silence ensures tomorrow sounds identical to yesterday, whereas collective action by the youth will make tomorrow sound brilliant and brand new. The core message concludes with the declaration: "We are the future. We are the voice of tomorrow. Daring to speak, daring to ask, and daring to act."