Nehir Kilvan, a French literature student at Istanbul University, once had many dreams. In 11th grade, she discovered her true passion—books and literature. Though those around her believed her talents were being wasted, she chose to follow her heart. With a backup plan pushed on her by others, she still held tightly to her dream. Today, the dream she refused to give up is standing by her side. As she says: “If you don’t fail on your dreams, your dreams won’t fail on you.” My name is Nehir Kılvan. I was born on 19th November 2005. I graduated from FMV Erenköy Işık High school in 2023. Back in 11th grade I’ve spoken on TEDxYouth about The Importance of Having a Hobby. I’ve always been keen about sharing my experiences and voicing my thoughts. I’m currently studying French Language and Literature at Istanbul University and partaking in student clubs such as Sailing, Francophonie and Women’s Rights etc. at my university. I’ve been playing the piano since I was a child, I love dancing and really enjoy drawing. I’m so grateful to be given the opportunity to be here again. 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