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The Power of a Seed! | Isabela Peña | TEDxUWCEA Youth

What do you do when life swallows you whole, when the world you know disappears? In this personal and metaphorical talk, Isabela uses the analogy of an Acacia seed and its process through an elephant's digestive system to explore how vulnerability, migration, and culture shock can break us, but also transform us. From the crisis in Venezuela to the icy Patagonia, to Tanzania, her story reveals how losing our "shells", our comfort zones, ideologies, and fears, can connect us to a global community and our true selves. The Power of a Seed" explores the transformative journey of vulnerability through the metaphor of an Acacia seed. Just as the seed must endure the harsh process of being eaten by an elephant to grow, we, too, face challenges that strip away our comfort zones and push us toward growth. Through my migration from Venezuela to Chile and later to Tanzania, I experienced the discomfort of change, the struggles of adaptation, and the power of human connection. Vulnerability, rather than being a weakness, became my greatest strength—it allowed me to embrace new perspectives, break down biases, and truly connect with others. This talk is a reflection on resilience, empathy, and the courage to grow beyond our shells, proving that even when life throws us into an elephant’s stomach, we have the power to transform the experience into something extraordinary. 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

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