Failing Forward: Power in Persistence | Ilyas Idderhem | TEDxAmerican School of Marrakesh
This talk explores the transformative power of failure, revealing how our lowest moments can become the foundation of our greatest achievements. Through powerful real-life stories—from a Muslim woman’s strength post-9/11, to a teacher’s classroom embarrassment, a tech innovator’s startup crash, and the journey of founding humanitarian clubs in Morocco—this speech illustrates how fear of failure can be both a curse and a catalyst. It challenges the stigma surrounding mistakes and shows how embracing setbacks leads to growth, resilience, and meaningful impact. Whether in personal struggles or societal obstacles, the message is clear: failure is not the end—it’s the beginning of something greater. I’m Ilyas Idderhem, a senior at the American School of Tangier. From a young age, I’ve been passionate about creating meaningful change and helping my country reach its full potential. With this vision in mind, I founded the first two nation-wide high school programs in Morocco dedicated to humanitarian aid and medical humanitarian aid.
Through these initiatives, I’ve collaborated with teenagers across the country and individuals from diverse backgrounds to empower the youth of Morocco. By sharing the stories of the unique and inspiring people around me, I aim to motivate this event’s audience to embrace various perspectives and philosophies. I believe this can lead to personal growth and contribute to the broader mission of my programs: empowering the youth of Morocco. 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
More from TED
- 15:56Labirentteki Değerli Yalnızlık | Özlem Gürses | TEDxBilkent UGazeteci, yazar ve televizyon sunucusu Özlem Gürses, modern hayatın karmaşası içinde kaybolan bireyselliğin ve yalnızlığın düşündüğümüzden çok daha güçlü bir araç olabileceğini ve bize yeni kapılar açabileceği hakkında konuşuyor. Kendi labirentimizde yol almanın düşündüğümüzden daha çok önemli olduğunu ve kendi labirentimizde kalmaktan korkmamaız gerektiğinden bahsediyor. 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 Özlem Gürses was born in Ankara on August 18, 1970. After completing her primary and high school education at TED Ankara College, she entered the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at METU Faculty of Architecture. She moved to Istanbul during her master's degree and entered the media world. Gürses has written many articles and books on literature and culture. She has also given speeches at various conferences and seminars on Turkish literature and culture. Gürses began her media career as a reporter at ATV News Center and later appeared on programs such as "Gece Hattı" and "Kırmızı Koltuk" on Star TV. She worked as an editor and presenter on programs such as "20. Saat", "13 Agency", "Bıldıgın Gibi Değil" and "Burası Haftasonu" on Habertürk TV. She served as assistant news director and on-screen presenter on the "Ana Haber" program on Kanal 1. 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
- 7:38How to overcome procrastination | Shashva Dedhia | TEDxRWA YouthShashva is here, not to talk about the future, but about the first step to reaching it”. Yes, procrastination is an everyday problem, which affects the smallest things like grocery shopping, to the biggest, like submitting your end-of-year exam. Fortunately, according to Shashva, there are some quick and easy techniques, which can make procrastinators seasoned work pros. Because, remember, as Shashva says, the best time to innovate and grow, is now. Shashva Dedhia is a passionate student of Grade 9 at RWA. He enjoys learning and is always looking for opportunities to meet new people. He is a budding photographer, as well as being an avid reader and also working on paper-craft, namely quilling. He values his academics and his extra-curricular, which is why he practices badminton and cricket. His favorite subject areas include math, science, and history. He is quite competitive and likes to succeed at what he does. 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
