Ranbir Singh | Student and Rising Leader
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
Anything I do, I do in sincerity. I move through the world with compassion and an unwavering knowledge of my identity. I use these tools to express the world as I see it, and to build that which might reflect a more equitable one. Whether through hip hop, narrative, research, teaching, or advocacy, I start with mastering myself.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
My struggles with ADHD affected my ability to live a balanced life. In the past I overcompensated for my struggles by working harder, at the cost of my well-being and relationships.
3. How have you bounced back?
Knowing is half the battle. Once I became aware of the reasons for my own patterns, I was able to address them.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
I wish that I questioned the social conventions and expectations that I took for granted. But that’s only a perspective I’ve gained from the road I’ve travelled. That is to say that we have to accept everything that comes our way.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
I think we need to see ourselves through the lens of nature. Understanding that we’re bound to nature even as the industrial world tries to frame us as beings above nature. I think that would help us to live and coexist more peacefully.
Ellany Lea | Success Coach & Spiritual Guide
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
I IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE…every woman feels cherished and championed to unleash her genius, so that it lightens and frees the world.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
Hiring a marketing agency for $10,000 and not being able to tell that they were lying through their teeth, that they were way over-promising and would way under-deliver. Lost that $10k. Sigh.
3. How have you bounced back?
A decade-plus of $100,000 invested in personal growth, healing arts, self-development, psychotherapy, coaching and leadership skills, plus falling again and again, and getting up again and again. Plus, throughout that decade, I collected a solid tribe of loving soulmates, many of whom are coaches and psychotherapists, who could listen to my failures, comfort me, support me, and champion me to get back up with fierce grace.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
Oh, so many things. That life is about playing chess with The Universe. I make a move and It makes a move. No matter what an overachiever I am, I cannot push the river. There is an unfolding, timing and destiny to everything. And no matter what happens, I will always be okay. Not just okay, but stronger, fiercer and freer after each fall and each rising.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
I don’t think “balance” between people and nature is the key to the conscious evolution of humanity. Egoic humans destroyed nature out of greed, fear and scarcity. It’s not a matter of balance; it’s a matter of people raising their consciousness so high and humbling themselves so much to restore nature to its original glory.
Jessie Lawrence | Student Activist
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
I just try to talk to people, meet them where they’re at. I have learned that it is not my job to fix people, but to fix the system and support individuals in the meantime. I founded a summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth, I campaign and advocate for important issues, I work/volunteer on numerous action teams, committees, panels etc. But all anyone is truly looking for is connection with other humans.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
I am still alive, which is to say that I have not failed. Failure is such an absolute and permanent word; I have delt with sexism, ageism, homophobia, etc. I fought (and continue to fight) my battle with mental health, burnout, and self-doubt.
3. How have you bounced back?
I take breaks now. I prioritize myself a bit more so that I can better serve my community. I am learning to delegate large tasks and ask for help when I need it.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
That I would be able to get my first degree without debt and that I would eventually find medication and a support network that help(ed) me recover. I’d also love to tell my 15-year-old self that Camp Ohana (the summer camp I founded for LGBTQ+ youth and allies) would come to fruition and even grow over the years.)
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
We must conceptualize nature as that which is both living and alive. This perspective shows us that we are not simply on earth, but that we are born from her, we are part of her, and we grow with her. Humans need to be outside. Every time we venture out into our beautiful natural world we must seek to feel small; put differently, we must seek to gain perspective on our position in the world.
Patricia LaRue | Rising Leader
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
By helping and supporting people in realizing their full potential.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
Feeling I am not doing enough.
3. How have you bounced back?
Not giving up. Continuing. Knowing that even if it is not enough, it is better than nothing.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
Enjoy what you are living instead of looking forward to later.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
Enjoying what you have instead of dreaming for something bigger and better. This way, we’ll be happier, appreciate what we have and stop running after an ideal that does not exist!
Hoda Mahdi | Rising Leader
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
I have tried to leave my mark on the world through kindness. The way we treat one another has a ripple effect on those around us. Giving others the benefit of the doubt, being open minded and kind goes a long way. We can never know what someone is truly going through, so I always lead with kindness and encourage others to pay it forward. This “mark” on the world may not be permanent or tangible but it does have a long-lasting effect.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
My biggest failure is believing that I would run out of time. I felt a sense of personal emergency, and I would expect the worst and that opportunities would not come my way (so I should take them immediately). I would have enjoyed so much more of life’s events if I had slowed down; realized that opportunities don’t magically run out.
3. How have you bounced back?
Time heals all wounds. There isn’t a magic wand to make everything okay. All we can do is reflect, learn from our mistakes and perform great self-care while we heal. You’re already on your path to bouncing back! Be patient and kind to yourself.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
I would have told my 15-year-old self to BREATHE. My teenage self was always anxious, worried if everything would be okay. Taking two deep breaths has changed the way that I think and act. I wish I had known how powerful this would be for me earlier.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
Spend more time in nature. The more we do this, the more we can relate to it and the more we are motivated to follow sustainable practices and affect change in our community. Sustainable practices include changing our diets and products we buy, and influencing corporate regulations. However, those who hold power will not be motivated to make these changes themselves unless they are relating to nature themselves. Spend more time in nature!
Krish Shah | Rising Leader
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
Told stories, shared thoughts, met and inspired interesting people (with a focus on) technology and environmental advocacy.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
Losing in a major competition that would have changed my life.
3. How have you bounced back?
Understood that there is nothing to do but keep going forward.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
Time is too valuable to be using it on unimportant things.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
Infuse happiness in the world. Understand that not everybody needs to change the world, because the value is in enjoying it.
Anonymous
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
Service to others.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
Numerous research grant rejections.
3. How have you bounced back?
Learn from the feedback and iterate.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
Be kind to yourself, spend time on your own to discover your interests independent of external forces.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
Going for walks is a great way to appreciate nature, while taking time for yourself.
Shelby Dunfield | Student Leader
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
Yes.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
I didn’t put a lot of effort into my academics during my first year of university.
3. How have you bounced back?
I think so.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
Build your own identity; don’t connect it to other people or things.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
I’m not sure.
Qi Kang Zuo | Director at The Debtless Students
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
Research
2. What’s your biggest failure?
Publishing my first paper in a fraud journal.
3. How have you bounced back?
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
Innovation and initiative are often defined as the ability to recognize and seize a window of opportunity. When that window is absent, be capable of framing our own.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
It likely depends. Specifically, we likely need to agree upon what balance means and that there likely (isn’t) a one-size-fits-all solution. I imagine, only after that, can we finally begin striking the balance.
Audrey Sproule | Violinist
1. How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
Yes!
2. What’s your biggest failure?
In regards to my projects: thinking small.
3. How have you bounced back?
Keeping the big picture in mind!
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
Time, energy, and purpose are precious.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
Having mandatory nature time for kids and adults in their school/work schedules.
AJung Moon | Assistant Professor, McGill (failed start-up co-founder)
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
By finding my niche and embracing nonlinear life paths.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
Emphasizing ‘hard work’ too much to the point of burning out (too often). My start-up had to close in part because of mistakes I made pushing myself while burnt out.
3. How have you bounced back?
I sought help (after much encouragement from people closest to me). I hired a fellow TD Scholar and life coach to (help me) step out of my depths of despair.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
The world is impatiently waiting for you to be proactive, while you wait for someone “older”/”wiser” to give you permission and instructions. It turns out there’s no Santa Clause in the world who goes around giving out such permissions/instructions.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
My dream jobs required me to fly around a lot, live out of hotel rooms. It seemed glorious at first. But a lot of the time was actually wasted in airports, burning fuel more than needed, while not being able to keep a hobby (try fitting an alto flute or a paint brush in the only carry-on bag you live off of…!) or fully enjoying where I was or who I was with. I’m working to make sure my students and mentees do not feel the need to do the same for their dream journeys.
Daniel Benaich | Student
- How have you tried to leave your mark on the world?
Yes and no. Yes, in my thoughts and in the small goals I’ve set, I’ve tried to change the little things, to help people in their everyday lives and to leave a place better than I found it. No, because I believe everyone can work to leave a better mark on the world.
2. What’s your biggest failure?
Realizing I’m not the best at everything I do. That there are practically thousands of people younger than me that can invent, change, paint, write, sketch, bike, solve better than me – and thousands of others that are better than them, that are younger. That was a slow realization, but it was harsh. I don’t know if you’d call this a failure, but to me it felt like I always thought my skills were worth something and to realize they weren’t felt like a failure to me.
3. How have you bounced back?
What made me bounce back was the realization that there are thousands of people out there that are better than me, but not one of them is me. Sure, plenty of people are like me – similar in intelligence, creativity, problem solving – but none are me.
4. What’s the one thing you know now that you wish you knew at 15?
Have more fun. Um, also, just do what you like to do. If you don’t enjoy something, chances are it’s not going to be useful to you in the long run, unless you feel it helps humanity in such an impactful way. And the lottery numbers. Just joking.
5. Given all of that, how do you think we can strike a better balance between people and nature?
Questions two, three and five (this one) were hardest for me to put into words. Not because I didn’t know the answer, I did, but it was still floating around in my mind, in that shapeless way thoughts do before they are written down. I think the main way we can create a better balance is by educating ourselves and others, and by trying to act. These are still ideals and I really don’t know if they will prove to be effective. And by supporting organizations we believe will make nature and humanity better, together.
Are you a rising leader? Are you working to build a better community? Maybe you should think about applying for the TD Scholarship for Community Leadership.