Written by Me | Yasemin Erol | TEDxUAA Youth

Why are teenagers often seen as too young to make important decisions, even though adolescence is one of the most adaptable periods of life? In this TEDxUAA Youth talk, Yasemin Erol looks at the science of neuroplasticity and the teenage brain's ability to reshape itself. Drawing on everyday habits, social media and personal growth, she argues that the choices people repeat today shape who they become tomorrow.

• Neuroplasticity and the adaptability of the teenage brain
• How everyday habits and social media influence personal growth
• Asking "Who do I want to become?" instead of "What do I want to be?"
• Future identity is shaped by repeated thoughts, habits and decisions

Why are teenagers considered too young to make important decisions, while at the same time living through the most adaptable period of their lives? In this thought-provoking talk, Yasemin Erol challenges the way society views adolescence by exploring the science of neuroplasticity and the remarkable ability of the teenage brain to reshape itself. Through examples from everyday habits, social media, and personal growth, she argues that the choices we repeat today become the foundation of who we are tomorrow. Rather than asking young people what they want to be, she invites them to ask a more important question: Who do I want to become? Because our future is not simply something we grow into—it is something we actively write, one thought, habit, and decision at a time. Yasemin Erol is a 10th-grade student at Üsküdar American Academy in Istanbul. She co-chairs her school’s AI Student Committee and serves as vice president of both the Programming Club and the AI Club. She loves building things, whether that means training a machine learning model, running an experiment in the lab, or trying a new recipe in the kitchen. She performs as a soprano in her school’s choir, plays the piano, and is a competitive tennis player. When she is not at school, she is probably traveling, researching something that caught her attention, or constructing her next project. 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