The Gap Between Who We are and Who They See | Goomaral Sandag-Ochir | TEDxShildeg School Youth

Fear of being seen can quietly shape everyday choices, from raising a hand in class to starting a conversation with someone new. In this TEDxShildeg School Youth talk, Goomaral Sandag-Ochir looks at why being perceived by others feels so uncomfortable, especially for teenagers. She draws on neuroscience, psychology and her own experience of growing up between Mongolia, England and Australia. The talk argues for treating visibility as a necessary part of connecting, creating and taking up space. The speaker is a youth health advocate, researcher and founder of URAM Care, a youth-led health initiative in Mongolia. The talk was given at an independently organized TEDx event and is presented under the TEDx Talks source.

• Why the fear of being perceived affects small everyday decisions
• How neuroscience and psychology help explain self-consciousness
• Growing up between Mongolia, England and Australia
• Treating being seen as part of connecting and creating

Have you ever wanted to raise your hand, talk to someone new, ask a question, compliment someone, or try something new, but stopped because you suddenly became aware that people could see you doing it? My talk explores the fear of being perceived, the uncomfortable feeling that comes with knowing other people are watching, judging, or forming opinions about us. For teenagers especially, worrying about how we are seen can affect small decisions we make every day. It can change how we speak, who we approach, what we try, and even how much of ourselves we show to other people. What stayed with me was not the rejection. It was how difficult it was to ask in the first place. Why can simply being seen doing something feel so uncomfortable? Through neuroscience, psychology, and my experience growing up between different countries and cultures, I want to explore why we care so much about how we are perceived and how that fear shapes our choices. I want to explore what happens when we stop treating being seen as something to avoid and start seeing it as a necessary part of connecting, creating, and taking up space. Goomaral Sandag-Ochir is a youth health advocate, researcher, and founder of URAM Care, a youth-led health initiative in Mongolia. Having grown up between Mongolia, England, and Australia, she became interested in neuroscience, psychology, and how our environments shape the way we think and connect with others. Through her research and community work, she is passionate about making science relatable and meaningful to young people. 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