Taking Control of Life’s Spectrums | Tyler Wright | TEDxYouth@UCVTS

so to begin I want you guys to imagine

so to begin I want you guys to imagine yourself stranded on a desert island

yourself stranded on a desert island

yourself stranded on a desert island with just one other person what do you

with just one other person what do you

with just one other person what do you do do you cooperate with them and try to

do do you cooperate with them and try to

do do you cooperate with them and try to work together and get the most food or

work together and get the most food or

work together and get the most food or do you compete against them and try to

do you compete against them and try to

do you compete against them and try to get more food than the other in order to

get more food than the other in order to

get more food than the other in order to survive you might think at first that

survive you might think at first that

survive you might think at first that cooperation is simply the best choice

cooperation is simply the best choice

cooperation is simply the best choice it’s the most visually beneficial but if

it’s the most visually beneficial but if

it’s the most visually beneficial but if you really put yourself in their shoes

you really put yourself in their shoes

you really put yourself in their shoes you might not be so sure what choice you

you might not be so sure what choice you

you might not be so sure what choice you make cooperation and competition in this

make cooperation and competition in this

make cooperation and competition in this situation can be simplified into a

situation can be simplified into a

situation can be simplified into a spectrum of two opposing AIA sites one

spectrum of two opposing AIA sites one

spectrum of two opposing AIA sites one being competition one being cooperation

being competition one being cooperation

being competition one being cooperation life itself is made up of many different

life itself is made up of many different

life itself is made up of many different kinds of sub spectrums everything from

kinds of sub spectrums everything from

kinds of sub spectrums everything from sexual orientation to your political

sexual orientation to your political

sexual orientation to your political affiliation they’re everywhere and part

affiliation they’re everywhere and part

affiliation they’re everywhere and part of growing up is learning what your

of growing up is learning what your

of growing up is learning what your identity is and how you’ve paid along

identity is and how you’ve paid along

identity is and how you’ve paid along those spectrums and how you can turn

those spectrums and how you can turn

those spectrums and how you can turn that to your advantage in life

that to your advantage in life

that to your advantage in life so starting I want to break down this

so starting I want to break down this

so starting I want to break down this spectrum of cooperation versus

spectrum of cooperation versus

spectrum of cooperation versus competition I’m gonna start with

competition I’m gonna start with

competition I’m gonna start with competition one of the first things that

competition one of the first things that

competition one of the first things that you might think about when you think of

you might think about when you think of

you might think about when you think of competition it might be the negatives

competition it might be the negatives

competition it might be the negatives maybe the stress or anxiety associated

maybe the stress or anxiety associated

maybe the stress or anxiety associated with it but I’d rather start with the

with it but I’d rather start with the

with it but I’d rather start with the positives in a competitive environment

positives in a competitive environment

positives in a competitive environment one of the biggest benefits is

one of the biggest benefits is

one of the biggest benefits is innovation certain vocations like

innovation certain vocations like

innovation certain vocations like engineers take this idea into the daily

engineers take this idea into the daily

engineers take this idea into the daily Creed when they’re trying to create the

Creed when they’re trying to create the

Creed when they’re trying to create the best machine or make the best building

best machine or make the best building

best machine or make the best building entrepreneurs use this idea when they

entrepreneurs use this idea when they

entrepreneurs use this idea when they try to create their products because in

try to create their products because in

try to create their products because in the market only the best products and

the market only the best products and

the market only the best products and get sold in this way the stressful

get sold in this way the stressful

get sold in this way the stressful competition pushes entrepreneurs and

competition pushes entrepreneurs and

competition pushes entrepreneurs and engineers to try to make the best

engineers to try to make the best

engineers to try to make the best project or product that they can try and

project or product that they can try and

project or product that they can try and innovate and deviate and trying to be

innovate and deviate and trying to be

innovate and deviate and trying to be better than the others as the president

better than the others as the president

better than the others as the president of this school’s first robotics

of this school’s first robotics

of this school’s first robotics competition team I see this play up

competition team I see this play up

competition team I see this play up firsthand every day in 2009 our team

firsthand every day in 2009 our team

firsthand every day in 2009 our team reforms and how to rebuild itself in the

reforms and how to rebuild itself in the

reforms and how to rebuild itself in the ground up after having disbanded for

ground up after having disbanded for

ground up after having disbanded for three years

three years

three years there are many really interesting

there are many really interesting

there are many really interesting stories from that time of Reconstruction

stories from that time of Reconstruction

stories from that time of Reconstruction my favorite has to do with reading the

my favorite has to do with reading the

my favorite has to do with reading the rules you see and every kickoff event

rules you see and every kickoff event

rules you see and every kickoff event each year we

each year we

each year we Laura competition is and they release a

Laura competition is and they release a

Laura competition is and they release a rule handbook back in the day we only

rule handbook back in the day we only

rule handbook back in the day we only had one designated person who would read

had one designated person who would read

had one designated person who would read the rules and they would serve and

the rules and they would serve and

the rules and they would serve and through that how we would for a robot

through that how we would for a robot

through that how we would for a robot enter those rules for the whole year

enter those rules for the whole year

enter those rules for the whole year however one year that rural reader had a

however one year that rural reader had a

however one year that rural reader had a bit of a Braveheart moment like we all

bit of a Braveheart moment like we all

bit of a Braveheart moment like we all do sometimes MT misread the robot max

do sometimes MT misread the robot max

do sometimes MT misread the robot max height as being six feet not here but in

height as being six feet not here but in

height as being six feet not here but in which competition the robot effector

which competition the robot effector

which competition the robot effector stops right away he says that robot is

stops right away he says that robot is

stops right away he says that robot is way too tall because the actual height

way too tall because the actual height

way too tall because the actual height limit was 60 inches since then we’ve

limit was 60 inches since then we’ve

limit was 60 inches since then we’ve learned from our mistake

learned from our mistake

learned from our mistake and now make sure to read the rules

and now make sure to read the rules

and now make sure to read the rules thoroughly each year for over an hour

thoroughly each year for over an hour

thoroughly each year for over an hour it’s been through little improvements

it’s been through little improvements

it’s been through little improvements and learning from mistakes like this

and learning from mistakes like this

and learning from mistakes like this that we’ve been able to slowly get

that we’ve been able to slowly get

that we’ve been able to slowly get better and succeed more over time in

better and succeed more over time in

better and succeed more over time in 2016 we were semi-finalists in our

2016 we were semi-finalists in our

2016 we were semi-finalists in our division at the World Championships and

division at the World Championships and

division at the World Championships and we would never would have gotten there

we would never would have gotten there

we would never would have gotten there if it weren’t for the health and

if it weren’t for the health and

if it weren’t for the health and motivation that we got from competitive

motivation that we got from competitive

motivation that we got from competitive stress stressful competition can be a

stress stressful competition can be a

stress stressful competition can be a really great motivator you see a study

really great motivator you see a study

really great motivator you see a study by social psychologist dr. sander van

by social psychologist dr. sander van

by social psychologist dr. sander van der Linden found that it can found at

der Linden found that it can found at

der Linden found that it can found at the Princeton University do it in the

the Princeton University do it in the

the Princeton University do it in the dark campaign which is a competition

dark campaign which is a competition

dark campaign which is a competition among the different residential colleges

among the different residential colleges

among the different residential colleges at Preston University so you can serve

at Preston University so you can serve

at Preston University so you can serve the most energy it was the leading

the most energy it was the leading

the most energy it was the leading factor during the competition of course

factor during the competition of course

factor during the competition of course they would conserve energy but as soon

they would conserve energy but as soon

they would conserve energy but as soon as the competition ended that was

as the competition ended that was

as the competition ended that was basically it

basically it

basically it they’d go back to using the same amount

they’d go back to using the same amount

they’d go back to using the same amount of energy before and it was ready back

of energy before and it was ready back

of energy before and it was ready back to where they started

to where they started

to where they started so as soon as that stressful stimuli was

so as soon as that stressful stimuli was

so as soon as that stressful stimuli was removed it was as if no progress had

removed it was as if no progress had

removed it was as if no progress had been made

been made

been made therefore it seems that the stress of

therefore it seems that the stress of

therefore it seems that the stress of competition can be very useful however

competition can be very useful however

competition can be very useful however too much of it can be a detriment in a

too much of it can be a detriment in a

too much of it can be a detriment in a very high-stress environment it can be

very high-stress environment it can be

very high-stress environment it can be unhealthy and be harmful for example in

unhealthy and be harmful for example in

unhealthy and be harmful for example in the environment of the average high

the environment of the average high

the environment of the average high school especially around the time of

school especially around the time of

school especially around the time of junior and senior year students had to

junior and senior year students had to

junior and senior year students had to look a lot more at their grades and

look a lot more at their grades and

look a lot more at their grades and their test scores their GPA at the

their test scores their GPA at the

their test scores their GPA at the colleges they’re applying to

colleges they’re applying to

colleges they’re applying to I had to basically break them selling

I had to basically break them selling

I had to basically break them selling themselves down into a series of numbers

themselves down into a series of numbers

themselves down into a series of numbers and it could be really dehumanizing this

and it could be really dehumanizing this

and it could be really dehumanizing this is especially true at Union back

is especially true at Union back

is especially true at Union back Union County vocational-technical

Union County vocational-technical

Union County vocational-technical schools here where students are often

schools here where students are often

schools here where students are often pushed to their limits and have to work

pushed to their limits and have to work

pushed to their limits and have to work even more living in such a chronic

even more living in such a chronic

even more living in such a chronic high-stress environment can be there a

high-stress environment can be there a

high-stress environment can be there a touch consoles your health for example

touch consoles your health for example

touch consoles your health for example it can even kill brain cells it can

it can even kill brain cells it can

it can even kill brain cells it can damage your immune system and it can

damage your immune system and it can

damage your immune system and it can raise your blood pressure

so therefore if you live in a completely

so therefore if you live in a completely competitive as in totally zero of the

competitive as in totally zero of the

competitive as in totally zero of the other competition environment it can be

other competition environment it can be

other competition environment it can be very harmful and stressful first year

very harmful and stressful first year

very harmful and stressful first year whoever that’s where you must look at

whoever that’s where you must look at

whoever that’s where you must look at the other side of the spectrum we have

the other side of the spectrum we have

the other side of the spectrum we have to look at cooperation in a totally

to look at cooperation in a totally

to look at cooperation in a totally cooperative environment you see solution

cooperative environment you see solution

cooperative environment you see solution to the very phones that I just described

to the very phones that I just described

to the very phones that I just described in a totally competitive environment

in a totally competitive environment

in a totally competitive environment imagine instead of the cutthroat high

imagine instead of the cutthroat high

imagine instead of the cutthroat high school description that I just gave you

school description that I just gave you

school description that I just gave you students would help each other they

students would help each other they

students would help each other they would share their notes they wanted to

would share their notes they wanted to

would share their notes they wanted to help each other as a whole learn and as

help each other as a whole learn and as

help each other as a whole learn and as a whole succeed rather than just the

a whole succeed rather than just the

a whole succeed rather than just the individual and this way students would

individual and this way students would

individual and this way students would have more time to focus on their own

have more time to focus on their own

have more time to focus on their own interests in their own needs and rather

interests in their own needs and rather

interests in their own needs and rather than focusing on stress and being simple

than focusing on stress and being simple

than focusing on stress and being simple basically tests for generators ice and

basically tests for generators ice and

basically tests for generators ice and FIRST Robotics we actually have this

FIRST Robotics we actually have this

FIRST Robotics we actually have this concept called gracious professionalism

concept called gracious professionalism

concept called gracious professionalism in simple terms it means that everyone

in simple terms it means that everyone

in simple terms it means that everyone was feel special to each other no matter

was feel special to each other no matter

was feel special to each other no matter what

what

what but then that is something called

but then that is something called

but then that is something called coopertition

coopertition

coopertition it’s basically a combination of

it’s basically a combination of

it’s basically a combination of cooperation and competition that’s the

cooperation and competition that’s the

cooperation and competition that’s the idea of that robotics team should be

idea of that robotics team should be

idea of that robotics team should be helping each other to succeed whenever

helping each other to succeed whenever

helping each other to succeed whenever they need it no matter what even if they

they need it no matter what even if they

they need it no matter what even if they might be competing against each other in

might be competing against each other in

might be competing against each other in the next match which she would see

the next match which she would see

the next match which she would see happen when we were still rookies and we

happen when we were still rookies and we

happen when we were still rookies and we were still trying to rebuild ourselves

were still trying to rebuild ourselves

were still trying to rebuild ourselves up it was thanks to the help and good

up it was thanks to the help and good

up it was thanks to the help and good nature of all the teams that we were

nature of all the teams that we were

nature of all the teams that we were able to really succeed it wasn’t just

able to really succeed it wasn’t just

able to really succeed it wasn’t just our efforts alone and now that were a

our efforts alone and now that were a

our efforts alone and now that were a much better team we’re able to even give

much better team we’re able to even give

much better team we’re able to even give back and help all the teams who are now

back and help all the teams who are now

back and help all the teams who are now in the same place where we once were

in the same place where we once were

in the same place where we once were so therefore cooperation can be there

so therefore cooperation can be there

so therefore cooperation can be there very beneficial but it is not of course

very beneficial but it is not of course

very beneficial but it is not of course without some downsides when you focus on

without some downsides when you focus on

without some downsides when you focus on a totally cooperative environment and

a totally cooperative environment and

a totally cooperative environment and that is one where there is no

that is one where there is no

that is one where there is no competition whatsoever and you lose the

competition whatsoever and you lose the

competition whatsoever and you lose the same thing that competition would give

same thing that competition would give

same thing that competition would give you innovation because of a totally

you innovation because of a totally

you innovation because of a totally cooperative environment there would be

cooperative environment there would be

cooperative environment there would be no real need to innovate or deviate if

no real need to innovate or deviate if

no real need to innovate or deviate if you’re always focusing on the same team

you’re always focusing on the same team

you’re always focusing on the same team you’re on the same side it’s all about

you’re on the same side it’s all about

you’re on the same side it’s all about the team success as opposed to personal

the team success as opposed to personal

the team success as opposed to personal success there’s no reason to try to make

success there’s no reason to try to make

success there’s no reason to try to make something better than the other compete

something better than the other compete

something better than the other compete over the other because it’s all about

over the other because it’s all about

over the other because it’s all about the whole so as a result if you focus on

the whole so as a result if you focus on

the whole so as a result if you focus on a totally common environment and at the

a totally common environment and at the

a totally common environment and at the same time you might be sacrificing your

same time you might be sacrificing your

same time you might be sacrificing your own personal success well it might be

own personal success well it might be

own personal success well it might be difficult to find a totally cooperative

difficult to find a totally cooperative

difficult to find a totally cooperative apartment in the real world a simplified

apartment in the real world a simplified

apartment in the real world a simplified example can receive in history in a very

example can receive in history in a very

example can receive in history in a very simplified version of the Cold War the

simplified version of the Cold War the

simplified version of the Cold War the world was decided into two sides divided

world was decided into two sides divided

world was decided into two sides divided into two sides you see the capitalist

into two sides you see the capitalist

into two sides you see the capitalist countries who had a very innovation a

countries who had a very innovation a

countries who had a very innovation a very competition driven economy where

very competition driven economy where

very competition driven economy where they were trying to make their own the

they were trying to make their own the

they were trying to make their own the best products they would have a

best products they would have a

best products they would have a beautiful society and they would be

beautiful society and they would be

beautiful society and they would be focused on their own individual once so

focused on their own individual once so

focused on their own individual once so they would be driven more how and they

they would be driven more how and they

they would be driven more how and they were even traded with other capitalist

were even traded with other capitalist

were even traded with other capitalist countries in order to thrive whoever on

countries in order to thrive whoever on

countries in order to thrive whoever on the other side almost like a spectrum

the other side almost like a spectrum

the other side almost like a spectrum the communist country has had a more

the communist country has had a more

the communist country has had a more cooperation focused economy in this way

cooperation focused economy in this way

cooperation focused economy in this way people were unhappy because they were

people were unhappy because they were

people were unhappy because they were strapped into society where they could

strapped into society where they could

strapped into society where they could not move up and there was no innovation

not move up and there was no innovation

not move up and there was no innovation to no reason to innovate or deviate

to no reason to innovate or deviate

to no reason to innovate or deviate because there was no way they could move

because there was no way they could move

because there was no way they could move up or again any personal success from

up or again any personal success from

up or again any personal success from that it was all about the team success

that it was all about the team success

that it was all about the team success as you know from history ultimately the

as you know from history ultimately the

as you know from history ultimately the capitalist economy flourished while the

capitalist economy flourished while the

capitalist economy flourished while the economy economy de clay it decayed on

economy economy de clay it decayed on

economy economy de clay it decayed on account of because they had the

account of because they had the

account of because they had the innovation and the competition aspect

innovation and the competition aspect

innovation and the competition aspect therefore in a way it seems like no one

therefore in a way it seems like no one

therefore in a way it seems like no one wins if you look at totally once

wins if you look at totally once

wins if you look at totally once spectrum on competition there are so

spectrum on competition there are so

spectrum on competition there are so much stress and it’s all on you to find

much stress and it’s all on you to find

much stress and it’s all on you to find that personal success that it could be

that personal success that it could be

that personal success that it could be hard to thrive whereas on the other side

hard to thrive whereas on the other side

hard to thrive whereas on the other side on a totally cooperative environment

on a totally cooperative environment

on a totally cooperative environment you couldn’t sacrifice that personal

you couldn’t sacrifice that personal

you couldn’t sacrifice that personal success even more and then you lose your

success even more and then you lose your

success even more and then you lose your innovation clever we don’t live in a

innovation clever we don’t live in a

innovation clever we don’t live in a world that’s made up of these black and

world that’s made up of these black and

world that’s made up of these black and white features we live in a world that’s

white features we live in a world that’s

white features we live in a world that’s meeting up with different spectrums

meeting up with different spectrums

meeting up with different spectrums there is no real totally competitive or

there is no real totally competitive or

there is no real totally competitive or totally cooperative environment every

totally cooperative environment every

totally cooperative environment every environment like that has a little bit

environment like that has a little bit

environment like that has a little bit of both this can be symbolized by the

of both this can be symbolized by the

of both this can be symbolized by the end yang you need a little bit of good

end yang you need a little bit of good

end yang you need a little bit of good in the evil and vice versa in order for

in the evil and vice versa in order for

in the evil and vice versa in order for an environment to really succeed this

an environment to really succeed this

an environment to really succeed this can be seen in many different kinds of

can be seen in many different kinds of

can be seen in many different kinds of spectrums it could be seen in things

spectrums it could be seen in things

spectrums it could be seen in things like political affiliation maybe gender

like political affiliation maybe gender

like political affiliation maybe gender maybe eats maybe if you’re focusing on

maybe eats maybe if you’re focusing on

maybe eats maybe if you’re focusing on stem versus arts and similar to the way

stem versus arts and similar to the way

stem versus arts and similar to the way the center of the yin-yang wavers as you

the center of the yin-yang wavers as you

the center of the yin-yang wavers as you travel through life the different

travel through life the different

travel through life the different spectrums that you might be looking at

spectrums that you might be looking at

spectrums that you might be looking at may also waver maybe you’ll be around a

may also waver maybe you’ll be around a

may also waver maybe you’ll be around a group of conservative Republicans so

group of conservative Republicans so

group of conservative Republicans so your political affiliation spectrum

your political affiliation spectrum

your political affiliation spectrum would be more to the right or maybe

would be more to the right or maybe

would be more to the right or maybe you’re focusing on being an engineering

you’re focusing on being an engineering

you’re focusing on being an engineering major

major

major so you’d be more around engineering

so you’d be more around engineering

so you’d be more around engineering include people and artists however this

include people and artists however this

include people and artists however this spectrum as you travel across is not out

spectrum as you travel across is not out

spectrum as you travel across is not out of your out of your control to control

of your out of your control to control

of your out of your control to control as you understand your identity and

as you understand your identity and

as you understand your identity and these spectrums you can affirm this

these spectrums you can affirm this

these spectrums you can affirm this identity and have an effect on it for

identity and have an effect on it for

identity and have an effect on it for example if you were a Democrat and you

example if you were a Democrat and you

example if you were a Democrat and you happen to vote Democrat then you would

happen to vote Democrat then you would

happen to vote Democrat then you would affect your community and then it would

affect your community and then it would

affect your community and then it would be more democratically a lot of course

be more democratically a lot of course

be more democratically a lot of course that’s what you would most likely to do

that’s what you would most likely to do

that’s what you would most likely to do if you’re a Democrat and he’d most

if you’re a Democrat and he’d most

if you’re a Democrat and he’d most likely go Democrat if you were a a stem

likely go Democrat if you were a a stem

likely go Democrat if you were a a stem major than he looks like we go to a stem

major than he looks like we go to a stem

major than he looks like we go to a stem school and be around more stem majors

school and be around more stem majors

school and be around more stem majors you would most likely go to the side of

you would most likely go to the side of

you would most likely go to the side of the spectrum that you are already

the spectrum that you are already

the spectrum that you are already aligned palm however I would encourage

aligned palm however I would encourage

aligned palm however I would encourage you to do something a little bit

you to do something a little bit

you to do something a little bit different to take the pass the path less

different to take the pass the path less

different to take the pass the path less or traveled instead I would encourage

or traveled instead I would encourage

or traveled instead I would encourage you to try to find the balance to try to

you to try to find the balance to try to

you to try to find the balance to try to find the center of the yin-yang

find the center of the yin-yang

find the center of the yin-yang because once you do that you might

because once you do that you might

because once you do that you might unlock a whole new role for yourself you

unlock a whole new role for yourself you

unlock a whole new role for yourself you can see both sides of the same coin and

can see both sides of the same coin and

can see both sides of the same coin and both sides of every situation you will

both sides of every situation you will

both sides of every situation you will unlock for yourself different

unlock for yourself different

unlock for yourself different perspectives that you might not even

perspectives that you might not even

perspectives that you might not even thought up before and once you’ve

thought up before and once you’ve

thought up before and once you’ve unlocked that it will empower you thank

unlocked that it will empower you thank

unlocked that it will empower you thank you