Finding wonder in the outdoors | Dylan Alvarez | TEDxJHUSalon

shout out to the 10x team and bamboo

shout out to the 10x team and bamboo cafe for hosting us can we have a round

cafe for hosting us can we have a round

cafe for hosting us can we have a round of applause for TEDx all right so I want

of applause for TEDx all right so I want

of applause for TEDx all right so I want to talk about getting outside surprised

to talk about getting outside surprised

to talk about getting outside surprised you don’t meet now that’s it first

you don’t meet now that’s it first

you don’t meet now that’s it first though I want to talk about where I grew

though I want to talk about where I grew

though I want to talk about where I grew up in Florida I spend my weekends in the

up in Florida I spend my weekends in the

up in Florida I spend my weekends in the backyard with my dad planting fruit

backyard with my dad planting fruit

backyard with my dad planting fruit trees or out on the side of the road

trees or out on the side of the road

trees or out on the side of the road with my outlet that selling tomato

with my outlet that selling tomato

with my outlet that selling tomato plants pretty much the same as your

plants pretty much the same as your

plants pretty much the same as your typical Manhattan upbringing but more

typical Manhattan upbringing but more

typical Manhattan upbringing but more importantly I grew up about eight miles

importantly I grew up about eight miles

importantly I grew up about eight miles away from the edge of the Everglades

away from the edge of the Everglades

away from the edge of the Everglades National Park basically my backyard just

National Park basically my backyard just

National Park basically my backyard just with a few more alligators and most

with a few more alligators and most

with a few more alligators and most suburban homes I was also only seven

suburban homes I was also only seven

suburban homes I was also only seven miles away from Biscayne National Park

miles away from Biscayne National Park

miles away from Biscayne National Park one of the only pub that’s almost

one of the only pub that’s almost

one of the only pub that’s almost entirely underwater actually ninety-five

entirely underwater actually ninety-five

entirely underwater actually ninety-five percent of a park is covered by ocean

percent of a park is covered by ocean

percent of a park is covered by ocean which means if you don’t really like the

which means if you don’t really like the

which means if you don’t really like the water that last 5% might not seem that

water that last 5% might not seem that

water that last 5% might not seem that impressive and lastly only an hour’s

impressive and lastly only an hour’s

impressive and lastly only an hour’s drive away from my house was Big Cypress

drive away from my house was Big Cypress

drive away from my house was Big Cypress National Preserve my point is with one

National Preserve my point is with one

National Preserve my point is with one and a half million combined acres of

and a half million combined acres of

and a half million combined acres of tropical wilderness and backcountry at

tropical wilderness and backcountry at

tropical wilderness and backcountry at my doorstep I spent a lot of time

my doorstep I spent a lot of time

my doorstep I spent a lot of time outside thanks mom and dad

outside thanks mom and dad

outside thanks mom and dad [Music]

[Music]

[Music] being able to get outside and get my

being able to get outside and get my

being able to get outside and get my hands dirty at an early age really tight

hands dirty at an early age really tight

hands dirty at an early age really tight in well with my appearance approach to

in well with my appearance approach to

in well with my appearance approach to my education for eight years all the way

my education for eight years all the way

my education for eight years all the way through to high school I was actually

through to high school I was actually

through to high school I was actually homeschooled by my mom which probably

homeschooled by my mom which probably

homeschooled by my mom which probably explains a lot today like I still don’t

explains a lot today like I still don’t

explains a lot today like I still don’t know what I’m xboxes 13 year old logan

know what I’m xboxes 13 year old logan

know what I’m xboxes 13 year old logan laplante actually gave a TEDx talk a few

laplante actually gave a TEDx talk a few

laplante actually gave a TEDx talk a few years ago where he a point a term called

years ago where he a point a term called

years ago where he a point a term called hack schooling which is how he described

hack schooling which is how he described

hack schooling which is how he described his unstructured and dynamic approach to

his unstructured and dynamic approach to

his unstructured and dynamic approach to his education similarly my education was

his education similarly my education was

his education similarly my education was also loosely structured by my appearance

also loosely structured by my appearance

also loosely structured by my appearance given me the freedom to focus on

given me the freedom to focus on

given me the freedom to focus on experiences and creativity instead of

experiences and creativity instead of

experiences and creativity instead of just sitting at a desk listening to a

just sitting at a desk listening to a

just sitting at a desk listening to a professor lecture copying down notes and

professor lecture copying down notes and

professor lecture copying down notes and memorizing facts for a test don’t get me

memorizing facts for a test don’t get me

memorizing facts for a test don’t get me wrong so while the 21 that while the

wrong so while the 21 that while the

wrong so while the 21 that while the standard at school system curious some

standard at school system curious some

standard at school system curious some fault for this unimaginative approach to

fault for this unimaginative approach to

fault for this unimaginative approach to learning I think that 21st century

learning I think that 21st century

learning I think that 21st century social media curious some plain that is

social media curious some plain that is

social media curious some plain that is just as constricted don’t get me wrong I

just as constricted don’t get me wrong I

just as constricted don’t get me wrong I also host hashtag light and I’ll tap for

also host hashtag light and I’ll tap for

also host hashtag light and I’ll tap for those reading water bottles was

those reading water bottles was

those reading water bottles was through this web two point oh that has

through this web two point oh that has

through this web two point oh that has changed the game for every single

changed the game for every single

changed the game for every single industry on this planet but I think

industry on this planet but I think

industry on this planet but I think those are problem and it’s this

those are problem and it’s this

those are problem and it’s this oversaturation of news updates and

oversaturation of news updates and

oversaturation of news updates and information through this web 2.0 social

information through this web 2.0 social

information through this web 2.0 social media we’ve all seen countless what

media we’ve all seen countless what

media we’ve all seen countless what clicks that pop up on our new speed

clicks that pop up on our new speed

clicks that pop up on our new speed ironically protesting are increasing in

ironically protesting are increasing in

ironically protesting are increasing in Truman negativeness with no real

Truman negativeness with no real

Truman negativeness with no real connection we just keep scrolling

connection we just keep scrolling

connection we just keep scrolling through lack of sensation the message is

through lack of sensation the message is

through lack of sensation the message is always the same our generation is

always the same our generation is

always the same our generation is fixated on this informational flow

fixated on this informational flow

fixated on this informational flow status day saying I’m just saying it’s

status day saying I’m just saying it’s

status day saying I’m just saying it’s insane so what did it they tell you at

insane so what did it they tell you at

insane so what did it they tell you at orientation the days we have to mention

orientation the days we have to mention

orientation the days we have to mention the routine education this influx of

the routine education this influx of

the routine education this influx of digital information creates mental

digital information creates mental

digital information creates mental habits that we find comfort in so we

habits that we find comfort in so we

habits that we find comfort in so we become comfortable in this pattern of

become comfortable in this pattern of

become comfortable in this pattern of desensitization from emotions and

desensitization from emotions and

desensitization from emotions and wandering we swipe in the lab library we

wandering we swipe in the lab library we

wandering we swipe in the lab library we put our heads down and grind away

put our heads down and grind away

put our heads down and grind away stopping only to swipe through facebook

stopping only to swipe through facebook

stopping only to swipe through facebook instagram twitter snapchat tinder now we

instagram twitter snapchat tinder now we

instagram twitter snapchat tinder now we were fascinating this mental habituation

were fascinating this mental habituation

were fascinating this mental habituation is a distraction somebody sensitization

so this leads to something psychologists

so this leads to something psychologists call hedonic adaptation this pattern of

call hedonic adaptation this pattern of

call hedonic adaptation this pattern of neurological response to the same

neurological response to the same

neurological response to the same stimuli you know it has only temporarily

stimuli you know it has only temporarily

stimuli you know it has only temporarily spiked before stringing back to a state

spiked before stringing back to a state

spiked before stringing back to a state of neutrality this becomes our comfort

of neutrality this becomes our comfort

of neutrality this becomes our comfort zone treadmill without an ostrich so

zone treadmill without an ostrich so

zone treadmill without an ostrich so this in the state of brains don’t

this in the state of brains don’t

this in the state of brains don’t require any actual neurological

require any actual neurological

require any actual neurological engagement we cycle through michael

engagement we cycle through michael

engagement we cycle through michael state I receptive Latin we overloaded

state I receptive Latin we overloaded

state I receptive Latin we overloaded bias information we just keep scrolling

bias information we just keep scrolling

bias information we just keep scrolling through lack of sensation or intrinsic

through lack of sensation or intrinsic

through lack of sensation or intrinsic human ability to feel inspiration feel

human ability to feel inspiration feel

human ability to feel inspiration feel off feel wonder has been traded away for

off feel wonder has been traded away for

off feel wonder has been traded away for this unending was a stipulation that has

this unending was a stipulation that has

this unending was a stipulation that has long since stopped stimulating modern

long since stopped stimulating modern

long since stopped stimulating modern philosopher Jason Silva would say we owe

philosopher Jason Silva would say we owe

philosopher Jason Silva would say we owe it to ourselves to be exposed to all

it to ourselves to be exposed to all

it to ourselves to be exposed to all defines it as an experience so profound

defines it as an experience so profound

defines it as an experience so profound that we can’t even begin to accept it

that we can’t even begin to accept it

that we can’t even begin to accept it without actually reconfiguring autumn

without actually reconfiguring autumn

without actually reconfiguring autumn mental parameters so the students out

mental parameters so the students out

mental parameters so the students out here who want to grow up to be

here who want to grow up to be

here who want to grow up to be southwards Al Gore’s boiler managers I

southwards Al Gore’s boiler managers I

southwards Al Gore’s boiler managers I say get out side outside of the library

say get out side outside of the library

say get out side outside of the library outside of the bubble it doesn’t matter

outside of the bubble it doesn’t matter

outside of the bubble it doesn’t matter what your hobby might be just get out

what your hobby might be just get out

what your hobby might be just get out you see they don’t tell you this at

you see they don’t tell you this at

you see they don’t tell you this at orientation because they want you to

orientation because they want you to

orientation because they want you to keep up the stream of all nighters with

keep up the stream of all nighters with

keep up the stream of all nighters with no sensation fighting against the curve

no sensation fighting against the curve

no sensation fighting against the curve and animals create inflation trying to

and animals create inflation trying to

and animals create inflation trying to give yourself responsible healthy and

give yourself responsible healthy and

give yourself responsible healthy and scholarly in a basement also stations

scholarly in a basement also stations

scholarly in a basement also stations because they say in the real world you

because they say in the real world you

because they say in the real world you can only catch your breath

can only catch your breath

can only catch your breath a time off what can you tell you at the

a time off what can you tell you at the

a time off what can you tell you at the start of the year today how you try to

start of the year today how you try to

start of the year today how you try to screw the major before you could buy

screw the major before you could buy

screw the major before you could buy your first beer did they not mention

your first beer did they not mention

your first beer did they not mention that the physical and mental sacrifice

that the physical and mental sacrifice

that the physical and mental sacrifice they qualify for a GPA you end up back

they qualify for a GPA you end up back

they qualify for a GPA you end up back spacing off your resume what competition

spacing off your resume what competition

spacing off your resume what competition can be a strong inspiration and I know

can be a strong inspiration and I know

can be a strong inspiration and I know it’s hard to compete with viability

it’s hard to compete with viability

it’s hard to compete with viability inflation I know the school system isn’t

inflation I know the school system isn’t

inflation I know the school system isn’t perfect but there are a million more

perfect but there are a million more

perfect but there are a million more things that can be perfected and I just

things that can be perfected and I just

things that can be perfected and I just want to share some advice I’ve relented

want to share some advice I’ve relented

want to share some advice I’ve relented because the best cure I found is to get

because the best cure I found is to get

because the best cure I found is to get out sign David Brower on prominent 20th

out sign David Brower on prominent 20th

out sign David Brower on prominent 20th century environmentalist said we need

century environmentalist said we need

century environmentalist said we need the seed a place to scan and touch and

the seed a place to scan and touch and

the seed a place to scan and touch and listen to feel the pulse of the world as

listen to feel the pulse of the world as

listen to feel the pulse of the world as a serve rolls in I think that getting

a serve rolls in I think that getting

a serve rolls in I think that getting outside is the best way to break up that

outside is the best way to break up that

outside is the best way to break up that monotony my mental capacity hold it in I

monotony my mental capacity hold it in I

monotony my mental capacity hold it in I wonder to turn off the Kyani application

wonder to turn off the Kyani application

wonder to turn off the Kyani application by immersing ourselves in simplicity

by immersing ourselves in simplicity

by immersing ourselves in simplicity basic admiration of the outdoors growing

basic admiration of the outdoors growing

basic admiration of the outdoors growing up my connection to that all an

up my connection to that all an

up my connection to that all an inspiration was in my backyard at lady

inspiration was in my backyard at lady

inspiration was in my backyard at lady ever blaze through hands-on field trips

ever blaze through hands-on field trips

ever blaze through hands-on field trips with yeah my mom

with yeah my mom

with yeah my mom over the past three years at Hopkins my

over the past three years at Hopkins my

over the past three years at Hopkins my escape in Baltimore has been the outpost

escape in Baltimore has been the outpost

escape in Baltimore has been the outpost experience with around here with Jo and

experience with around here with Jo and

experience with around here with Jo and OB climbing in West Virginia typing in

OB climbing in West Virginia typing in

OB climbing in West Virginia typing in Pennsylvania caving in Virginia all

Pennsylvania caving in Virginia all

Pennsylvania caving in Virginia all catalyzed by my own free orientation

catalyzed by my own free orientation

catalyzed by my own free orientation program before classes began but even

program before classes began but even

program before classes began but even then I didn’t know what I was doing I

then I didn’t know what I was doing I

then I didn’t know what I was doing I know come fall outside sure but there

know come fall outside sure but there

know come fall outside sure but there was no fooling my field leaders when

was no fooling my field leaders when

was no fooling my field leaders when they asked if I knew of a bitch attempt

they asked if I knew of a bitch attempt

they asked if I knew of a bitch attempt that’s what wiii happen just over the

that’s what wiii happen just over the

that’s what wiii happen just over the last three years which brings me to my

last three years which brings me to my

last three years which brings me to my point is not as hard as it appears yeah

point is not as hard as it appears yeah

point is not as hard as it appears yeah it takes effort to get outside and it

it takes effort to get outside and it

it takes effort to get outside and it may seem harder to type up that hill

may seem harder to type up that hill

may seem harder to type up that hill than hype up the steps to very happy but

than hype up the steps to very happy but

than hype up the steps to very happy but if we just step up from the books for me

if we just step up from the books for me

if we just step up from the books for me a day and set aside time to get outside

a day and set aside time to get outside

a day and set aside time to get outside and you know i read in such air there’s

and you know i read in such air there’s

and you know i read in such air there’s a lot of stress you can ask away

so over the past few years what am I

so over the past few years what am I awareness is orientation Ricky how much

awareness is orientation Ricky how much

awareness is orientation Ricky how much yeah it’s a challenge but I feel I have

yeah it’s a challenge but I feel I have

yeah it’s a challenge but I feel I have faith we can make it happen I’m not

faith we can make it happen I’m not

faith we can make it happen I’m not saying we should abandon the library

saying we should abandon the library

saying we should abandon the library text books and classes and just saying

text books and classes and just saying

text books and classes and just saying that minus routinely a dates this cook

that minus routinely a dates this cook

that minus routinely a dates this cook and it was a pretty big world outside of

and it was a pretty big world outside of

and it was a pretty big world outside of Facebook what can the cash Nick emotion

Facebook what can the cash Nick emotion

Facebook what can the cash Nick emotion that emotion is he goes passionate

that emotion is he goes passionate

that emotion is he goes passionate moments emotion coming from the Latin

moments emotion coming from the Latin

moments emotion coming from the Latin Cruz ex meaning out and broken meaning

Cruz ex meaning out and broken meaning

Cruz ex meaning out and broken meaning and moved so get out and move get your

and moved so get out and move get your

and moved so get out and move get your hands dirty and hold on to that to that

hands dirty and hold on to that to that

hands dirty and hold on to that to that useful energy whatever activity is those

useful energy whatever activity is those

useful energy whatever activity is those moments of unbearable ashdod reverie

moments of unbearable ashdod reverie

moments of unbearable ashdod reverie those moments that keep us alive and

those moments that keep us alive and

those moments that keep us alive and raptured and focused you see in my

raptured and focused you see in my

raptured and focused you see in my opinion that’s enough to keep us up hill

opinion that’s enough to keep us up hill

opinion that’s enough to keep us up hill of anionic treadmill because in the end

of anionic treadmill because in the end

of anionic treadmill because in the end this is what our this degree than just

this is what our this degree than just

this is what our this degree than just four years at birdie

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]