THE PATH TO SUCCESS: FROM INVOLUTION TO INNOVATION | Snow Dong | TEDxRDFIS Youth

Good afternoon. Many students experience overwhelming exhaustion and anxiety in school, pushing themselves tirelessly with little improvement, a feeling of being trapped in a cycle of meaningless hard work. This phenomenon, known as "involution," is a pervasive issue affecting students today. We've been taught that hard work guarantees success, but the reality for many is that increased effort doesn't lead to proportional rewards. Instead, students sacrifice social lives and hobbies, yet remain stagnant, feeling like they're running on a treadmill. Involution is a competition where effort multiplies, pressure skyrockets, and exhaustion builds, but no one truly progresses. It's a cycle of self-consumption, leading to diminishing returns. The speaker shares a personal experience at a math tutoring center where students, even in their first year of high school, were being drilled on advanced exam material for the Gaokao, a crucial college entrance exam. The atmosphere was one of fear and mechanical copying, not genuine learning. This experience highlighted that the pursuit was not for growth, but a desperate "rat race" driven by the fear of falling behind. This pressure extends beyond China, as observed by the speaker during a study abroad experience in New Hampshire. Students were obsessed with Ivy League admissions and grades, neglecting extracurricular activities and genuine relaxation. This intense academic competition left students mentally exhausted and hating learning. The solution proposed is to shift from blind effort to innovation. The analogy of two doors, one crowded and one empty, illustrates that choosing a less conventional, innovative path can be more efficient and lead to the same positive outcomes, such as college admissions. Success, it's argued, is not about suffering more, but about choosing the right direction and applying effort innovatively. Grades are important, but they are no longer the sole determinant of success. When high scores become the standard, simply striving for better grades isn't enough. True breakthrough comes from creating unique value. For students, innovation involves discovering genuine passions, not conforming to societal or parental expectations, and then committing to developing those passions through focused effort and demonstrable outcomes. The speaker shares their journey from a student who sampled many activities without deep engagement to one who discovered a passion for bio-manufacturing, leading to significant achievements and a renewed enthusiasm for learning. By stepping away from involution and embracing innovation with purpose, effort becomes meaningful, leading to genuine growth and success.