Perfection is the Wrong Direction | Isabella Fons | TEDxYouth@OTHS

Perfectionism is rampant in today's society, but is it really the good trait that some make it out to be? Isabella explores the unintended consequences that perfectionism can have on a person and their personal journey.
Isabella Fons is a junior at Tompkins High School and has been a passionate member of her schools cross country and track teams for the past 3 years. She also has a popular, self-titled youtube channel -where she creates content concerning healthy eating and lifestyle - that has grown to nearly 20,000 subscribers. Whether toeing the line at a big race or working hard to create new stories and videos for her following, Isabella has learned that with some faith, perseverance, and fun that you can truly accomplish whatever you want to. (Like giving a TEDx talk, which has been a goal of hers since middle school!)
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@gabi.garcez]

I love to see smart, well-spoken young girls with great stories to tell! :)

[@connormcilhinney8716]

Gabriela Garcez that's because they are sooo very rare.

[@aoifek9709]

+ClashWithCoocus CWC but sexist bigots are everywhere. Oh look, I found one!

[@Kairogue13]

ClashWithCoocus CWC I can't stop laughing dude that was the best roast of all times

[@Kairogue13]

pony pops take a joke he isn't sexist he's joking (if he isn't joking then i agree)

[@laurienreniers5514]

Boruto Uzumaki u

[@Grace-vs9is]

As a young girl, this was something I really needed to hear. I look up to people like her.

[@juliaholland9900]

"being kinda decent at something i love " love that!

[@thetooginator153]

It took me a LOT longer to learn the lesson she spoke about, and she's totally right. I ran cross country too, and it took me a long time to realize that it was very unlikely I would ever win a major race. Being 9th out of 300 was my personal best and I am VERY happy with that.

[@caoimhesmyth4412]

TheTooginator that's amazing!well done!

[@thetooginator153]

+Caoimhe Smyth Thank you! That was a really nice comment! When I think back on what I enjoyed most about cross country wasn't the races, but running through forests and on top of REALLY big hills with amazing views that almost no one ever saw. It was very peaceful and beautiful. One of my favorite hills was so steep and high that the only footprints I ever saw were my own (and those of the local wildlife). If you are interested in what I saw, you can do a search on "view from top of Lucas Valley hills" and select images. I think you'll agree that it's a amazing place to run.

[@greenbarenakedladies8493]

TheTooginator 9th place out of 300 is incredible! Great job mate!

[@aoifek9709]

33 out if 400 for me. well done that's great!

[@romychubs5382]

TheTooginator umm... I won a game of tag once

[@yuhz1m1]

"we weren't born to be perfect...we were born to be ourselves" Amen, sister girl. Thank you.

[@stephlovesmusic3167]

she sounded so nervous. but what she spoke about was so true and honest. "perfectionism is just a euphemism for a mental trap." favorite quote. this societal idea of what is and needs to be perfect and the belief in that idea is what destroys one at the end of the day. bc you will soon realize that perfection does not exist because we are are human and ever growing

[@maxhu4976]

The applause was so watery... *APPLAUDS LOUDLY* THAT AMAZING SPEECH DESERVES MORE

[@pudinda]

This is such an insightful talk. I do indeed see my self in her story and i was very touched when she said "Being perfect is what's stopping you from being good" I too experience many competitive aspects in my life and this talk helped in pointing out to me that i really wasn't enjoying it any more and that perhaps if i will be less competitive, strive to be helpful for society and not necessary the top helper, i could produce good for society and also live peaceful fun and healthy life. Thank you Isabella for your insightful talk! :)

[@thedragoniseverywhere9831]

pudinda yes

[@oluwaseyitantimothy8145]

pudinda

[@billwong6077]

Great job! You are wise beyond your years! This 2x TEDx talker is giving you props. I remembered when giving my own TEDx's on this stage. My first time- I really wanted to be perfect on the stage. My second time- I stopped trying to do that. Instead, I let the speech flow and if I go off script... I simply find a way to come back to it. I also see that in my preparation for these speeches too. First time- I really wanted to find the perfect speech. Second time- I actually find the core idea and then built on it.

[@Daph909]

I'm 26 and I only realized last week that trying to be perfect is exactly what's been keeping me from being good in a lot of aspects of my life. This wonderful young lady already figured that out. In my opinion she's already great :D (And so well-spoken and confident on stage - I love it!)

[@stephanier3300]

Oh my gosh she looks like carmen from the spy kids movies hahaha so pretty, great talk.

[@greenbarenakedladies8493]

Is the audience dead? She was quite funny but there wasn't any reaction from the audience.

[@orlasmyth3409]

The mike might have only picked up the sound of her voice and not the audience

[@greenbarenakedladies8493]

Orla Smyth Oh, good point. I should've taken that into account.

[@aritrette9995]

Green Barenaked Ladies they mostly only pick up your audio , at least they did when i did a ted talk

[@CrazyAlienLady051]

Finally a video in my recommended list that I loved watching. There's no such thing as a "perfect" human. We are all flawed. If people like me learn to accept people for who they are, then we can learn how to accept ourselves for who we are too. My whole life, I was feeling down about myself.

[@directionnotperfectionpodcast]

So well done and eloquently spoken!! I live in the weight management field and have fully adopted "progress over Perfection" for my clients (and me!). The anxiety you spoke on leads to so many eating disorders and I have made it my passion to smash scales and smash the perfection individuals are dealing from the number!! You touched my heart today, thank you for being so brave to speak on this subject and affect future generations!!!!!

[@bookiemuse168]

I'm glad my mom has taught me and my siblings to forget perfection and focus on simply doing our best. It's made my life a lot easier compared to others around me who have to reach sometimes impossible expectations.

[@foodislife479]

Oh my gosh!!! I cant even speak to new people let alone be on stage just talking!!! I admire this girl~

[@Sussysi]

This was so great to watch after my daughter placed 5th out of 40 something kids in a triathlon today. She was quite upset that she didn't place 1,2 or 3rd. She didn't reach her goal. Her attitude was very poor therefore in the end it was not even fun. Not sure since she is only 10 years old if she would even watch this but I loved this TEDx talk. Very well done!

[@dziamid]

Thanks for sharing it with us. That really is good enough to make my day!

[@macoeur1122]

One of the best TED talk I've heard...and I've heard a lot! Beautiful "data" with a soul....because just as a picture paints a thousand words, a story like this says so much more than the mere words in themselves. If everyone in this country heard this talk and truly took in it's message, I believe at least half of our problems would disappear. :)

[@IsabellaFons]

thank you so much :-) !!

[@fegrace_1]

I am so glad that I came across this Tedx Talk... Isabella was vulnerable, poised, and she provided practical wisdom! Thanks for sharing.

[@haley4460]

I'm going into 7th grade and tomorrow morning is my first cross country practice and this is sooooo inspirational🤗🤗

[@emmybris27]

This has really changed my perspective on the things I do! A really well-written, well-spoken talk

[@AnonamousPenguinKid]

Thank you so much for this! I really don't think you'll have any idea how thankful I really am.

[@jenniferhanson4828]

I wish there was some cosmic switch that this amazing, articulate, insightful young woman was speaking to me when I was her age many years ago. This is so we'll thought out and well said. Beautiful TEDx talk. Thank you for sharing. I don't hope, because I KNOW this talk will help many young people with their own struggle to find that line between perfection, mediocrity and exactly who they are in their own version of greatness.

[@rebecca7295]

This is an amazing. Her talk never got boring, and message is great. I know I struggle a lot with anxiety and being "perfect". This talk will definitely helped me re-think my approach to things. Congrats to her!!!

[@kristencox3205]

Finally got over my "fear of rejection" and never publishing a book because of it. I've sent my novel off to literary agents and have been rejected eight/nine times, (lost count) but I honestly don't care. I believe someone is going to say yes. Don't let fear own you. It nearly killed me. I'm doing what I never thought I could just three years ago. Who knows where it will go from here?

[@HaleyRaines]

ISABELLA IM SO PROUD OF YOU! Seeing you blossom from your channel to this is absolutely inspiring girl!

[@saarahturtle]

Great talk! Also, damn that audience is annoying laugh or something

[@ghalaashoor7714]

right?

[@lisaubrey4559]

Lmaooo fr it’s like they’re not even there.

[@miairnell4535]

well, tbh, we hear her mic, not the whole audio from that day. They might've been laughing, but her mic just didn't get that. Or at least that's my theory aha

[@elijahabad3091]

I just think that they didn't have room mics to capture the audience reactions. Because I'm sure they laughed, this girl is so charismatic !

[@sarahluongo8221]

There is no audience 😂😂

[@jasminli5894]

I wished that the me from 7 years ago could have seen this, but now that I have, I'm thankful to this talk and to her for giving me a new direction instead of purely perfection.

[@possiblebloggers5680]

In

[@saradoka4539]

Thank God Isabella realiste this so early in life 😎😎 Proud of this imperfect but awesome and wise generation 😍🥂

[@tiawats4956]

I love Isabella's channel and I was excited to see she did a ted talk!

[@mannyfresh2515]

Awesome speech very motivating. It gave me Goosebumps, I’m a runner so I understand what she is saying 😫😭

[@verbenavenetucci5613]

Just in love with this speech. Love this channel, love this girl. Hope these words will help someone like they helped me. Thanks 💐

[@koolkaaattt]

She just changed my whole perspective in life.... I feel so inspired....

[@TrueBeautyX1]

I've been subscribed to Isabella for a while, and am so excited to see her doing a TED talk! How do I get involved in doing one myself?

[@natalielindi9423]

Thank you so much for doing this talk! I really needed to hear this right now. Was stressing out but now I feel much better 💕

[@esmee928]

This is incredible Isabella!!!

[@chaskasalazar]

What a strong and intelligent young soul! A lot of recognition and love here xxx

[@vera-annvandenberg4766]

Well done for sharing your lesson with us Isabella !

[@sophianicole6188]

This is the best TED talk I've ever seen. Thank you ❤️

[@erinbeattie30]

In the middle of exams at the minute so needed this! great talk x

[@hannahkay986]

This is such an important message! She is awesome!

[@stirlingduncan2690]

I'm a fairly new cross country runner and I really needed to hear this.

[@lotusbackground7220]

Aww man I love you so much. Thank you thousand times for making me realize so I can be happy.💓💓

[@alannacarlson6715]

This girl is definitely ahead of the pack when it comes to intelligence!

[@megantieu9936]

i loved this speech ! she did a wonderful job

[@nataliaszalay328]

so proud of isabella!!

[@sakshigosain238]

My favorite ted talk. God bless her!

[@Fruity_Cutie]

This talk has certainly helped me. I'm glad I found it.

[@johnwhitaker8085]

Very well-spoken on a very important topic!

[@christineanngeneroso6384]

I don't know who you are but oh my god, your public speaking skills is flawless. I am a college student and I still encounter anxiety before my reporting. Kudos!

[@turtlejoy4ever]

I love this. Thank you.

[@donnaisabella5672]

This was literally my experience in eight grade, with addition to a ravaging eating disorder. I know exactly what it's like to run yourself dead with so much internal pressure, because I lived it. But unfortunately in my case, I couldn't stop, even when the season ended and I'd dropped nearly half of my weight. Its not worth the pain, the crying, the horrible anxiety. I sometimes wish that I could just hold my thirteen year old self and tell her that everything would be okay one day, because it's a possibility that doesn't take hard work. It takes time, it takes tears, and it takes a willingness to recover/rid of perfectionism.

[@LisaMichele]

Treat life like a big experiment, don't worry about being perfect, just get out there and try.

[@olivialauren9166]

Yay Isabella!!! So good💓💓

[@hannahab8120]

That was such a great talk!

[@thebadpolarbear]

I actually had the opportunity to run at NXN as an individual and I wish there were more girls there with your work ethic!

[@eemiaa10]

Therecoveryrunner same, NXN is super stressful and not worth the trouble.

[@thebadpolarbear]

Aimee no way! What year did you run? It'd be crazy if we ran the same year!

[@eemiaa10]

Therecoveryrunner 2015 hbu?

[@thebadpolarbear]

Aimee I'm old haha so I went in 2013, the last year at the old course actually! I remember the course was covered in snow and they blew it all off before we raced so everyone at home watching didn't realize how cold it was 😂

[@broindanavy]

Amazing! I love Isabella!

[@feelingnifty]

Such wise words, thank you for the talk Isabella!

[@caitsiggins8776]

as a cross country runner, I loved this talk! well done girl :)

[@grapka1371]

She is such a well-spoken yet strong young lady. Love to see these generations grow older.

[@Sara-pq6rt]

lovely job isabella ❤️

[@itssara310]

I am really glad I saw this before going into highschool..

[@jimmyrustles9036]

It's called humility, know your limits. Do not be afraid however to try and overcome those limits. The reward from an experience is truly rich, but hardly anyone remembers second place.

[@gracehanlon4820]

Humility is humiliation

[@smartsoul4683]

Places do not matter. Living and being happy does.

[@candiceschultz8317]

What a well spoken young woman, she will go so far in life

[@phoebejoy5365]

Wow I expected to click of this video after 30 seconds, but next thing I know it's over!! Well done x

[@isobelbarnett4973]

This is an incredible speech

[@meilamanna291]

I also run X-country and this is so true. Thanks Bell!!!❤😉🏃

[@zhenyapowelles6048]

So motivating to be MINDFULLY perfect!

[@jewelyoung5387]

This is the best speech ever

[@hannahrae8035]

So happy for Isabella!!

[@joseramonrodriguezgarcia207]

Continue, Isabella, on that path of development

[@bryantapuy6720]

I’m shook I watch her KZbin channel and never knew she did a Tedx

[@Agpals]

Her channel is amazing I remember her talking about this :)!

[@kemuntogetanda8713]

Great talk!

[@sharkattackforever2003]

Omg I love this. I ran cross country too!

[@Thefitty]

I needed to hear this after having a non perfect day.

[@missdemon92]

THANK YOU

[@Scarppegios]

Wow I needed to hear something like this and I'm 19

[@anindysch]

a really, really insightful talk

[@sielsm3743]

"Perfection is a disease of a nation" -Beyoncé

[@manikafilms]

My cousin did a Ted Talk last week I can't wait for it to be on KZbin in a month!

[@sydneyraye827]

I'm so proud of Isabella :')

[@zataeriksson3474]

speachless

[@rachaelsennett8035]

I clicked on this because I run cross country, this talk was so inspiring!

[@kylajewett7730]

Rachael Sennett I clicked that way to and I'm a really good runner!

[@planetkeila]

subscribe to her youtube @isabella fons!!!

[@brandondean961]

Well done ! Brilliant.

[@hazelbovill8367]

Omg this is amazing, she reminds me of the girl from spy kids!

[@faithirismacilvaine2499]

Bravo, very good talk.

[@moniquekennedy4721]

Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.

[@charity4613]

I love her KZbin channel :)

[@emiliasosa6235]

OMG! I go to Tompkins high school!!!!!!

[@laurenXocean]

wow, what an amazing girl!

[@kateboonzaier558]

I needed this

[@nikiojoy6177]

I wish ted talks would come to the Philippines and host talks in schools. Especially in Science based public schools where there are brains but they (we) need a little inspirational push.

[@sarahsaleh1305]

great presentation !

[@teacupslime9978]

Amazing speech! Tough crowd..

[@JustMe-px9qy]

That was great!

[@Abbicushoneybadger]

What a smart and beautiful story

[@jadenm8938]

You could tell she wanted the speech to be perfect.