Anderson Filho

Student

My name is Anderson Francisco da Silva Filho. I’m the youngest of three siblings, born and raised in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and I’m 24 years old. Currently, I’m studying Business Administration at the Federal University of Uberlândia and working in the services industry, specifically in insurance. I see myself as a calm, communicative person with big dreams—someone who works hard to chase them. I’m passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship, sports, and communication.

I’m passionate about change. Having moved to a different city five times in my 24 years, I feel like all these changes—whether it’s moving cities, houses, or schools—have shaped the way I see the world. I believe change is part of the process. To paraphrase Heraclitus, "No one bathes in the same river twice." I see life’s situations like water—each change we go through transforms us in some way. I’m also passionate about sports, especially boxing and running.

I believe the idea of self-awareness and its importance should be shared. Understanding yourself—your desires, your preferences—makes a huge difference, making life easier and happier. When you know what truly matters to you, you shape your behavior around it, living at full potential and ready to take action. As the great professor and TEDx speaker Clóvis de Barros Filho says, this mindset allows us to navigate life with purpose and intensity.

My TED journey began back in high school when I was introduced to a talk titled "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" That talk sparked my interest in the movement, and I started watching more TED Talks. Years later, now in university, I discovered that TED offers an independent production alternative. Combined with my admiration for the program, this led me to reconnect with the project and dive back into following great speeches.

I’m good at fighting, and even though I’m not currently practicing boxing, I believe I’m still skilled at it. I dedicated myself to the sport and fell in love with the process—including the pain that shaped me and helped me grow as a person. Another sport I’m good at—but most people don’t know—is chess. Ever since I won a school championship as a kid, I’ve been passionate about it and never let it go, constantly studying tactics and strategies.