Deniz Murat ARSLAN

Social entrepreneur, Student

Hi, I’m a high school student based in Balıkesir, Türkiye. I'm currently studying Sırrı Yırcalı Anatolian Highschool. I believe that new ideas, different perspectives, and meaningful stories have the power to inspire change.

I’m interested in anything that helps me understand people, ideas, and myself a little better. I really enjoy debate and Model United Nations because they push me to listen, question, and look at the same issue from different perspectives. That’s also where my interest in law and human relationships comes from. Music is a big part of my life, especially jazz. I also enjoy team sports, but I like individual challenges too, such as running and fitness, because they help me stay disciplined. I’m really interested in gastronomy. And when I want to slow down, clear my head, and get away from everything for a while, I love spending time in nature.

The smartest person in the room might be the one who is willing to change their mind. We often see changing our opinion as a sign of weakness, as if admitting we were wrong means losing. But real intelligence is not about defending the same idea forever. It is about listening, questioning, and being willing to rethink what we believe when we encounter better evidence or a different perspective. In a world where everyone is expected to have strong opinions, I believe we should value intellectual flexibility more. Changing your mind does not mean you have failed. Sometimes, it simply means you have learned.

critical thinking, Debate and public speaking, event organization, interpersonal communication, leadership and creative problem solving., Model United Nations, teamwork, youth engagement

My TED story started with curiosity. I’ve always enjoyed exploring different perspectives, questioning ideas, and understanding how people think. What drew me to TED was the power of a single idea to challenge the way we see the world.

I’m good at asking questions that make people think twice. I enjoy looking beyond the obvious and starting conversations that lead to different perspectives.