Chiara Campione

Activist, Concerned citizen, Student, World traveler

Hi there! I'm a 20 year old Italian girl. I'm currently attending year 2 of Politics, Philosophy and Economics at LUISS University. When I'm not doing exams, my life revolves around traveling and meeting new people. I've helped in the AFS section as a volunteer in my hometown, and I've hosted foreign students in my home multiple times. I've been all over Europe, and I've also had the chance to go to Tunisia and the United States. I taught myself English from a very young age, watching movies without subtitles and reading books entirely in English since I was 8. I'm currently learning German and can speak really basic Norwegian too.

I'm a passionate photographer, something all my friends know as I'm pretty much always taking pictures of them laughing, eating and... well, existing. Something I couldn't live without is gastronomy: I love cooking, discovering recipes and tasting new dishes from all over the world. Apart from the Italian cuisine, I can also make a pretty decent curry chicken, paella and sushi. Art is another passion of mine. I have been a victim of the "Stendhal Syndrome" while seeing Picasso's Guernica live for the first time. My favorite artistic movement is Impressionism, but I also love Klimt, Van Gogh and Modern Art. Last but not least, cinema: I'm a fan of indie, troubled movies. My favorite director is Xavier Dolan, and my favorite series is SKAM. (If you've never heard of it watch it, you'll thank me later). Pretty much anything that is dark and psychological attracts me.

Interconnection: I feel like there is a bond between all living things on this Earth. Some people, places or experiences are able to make us feel closer to this panpsychism, and our lives are nothing but a constant research for it. Before moving out of my hometown, I wasn't used to being alone at all, and suddenly I found myself having to deal constantly with the voice inside my head. As a sufferer of Social Anxiety Disorder, the battle I have with myself is bigger than with anyone else. But then, after some time, came the realization I didn't know I was waiting for: that nobody was out to get me. It might seem stupid, but fighting with the constant feeling that others were judging me was a real struggle, and sometimes it still is. When the idea of "interconnection" struck me, I became somebody else. Suddenly I knew I was made of the same matter of trees and leaves, my eyes were shining brighter than the stars and every person that crossed my way was an opportunity to learn and change. That's when I knew that the bond with the external world was something I needed to find in my head first. I think the thought of being connected to everything constantly may be too much for some, but I've learned to share and cherish it as it has made me the person I am today.

philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology

TED's philosophy has always been something intrinsic in my life. The first time I ever heard of it was when my dad gave me TED tickets as a gift, when I was early into teenage years. It was a strange time in my life: I had absolutely no idea who I was, what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. I was looking for answers. I went to this TEDx event in my hometown mostly out of inertia, bringing a friend with me, and I'm so glad I did. I still remember it so well, the theme was "Resilience". I didn't know the meaning of that word, and I learned it there. I can now say that this word has made a difference in my life, because I could finally give a name to the desperate kind of strength I felt after being hurt by those I loved the most, something magical that made me adapt to new conditions of life despite their harshness. I was resilient, and that was something. I was something. After that, other Tedx events came, my teachers and then my professors showed me TED Talks, and with every other notion and thought I felt like I was connecting the dots of something bigger than me. I would like to make a difference in this world by helping other people realize these things, and by helping TED conveying their message. This is why I chose to apply for the TED Translator project.

Singing. I've always loved music but all my life I've been experiencing it in a "passive" way: listening to it, projecting my life onto it, but never actually producing it or giving a contribution. One thing I do, however, is singing: it's my way to come into contact with my inner self, it liberates me. But I'm not sure I'm ready to share it with the world just yet.