“It was terrifying, inspiring, and incredible,” recalls Mahima Kolar, a seventh-grade speaker in Bellevue from her TEDx Talk, who inspired many people in her community to be more open to conflicting opinions and to understand one another. 

From a young age, Mahima has been interested in journalism and current events. Whenever she read articles on current issues, she found herself troubled by the fact that “everything was geared toward just hearing one side,” making it “hard to know the truth.” This frustration led her to stay curious about the truth and actively seek it rather than passively accepting the flood of information surrounding her. She noticed active curiosity is essential for understanding those around us in all aspects of life, yet few people actively practice it. Therefore, when she was given the opportunity at TEDx Talk, this was the topic she wanted to talk about: active curiosity.

In her Talk, Mahima describes a life-changing event that shaped who she is today. It was when  she was writing a school article about a book ban she strongly opposed. Although she was exasperated by those advocating for a book ban, she decided to hear their ideas and scheduled an interview with Moms for Liberty. “I knew I was going to hate her, but after I heard her position on the issue, I found her the exact opposite of what I assumed her to be,” reflects Mahima. Through the interview, she not only gained a fresh perspective but also found common ground: care for children in America. At that moment, Mahima realized two key elements of practicing active curiosity: listening to opposing viewpoints and internalizing them. She emphasizes that while we sometimes disagree with others, active curiosity begins with taking a step back, acknowledging our own biases, and immersing oneself in different angles. As such, people will be able to understand where their ideas are coming from and collaborate effectively.

She credits her art teacher for giving her the opportunity to grow through her TEDx Talk. The most challenging part, she shares, was tightening her speech up to a 10-minute frame while keeping the audience engaged. In the process, she realized that "it is tempting to say everything in the speech, but it is really about focusing on the central concept." As she knew she wanted to talk about the issue, she narrowed down the huge idea into a central message–active curiosity. She admits that with limited time to prepare, she developed time management skills, balancing schoolwork with crafting her speech. Throughout the whole experience, even beyond practicing her active curiosity, she could become comfortable with sharing her stories with the public confidently.

To Mahima, active curiosity is not an extra skill to reach for but rather something that is part of her mindset. When writing about legacy admissions recently, she initially thought, "It was so unfair to give certain people an advantage," and was frustrated with those who support legacy. However, as she thoroughly researched to learn and truly grasp the opposing perspectives, she found the policy contributes a lot to the financial situation of colleges. Her effort to recognize different viewpoints rather than argue with her biases allowed her to develop a nuanced understanding of diverse interpretations of the policy. 

Likewise, she hopes people will "integrate active curiosity into their daily lives," especially in political discussions, where we see increasing polarization. She expressed her gratitude to be able to share this idea with her community members, adding that people are not often aware of the concept even though it is still vital for navigating a world with conflicting beliefs and fierce debates. 

Overall, active curiosity made her more diligent and allowed her “to develop a deeper perspective on events and controversies." She questions and challenges misguided opinions each day by letting others know she acknowledges their ideas while asking them to listen to other viewpoints as well. Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with diverse voices by looking into new approaches. She encourages her community to actively seek diverse outlooks and to advocate for their beliefs. As she concludes, "If we all stay curious and learn about the other side of the issue, we will become more informed Global Citizens and better perceive the world we live in."