What I Didn't Need to Carry | Owen Qin | TEDxArbutus Ridge Youth

“Sometimes changing your environment can be more powerful than constantly fighting against it.” Through his experience of spending two weeks without a smartphone on a school camping trip, Owen Qin explores how stepping away from digital distractions helped him rediscover meaningful connections and become more present in everyday life. As he reflects, “The point is that we grow up surrounded by habits that feel normal, and sometimes we never stop to ask whether we actually chose them.” Owen is a Grade 10 student interested in economics, entrepreneurship, and how technology shapes everyday life. In his TEDx talk, he shares his experience of choosing a flip phone in 2026 and explores how our environment can influence our habits, attention, and choices. He hopes to encourage others to think more carefully about which habits they want to keep and which ones they are willing to leave behind. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx