TLDR: Giving a TEDx talk is one of my biggest public speaking accomplishments to date. This milestone is not only one of established credibility, but also a story of personal growth & representation.
Talk is not yet published. Once it is, I will update with the link :)
It all started in 2019.
You’ll see the picture below. An instagram story I took with stickers that said, “BEFORE I DIE I WANT TO” and despite all my friends writing down the usual, college kid response of “becoming a millionaire” or “go sky-diving”, I decided to be different.
“Inspire college students through a TED talk”
Now, I want to be very clear: The college kid that wrote this had ZERO clue of how he was going to accomplish this goal. Not to mention, during this time, I was also a very broke college student who was just making ends meet to commute to school and pay for tuition.
However, since a young age, my dad has always said a very simple phrase that has always stuck with me: “Mijo, no cuesta nada soñar!” which translated means, “It costs nothing to dream.”
And ever since I wrote it down, I put it on a vision board that has been hanging my rooms/offices ever since 2019.
On June 24, 2025, I accomplished that dream.
Part 1: What TEDx means to me as an accomplishment
“Nick Fuentes, a TEDx speaker.”
Has a pretty cool ring to it? I don’t care if you disagree because it’s true. As someone who is an aspiring thought-leader & professional speaker, having TEDx on your resume is a pretty good start.
For me, it represents the culmination of hundreds, probably 1,000 talks by now, that I’ve given both in person & virtually. My talks have ranged between my story as a first-generation college student, first-generation immigrant, a student leader, a student in STEM, and Youth Director at my local church, and a combination of all these topics.
I’ve been in auditoriums with up to 300 people and classrooms where only 2 students showed up.
I can say with confidence that in both these scenarios & all those in between, I gave my 100% to the audience. Paid or unpaid, I poured all my enthusiasm to the audience to ensure one thing: no one can leave without having learned at least ONE thing.
Similar to a garden that requires active tending to, watering, soiling, and protection from wildlife or weeds, it is to the utmost pleasure of the gardener to see the first sprout come above ground. That is the moment when they can attest that their efforts have not been in vain.
Giving this TEDx talk was seeing my garden sprout. To see, hear, and feel the fruits of my labor coming to fruition. (still in shock lol)
Side note: I promise if you commit intense focus & intention to ONE goal, you will feel the same level of satisfaction in your personal life. Just make sure you write it down :)
Part 2: What TEDx means to me as a journey of personal growth
If you met me recently (less than 5 years ago), you’ll have a hard time believing that I ever suffered with anxiety or shyness.
“Nick, shy?” No way, those are complete antonyms.
Well, I wasn’t born that way. The path to even getting in front of stage to speak to a group of people didn’t come to me until late in high school when a teacher pulled me to the side & said to me, “Nick, I’m not sure why you are holding back. Your words have power. Use them.”
Unbeknownst to that teacher, what she said to me would change my life.
Getting on that stage was telling that younger version of Nick, “Dude, you would be so proud of me. Look at what you’re capable of. Everything is going to work out.”
To those aspiring to improve their public speaking, it all starts getting out of your head. You will constantly overthink how you sound, hyper analyze the faces people make in the audience, doubt your message, and 1,000+ other variables.
The best way to get over this? Speak more. Speak more. And then speak some more. The more times you speak in front of people, you will see how many of things you were “worried” about are either:
not true
not applicable to you
not as big of a deal you were making it
Side note: If you recognize the potential of someone, tell them. Don’t hold back. Don’t be “embarrassed” or “shy” about telling someone that what they are doing served you, helped you, or impressed you. You will never know how far your words can go to motivate others.
Part 3: What TEDx means to me as a representation for a future generation
Out of a panel of 8 speakers, I was the only one with a Latino background (born in Colombia to immigrant parents).
For me, this is very familiar territory. Growing up, I was often the only hispanic kid in my classrooms, internships, post-grad cohorts, master’s degree courses, and now, my TEDx cohort.
During a college internship, I attended a tour that was being hosted by the NJ Governor’s Office. During this tour, a staff member of the office, who was also Hispanic, said something to me that I would never forget:
“Being the only hispanic in your circles is both a privilege, but also the upmost responsibility. You are representing a community that is depending on you.”
Since hearing that quote, I’ve taken the responsibility piece to heart.
For me, it is extremely important to highlight the value that the hispanic community brings. It is often the case that celebrities from our community go to music, entertainment, or comedy and to the mainstream media, that is what we are mainly known for. To be clear, these avenues are respectable to & require extremely hard work and dedication to reach the echelons these people are in today.
However, I am also aware that about 73% of Hispanic & Latino students are first-generation college students, greater than any other racial group (source), often causing students having to drop out or not attend college at all because of either financial barriers or lack of guidance.
Despite affordability being the number one reason we don’t attend college, in 2023, Hispanic & Latino’s living in the U.S. ranked 5th in GDP & spending power, surpassing that of India, according to report authored by W. P. Carey School researchers.
All this to say, Latinos are here, here to stay, and should have a seat at the table.
I have made it a mission to work at all costs to leave a light & ladder for the next generation to use to build their futures. Whether that is a future in STEM, creating their own business, or even aspiring a career in the liberal arts, I want the next generation of hispanic young people to see me as someone who looks like them, thinks like them, and believe that if I could achieve my dreams, so can they. Last week it was TEDx, next week, it can be something bigger & greater. I just have to write it down :)
The authors use of words are incredibly relatable while simultaneously inspiring. Dream, write it down, tend the garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Loved it