When 2+2 equals green | Olivia Warren | TEDxClaremontColleges

Society gives lip service to the value of unique perspectives, but what should you do when your perspective doesn’t gel with those around you? At age 11, Olivia Warren discovered that she has synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. In her talk, she tells the story of her life with synesthesia and shares her thoughts about how people who naturally interpret our world differently can sometimes possess valuable and unique abilities.

Olivia Warren majored in materials chemistry at Harvey Mudd College and currently works as a business analyst at Deloitte in San Francisco. She was one of two winners of the 2015 TEDxClaremontColleges Student Speaker Competition. Her professional experience includes chemical engineering, materials science, physics research, and industrial phase zero product development.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx