## Main Point [[Making impact is hard]] [[Problem-solving is hard]] ## Script As the final group, we’d like to invite you to pause—step back from the amazing presentations for just a moment—and maybe ask yourself one question: If we returned here next year, how many of these projects would still be alive? Maybe I'm pessimistic but I think none. Welcome to prove me wrong. The hard truth that we tend to forget is that is most student projects fail. 90% of them never turned out to be working. 9% of them might work, but with only imaginary impact. And I really think we should recognize the fact that making impact is incredibly hard. It's not just coming up with an idea that sounds cool, makes a presentation, implements it, and boom, change people's lives. It doesn't work that way. Identifying the right problem is hard. It's hard to have a systemic understanding of the problem we are facing; especially when our education is not teaching us systems thinking. Quoting Poul Anderson, I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which, when looked at in the right way, did not become still more complicated. And worse, people too often end up solving the wrong problem, or even worse, a problem that doesn't exist at all. We all have seen way too may examples from history of well-intentioned solutions that ended up doing more harm than good. Defining the problem is 90% of solving it. Because to really understand what's worng is to know what to do. However, we take so little time to identify the problem before jumping into solving them. Take our pitch prep yesterday -- we had 3 minutes to come up with a problem. 3 minites. That is not gonna work. We are doing this as if problems are so obvious and ubiquitous and teeming in the air -- just grab one and fix it, what's so hard? Problem -- fix, problem -- fix. These are very dangerous, linear-thinking trends, and no. becuase some system problems can only be solved by restructuring the system And even worse, we assume problems to be the results of brainstorm -- No they're not. Problems don't come from imagination. Problems are rooted in systems in compex realities. Things are there for a reason, and it's never just about changing a policy or tweaking some number. It doesn't quite work to come up with a problem in 3 minutes, analyzing it and drawing a problem tree in 2, and coming up with a pitch the next day. And then you guys clap and cheer, and we pretend we achieved something and we are being great. And then there are pictures being taken and shared on social media. wow, sused summit, so cool. And then every one goes home, nothing happens. Obviously we want to end on a positive note -- I really encrouge all students to take a second look at your project, and genuinely ask youself, does it truly make sense and is it gonna work. And I really want to remind those who work in education here, that cultivating impact-makers is not easy. Students can never make impact unless with genuine passion, deep empathy, and true knowledge. Most students have none. And before we expect our students to change the world, ask yourself, do you really understand what it takes to achieve real impact.