Eight students gave TED Talks as a part of the first ever TEDx Event hosted in the Elings Performing Arts Center at Dos Pueblos High School on Wednesday. This event featured two speakers during seminar, a performance by DPHS’s Jazz Choir, and the remaining six speeches during second period.
First, organizers of the event Sienna Valentine (12) and Amelia Vander May (12) gave an introduction of themselves, and of the event’s theme.
“The theme of our event is The Youth Impact, which means that we are empowering youth to create change in their communities through small actions, innovative ideas, and collaboration,” Valentine explained.
Then, two speakers took the stage. Andy Brennan (12) spoke about his experience with using art as an outlet for anxiety, and emphasized that when facing hardship, “you can’t change it, but you can change how you experience it.” Joy Xie (12) spoke about the benefits of starting a club, and how education should be a personal journey.
After seminar, there was an intermission where DPHS’s Jazz Choir performed while some classes arrived and left before the second set of speakers came on stage.
Kaitlyn Marden (11) spoke about social conformity, and the importance of resisting herd mentality. She then introduced Sabrina Avolio (9), who shared her experience with an eating disorder, and what she’s doing in her community to combat negative societal views on body standards.
“I hope that the [audience] takes away a lot of things,” Avolio said. “Definitely the utmost priority is that if somebody is struggling, or knows somebody that is struggling with disordered eating, that they will feel comfortable bringing it up, and that everything about what they’re going through is valid.”
Elaine Hu (10) talked about time travel, and connected it to the importance of living in the moment. Hu spoke about her struggles with ruminating on past mistakes, and how she learned to adopt a growth mindset.
“Don’t think about it, do something about it,” Hu said.
Next, Gabrielle Terzian (11) spoke about her journey with mental health, and how small acts of kindness and caring from one person can make an impact on others.
“I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person,” Terzian said. “I’m asking you to … listen a little more, look a little closer, and to care a little further.”
Following Terzian, Tyler McCutchen (10) spoke about skateboarding, graffiti, starting his own clothing brand, and how being creative has opened up opportunities for self expression.
Lastly, Alta Vista Middle College student Amelia Kelly (12) shared her experience with burn out, and how it’s “universal.” Kelly offered three steps audience members can take to overcome burnout: “feel it, figure it out, and do something about it.”
Valentine said she was proud of the event’s outcome, and is working with Vander May to ensure that this event can become annual.
“The event went really well. I was really excited to hear all the positive feedback from students and staff,” Valentine said. “I think that our speakers had some really insightful things to say about how to approach conflicts, mentalities, and how to exist in a high school setting that I think people in the audience could take to better themselves.”
Edited Oct. 29, 2024 for capitalization.
