TEDx at WAB is a High School-run club and independently-organized event that celebrates the power of youth voice and the ability to inspire others. For eight consecutive years, the TEDx Youth @ WAB conference has provided students with an opportunity to engage in the process of brainstorming, editing, and rehearsing speeches on topics that they are passionate about. Through the experience, they acquire invaluable skills in research, writing, organization, and public speaking.

On April 8, 11 high school students from Grades 8, 9 and 10 took to the stage at the 2023 TEDx Youth Conference at WAB, showcasing unique ideas around the theme “giving back global".  However, it took months of preparation to get to this point, something that Grade 12 student leader and co-organizer Stella D. knows all too well. She delivered her first TEDx speech in Grade 9, and has been involved in supporting students ever since.

“Reflecting upon my experience as a speaker, I initiated Day 9 workshops throughout the year (from November to March), to provide the student speakers with guidance throughout the writing process. The workshops, hosted during Day 9 blocks, gave students the opportunity to brainstorm, write, edit, and rehearse their talks in small chunks throughout the year,” she said.

Topics covered this year reflected our students’ diverse interests and passion to inspire change; they included the importance of courage, redefining success, a student-devised concept called “neurocode” to maximize efficiency, the benefits of trying new activities, understanding introversion, the process of creative agility, the tolerance paradox, masculinity and body standards, the intersection of art and sustainability and more.

To Middle School English teacher and TEDx coach Jodie Zuccato, what impressed her this year was the supportive culture that developed within the group:

“What really stood out from this group is how they supported one another during writing workshops and rehearsal. The culture has developed where the teammates give each other feedback after each practice. Not only is the feedback constructive, but it is also really specific. I love that. They learn from one another and essentially create a feeling of safety where they can take risks. It takes months to develop and write a speech, memorize it, and pair it with images. The students this year really rose to the occasion. Every year I count myself lucky to be able to coach kids to grow as speakers and learners. My hope is they will hold on to that confidence they built, and the next time they need to speak, their voices will continue to shine.”

This year’s talks echoed WAB’s mission to connect, inspire and challenge to make a difference. According to High School English teacher Jeannine Freeman, who is also a TEDx coach:

“One of the common elements that cross between student TED talks is using their own experiences to help others. They might have made a discovery that is worth sharing and this gets them writing their ideas ... but if you listen to the talks, you can hear that our students use those discoveries as a way to build a bridge with other people. Making connections to others is such an important disposition that they can carry into the world. Also, finding the bravery to share those ideas in a public forum is invaluable. It takes a lot of guts to stand up and offer your ideas to an audience of adults, peers, teachers, and online viewers. But in the process of thinking about how to make their message heard, understood, and appreciated, they are learning how to have a meaningful voice in a community; to take the stage!”

Congratulations to all students involved in this year’s TEDx Youth Conference and thank you to everyone who came along to support them!

Parents can access the full recording of this year’s TEDx talks on the Parent Portal.