BHS TED (type) Talks

 If you had one chance to share an idea with your school, what would you say?

That’s the challenge Brewster High School seniors take on each year through their TED Talk-style presentations. Students in Robert LoALbo, Teri Schumacher, Tom Looby and Victoria McKenzie’s English classes took the stage this past week in the ILC to explore topics they are passionate about, from Disney Princesses and seizing the day to rewiring the brain with music and how failure can lead to future success. Friends and teachers sat in seats cheering on students.

“Embrace what is in front of you,” said Lily Katsetos in her talk entitled “Stop Missing the Moment You’re Still In.”

“What if I told you the worst moment of your life might be the most important,” said Beckett Grutzner.

The assignment goes beyond public speaking. Students are tasked with informing, inspiring, and challenging their audience to think differently. Through research, reflection, and powerful storytelling, these seniors are proving that their voices—and their ideas—have the power to make an impact.

To prepare for the talks, students in Robert LoAlbo’s classes spent 6 weeks writing and workshopping ideas. They had to develop their topics, watch several professional TED Talks and evaluate them, write a research paper on their own ideas, develop 6-8 page scripts for their talks, create slideshows that enhance and complement their ideas, and practice public speaking skills with audience awareness.

For most seniors, the timing of the talks does not escape them–just days before graduation.

Alyssa Langke got it just right in her talk entitled “Free Will or Free Fall.”

"With only seven school days left of high school and no manual for adulthood, freedom isn't as simple as it seems. We're still figuring out who we are, learning that success is often messy, and discovering that growth comes through the challenges we face."