Our plan was to grow a small woodland, but what really grew was a tight-knit group of friends. We started off lost and clueless, but neighbours and friends jumped in, turning hard work into laughter and belonging. The mess and mud brought us together, and sparked a whole new community tree nursery. This talk is about how one simple action can spark connection, hope, and unexpected friendships. Anyone can start - sometimes it just takes asking for help. She is a founding member of Local Roots, a community led native Irish tree nursery based in Cromane, co.Kerry with a focus on environmental conservation and community development. By collecting native tree seeds locally, growing and giving trees back to the community, they are addressing both environmental and social needs. One of the projects Local Roots is leading is the Acorn Quest - growing the smartest Oak in Kerry’s primary schools. Students are given an Oaky Pod in which an acorn suspends in a jar with water. The students can observe and learn more about the stages of growth an acorn goes through with the help of worksheets provided by the Tree Council of Ireland. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Think small talk is meaningless? Think again! This speaker reveals the surprisingly powerful impact of everyday conversations. Through personal stories and simple strategies, discover how a "hello" or "how's it going?" can spark connections, build relationships, and make a bigger difference than you ever imagined. Video Editor: Sherlock Roberts Jason is a G11 student just like any other, except that he is extremely extroverted. Every time he meets people, he tries his best to make a connection with them. In his talk, he will share how no matter how great or miniscule these connections, are, they celebrate our humanity and make people feel seen and valued. Join him to learn how making connections will alter the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In a world that demands perfection and silence, this heartfelt talk delves into the unseen wars many of us fight in solitude. From moments of feeling out of place and battling self-doubt to the pressure of hiding pain behind smiles, the speaker bares the raw truth of what it means to struggle silently. Through a deeply personal story of learning to say “no” and reclaiming emotional strength, this talk challenges society’s unrealistic expectations of strength and perfection. It highlights the courage found in vulnerability, the necessity of compassion, and the transformative power of simply being present for one another. War and Peace Within is a moving call to recognize the quiet battles that often go unnoticed and to redefine peace—not as silence, but as connection, empathy, and shared humanity. A 17-year-old who carries both volume and vulnerability with ease, I’m often the loudest in the room, not to steal the spotlight, but because I speak with energy, purpose, and intent. I like to bring a presence that can’t be ignored. I have a curious mind and a growing interest in finance—I find comfort in clarity, where patterns make sense and logic follows a rhythm of its own. But there’s also a quieter, more instinctive side to me. Music, especially singing and playing the keyboard, has always been my way of connecting with myself, even when the world around me feels too loud. I don’t fit neatly into one box. I’m part passion, part precision, and fully in the process of becoming who I’m meant to be. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In a world bombarded by endless notifications and constant digital chatter, Sudwit Tagore’s insightful talk, The Power of Silence: Finding Calm in a Chaotic Connected World, invites us to pause and reflect on the true meaning of silence. Through personal anecdotes and sharp observations, Sudwit reveals how silence—often misunderstood or overlooked—communicates volumes in both our online and offline lives. From the anxiety of lost messages to the unspoken lessons in a mother’s quiet displeasure, Sudwit explores how silence carries emotions, commands attention, and shapes human connection in ways words sometimes cannot. Challenging our addiction to digital noise, he calls on us to embrace moments of stillness and to recognize that sometimes, the loudest voice is the one that says nothing at all. This talk is a compelling reminder that silence is not empty—it is powerful, meaningful, and essential for true understanding. an avid reader of books, I enjoy talking to my friends and making new ones. I also love to write stories of my own, of lengths short and long, all while listening to classical music or soundtracks from whatever movie or game I am obsessed with. Being someone who loves all sorts of different fields of science as well as expressing myself in the deepest of ways, public speaking is often the natural outcome. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In an age overwhelmed by screens, notifications, and constant connectivity, the loudest voices often drown out the quietest struggles. Anshika Gupta’s powerful talk, The Unseen Storm: Breaking the Silence in a Noisy World, shines a compassionate light on the forgotten emotions behind the smiles and the silence. Drawing from her own experiences and those of friends, Anshika reveals the invisible battles many face amidst societal pressures to appear "fine" and composed. She challenges us to rethink what strength truly means—showing vulnerability is not weakness, but courage. Through heartfelt stories, poignant reflections, and vivid metaphors from nature, Anshika calls on us to listen deeply, recognize the ‘riot of silence,’ and create space for genuine connection and healing. This inspiring talk invites us all to break through the noise, celebrate our authentic selves, and become beacons of empathy in a world that often feels too loud to hear. A passionate and expressive Grade IX student, I find meaning in creativity and communication. Painting, dancing, and writing are my ways of exploring emotions and telling stories that words alone sometimes can't capture. I’m deeply curious about human behaviour and the need for social change. I believe silence isn’t always empty—sometimes, it holds powerful truths that deserve to be heard. That’s why I chose TEDx as my platform: to speak up about what’s often ignored. I aspire to become a changemaker—someone who uses creativity and compassion to build a world rooted in understanding and empathy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Despite seeming antithetical to figure skating, the first skill taught in beginner skating classes is how to fall. Why, then, is failure not a skill taught to us from young? Instead, most children grow up fearing failure, a trait that is detrimental to their future success. In her talk, Ilika Motani discusses the why and how of learning to fail through her personal experiences with falling and failure in figure skating. Ilika Motani is a Year 5 (JC1) student at NUS High School. She is passionate about math and science and does volunteer fieldwork in intertidal zones with NParks. A figure skater on the Singapore National Team, she represents Singapore in international competitions. She is a local writer and her poetry has been published in multiple literature journals. She was the president of her school’s English Language Interest Group and is an actor in the Drama Club. Behind this list of accolades, however, is the most important thing about Ilika: she is not afraid to fail. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx