10 Seconds to Courage: The Ripple Effect of Speaking Up | Karys Fan | TEDxPine Lake Youth
Karys Fan is a middle school student who believes that courage doesn’t always look big; sometimes, it’s just choosing to say something when it feels easier to stay silent. In her talk,10 Seconds to Courage: The Ripple Effect of Speaking Up, she shares how a single moment of regret turned into a mission to build a more inclusive and compassionate school community.
Through her story of learning to go from bystander to upstander, Karys explores how small actions can interrupt cycles of harm and create real change. Her reflections remind us that anyone, at any age, can make a difference… and it might take less time than you think.
Because sometimes, all it takes is 10 seconds.
Karys is a rising 8th grader with a deep passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Deeply empathetic and a seasoned communicator, she believes in the power of personal connection and uplifting others. Karys is an active volunteer, always seeking ways to help her community and spread kindness. With a strong sense of self and a non-conforming spirit, she stands confidently in her values and encourages others to do the same. Karys believes there is kindness in everyone and through compassion and connection, she hopes to inspire positive change in the world around her. 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
More from TED
- 10:26Degree impress but knowledge is endless | Jaspreet Kaur | TEDxASBM UniversityIn this thought-provoking talk, Jaspreet Kaur challenges conventional ideas about education and success. Drawing from personal insights, everyday humor, and real-life examples, she highlights that while degrees open doors, true learning comes from perseverance, adaptability, and the ability to learn from everyone and everything around us. With powerful analogies and stories, she emphasizes that humans are limitless—we can reinvent ourselves, unlearn, and grow at every stage. The message is simple yet profound: success is personal, learning is lifelong, and we hold the power to shape our own journey. An educationist and filmmaker, she serves as Director educational conglomerates and is the founder of a dynamic production house that creates films, documentaries, interactive television, and digital content. A Computer Science Engineer and VFX & Animation expert, she nurtured her passion for storytelling by pursuing filmmaking at the prestigious Vancouver Film School, Canada. With a progressive leadership style, she focuses on empowering educators, fostering student-centric initiatives, and driving innovation across academic and medical institutions, positioning the Group as a hub of creativity, opportunity, and growth. As an educationist, she is deeply committed to creating environments where learning is engaging, inclusive, and future-ready. 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
- 9:46Why did no one warn me? Women's ACL injuries | Isabelle Brown | TEDxFrancisHollandSchoolSloaneSquare5 months ago, I tore my ACL, but could it have been prevented? In this eye-opening talk, I will challenge the assumptions baked into sports medicine: Why aren't young athletes taught to prevent injuries? How can we overcome gendered environments? And can your menstrual cycle play a role? Combining personal experience with sharp insights, I invite you to question the silence, the systems and the science that failed to warn me and countless others. A huge amount of recognition should also go out to Joanne L Parsons, Stephanie E Coen, and Sheree Bekker for their landmark paper on ACL injures: Parsons JL, Coen SE, Bekker S. Anterior cruciate ligament injury: towards a gendered environmental approach. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2021;55:984-990. See: https://www.instagram.com/power_up_to_play/?hl=en — a brilliant charity pioneering efforts to reduce knee injuries through evidence-based warm-ups. Isabelle Brown is a 17 year old A-Level student studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths. Izzy has an avid interest in medicine and the healthcare industry and has decided to do her talk on a topic that both lends itself towards her personal life and academic interests. 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
