Empathy. Connecting with each other. What happens when connections are missing or broken. Year 10 student. Mahro has recently been successful in winning a much-coveted place on the Junior Leadership Team. She has been part of debate club for several years and has mentored younger students when preparing for their first mock trial competition. She is studying GCSE psychology, and is predicted a grade 8. She is also an enthusiastic psychology ambassador. 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

Wake up and act! There's no time to be complacent while the world is on fire or drowning. Year 10 student. Eva is an ambitious and determined student at Goldington Academy. Since a young age, she has expressed her points of view on various topics and is always interested in listening to opposing views. She is a consistent member of the school debate team and has engaged in public speaking at numerous events. Eva has been active in hosting various Bulgarian public speaking events, ensuring that Bulgarian culture and education is well conveyed. Recently, her focus in terms of the world we live in, is activism. It is necessary that as a society, we become more responsible and aware of the consequences of our own actions. 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

The dangers that are associated with conforming and what we can gain through authenticity. Year 10 student. Delia has recently been appointed as the Head of the Junior Leadership Team. She has enjoyed debating very much over the past 4 years, so much so, she has started her own Philosophy club where they discuss and dispute topics such as, "Does nostalgia benefit us?". Not only that, but she has participated in the Crown court mock trials as a lawyer where she has argued and questioned two separate cases. She is a passionate and enthusiastic individual, who puts 100% effort into whatever she does. 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

How world events are portrayed in the media, and how we are over exposed to the extent that there is a real risk of developing emotional numbness. Year 10 student. A dedicated and accomplished debater with over three years of debate and public speaking experience. Aleeza has attended many prestigious competitions, including mock trials in both magistrates and crown courts, and has won numerous awards. She is an ambassador for debate club and often leads debates, tutoring and inspiring younger students to find their voice. 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

Supriya Yellapragada, a bronze medalist for India at the Nepal Badminton International Challenge 2024, is also an AI researcher and youth advocate. She shares her journey from chasing grades and medals to asking deeper questions that create meaningful social impact. Influenced by an inspiring teacher and her own experiences in AI and competitive sports, she realized that real learning begins when we move beyond simply passing tests and start applying knowledge to solve problems that matter.In her talk, Supriya discusses rising youth mental health concerns, the role of physical activity in cognitive performance, and how she used AI to explore solutions, from burnout prediction systems to educational outreach. She urges young people to stop preparing only for exams and instead prepare for life by changing the questions they ask and the problems they choose to solve. Supriya Yellapragada is a top-performing Applied AI enthusiast and national-level badminton player with a vision to integrate AI with human performance. Since 9th grade, she has excelled in AI, securing internships at leading organizations like ISB and IIIT-A, where she applied AI in sports legacy, cardiovascular health, and employee burnout. A bronze medalist at the BWF Badminton Nepal International Challenge and with multiple state and national-level sports achievements, she aims to create AI systems that optimize athletic training, mental health, and overall well-being, especially for those with limited resources. Passionate about lifelong wellness, Supriya is also dedicated to promoting physical activity and mental health in children, advocating for holistic approaches to well-being. 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

How many clicks, swipes and AI prompts does it take before our brains stop doing the heavy lifting? In this TEDx talk, educator-entrepreneur Mohammed Ajmal reveals what he calls “Intellectual Obesity”—a hidden epidemic in which ever-smarter tools hand us flawless answers while quietly starving our critical-thinking muscles. The talk opens with a dramatic on-stage experiment: a JEE-Advanced problem that used to humble India’s brightest teens now collapses in four seconds under a generative-AI lens. Ajmal then weaves classroom interviews with fresh MIT brain-scan research to show how children’s neural “gym time” is being outsourced, shifting young minds from active problem-solving into passive copy-and-paste mode.But this is not a doom-and-gloom sermon. Ajmal argues that the real divide of the coming decade will be between Augmented Thinkers, who treat AI as a sparring partner that builds cognitive strength, and Dependent Users, who let the tool become a crutch. He outlines a simple three-step blueprint—tested in math, history and science classes—that forces students to probe, critique and improve AI-generated work, turning easy answers into deeper questions and stronger synapses. Finally, he calls on parents, teachers and policymakers to redesign homework, exams and curricula so the next generation can grow up mentally fit in an age of endless convenience.Ajmal is an IIT Madras-trained engineer turned educator, Ajmal is the founder & CEO of XandY Learning, which serves 4000+ students and leads AI-literacy drives. He hosts the 100 K-subscriber YouTube channel “Unlearn with Ajmal” and writes for The Hindu and other medias on education reform and the future of work. His mission is simple: help every child build the thinking skills—and ethical compass—needed to thrive alongside AI. Mohammed Ajmal C is the Co-Founder and CEO of XandY Learning while serving as Design Engineering Lead at Intel Corporation and Fellow/Trustee of PM Foundation. An IIT Madras dual degree graduate (B.Tech Honors in Electrical Engineering, top 1%), he was a topper in IIT JEE, AIEEE, Kerala Engineering Entrance, CUSAT, and BITSAT. As an educational vlogger ("Unlearn with Ajmal") with 77.6K YouTube subscribers, he conducts workshops on career guidance and learning science for students, teachers, and parents. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered sessions at PROFCON, PROFACE, Calicut University ("AI: Beyond Buzzwords"), and schools nationwide, while receiving recognition from Prof P Raveendran (VC, Calicut University). His initiatives include the 'Science of Learning' workshop (KNCC Qatar) and 'Ezhuthupura' program with Wisdom Board of Education. 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