Ever feel like it’s too late to make a change? Our next speaker is here to prove otherwise. Luke Yin shares how one small decision—buying a ping-pong table—sparked a ripple effect that reshaped his health, confidence, and perspective. This talk is about how starting small can still lead to big change, and how even the tiniest shift can change everything
Our first student speaker for tonight is Luke Yin. Luke is a junior at IMSA and discovered a passion for tennis after buying a ping-pong table during the pandemic. He’s involved in several activities at IMSA, but he particularly enjoys being a part of the IMSA tennis team, something that began with something that began with a simple, spontaneous decision to try something new. What started as a small decision ended up transforming his health, confidence, and life in ways he never expected. In his talk, Luke will show us how even the smallest choices can spark big changes and challenge the idea that it’s too late to start something new. Please join me in welcoming Luke to the stage with “The Art of Starting Small.” 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
- 18:11Why we need to talk about sexual desires | Julie Harris | TEDxMünsterIn her TEDxMünster talk, Julie speaks openly and frankly about her own finite 20-year marriage and subsequent emotional journey. By retelling the stories of individuals she met while carrying out research on her work on relationship design, Julie shows how we can find a deeper connection with our partners and with others by talking openly and acting upon our sexual desires. She believes that when we open up and are vulnerable, we can truly connect with ourselves and others and potentially alter the tenor of our relationships.Julie Harris is a French-American writer and relationship scientist dedicated to “conscious relationship design.” With a scientist's curiosity and a pyromaniac's passion, she dives deep into the unconventional worlds of human relationships, documenting and sharing stories of those who speak about their fears and limitations and embrace their needs and desires. Her work is a testament to the power of open dialogue and empathetic understanding in fostering connection, autonomy and freedom. Julie's unique insights challenge societal norms, encouraging a culture of empathy, consent and intentional living.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
- 11:01A lesson in resilience from ants | Alan Andersen | TEDxCharles Darwin UniversityAnts are more like humans than we might think, and there are a few lessons we can learn from them about resilience, particularly in the face of climate change.In his talk, the real life ‘Ant Man’ Professor Alan Andersen showcases the resilience of savannah ants, and what the natural world's little rulers can teach us about perseverance.TEDxCharles Darwin University was held by @charlesdarwinunint on August 9, 2025.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 CDU’s Professor Alan Anderson is a world- leading researcher with an interest in the ecology of ant communities. With six species of ant named after him, Professor Anderson has authored five books and more than 250 scientific publications on the topics of ant ecology, invertebrate bio-indicators, fire management, and biogeography. 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
- 17:33How the US can build better cyber security | Kathleen Kennedy Townsend | TEDxPacific AvenueDrawing from her unique perspective as RFK's eldest child and President JFK's niece, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend parallels the dangers she witnessed firsthand—Senate Rackets Committee hearings, Mob threats, and the Cuban Missile Crisis—with today's critical software vulnerabilities.Our enemies can disable power grids, telecommunications, banking, hospitals, water systems, and breach military secrets through unsafe software. Yet unlike every other consumer product, software lacks safety requirements. We blame victims, forcing them to buy extra security while leaving Americans vulnerable to hackers, scammers, and foreign adversaries.With minimal regulation and weak consumer protections, our digital infrastructure remains dangerously exposed. Kathleen illuminates these hidden threats and champions the urgent need for secure software standards to protect "We The People" from 21st-century dangers that echo the threats her father fought 60 years ago. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: KKT was Maryland's first woman's Lt Governor, and has served as Managing Director of Rock Creek, one of the largest women owned asset management firms in the country. She founded a Center on Retirement Security at Georgetown University and just recently served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy where she focused on shipyard and shipbuilding, particularly submarines and aircraft carriers. 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
- 9:54Learning Into Discomfort: The Price for Growth | Elias Chaptini | TEDxJamhourElias Chaptini challenges the belief that success depends on talent and shows why true growth comes from leaning into discomfort, a lesson he has drawn from experiences across engineering, consulting, sports, and music. Elias Chaptini challenges the belief that success depends on talent and shows why true growth comes from leaning into discomfort, a lesson he has drawn from experiences across engineering, consulting, sports, and music. 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
- 15:22Every minute counts in stroke | Dr. Tariq Matin | TEDxMoulsari AvenueA stroke strikes with suddenness—but recovery depends on awareness and timely action. In this talk, he explores how neurointervention is transforming stroke care, why “time is brain,” and how community awareness can reverse disability and save lives. Dr.Tariq Matin has more than 14 years of experience in the field of Neurointervention at various positions and for last 4 years or more leading a vibrant neurointervention department. 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
- 7:33Sustainability begins with basics | Amreesh Chandra | TEDxMoulsari AvenueSustainability is not just about numbers or global agendas—it is about everyday choices and human stories. In this talk, he shares how ordinary acts, from education to dignity, hold the power to drive extraordinary change toward the Sustainable Development Goals. Amreesh Chandra is a business strategist and a global SDG Campaigner. 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
