Escape rooms are a form of embodied reading and literary catharsis. Hailed as a classic team building exercise, the pressure of a time limit and surge of adrenaline create a perfect environment for a group of participants to work together to follow a narrative and solve puzzles leading to their escape. Puzzlers in escape rooms both affect and are affected by the narrative of their room. Though the broad narrative arc stays the same, a team is inducted into the story with immersive props and hands-on puzzle solving. Their stumbling or success in each puzzle or task directly affects their experience of the story they take part in. Additionally, within the confines of an escape room, puzzlers undergo an experience of literary catharsis as they feel a sense of urgency and simulated danger. They have access to fantastical experiences like space exploration and seafaring---and some imagined troubles that come along with those---without the need for a pirate ship or rocket.During the 2020 pandemic, escape rooms became more accessible both to experienced puzzlers and curious beginners in digital form. Often at a reduced cost or no cost, online escape rooms have remained prevalent, providing an additional form of this embodied reading experience in a new modality. Drawing on concepts from game studies like game narrative theory and tabletop RPG design, as well as her own experiences with escape room design, Huggins explores how digital escape rooms provide access to this embodied form of literary catharsis. Riley-Grace Huggins is a graduate student of English Literature at TWU and an escape room enthusiast. Her work has been featured in Ricepaper Magazine and she has a forthcoming piece in The Rumpus. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas where she reads, drinks tea, and dreams of escaping to the mountains. 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

Contro il bullismo, Mirko fonda un’associazione di studenti per gli studenti. L’obiettivo: dare coraggio alle vittime e combattere l’ingiustizia, perché arrendersi non è mai un’opzione. Mirko Cazzato, born in 2001, is the co-founder of Mabasta, a student movement created in 2016 to combat bullying and cyberbullying. After graduating from high school, he became the team leader, guiding a group of 60 teenagers engaged in raising awareness in schools. In 2024, Forbes Italia included him in the Top 100 Under 30 most impactful people, while in 2021, he was the only Italian in the Top 10 of the Global Student Prize, considered the “Nobel” for students. He has received numerous awards, including “Student of the Year” and “Apulian of the Year 2021,” as well as accolades for his social and entrepreneurial commitment. He has met prominent figures such as President Mattarella and Pope Francis. In 2025, he fulfilled his vision by transforming Mabasta into the first social enterprise against bullying. Over the past two years, he has involved more than 52,000 students across Italy, spreading a message of inclusion and respect. 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

Bloccato da paura e inerzia, Hassane ritrova slancio con un metodo in sette passi che trasforma errori in guida e fallimenti in azione. Il segreto non è evitarli, ma ripeterli finché diventano vittoria. 5BE, Liceo Economico Sociale Marie Curie 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

Dalla prigionia del controllo e dei disturbi alimentari, Cristina ritrova la libertà di accettarsi. Grazie alla madre, comprende che la felicità nasce dall’amore per sé stessi e dall’imperfezione. Classe: 4N Istituto Romagnosi Longone al Segrino 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

Definito “fallito” a scuola, Nicolò realizza il suo sogno: offrire a migliaia di bambini l’accesso a una delle migliori scuole del mondo. Dimostra che seguire i propri sogni è il vero super potere. Writer and human rights activist Nicolò Govoni has dedicated his life to educating the most vulnerable children. After volunteering in an orphanage in India, he founded Still I Rise, a non-profit organization that provides free education to refugees.He has opened schools in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Kenya, and the Congo, introducing the International Baccalaureate program for displaced children. His books, including If It Were Your Child, highlight humanitarian crises and help fund new educational projects.In 2020, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work supporting children in hardship. Today, he leads an international team operating in eight countries, ensuring access to education for those most in need.His work proves that education can be a powerful tool for change and social redemption, giving children the chance to build a better future. 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

Cresciuta nella danza e sotto le aspettative materne, Benedetta rischia di perdere il piacere per la sua arte. Lo ritrova smettendo di compiacere e ricominciando a ballare per passione. 13A, Centro Studi Casnati Linguistico 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