When Garrett was a toddler, he enjoyed playing with LEGOs. When he was a sixth-grader, he enjoyed playing ROBLOX. When he entered 8th grade, he began writing short stories for fun, for he'd always loved telling stories involving his LEGO minifigures or Roblox characters. But when he began high school, he realized how boring writing was and almost gave up—until he realized the truth. In his speech, Garrett will expose the fallacy behind writing and explain why everyone can—and should—be a great writer. Garrett Li is a junior at Olathe North. In his free time, he plays baseball. 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 his speech, Hrithik talks about the need for boredom in today's world. Currently, people tend to constantly consume content, especially with short-form content gaining massive popularity, and most never take a moment to just simply think. Most don't allow themselves a moment to process their thoughts and encourage higher-level thinking. Those who allow themselves to have this moment may find their everyday lives changing. Hrithik hopes to inspire this change in those who will hear him during his TED talk. Hrithik is currently a junior at Olathe North High School and is part of the Medical Professions academy. At school, he is involved in many clubs such as DECA, in which he has qualified for and competed at the international competition, HOSA, in which he has also qualified for the international competition, & MAPS team, where he presented his research poster at the 2023 Discover BMB conference. Hrithik hopes to eventually become a doctor and continues to work toward that goal everyday. 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

This speech is about how easy it is to lose hope in bleak situations. It focuses on the journey from falling into poor mental health to eventually how one can recover from depression, strategies on improving mental health, and more. Recovering isn’t a perfect process either, and people “fall back down the hole” a lot. Understanding strategies for mental health improvement can inspire change as the process of recovery often sparks a desire to live differently. Depression, sadness, and hopelessness are not unique experiences, and knowing there are other people who understand hardships is a powerful motivator to change lifestyle. Celes is a junior enrolled in the specialized medical program at Olathe North High School, balancing her academic endeavors while pursuing her dream of mastering the piano. Celes aims to integrate her passions for music and medicine, aspiring to one day join the esteemed ranks of medical professionals. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, making art, and learning various sciences. 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

Henry Sabin is a Boston based entrepreneur working on building AI to revolutionize the way we communicate. His startup, convi.io uses artificial voice and video generation to personalize videos at scale for e-commerce brands. With a passion for synthetic media and its cutting-edge technology can enhance human connection while raising critical questions about authenticity in the digital age. Henry Sabin is a Boston based entrepreneur working on building AI to revolutionize the way we communicate. His startup, convi.io uses artificial voice and video generation to personalize videos at scale for e-commerce brands. With a passion for synthetic media and its cutting-edge technology can enhance human connection while raising critical questions about authenticity in the digital age. 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 Ugandan UWC Student enlightens us on how the stigma around weirdness is affecting the world negatively and how the future of society depends on nurturing our weird little selves to be better The speaker argues that embracing “weirdness” is essential for creativity, originality, and human connection. They highlight historical figures like Tesla and Edison, whose eccentricities led to groundbreaking achievements. However, modern society increasingly suppresses individuality, leading to less creativity, more isolation, and a fear of standing out. Through personal experiences in Uganda and UWC East Africa, the speaker illustrates how societal norms discourage uniqueness, even in language. They note that protests are declining, social justice is becoming passive, and entertainment lacks originality—all signs that weirdness is fading. The solution? Human connection through vulnerability. The speaker urges people to embrace their quirks, take creative risks, and start meaningful conversations. History’s greatest revolutions were led by those who dared to be different, and the world needs that now more than ever. 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

With the first sentence revealing that the title is a lie, Hadi Alasmar shows us in this talk that we are all somehow crazy, not in the societal definition, but in our own ways. From the panic attacks because of the conflict back home to the new experiences at UWC East Africa, it all forms his new definition and experience of being Crazy. The TEDx Talk explores the power of vulnerability, particularly in mental health. The speaker challenges the negative perception of vulnerability and shares a personal story of struggling with PTSD and panic attacks after moving to a new environment. Coming from a place where mental health struggles are heavily stigmatized, they initially hid their experiences, even from their online therapist. They emphasize that acknowledging and accepting vulnerability is the first step toward healing. Seeking support—whether from a trusted friend, peer mentor, or professional—is crucial. The talk highlights the universal stigma around mental health and encourages open conversations to break this cycle. By embracing vulnerability, individuals can find strength, support others, and create a ripple effect of acceptance. The speaker urges the audience to take that first step, reminding them that vulnerability is not a weakness but a path to growth and resilience. 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