I stroll into TEDx Youth@Hewitt at around 11:45am, happy to not have to awkwardly find a seat in the middle of a speaker’s presentation. There was a lot of commotion going on in the Charlotte Comfort Auditorium; students, teachers, parents, speakers, and outside guests were conversing while snacking on popcorn and Bistro muffins. At around 12, the second slate of speakers began. Then at 1, I used the lunch break to catch up with some attendees in Le Bistro.
Grayson Brower ’15 (Assistant Curator)
Jessica: Who has been your favorite speaker so far?
Grayson: Emma Axelrod
Jessica: Why?
Grayson: Seeing her speak about her accomplishments and how she believes our world needs to change was empowering and inspiring.
Jessica: What has stood out to you about today?
Grayson: The responses on the boards around the event to the question “What is your dream?” because I like how the anonymity allows people to be honest.
Donee Blackburn ’15
Jessica: Who has been your favorite speaker so far?
Donee: Maggie Tobin
Jessica: Why?
Donee: Her speech was relatable because my community could use some work, and she was persistent to make changes for the better of the public.
Jessica: What has stood out to you about today?
Donee: The video of the man who has a device attached to him for his colorblindness because hearing color sounds cool.
Susannah Meyer ’15 (Techie)
Jessica: Who has been your favorite speaker so far?
Susannah: The video of the man who started postsecret.com
Jessica: Why?
Susannah: The website was a concept I’ve never heard of. There was a huge variety of secrets, some funny and some sad. I liked how it branched out into someone creating a website posting lost photographs.
Jessica: What has stood out to you about today?
Susannah: Being behind the scenes working with the techies, there have been some malfunctions. A mic fell off a speaker while she was speaking, so I had to go on stage to switch her mic. There were a lot of issues we weren’t prepared for, so it forces us to work quickly because things don’t always work out as planned.
Emma Axelrod (Speaker, Junior at Montclair High School)
Jessica: Who has been your favorite speaker so far?
Emma: Ashley “Ajay” Johnson
Jessica: Why?
Emma: She incorporated her poem to move forward in her presentation.
Jessica: What has stood out to you about today?
Emma: It was amazing to see all the different ways to respond to the prompt about fulfilling dreams. I love how creative people were.
Ms. Lonergan
Jessica: Who was your favorite speaker?
Ms. Lonergan: Emma Axelrod
Jessica: Why?
Ms. Lonergan: Her determination and commitment to change was extraordinary. I loved her humility; she explained at the end of her speech that she was unsure if it was her that was the reason for the made change. She was authentic and courageous.
Jessica: What has stood out to you about today?
Ms. Lonergan: I am so impressed with how far our TEDx events have grown at Hewitt. Each year, they grow exponentially. I admire the talent and professionalism of the whole production. I’m so proud of Hewitt and everyone who’s been involved.