TEDxSMICSchool 2019 inspires audience

The audience was left astounded by the breathtaking speeches of TEDxSMICSchool. Many students, teachers, and guests gathered in the first-floor auditorium on March 30th to listen in, and be inspired by the passionate speeches delivered that followed this year’s theme: “Voices Deep Down.”

Organizers of this event received speaker applications since the beginning of the school year, and started planning even before the school year started. Cindy Huang (12B), the Lead Organizer of TEDx, worked endless to perfect the day. She commented that “having no prior experience with this leadership position, nor much relevant preparation in advance, I was very stressed throughout the year, worried that I might not do as well as the previous lead organizer. The last several weeks were particularly hectic. However, in the end, we, as a team, have went so much beyond people’s expectations. Whether it be team member’s volunteers, or student speakers, everyone has made the extra effort to ensure the event’s success, and I’m so proud of each and every one of us.”

This year, SMIC-I invited four outside speakers, as well as hand-picked four students to share their stories. Liu Yi is an international certified nonviolent communication trainer, who seeks to live a life of wisdom. In her speech, she proposes that if we all “change our form of language, from a language of feeling and need, to a language of heart, we can rid of the violent images…to where true innovation and compassion can develop.” Christopher Antos, Alex Wise, and Chris Kim also went on stage to share their stories and send a thoughtful message. Kevin Zhou (12C)¸was selected to talk about how he had integrated his love for playing video games and law study into a career of passion. He commented on his speech, “I think it went pretty well, the TEDx team did a good job helping me prep, so I didn’t forget anything, and it flowed smoothly. Only hitch was my hairband sliding off of my hair in the middle of the talk, and I couldn’t put it back on because the microphone was blocking the way, though I think I did catch it pretty smoothly.” Katie Liu (12A) gave an outstanding and emotional speech about her journey into self-acceptance, receiving heartfelt applause from the audience. Chuyi Shang (10B) and Yuhan Chen (11B) were also student speakers of this year’s TEDx.

This is the fourth successful TEDxSMICSchool event, bringing gifted outside, and inside speakers to come on stage to share their stories. According to Wesley Ding, an alumni of SMIC-I who organized the first TEDxSMICSchool, “We first started TEDxSMICSchool to make a positive impact on our community as part of a class project. The audience can clearly see all the time and energy the speakers and organizing team had put into this event. Although speaker and organizing team applications are selective, TEDxSMICSchool is a platform for students and community stakeholders to share their opinions and to send a message. Maybe you will be the next one to stand on that circular red carpet or designing the poster that will be displayed throughout the school!”

Featured Image- (From left to right) Yiyun Wu, Joy Chang, Cindy Huang, and Ken Kim, executive organizers of TEDxSMICSchool, pose for a group picture. Photo courtesy of Erin Chang