Theme: We, The Future

At TEDxYouth@SRDS, students of Saddle River Day School deliver their perspectives on our global future, offering their reforms, advice, and innovations.

147 Chestnut Ridge Road
Saddle River, New Jersey, 07458
United States

David Stack

Aspiring Aeronaut

David is a seventeen-year-old Junior who has a deep passion for aeronautical exploration and innovation. I With the self-expressed life mission of becoming a pilot, David’s first appearance on the TED stage will shock and amaze you.

Emmy Glick

Actress

Emmy is a fourteen year old freshman who loves singing, acting, and dancing. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the opening of the One World Trade Center, and Yankee Stadium. Although she is no stranger to the stage, this is her first TED Talk. She also plays the piano and violin. When she grows up she wants be a casting director and give child actors the same experience she had, which she will speak about in her talk. If she’s not performing you can find her anywhere there are dogs or books.

ErinRose Carr

Advocate for gender equality

ErinRose is currently a rising junior at Syracuse University where she is double majoring in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises and Marketing Management. While at Saddle River Day, ErinRose was heavily involved on campus in numerous facets ranging from president of the community service club to costumes, hair and makeup mistress for theatrical productions to captain of the volleyball and track and field teams. She has continued to do the same at Syracuse University, blending her passion for sports and her constant energy to help her become highly involved. This summer she is working as a tournament coordination intern for the Illinois Junior Golf Association and the Mid-Atlantic Junior Golf Association.

Isabel Bejarano

Economist and interdisciplinary thinker

Isabel is a recent graduate of the George Washington University with a Bachelor's of Science in Economics and a minor in Arabic Language. While at GWU, she was president of the university debate team and competed internationally. She spent five months living in Amman, Jordan in 2015, where she worked at a venture capital company focused on small IT start-ups in the Levant and Gulf regions. Her work is driven by a thirst for intersectional reconciliation of segmented academic fields and a passion for putting intellectualism to work for the betterment of people.

Lawrence Raia

Comic

Lawrence is a junior who has a deep and unending passion for the beautiful world of comics. Self-identifying as the progeny of Batman, Lawrence will talk to you today about why we idolize superheroes. He will talk about why they are entirely necessary to our world.

Lily Vellekamp

Musician and teenager

Lily is a fourteen year old freshman who loves music, art, makeup, and bunnies. She works at Mooyah of Old Tappan and helps coaching her town’s rec softball league. She plays guitar, bass, ukulele, percussion, piano, and she sings. Lily is always standing up for what she believes in, and is always passionate when doing so. This is her first talk, and she could not be more excited. She is not yet sure of what she would like to do with her future, so she plans on just enjoying time with her friends for now. She looks up to Pete Wentz, Bernie Sanders, Phil Lester, and Dan Howell. She would like to thank her mom for always being there and supporting her no matter what.

Max Sitver

Falconer and animal rights advocate

Max Sitver is a sixteen year-old high-school Junior and passionate animal-lover. He enjoys spending time with animals of all shapes and sizes. Today, Max will speak about the ins and outs of the exotic pet trade .

Olivia Tafaro

Education reformer

Olivia is a sixteen year old high school Junior who spends her time learning new things, trail-running, and being outside. She loves to travel, to adventure, and to see new places, and finds inspiration in the world around her. Today, she will speak to you about the fascinating gap between our increasingly globalized world and our nation’s school system, and present a unique solution.

Rebecca Pall

Disability rights advocate

Rebecca is 16 years old and is in 10th grade. She’s done many things in front of people, acting, performing, even singing at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center; but this is her first time giving a TED talk. She writes songs, poems and short stories about what she’s passionate about, so writing about something that she is truly passionate about, overcoming fears, is something especially important to her. When Rebecca grows up, she wants to be a teacher; she has ever since she was four years old, and has been working with children through various community service acts for the past few years.

Syeda Islam

Moralist

Syeda is a fourteen year old freshman who tends to spend her time over-thinking. Today she will share some of her thoughts regarding people in different financial situations and how it causes differences in what they prioritize and how everyone at one time or another needs a reality check.

Walter Stack

Futurist

Walter is a seventeen-year-old junior who has a deep and unending passion for innovation. Today, he shares his thoughts on why the microwaveable burrito exists and you should care! Walter has invented a brilliant talk for his first appearance on the TEDx stage.