In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Osceola Performing Arts Center
1137, 3141 N Orange Blossom Trail
Kissimmee, Florida, 34744
United States

Alexander Farmiga

Student

Alexander Farmiga is an avid musician and guitarist. His talk entitled, "What We can Learn About Happiness from Heavy Metal", is about the relationship between music and emotion as well as common misconceptions regarding our happiness.

Amidala Sosa

Student

Amidala Sosa is hoping that her talk, "JUST DO IT: A Discussion on Motivation," empowers people around the world to venture into the unknown. Seeking to be a professional actor, she understands the struggles that come with fear. By sharing her experiences, she hopes to let others know that they are not alone in the struggle.

Andres Machado Di Marco

Student

Andres Machado Di Marco takes the TED stage for a second time, presenting "Dear Future Generations, these three philosophies will help you get through life." He hopes to connect to a larger audience of people, believing his lessons learned can help others around his age in their present and their future.

Arturo Williams

Student

Arturo Williams is using personal experiences as well as those of his peers to inform a larger audience in "Stress: how it impacts teens."

Bri Bennage

Student

Bri Bennage is very excited to be presenting her talk, "The Mystery Behind The Mandela Effect". In this talk, she will go review the Mandela Effect, provide examples, and explain the implications.

Brianna Rose

Student

Speaking from both personal and external experiences, Brianna Rose sheds light upon the subject of childhood trauma in "Childhood Trauma: Its Impact on the People around Us."

Carter Pascucci

Student

Carter Pascucci is an accomplished student, with a passion for academia. His talk, "An Introductory to Quantum Physics" will introduce you to the world of quantum physics, some of its problems, and a couple of its applications in real life!

Eliana Chan

Student

Eliana Chan is going into her senior year of high school and is excited to apply to college, hoping to pursue a career in Music Therapy. While reflecting on her life experiences thus far, she presents “Teenagers: The Ways We Rebel.”

Emmanuel Rosario Bobadilla

Student

Emmanuel Rosario, an aspiring artist, will be sharing his mental health journey and the expectations he has laid out for himself during his mental roadmap in his talk, “The Road to a Healthy Mind: A Personal, Unfinished Journey.”

Faiza Riaz

Student

Faiza Riaz is a 14 year old student whose interest in the structure of our education system led her to conduct local research about the mental health of students. Based on her findings, Faiza presents, "Adolescent Mental Health: How Schools are Destructive."

Gabrielle Schultz

Student

Gabrielle Schultz is a Jewish teen who has become increasingly concerned about antisemitism in media and politics. She is seeking an opportunity to educate a larger audience on "Anti-Semitism: Problems in Modern Culture."

Imani Waters

Student

Imani Waters has recently been curious about taboo topics within United States culture. After reflecting on many controversial topics, she settled on one she felt affected a large part of the population. In her "Periods? Period" she encourages everyone to stop being so timid about that time of the month!

Julie Saint-Hilaire

Student

Julie Saint-Hilaire is a student who excels in her academics but is concerns about the curriculum she is presented with. Here, she reflects of her experiences and research in “High School Education: Preparing for Adulthood?”

Karyssa Pancake

Students

Karyssa Pancake, an amateur musician, is expanding her horizons and testing her musical capabilities in, "Trying New Things: Learning to Play the Violin in 15 Minutes."

Roxxian Martinez Irizarry

Student

Roxxian Martinez Irizarry, a vocal major at the Osceola County School for the Arts, is critical of her surroundings. Throughout her experience in the public school system, she has developed concerns regarding sexual education. Her observations about how these flaws may affect our future generations led her to write her speech “Sexual Education: Extreme Flaws” in an attempt to shed light on this critical topic.

Sarah Franquelo

Student

Sarah Franquelo is studying drama and acting, and has always been interested in psychology. After watching "The Stanford Prison Experiment," a film by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, Sarah's interest in the actual experiment and its potential truths about human morality sparked the inspiration for her speech. She explores her own identity and her morals while explaining how limiting ourselves to labels affects our mental health and our actions.

Sean McBride

Student

Sean McBride is an 11th grade clarinet player at the Osceola County School for the Arts. He is interested in the design decisions motivating a work of art. His TED Talk, "The Role of Pseudoscience in Popular Media," examines the reasons behind and consequences of unrealistic depictions of science in media.

Tristian Kinney

Student

Tristian is a high school vocal major student at the Osceola County School for the Arts. His home changed locations throughout much of his life, and his experience as a black man has evolved. He reflects on some of his key experiences in this talk.

Yadimar Rodriguez

Student

Yadimar Rodriguez typically doesn't speak openly to a large group, but recently she’s been interested in the topic of perfection. Today, she explains why "Perfectionism is Overrated."