Theme: Better You, Better Tomorrow

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).

Dubai British School - Jumeirah Park
Al Warood 1 St,Jumeirah park - Dubai
Dubai, Dubayy, 37828
United Arab Emirates

Alexia Correia

Student

My name is Alexia. I am a 15-year-old student who aspires to share important concepts through written or spoken word. I was born and raised in Brazil, growing up as a fan of John Green whose work helped shape my personality. I have a deep interest in drama and literature which is ultimately what causes me to adopt philosophical thinking. I am greatly inspired by the power of any written work and therefore consider it to be a very big part of me. However, I am ambitious and I have decided to venture into spoken work in the hopes that I will fall in love with it as well. Through my life experiences, I have had plenty of people helping me form the person that I am today. The most interesting thing I've learned in my short journey is how emotions affect us as human beings. The number line of emotions that we live in not only impacts the actions that we take but also limits the number of things we can feel. Thus, I cannot stress its importance, despite our tendencies to disregard it.

Aliya Altaf

Student

Currently a student, my goals are to become successful in the healthcare segment of the job sector; to bring about positive change to people’s lives and ensure they can live the healthiest, happiest life possible. The high ambitions you set for yourself are not always easy to achieve, in some cases, it can lead you to believe you are unworthy or incapable of reaching these. Therefore, the underlining importance of having the right outlook on your aspirations is key to a successful future. Recently I have been able to change my mindset on my goals to strive towards the positive outcome, and in doing so, aim to inspire others to bring about the same change which will, in turn, lead to a more successful future.

Antonino Benitez

Student

Antonino Benitez is a student, aspiring writer, and a firm believer in the notion that we as people hold the keys to our own fate. Having gained exposure from several international environments growing up, Antonino has become acquainted with a myriad of cultures, subsequently paving way to his fervor for global issues, and his desire to find unity in diversity. These days, the concept of ‘world change’ is often regarded as an unobtainable pursuit. With huge strides currently being made in global domains like Science and Technology, young individuals often feel intimidated, and begin to undervalue the ideas they have to offer to society. However, Antonino Benitez shares that the modest act of ‘giving back’, something everyone can do, can build the foundation for a brighter future, ultimately expressing that Global change is something homegrown.

Fabian Weller

Student

Hello, I’m Fabian Weller and I am a 15-year-old student attending at the Dubai British School. I was born in Kuwait and grew up in the middle east. I have spent my life developing into the urban world and found myself missing a connection to nature. This has left me infatuated to learn about the world around me and the planet I call home. I get an even deeper joy by sharing these interests with others, seeing them excited and curious about their world, as they too begin to question what they see. But our new world of information has left us without true gratitude as we are constantly bombarded by breakthroughs in research; desensitizing us to how amazing that information truly is. I hope to lend you a new pair of eyes to view these marvels for what they rightfully are, as well as to explain why it's so hard to appreciate the unbelievable extent of our universe.

Jose Olivan

Student

My name is Jose Luis Olivann and I am a sixth-form student with great interest in how the world works and the events that shape our day-to-day lives. I have an immense curiosity for a lot of subjects that include history and politics. I have had the great honor of participating in several MUN conferences that have taught me many things not only about the themes in question but also about the people and their different points of view and opinions and why do they think that they are right. Our world is comprised of several governments, and different societies believe that their government model is “correct”. This talk will, therefore, attempt to introduce a political and social problem that affects the whole spectrum of a powerful and democratic nation and with luck convey to you my beliefs about it based on facts, history, and beliefs.

Marc Weller

Student

Hi! My name is Marc Weller. Currently 18 and attending Dubai British School, I frequently spend my free time as any typical teenager would, playing video games, doing sports and socializing with the people closest to me. Coming nowhere near perfecting it, the particular sport I enjoy playing is Basketball. But that led me to consider a new thought; what if I had more time to hone my skills in Basketball or everything I do? Would I use that time to build myself a better tomorrow or improve myself as a person? How much time do I need to develop the best version of myself? I’m excited to present my thoughts on longevity and the opportunity to evade death, while simultaneously attracting your attention to the present rather than the scary future beyond our time.

Minsung Park

Student

My interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is corroborated by my literacy in the latest trends of technological inventions. In an age where digital transactions are a common occurrence, blockchain technology's introduction to our world with its intricate system and extensive purposes strikes me as an excellent expression of practical innovation. I feel optimistic about this field of technology and hope that it changes how we perceive not only transactions but also internet of things via application of this technology.

Natasha Tareen

Student

Alongside being a student, Natasha Tareen is an avid artist who strives to explore and encourage the widespread appreciation of all forms of Art. Through her own life experiences, Natasha has become familiar with the conflicting and multifaceted nature of the human condition and believes that when we have the opportunity to examine it in the form of Art, there should be no boundaries.

Vedank Sapolia

Student

A 16-year-old with an interest in reading and philosophy. My goals in life are to be able to make as many people happy as possible, to be able to learn as much as I can about the mysteries of life and make a song that hits the top charts. I was born in India and i moved to Dubai about 8 years ago and I have loved living here. The friends I've made and the things I've learned are priceless. I have debated in many competitions, my favorite being the Gulf debates. Enough about me, now about my talk. My talk is about how being better in the mind allows you to be better more consistently in performance. I believe that accepting ourselves for what we are is the most important thing we as people can strive for.