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).

TEDxClearLakeHighSchool
2929 Bay Area Blvd
Houston, Texas, 77058
United States

Abigail Thompson

Student

As a person intending to go into the arts and mass media communication, Abigail takes pride in being up to date on popular culture, which means having to learn an entirely new vocabulary of internet jargon in order to stay up to date on the current trends.Among the new terms is the word “cancel” which has led to the temporary banishment of several public figures from the public eye. As an avid member of the International Thespian Society and an advocate for the arts, Abigail strongly believes that the time to acknowledge the toxicity of so-called “cancel culture” is now, before it ruins careers, desensitizes society to toxic behavior, and lays waste to the work of a new generation of artists. Abigail hopes that with education and compassion, we will all learn to express our opinions in respectful ways that positively contribute to the online landscape.

Allen Shen

Student

As a modern-day high school student, Allen has always appreciated technology. Like many of his peers, his waking hours are filled with checking his smartphone or computer. Despite this, his focus started shifting from his technology to big data, especially after an influx of targeted ads, college solicitation (e)mails, and privacy concerns. From data breaches to social innovation to environmentalism, big data has large implications on our world, presenting both new complications and solutions to our society. Whether beneficial or detrimental, Allen believes it's important to understand the consequences of the rise of big data.

Ananya Kamath

Student

A sophomore at Clear Lake High School, Ananya Kamath has seen firsthand how grading scales, GPA, and class ranks have contributed to a student body that’s sole motivation has become finding worth in numbers. Through research on how extrinsic motivation affects youth, Ananya wants to relay to students the perpetual harms of deriving self worth and feelings of success on external rewards and scalar values. She hopes to spark a shift towards intrinsic motivation which will lead students to have healthier notions of what success means to them.

Deanna Wu

Student

Having grown up with the mentality that life was nothing more than a series of competitions, Deanna Wu is no stranger to the act of constantly comparing herself to those around her. In the world of cello performance, basketball, and mathematics, her achievements have come with the caveat of self-doubt and a sense of never being enough. After learning to shut out her irrational anxieties, Deanna finally gained the confidence to simply be herself. Deanna hopes that sharing her experiences will provide her audience with the insight needed to overcome their personal insecurities, just as how she drew on others to overcome her own.

Dhyuti Venkataraman

Student

Dhyuti Venkataraman has always been interested in gender equality, and the various movements centered around it. Dhyuti has researched the history of women’s movements and noticed that equal rights movements that focus solely on gender equality don’t create much change for an extended period of time, which prompted the question: why is an equal rights movement not gaining the support it needs to be successful? As such, she is interested in how the equal rights movement also needs to change perceptions about males and masculinity, and how that could change the long-term success of gender equality movements.

Katelyn Roberts

Student

Katelyn is a high school senior and one of the many people with invisible disabilities. Although most don’t experience such illnesses, they often come across people who do. Katelyn hopes that by sharing her experiences and the different struggles of people with invisible illnesses, she will help others be able to better understand, empathize, and interact with those who do.

Safiye Namver

Student

Since the age of 13, Safiye has taken an interest in teen addiction, especially energy stimulants in particular. Although addiction to hard drugs and alcohol is a subject talked about constantly, she noticed a glaring gap in the discussion of addiction to energy stimulants. Isn’t it surprising something so common in our daily lives is completely ignored in the world of science? In this talk, she explains how the adolescent brain is impacted by addiction to caffeine, and busts some myths about caffeine itself. With this talk she hopes to spread awareness about the severity of this subject and empower others to start the conversation in their lives as well.