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).

Cary Academy
1500 N HARRISON AVE
Cary, North Carolina, 27513
United States

Akash Mani

Student

Akash Mani (‘26) is a junior at Cary Academy and a passionate student-athlete from Cary, NC. Through his injury recovery, Akash discovered the health benefits of vegetarianism and a new perspective on society’s misconceptions. He advocates that switching to a colorful vegetarian diet benefits professional athletes, recovering patients, and everyone in between.

Avani Bhat

Student

Avani Bhat (’25) is a senior at Cary Academy and a dedicated speech and robotics team leader from Cary, NC. Through the lens of her family’s dynamic, she learned of the gentle parenting approach online. Avani expresses that, even with its opposing perspectives, parenting styles impact the wellbeing of children as they learn about the world.

Clare Lee

Student

Clare Lee (’26) is a junior at Cary Academy and an accomplished student from Cary, NC interested in chemistry and speech. As her school experience has shaped her perspective, she realized that external pressures are all around us, from the middle school locker rooms to blockbuster movie hits. Clare discusses that perspective and awareness require the pushing of boundaries and openness to others’ opinions.

Kainda Nzinga

Student

Kainda Nzinga (‘25) is a senior at Cary Academy and an accomplished speech student from Raleigh, NC. Ever since discovering the impacts of climate change, Kainda wanted to highlight the importance of how racial gaps particularly cause significant differences in climate change experiences. She discusses how the future can be brighter, greener, and more sustainable beyond community boundaries.

Megan Polzin

Faculty

Megan Polzin is a Cary Academy teacher passionate about pioneering courses including biology, human pathology, and oncology. After her research in oncolytic viruses at Appalachian State University, she shares her findings for the future of the medical world. Megan explains that viruses don’t all have to be scary; they can be tools to ward off cancer.

Robin Eisenbeis

Past Parent

Robin Eisenbeis is an author and a founder of Bluebird Lifestyle Solutions from Pittsboro, NC. Through her work of helping clients and their teams foster personable dynamics, she emphasizes the importance of remembering people’s names. Robin explains strategies to find confidence in the art of remembering names, a skill applicable to every path of life.

Sarah Shaughnessy

Student

Sarah Shaughnessy (’25) is a senior at Cary Academy and an accomplished student in the classroom, at speech tournaments, and on the softball field. She is from Morrisville, NC, and as she has journeyed through her mental health journey, she realized the impacts of negative news fatigue on herself and her community. Sarah discusses how mindfully processing news headlines with constructive journalism can make waves in the age of seemingly overwhelming media.

William Chen

Student

William Chen (‘26) is a junior at Cary Academy and an accomplished student from Cary, NC interested in the applications of artificial intelligence. After leading an experiential course about artificial intelligence and automated cars, William shares his takeaways as he realized that artificial intelligence can be a toll to apply to many fields. He discusses how artificial intelligence research must navigate through moral challenges in their protocols.