Inspiring Tedx Talk: 15-year-old on ‘Expressive Communication’

The topic, “Expressive Communication”, is something very close to me. I started thinking about it after an incident in my class when I was discussing the emotional development of an anime character with my friends. I realised how emotional turmoil is not only in melodramatic serials, and that just how important expression, and regulated venting of this emotion could be done. I felt the need to tell this to people, to let that one human overthinking gloomily about his life now, “HEY! This happens to everybody!” and the TEDx event was certainly the best way I could have done so.

My journey throughout this event has been a fruitful one. Through the prolonged process of building up on the idea, writing a script, and executing it, I was offered regular guidance and mentoring by my teachers, Ms Simi and Ms Bharti. The extensive hard work of these people who believed in me fuelled my desire to spread my message far and wide, with full enthusiasm.

I started acting on the changes this brought to my daily schedule. I tried waking up an hour earlier than usual to complete all pending tasks. After school, I would takeout time to work on the flow and content of the speech. I enjoyed it. Sometimes, I would sit with my teacher during free lessons to work further.

My biggest challenge was portraying my words in the best way so that the message doesn’t come off offending, or as a concept that the audience does not resonate with it. The topic should not seem like something foreign, but something that is always there, and anyone would have realised it had we paid attention to it. I never wished to preach, for we all have our respective lives and experiences, but expressing ourselves is something that will benefit us.

My TEDx talk is all about expressing yourself to the fullest, understanding yourself enough to know what expression will benefit you when. If these words manage to give even the tiniest bit of hope to anyone, I would consider myself blessed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSzo-nRe0dg

 Speaking of the future, I aspire to work in the Indian Administrative Services someday. I wish to help people to bring invaluable, significant changes in the lives of others. To be determined enough today to inspire people tomorrow. 

I was overwhelmed when I delivered my talk. It was appreciated by so many people, my director, principal, teachers, family, friends and many more. I felt good as I could give a talk on a ‘convoluted’ topic of emotions with such ease. It was well received. 

 My message to everyone:

Bottling up what we feel can hurt us more than we can imagine. Even if it leads to arguments, it is imperative to come clear about what we feel. To ourselves, at least. A clear understanding of our emotions will allow us to benefit from them. Let us express ourselves the way we want to as it empowers us more than we think. 

Story by

Pradnya Bhat

Student of Gems International School, Gurugram

Edited by

Pragati Sharma