When role models are scarce, it can be difficult to imagine the possibilities that lie ahead. In this inspiring TED Talk, Dr. Phyllis MacGilvray, a first-generation college graduate turned doctor, shares a journey shaped by perseverance, purpose, and the quiet power of visibility. Reflecting on the challenges of navigating higher education without a roadmap, Dr. MacGilvray emphasizes how representation fuels possibility. Now committed to helping students "see" what they can be, this talk is both a personal story and a passionate call to create opportunities, break barriers, and ignite the belief that big dreams are within reach. Dr. Phyllis MacGilvray, MD, FAAFP serves as the Dean of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville (SOMG). Additionally, she is a clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at SOMG and serves as a Prisma Health Family Medicine physician. Dr. MacGilvray is the first medical school dean in the country board certified in lifestyle medicine. As a native South Carolinian from Abbeville, she has maintained a full-scope family medicine practice for 20 years. Dr. MacGilvray is a practicing physician in Greenville, in family medicine with obstetrics. Dean MacGilvray earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in biochemistry from Clemson University and her Doctor of Medicine Degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed residency training in family medicine at the University of Vermont, followed by academic leadership positions at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune and at the University of Texas Health San Antonio This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What do the walls of your home say about you? This is a question Jasmine Ballard asked herself as she explored her family history and her identity as a Black woman. Jasmine knows the importance of having a cultural home– a base to pass along traditions, legacies, and context for future generations. Cultural homes can help us better understand ourselves and build our cultural confidence. Jasmine Ballard is the founder and Chief Storytelling Officer of Melanotion, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting cultural heritage through storytelling, workshops, and design.Her passion lies in helping people discover and embrace their cultural roots, in order to document and create spaces that reflect their identity and history. Jasmine started this journey by unpacking her own family history and asking deep questions about identity that were never talked about growing up. With a background in cultural storytelling, event curation, and legacy preservation, Ballard’s work seeks to empower communities, foster connection, and build cultural confidence. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Maria Saab is a High Performance Coach, International Speaker, and Founder & CEO of Home of Greatness. With 7+ years of experience in leadership and human behavior, she specializes in empowering executives, professional athletes, and high performers to break limiting beliefs, unlock potential, and create balanced, fulfilling lives. Maria has worked with top organizations like KPMG, Mindvalley, and INGENICO, catalyzing transformation for C-suite executives and teams. She also coaches athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders 1-on-1 and leads teams through World Cups, Olympics, championships, international performances, and stage presence. Home of Greatness, her online platform, connects leaders and high performers to achieve greatness. She previously co-hosted The Fifth Quarter Podcast, where she explored the mental side of basketball to elevate players’ performance. Guided by her values of love and service, Maria helps individuals optimize their performance and live with purpose, proving that greatness starts from within. Maria Saab is a High Performance Coach, International Speaker, and Founder & CEO of Home of Greatness. With 7+ years of experience in leadership and human behavior, she specializes in empowering executives, professional athletes, and high performers to break limiting beliefs, unlock potential, and create balanced, fulfilling lives. Maria has worked with top organizations like KPMG, Mindvalley, and INGENICO, catalyzing transformation for C-suite executives and teams. She also coaches athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders 1-on-1 and leads teams through World Cups, Olympics, championships, international performances, and stage presence. Home of Greatness, her online platform, connects leaders and high performers to achieve greatness. Guided by her values of love and service, Maria helps individuals optimize their performance and live with purpose, proving that greatness starts from within. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Hope isn’t always easy—it’s a choice made in the face of fear, uncertainty, and adversity. In this deeply personal TED Talk, SC State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver explores what it means to hold onto hope when the world gives every reason to let go. Through powerful storytelling and lived experience, Superintendent Weaver reveals how hope can become a guiding force during life’s most challenging moments, and how choosing to believe in a better future can transform lives—not just our own, but the lives of those around us. The Courage to Hope is a testament to resilience, faith, and the quiet strength it takes to dream anyway. Honorable Ellen Weaver was elected as South Carolina's 19th State Superintendent of Education on November 9th, 2022. Born in Greenville, Ellen has spent her career as a passionate advocate for educational excellence and opportunity for every student in her beloved home state. Superintendent Weaver graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and a Master's in Educational Leadership, from Bob Jones University. After graduation, she worked in Senator Jim DeMint's office for 12 years in a variety of roles, finishing her time as his State Director. She founded Palmetto Promise Institute, a leading state public policy organization, in 2013. Superintendent Weaver is focused on prioritizing the instruction of foundational skills, recruiting and retaining the best educators, and partnering with parents — as well as business and other community leaders — to prepare students for their personal path to success. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Every day, we have the opportunity to create change through concrete actions, taking steps toward building a more just world. Aditi Sehgal, a passionate student about justice not just in courts, but in everyday life. “I believe fairness starts with small actions: how we treat others, share opportunities, and stand up for what’s right. want to join TEDx to share how justice can live in our daily choices, inspiring others to create a fairer world, one small step at a time. Let’s rethink justice as a habit we practice every day!” This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Ci può essere un pianeta oltre Nettuno? I pianeti transnettuniani, mondi situati nella gelida oscurità ai confini del sistema, assillano la ricerca planetaria da oltre un secolo. Tra gli esempi più noti ci sono Planet X, proposto a inizio ‘900 per spiegare un’anomalia nell’orbita di Urano, e Planet Nine, una misteriosa super-Terra che dopo anni di ricerche continua a nascondersi nel buio del cielo.LUCA NARDI - Astrofisico, dottore in scienze planetarie e divulgatore scientifico. È noto su tutti i social network, ma in particolare sul suo canale YouTube. Collabora con il Planetario di Roma e con varie testate, tra cui Wired Italia.Ha pubblicato “Un mese a testa in giù” (Geo4Map, 2021), “Giganti Ghiacciati” (Dedalo, 2023), e “Pianeti Mancanti” (Dedalo, 2025).Con “Giganti Ghiacciati” ha vinto il Premio Nazionale di Divulgazione Scientifica. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx