What if the voice in your head cheered you on instead of pointing out everything you did wrong? With humor, honesty, and a deeply personal story of being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease during the pandemic, this TEDxAWC talk explores the power of self-compassion and what it means to be your own best friend. You'll learn techniques to help quiet your inner critic, let go of guilt, and build a more supportive relationship with yourself. It’s heartfelt, relatable, and, most importantly, has pictures of cats. Dawn Whinnery is a Professor of Psychology at Arizona Western College, where she shares her passion for understanding human behavior with her students. A former U.S. Marine air traffic controller, she discovered her true calling in academia after returning to school. Dawn lives in Arizona with her incredibly supportive husband, and together, they’ve completed over 100 escape rooms across the U.S., combining their love of puzzles and teamwork. Outside of her professional and escape room adventures, Dawn enjoys the company of her cats and exploring the immersive worlds of PC gaming, especially beta testing her son’s gaming creations. 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

Owen Weichel, Jr. shares a personal exploration of grief and the lasting impact of losing a parent during adolescence. He reflects on how confronting death has reshaped his worldview, fostering resilience and inspiring him to embrace life’s challenges. Owen Weichel, Jr. is a senior in the Acting Conservatory as well as the Film and Television conservatory. Towards the beginning of his sixth grade year, Owen lost his father, Owen Weichel, Sr. to a heart attack and only at the age of 12. Many people at that age wouldn’t know how to begin to even handle the loss of a parent, but tonight, Owen breaks it down on how he viewed the loss and how he made life out of death. Shoutout to those who sat in on his journey here, y’all know who you are. 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

In this powerful and personal TEDxAWC Talk, Carlos A. Arroyo Pelayo challenges the relentless pursuit of dreams without direction, urging us to shift from chasing to catching what truly matters. Through vivid storytelling—from childhood wonder at the moon landing to an unexpected journey to NASA—the talk illustrates how purpose, planning, and persistence can transform vague ambition into tangible achievement. With real-life examples, including a farmer named Pedro, the message is clear: dreams are not meant to stay distant. They are meant to be claimed through clarity, adaptability, and action. This is not just inspiration—it’s a call to start catching your own moon landing, starting today. Carlos A. Arroyo Pelayo, a proud Mexican immigrant, began his journey working in the agricultural fields before pursuing higher education. He earned a Bachelor’s in Planning and a Master’s in Human Resources Management in Mexico, followed by a Master’s in Education in the U.S., graduating with a 4.0 GPA and induction into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society in 2006. He completed academic work for a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a 3.85 GPA and was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Chi National Honor Society in 2017. With over 20 years of community involvement, Carlos has worked as a life coach, taught for 18 years, served in the Arizona State Migrant Education Program, and has been with San Luis High School since 2019. He is also Chair of Sunset Health Board of Directors and has spent over a decade working and researching human development and sharing his knowledge to inspire and empower others. 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

In this talk, Dr. Saarthak Bakshi unpacks the true essence of happiness—not as a fleeting emotion tied to success, but as a state of resilience, purpose, and inner clarity. Through reflections on his entrepreneurial journey, including ventures that challenged him deeply, he shares how navigating uncertainty shaped his understanding of lasting fulfillment.This talk offers a grounded, insightful perspective on how to cultivate happiness in an ever-changing world. Saarthak’s story serves as a reminder that setbacks are not dead ends, but opportunities to redefine one’s path and priorities. A must-watch for anyone seeking meaning beyond milestones.Dr Saarthak Bakshi, CEO of RISAA IVF, has been honored as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia recipient and has received multiple accolades for his impactful contributions to the healthcare sector. A passionate startup enthusiast, Saarthak mentors and advises emerging ventures while managing Neos Angels, an angel fund and network through which he has invested in over 30 startups. Guided by the philosophy “fail fast and rise early,” he has played a pivotal role in revolutionising the fertility industry. Through initiatives like IIRFT and Women Hopes, Saarthak is on a mission to raise awareness and provide essential support to couples facing infertility challenges 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

İnsanoğlunun ilk tasarladığı ürün nedir? Bilim ve teknolojinin evrilmesi nasıl oluştu? Emrah Kozan, teknoloji ve tasarımın kesişim noktasında üreten bir eğitmen, girişimci ve küratördür. 2006’da Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Bilgisayar Programcılığı Bölümü’nü başarıyla tamamladıktan sonra eğitim, dijital tasarım ve girişimcilik alanlarında kendini geliştirmiştir. Adobe ve Apple Certified Trainer unvanlarına sahip olan Kozan, 15 binden fazla saat eğitim vererek Türkiye'nin önde gelen kurumlarında uzmanlar yetiştirmiştir. 2015 yılında Antalya’ya dönüşüyle birlikte Piksel Akademi’yi kurmuş, Türkiye’nin en büyük bilişim etkinliklerinden biri olan Akdeniz Bilişim Zirvesi’ni ve ulusal çapta ilk Design Thinking etkinliği olan Design Thinking Turkey Summit’i hayata geçirmiştir. 300'ün üzerinde etkinlikte konuşmacı olarak yer alan Kozan, tasarım odaklı düşünme ve dijital girişimcilik konularında binlerce kişiye ilham vermeye devam etmektedir. 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

"The scariest thing isn’t copying others, it’s copying yourself." In this TEDx talk, fashion designer Phan Đăng Hoàng explores the intersection of culture, identity, and creativity through his personal journey from a quiet town in Vietnam to the global fashion stage of Milan. With vivid reflections on his childhood spent in his mother’s tailor shop, Hoàng reveals how embracing his cultural roots gave him the confidence to break away from trends and craft designs that reflect his authentic self. His graduation collection, inspired by traditional Vietnamese artistry, became not just a personal triumph but a bold statement of motivation, vision, and education through fashion. This talk is a compelling celebration of original ideas, the power of self-belief, and the courage it takes to reinvent yourself without losing who you are. A rising fashion designer, Phan Dang Hoang made history as the first Vietnamese designer to present a personal collection at Milan Fashion Week. A graduate with honors from the prestigious NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan, he is now the founder and creative director of Phan Dang Hoang Studio. 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