In this talk, you will be motivated to reconsider the way you use and interpret the news as a tool for better living and a better world. Ella Bruggink is Dutch and Russian, and is currently completing her A-levels in an International school in Amsterdam. She was born in Dubai shortly before moving to the south of France, where she lived for 8 years and attended a bilingual school. Fluent in 4 languages and having had the immense privilege of visiting 27 different countries by the time she turned 17, Ella is a self-proclaimed world citizen. She observes the world with a critical eye and uses that information to propel her forward in achieving her goals. Taking the lead of a Model United Nations (MUN) Club and bearing responsibility for organising BSAMUNs through the years 2024-2026, Ella seeks to inspire curiosity and stimulate debate among her peers. Ella exudes these values through her other extracurricular commitments such as being Student Council representative, a writer for her school’s humanities journal, and founding the ‘US+ university application preparation Club' in her Senior School. Believing critical thinking and knowledge acquisition is paramount to living a fulfilled life, Ella has already attended a pre-college course on international relations at Columbia University and is admitted into Harvard’s Summer School for high school students for 2025. Ella loves social studies, and is determined to pursue higher education in the fields of political science and international relations. 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

With the key to their solution in our hands, this talk is designed to encourage you to consider life as an adult: without the safety net of school, when we leave, we will need to put our energy into sustaining healthy support groups of friends and strong connections. Alma Geva was born in Israel and raised in the Netherlands. She grew up in the Israeli community in Amsterdam and discovered the importance of a strong community. Today, Alma takes on leadership roles within this community and continues to share her passion and experiences with others. She is a dedicated leader and advocate for the power of community. Alma believes in the transformative impact of community in addressing some of humanity’s greatest challenges, including loneliness, loss of purpose and societal distractions. 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

We need to hear the tone, see the body language and understand how others feel. In this talk, Vritika wants to inspire and encourage people to rethink their virtual habits and instead prioritize in-person interactions. Whether it's snapping a person through snapchat or reacting to a message through instagram, the way we have started to communicate is absurd and unemotional. There is a danger that we have forgotten how to identify whether we seriously connect with a person or not; a danger that we have forgotten how to sympathise with one another; and most importantly, we seem to be forgetting how it feels to interact with somebody in person, face to face. Vritika Dalal is originally from India but has been living in the Netherlands for most of her young life, studying at an International School (The British School of Amsterdam). Whilst growing up in the age of technology and the ever changing social media platforms, Vritika is passionate about understanding the effect a digital era has on communication and relationship patterns. As a student who engages in leadership roles and takes ownership of events both inside and outside of school, Vritika brings support, assistance and creative ideas to enhance the quality of work. Experiences from participating in multiple events - such as Model United Nations and Duke of Edinburgh Award - has not only proven Vritika’s ability to deliver exceptional outputs & influence others but also of being a capable public speaker, who is interested in embracing the power of face to face conversations. In addition, Vritika is an athlete, who takes part in competition swimming, a sport which requires tremendous resilience and strength. She stretches her boundaries, pushing through difficult training sessions, whilst balancing her school life at the same time. Vritika likes to describe herself as a cheetah, one who is alert at all times, either studying, swimming or partying, and always trying her best no matter what. 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

Labeling intelligence based on an “amount of knowledge” often determines a grade, yet the variations between subjects, qualifications, and exam boards can differ significantly, even though they all result in the same “grade.” It's important to foster an awareness and adaptability in students, helping them recognize these variations. When comparing academic achievement across subjects, it becomes clear that such labels cannot fully represent someone's true “amount of knowledge.” || Christopher Roche (Mr Roche) is a passionate educator involved in data monitoring of the Science department and carrying out comprehensive reviews of external assessment in schools. He is currently in the role of Head of Science, alongside being Principal Examiner for Biology iGCSE, Chemistry iGCSE and A level Biology for Learning Resource Network. He is also an experienced exam writer and marker for Cambridge International GCSE, for both Biology and Environmental Management. 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

Through the remarkable story of Chinese immigrant Shou Woo, who transformed from an illiterate boy to a successful businessman in early 1900s Canada, Christopher MacLean's talk explores the power of “founded optimism” - a data-driven hope that acknowledges global progress while recognizing challenges, emphasizing how positive change happens through collaboration across cultures and generations. Chris MacLean is currently a Subject Area Learning Leader and Teacher at United World College Thailand.Canadian by birth he is a global citizen who has lived in 11 different countries over 33 years.Chris's diverse career spans military service as a Canadian Armed Forces Officer, a brief stint in Canadian politics, journalism with The Ottawa Citizen, and UN humanitarian reporting in Bangkok and Johannesburg. He spent five years leading Emzingo Group's South African operations before pivoting to education.His academic credentials include a BA from McGill University, a Master's in Global Politics from the London School of Economics, and a certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard.IB certified in multiple subjects, Chris has taught across three continents, bringing his global perspective to classrooms in Chile, South Africa, and Thailand. In 2023, Chris helped author the Oxford University Press Global Politics Online Textbook. 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

Sol Rashidi shares how we can stay relevant in our current-day setting and thrive in the constantly changing world. With 10 patents, a best-selling author of 'Your AI Survival Guide' (Top 100 AI books), and voted Forbes 'AI Maverick & visionary of the 21st century' Sol is a Data & AI executive with a strong business acumen. Having helped IBM launch Watson in 2011, and holding the 1st Chief Data and Chief AI Officer role appointed back in 2016, Sol has operated as a CDO, CAO, CDAO, and CAIO for several Fortune 100's, Voted as the ‘50 Most Powerful Women in Tech’, ‘Top 100 AI Thoughts Leaders’, and ‘Top 100 Data & Analytics Leaders’ Sol is a SHAPER, combining her pragmatic approach with visionary thought leadership to drive change where it matters, while motivating and helping others with their Data & AI footprint. She ensures technology is leveraged as an enabler, and not a replacer of human intelligence and ingenuity in order to amplify our inherent cognitive capabilities that drives Catalytic Commerce." 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