After a rare autoimmune disorder left her temporarily paralyzed, Samantha Bozeman found herself rebuilding not just her body—but her understanding of resilience. In this candid and heartfelt talk, she explores how true strength lies not in toughness, but in showing up, adapting, and embracing help. Her story weaves humor, hope, and healing into a powerful reminder: recovery isn’t about returning to who you were—it’s about building forward into who you’re becoming. Sam Holvey is a healthcare communications expert, author, and speaker with a knack for turning complexity into clarity (and occasionally, a punchline). She’s been a guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, and The New York Times—but not for the reasons you’d expect. A survivor of rare and autoimmune diseases, Sam knows firsthand that the only thing strong enough to stop her is... well, herself (and bread). The author of The Stairway to Heaven is Not ADA Compliant, she brings sharp insight, humor, and a fresh perspective to every stage she steps on. 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
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- 13:08Microagressions Under a Microscope | Elisha Dalmeida | TEDxJenks YouthMy Ted Talk this year will be on micro aggressions, which can be defined as “subtle discrimination.” I chose this topic because often times we fail to realize that some of the things we say or do can be harmful or micro-aggressive, so that’s what I want to educate on! After high school, I’ll be attending Lafayette College to major in political science! Hello! My name is Elisha Dalmeida and I’m currently a senior at Jenks High School! I was a TedX speaker last year and am proud to be one again this year. I’m involved in speech & debate, theatre, mock trial, pre med, and a handful of other activities. 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
- 10:56Wired: How Complaining Shapes Your Brain — And How To Break It | Addison Falat | TEDxJenks YouthMy Ted Talk aims to highlight the behind-the-scenes effects of complaining. While most everyone understands that complaining is “bad”, few realize the true depth of its negative impact. The difference between my life before and after researching this topic have been drastic, and I hope to inspire others to reevaluate the way they view their words and thoughts as well!! Addison Falat is a junior at Jenks High School. She is a part of the Jenks Trojanaires, as well as Student Council, the National Honor Society, Tri-M, and the International Scholars Program. Outside of school, she is also involved with the National Charity League, serving on the national board, and she works for The Pearl House. Her TED Talk aims to highlight the behind-the-scenes effects of complaining. While most everyone understands that complaining is “bad”, few realize the true depth of its negative impact. The difference between her life before and after researching this topic has been drastic, and she hopes to inspire others to reevaluate the way they view their words and thoughts as well! 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
