unbound.
TEDxRansomEvergladesSchool 2024 focuses on the theme "Unbound", which offers a chance to unlock ideas and unleash minds to possibilities not previously considered.
NAVIGATING THE DISINFORMATION AGE
Every day we navigate the alligator-infested waters of the digital realm, through a swamp of misinformation where truth is obscured by bias and fake news. We must rely on the map of critical thinking and the compass of media literacy to guide us through these murky waters. This talk explores our voyage towards clarity and understanding amidst the vast sea of information available to us in today’s digital landscape.
REFRAMING REJECTION
Our thoughts often seem to be the end all be all when we create our perspective towards our outside world. Our emotions and expectations contribute, which creates a combination that can be a challenge to overcome. Feelings like rejection can feel all-consuming in the moment, only to become nothing more than a bump in the road later in the future. Finding the balance between the extremes of the mind’s fluctuations is the key to creating a unique middle path for each individual. Luna shows how she uses her experience with Buddhism to cope with these feelings, and ride the ups and downs of the mind.
COMPASSION ACROSS CULTURES
Compassion isn't just a feeling; it’s a universal language that works to connect people despite cultural expectations, prejudices, and personal barriers. Genuine empathy and understanding can bridge these divides, challenging us to rethink compassion beyond the simple act of service. In Emma Perdigon's talk, “Compassion Across Cultures”, she reproaches the binary definition of compassion through a reflection of her own experiences and pushes the community around her to begin to dismantle the biases they carry in order to build a stronger community and society.
HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS
How can we possibly gain an edge over our competitors? As the margins of success are becoming almost immeasurable, athletes are getting faster, and students are getting more competitive: how do we succeed even further? Sophia Linfield, a sophomore student, runner, and swimmer, analyzes how our mindset and attitude can improve sporting performance. In her talk, Sophia also sees how to cultivate a winning mindset and translate sport successes into the game of life.
THE CLIMATE BLAME GAME: RETHINKING ACTIVISM
In a world where climate change is becoming an increasingly relevant and polarizing issue, it’s easy to fall into the trap of judgment, green-shaming, and feel like climate change is all your fault. But this climate blame game is just that; a game that we were all set to lose from the start. In this talk, Mia explores how we as individuals can balance the complex feelings of climate anxiety and guilt while holding larger entities, not people, accountable for the climate crisis. Finding the balance, she believes, between personal accountability and systemic change, is the true key in the fight against climate change.
A TASTE OF CULTURE: DISCUSSING CULTURAL APPRECIATION
In today’s world, we are often fearful of “appropriating” someone’s culture because of increased media criticism. Nora Brue’s identity has been unbound from homogeneity, as she has strong familial ties to Jewish, Norwegian, and Chinese cultures. In her talk, she explores her belief that connection comes from experience and that we all deserve a plate at the multicultural buffet.
DECODING THE NEXT STEP: ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE
Each technological dawn has sparked both fear and wonder. Despite AI’s vast potential to revolutionize fields from medical diagnostics to personalized education, it often encounters skepticism and apprehension. To fully realize the potential of this emerging technology, we must dispel the mist of doubt by illustrating AI’s profound impacts and advocating for a future where technology and humanity progress together.