BIDDEFORD — Where does inspiration come from? Sometimes it’s from big moments and sometimes it’s a series of ordinary events that people don’t think twice about, which can produce big changes when added all together.
For Biddeford High School senior Elyse Oliver, it started with a video she saw during a freshman English class and an off-hand comment she made to her mother; it all finally coalesced when she ended up at a TEDxDirigo event last year, which included short talks by a number of inspiring people.
That event inspired Oliver.
She, in turn, inspired 15 classmates and one of their teachers.
And together, after months of organizing and hard work, the students, under the guidance of English teacher Dawn Pendergrass, put on their own TEDxYouth event.
On Friday, TEDxYouth@Biddeford took place at Biddeford High School.
The event included nine speakers who gave inspirational talks. As a result of listening to these talks, event organizers hope those in attendance, which included students and invited guests, will be inspired to make waves, the theme of the day.
“To me,” said Oliver, who came up with the theme, “making waves means doing something that isn’t expected, doing something that’s never been done before.”
Oliver said her hope is that the inspirational talks will motivate students and others at the event to “go out and do something.”
“I hope the students will see the importance of going out into the community and making waves,” she said.
Friday’s event was the second TEDxYouth event to take place in Maine. The first was held in December at Cape Elizabeth High School. The BHS event, however, was the first in the state that was initiated and almost entirely organized by students.
TED started in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from technology, entertainment and design ”“ hence the name. According to the TED website, the motto of the nonprofit organization is “ideas worth spreading.”
Over the years, the TED phenomenon expanded. In addition to the two annual TED conferences, one on the West Coast and one in Edinburgh, Scotland, there are other official TED talks and events, as well TEDx programs ”“ which are put on independently but licensed by the organization ”“ held around the world.
TED events usually include a variety of speakers from all walks of life, who use their experiences to inspire others. Many of the talks, each 18 minutes or less, can be heard on the TED website.
In addition to the talks, some of the ideas speakers discuss are put into action.
Most of the students involved in organizing the BHS event were exposed to TED in their Advanced Placement English class with Pendergrass.
Initially, said Pendergrass, when the committee started meeting they wanted to invite big names like musician Taylor Swift or former president George Bush. But when those people couldn’t fit it into their schedules, students started looking for inspirational people closer to home.
It worked out better that way, said BHS senior Emma James.
“The big names didn’t translate to what we were trying to establish: An authentic dialogue with the school and the community,” she said.
“This is a community-driven event, why not just have people from the community?” said Oliver.
Friday’s event, which took place at the BHS Little Theater, included nine live speakers as well as several video clips from official TED talks. All the speakers in attendance live in Maine.
College student and social justice activist Anjali Appardurai, who attends College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, spoke about being an activist, standing up to power and working for justice as part of one’s everyday life.
Accidental “oyster lady” and Biddeford resident Abigail Carroll, the founder of Nonesuch Oyster in Scarborough, advised attendees to take action, “get your hands dirty,” and get involved in one’s community in order to live a meaningful life.
Motivational writer and Biddeford High School graduate Jeremy Grebin spoke about living an “intrinsically motivated lifestyle” and finding meaning from within, rather than from material acquisitions.
Other speakers included Jennifer Small, the founder of Multisport Coaching; Kyle Poissonier, founder of Elykssor Clothing; musician and BHS educator Samantha Francis; Biddeford resident Brian Denger, an activist in the fight for a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy; documentary filmmaker and BHS graduate Matt Forcier; and Kerem Durag, the CEO of Biovation, a company that makes non-woven and infection control products.
In addition to inspiring others, the speakers themselves said they found the experience valuable.
“There’s not too many times in one’s career you get the opportunity to talk about (your life) ”¦ and give a message about your life,” said Carroll.
“Having to speak forces you to be introspective,” said Grebin.
Pendergrass said she hopes TEDxYouth@Biddeford will be an annual event at the high school. To ensure that happens, both juniors and seniors were involved in coordinating Friday’s event.
Juniors Jacob Blanchard and Daniel Bourque, who helped put on TEDxYouth@Biddeford, said they’ve been inspired by the TED talks they’ve seen and hope to help inspire others. They said they intend to lead the organizing for a similar event next year to spur more students to create a brighter future for themselves, for Biddeford and beyond.
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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