Senior project inspires TED Talk series

Dogs, pizza, music and heroes are just a few of the topics that have been explored during Monroe High School's monthly TED Talks series, "TEDster at Tester: More than Meets the Eye.GÇ¥

Sponsored by AP Literature teacher Giles Stanton and Monroe High School (MHS) librarian Brian Saulsman, the monthly TEDster presentations began in January. The series was created by seniors taking Stanton's AP Literature class, who were instructed to craft a project inspired by William Butler Yeats' poem "The Second Coming.GÇ¥

Each year, Stanton asks his seniors to conceive a service learning project after analysis and discussion specifically focused on the lines: "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.GÇ¥

"[It's] incredible to see the passion and focus of these students when they are allowed and encouraged to work on their own ideas,GÇ¥ Stanton said.-á

MHS senior Marika Dunham came up with the idea to create a project inspired by the TED Talks series. Dunham has been inspired listening to TED Talks, which are typically short, impactful speeches. Bill Gates, George Takei, Monica Lewinski and Sting have all given TED talks.-á

"I think I started watching them junior year, and I just love them,GÇ¥ Dunham said. "I love how much knowledge and inspiration is in them.GÇ¥

Giving back

The idea behind the project was to find a way to give back to their scholastic community and make a positive impact on the school. Previous projects have included an online classic book review, "Do You Even Lit,GÇ¥ and a senior survival magazine. Dunham figured that a TED Talks-type series would more than satisfy the goals of the project. -á

"I thought, "You know, there's a ton of amazing people at Monroe, and they're really unique in a lot of ways that people don't see,'GÇ¥ Dunham said. "I wanted a different way for seniors to express that and to give back to our class and our school and our community.GÇ¥-á

A TED committee was formed to organize and coordinate the monthly presentations, which have typically included several student speakers, with one speech given by a teacher or special guest. Dunham has enjoyed being able to facilitate the monthly events and has appreciated the multiplicity of her peers' chosen topics. -á

"I'm passionate about people that have passion,GÇ¥ she said. "It's really all over the board, which is what makes it great, because you never really know what you're going to have.GÇ¥

The presentation took place on Wednesday, April 29, in the MHS Library. The speeches included "Take the Journey with Me,GÇ¥ by Charlie Lonac; "Happy Birthday to Me,GÇ¥ by Cassie Engvall; "Lack of Sleep,GÇ¥ by Maria Angel; "Be the Hero in Your Own Story,GÇ¥ by Treanna Ganger and "The Purest Forces of Good in the World: DOGS,GÇ¥ by Jessie Matyas.

Matyas, who is planning on attending Brigham Young University this fall, has loved dogs ever since she was old enough to know what a dog was. Her black Lab, Ellie, accompanied her during her presentation, helping to cheerfully demonstrate the point of the speech: Dogs make everything better.-á -á

"My first word was "dog,'GÇ¥ Matyas said. "That's right; before I ever called my mother or father by ' the very ones who gave me life ' I was talking about dogs.GÇ¥-á

Matyas incorporated humor while giving her presentation. She also demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of canines, stating that she grew up enlightening her parents about different dog breeds. She remarked that her unbridled enthusiasm for dogs did eventually pay off about a year and a half ago, when her parents finally agreed to allow her to get a dog of her own.

"If you were to ask me what my purpose here on earth is, I'd tell you it's to take care of dogs,GÇ¥ Matyas said. "Dogs will bring world peace. Dogs are touchable happiness. Dogs are truly the greatest forces of good on the earth.GÇ¥

"The bond between humans and animals, particularly dogs, is something that I can't even comprehend the strength of,GÇ¥ Matyas continued. "Because dogs are the only beings on this earth that will love you more than they love themselves. The world would be a better place if everybody could love as unconditionally as a dog.GÇ¥-á

"Dogs are not our whole world, but they make the world whole,GÇ¥ she concluded.

Each monthly presentation has been open to the public. The series will conclude later in May with one final presentation scheduled for Wednesday, May 20.

"I think it's going to be a good conclusion to our series,GÇ¥ Dunham said.

Dunham looks forward to attending Quest University Canada this fall. -á