Lambert’s TedEd is a place for students to learn and share ideas with their world through public speaking and presentations. In her senior year and president of the club, Bisan Malhotra knows what it takes to run a successful event.
When it comes to starting out, the idea is to expand your horizons and get ready to find a topic you’re passionate about.
“We work on getting out of our comfort zone, doing debates, just kind of brainstorming ideas,” Malhotra stated.
Members spend seven months, from September to March, researching a topic, writing multiple drafts and practicing their speech in preparation for an event where they will present to over 100 audience members.
“Even the littlest feedback can change your entire talk,” Malhotra added.
At TedEd, giving and accepting feedback is a big part of the system. Being open to suggestions as well as knowing how to implement them is a skill that gets reinforced.
When it comes time to the final event, months of practice comes to fulfillment in front of an audience. When the spotlight hits the speaker, the world is in their hands.
“We’re focused on making our event run more efficiently, and to do that we want to make sure our members are 200% prepared,” Maholtra stated. “At the end of the day, when the spotlight hits you, it’s very easy to forget everything,”
Practice makes perfect in TedEd, and even when a presentation feels completed, it’s important to practice presenting in order to make sure that when the time comes, everything goes according to plan.
One of the most vital skills TedEd can help build is public speaking, which can also be a required subject at some colleges.
“These skills are lifelong skills that you’ll practically need in every career,” Maholtra finished with.
While the finished product won’t be ready until March, TedEd members will be toiling away, working on a way to show the world their interests.
