By Nick Yates, ISB Communications
New videos of presentations at a recent TED event by an International School of Beijing (ISB) teacher and several students are in inspiration, perfect for this challenging period during the Covid-19 outbreak.
With campus temporarily closed due to Covid-19, ISB students are following an innovative program of online study provided by the school, and we know many ISB community members and other people around the world have been cast into uncharted territory by the outbreak. Click here for a recorded talk by Grade 11 student Harry S and here for Middle School drama and dance teacher Hannah Northcott’s talk. They both give ideas for how people can harness their potential and face down difficulties. We suggest you watch them in a break from study or work, to provide entertaining, tasty food for thought.
Ms. Northcott’s presentation will even run you through a workout routine for good measure! It’s about the transformative power of drama, and how acting and exercises like yoga can boost your confidence and wellness and make you more successful. A group of ISB student gymnasts cartwheeled their way onto stage to help as Ms. Northcott led the audience in breathing and movement drills at the TEDx event at Beijing World Youth Academy in September.
Any student experiencing campus closure and yearning to get back to regular school right now should be steeled by Harry’s talk, which is about resilience. He discusses how we can train our minds and by doing so endure difficulty, achieve amazing feats, and have a high quality of life.
Tedx is affiliated to the U.S. media organization TED, which has been providing hugely popular talks by thought leaders worldwide since the 1980s. TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.
Tedx was typical of the many opportunities that ISB students have to shine in prestigious public-speaking and performance events.
“I’ve always watched Tedx talks on YouTube and TV, so getting to take part in a Tedx talk was a surreal experience!” said Angel L, one of the gymnasts who featured in Ms. Northcott’s presentation. It was such a wonderful opportunity, spending the entire day choreographing and rehearsing on stage with the community and some friends. The Tedx talk is definitely a memory I will keep forever.”