DAMMAM: The International School Group Dammam celebrated a significant milestone on Thursday by hosting its first-ever TEDx event, marking a momentous occasion for the school as 11 students took to the stage to present their ideas and insights. 

The event, themed “Imagine the Impossible,” featured talks by students across grades 7-12 on a variety of topics, ranging from personal growth to global issues.

TEDx refers to independently organized events licensed by TED, a popular global platform known for its short, punchy and powerful talks. 

While TED itself stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, TEDx events are live talks that are community-driven and organized by local groups using the same format as TED conferences, made popular on YouTube. The “x” signals that the event was independently organized while adhering to the stringent TED guidelines and format.

English teacher Nadia Iqbal, who coached the students, shared her pride in their efforts. “The students have put endless hours of work — and the scripts are original. They have really worked from articulating that idea to growing that idea and thinking what we can offer TEDx that was not offered before,” she told Arab News.

Iqbal organized the event alongside the school librarian, Betsey Hawkins.

The TEDx stage was hosted by four students — Gen Grason Kitaoka-Aurelius, Safar Sultan Al-Qahtani, Ayesha Asher and Virginia Brookshire — who offered humorous commentary in between the various speakers. 

The event was attended by families and was also recorded for those unable to attend in person.

Senior Ahmed Faraz, who gave a talk on artificial intelligence in education, was the first speaker of the day. He felt it was a success — for him personally and for the entire school. “We’ve learned so much preparing over the course of a few months — I’m so proud of my school,” he told Arab News.

While nearing the end of his school journey, the 12th grader expressed admiration for the younger participants, noting that he could not have envisioned being able to do this TEDx talk earlier in his life. “Honestly, if I was their age, I would not step on that stage — I was not like them. My hat’s off to them,” Faraz added.

Seventh grader Yeon Elizabeth Kim, who initially joined the event to enhance her college application, spoke about her personal journey in Saudi Arabia from her native South Korea. “I felt really blessed to get the opportunity because I’m usually very quiet and introverted,” she shared with Arab News, adding that the event helped her build confidence.

Izabela Aquino Aniversario explained how overcoming challenges shaped her perspective. “Rejection is a universal experience and everyone should get to know the ‘good’ side of rejection,” she told Arab News, encouraging others to see failure as an opportunity for growth.

“When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade,” she said.

The event featured a wide variety of topics, with students offering unique insights and personal antidotes.

Other speakers included Haya Halaweh, who delved into the importance of valuing inner traits over physical appearance; Sarah Emad who addressed the impact of social media on relationships; Mohammed Hamza Jamsheed, who critiqued electric vehicles as a sustainable solution; and Maria Bassim reflected on the “art of procrastination.” 

Omar Majdi Hamdaan spoke about the concept of “grit” and its power in overcoming challenges, while Zarmeena Awan encouraged the audience to chase their dreams with confidence. 

Adam Elmorsy discussed the paradoxical nature of AI and Mohammed Mohid Alam Siddiqi’s talk was on how to prioritize mental health in the digital age.

Parents expressed pride in their children’s performances, with Faraz’s father saying: “The topic that he spoke about — I didn’t know about it ... it was great. It was a great journey.”

This TEDx event at ISG Dammam “reflects the school’s commitment to fostering creativity, leadership and critical thinking in its students,” the school said in a statement.

Students started prepping for their TEDx talk in May, putting in countless after-school hours to craft speeches that reflected their academic knowledge and personal experiences.

Principal Michael Schreider praised the students, telling Arab News that he could not wait for the next event.

“The kids worked very hard; it’s something that we just started last year for the first time, and everyone came together, worked very hard and made this happen,” he said.