Community celebrates ideas with TEDx talks
Karen Peterson
Tammy Elser talks about learning to read.
Karen Peterson
Piper Clinkenbeard shares her perspective on traveling.
Karen Peterson
Kyle Felsman explains what it’s like to try and save an entire language.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Isaac Desjarlais talks about graduating.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
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ARLEE – Eleven speakers and one jazzy music ensemble made up this year’s TEDx talks at the Brown Building on Thursday.
The project was independently organized by teachers from the Arlee School District as a way to bring the community together by sharing ideas.
English teacher Anna Baldwin led the event. She said that last year she invited local speakers, but this year the presentations were from all over Montana.
The speakers were given from two to 18 minutes to deliver a speech on a topic of their choice. A film crew recorded the event, and like other TED talks, the speeches are shared on the Internet for all to see.
Alex Alviar introduced each speaker. He is a writer by trade and a teacher. He says that public speaking is one of this favorite subjects, although some people say they would “rather die than get up and speak.” But, he says, what he loves about the subject is seeing people develop their voices.
Tammy Elser talked about struggling to learn to read as a child. She made it through high school and went to college to become an English teacher and writer by developing skills to help her cope with her weaknesses. And her advice: resist labels, find your unique work around, and nurture your intrinsic motivation.
Shaylee Perry, a senior at the high school, said she noticed how labels affect peoples’ perceptions after her brother was diagnosed with autism. She encouraged the audience to see people for who they are beyond labels.
Senior Savanna Titsworth talked about self-acceptance. She said she found self-worth after being voted prom queen at a time when she didn’t think she was funny or athletic.
Kyle Felsman explained what it’s like to try and save an entire language. He is learning Salish so that he can teach it. He also said that people are unique, and instead of dwelling on differences, people need to respect them.
Arlee High School Senior Piper Clinkenbeard talked about traveling the world to gain a new perspective on different cultures, and senior Kaylee Samsel told a story about hunting deep in the backcountry.
Montana’s 31st Lieutenant Governor Angela McLean spoke at the event. She is now the director of an American Indian and minority achievement program. She said after visiting all of the reservations in Montana, she found that education is the key to removing economic barriers in Indian country.
“Education is the great American equalizer,” she said.
Senior Isaac Desjarlais spoke about looking different. He said he plans to attend a college in Arizona where there aren’t many Native Americans on the track team with traditional braids.
Senior Megan Shick related how people with hearing differences communicate. She said she loves to talk, so it was fascinating to spend time with people that communicate without spoken words.
Blake Koemans is a 2006 Arlee graduate. His speech was about failure. He said that people need failure to learn to be great.
Holly Truitt from the University of Montana shared her experience with loss as a child. She said people need to come together to support children to help them achieve their full potential.
The event wrapped up as the River City Players took to the stage for a second time to play New Orleans style jazz music. The group was led by former Arlee music teacher Brandon Ensley.
Speeches and music performances can be seen once they are posted at tedxarlee.org.
