Night of Inspiration: TEDxIA 2025 Recap
February 26, 2025 2025-11-18 23:45Night of Inspiration: TEDxIA 2025 Recap
by: Arianna Edwards
Last Thursday, IA hosted its very first TEDxIA of 2025, and what an unforgettable night it was! The event was nothing short of phenomenal, featuring an incredible lineup of student speakers who shared powerful, thought-provoking, and deeply personal stories.
A huge shoutout to IA for making TEDxIA a reality, giving students a platform to inspire and ignite conversations that resonate throughout our community. And of course, a massive thank you to our TEDxIA committee members—Sreepadha Daram, Viraj Das, Matthew Huang, Madison Liu, K. Paxton, and S. Robinson—for their dedication and hard work in bringing this event to life!
What is TEDxIA?
For those unfamiliar with TEDxIA, it’s an extraordinary opportunity for students to share new perspectives, personal experiences, and big ideas with the IA community. Late last year, applications were sent out via Teams, inviting students to step onto the stage and share their sparks of inspiration.
The theme? “The Spark: From a Flicker to a Flame.”
Eight courageous and talented students embraced the challenge, delivering talks that left the audience inspired:
Kaitlyn Arango – “The Dark Doesn’t Scare Me, Birthday Cards Do”
Kindness Mbaimbai – “Who Are You? Who Am I?”
Shiv Garg – “AI and RPA: Reframe. Transform. Disrupt.”
Sree Swarna – “Why You Should Think Like A 5-Year-Old”
Sheza Syred – “Your Voice, Your Power”
Flynn Dickson – “How Snoop Dogg Changed My Life”
Shambhavi Manoj – “The Spark of A Story”
Harrison Han – “From Lost to Found”
And a special shoutout to our amazing presenter, Viraj Das, for keeping the energy high throughout the event!
—
Spotlight: Flynn Dickson’s TEDxIA Talk
I had the chance to sit down with Flynn Dickson, one of our incredible speakers, to learn more about his journey leading up to TEDxIA.
Flynn’s talk, “How Snoop Dogg Changed My Life,” was a surprising and heartwarming story about how an unexpected source—yes, Snoop Dogg—helped him build confidence and overcome anxiety.
It all started with his mom, a huge fan of the rapper, who introduced him to The Affirmations Song—a track filled with uplifting messages like “There is no one better to be than myself” and “My feelings matter.” Encouraged by his mom, Flynn listened to the song daily, and over time, those positive affirmations became part of his mindset, helping him develop a stronger sense of self-belief.
—
The TEDxIA Journey: Growth, Challenges & Lessons
Overcoming Challenges
Participating in TEDxIA was a transformative experience for Flynn. While he had never spoken publicly before, he embraced the challenge, learning how to craft and deliver an engaging speech.
His biggest hurdle? Structuring his message to fit the TEDx format—balancing a compelling introduction, a strong body, and a memorable conclusion within the strict eight-minute time limit.
Reflecting on the experience, Flynn mentioned that if he could change one thing, he would have practiced in front of a live audience before the big day. But when it came to the content of his speech? No regrets.
Audience Reactions
After his talk, Flynn was met with overwhelming support from friends, teachers, and fellow students. His delivery felt genuine and heartfelt, and the audience appreciated the effort and authenticity he brought to the stage.
Personal Takeaways
For Flynn, stepping onto that stage was more than just delivering a speech—it was a personal milestone. Standing in front of a large audience was nerve-wracking, but he relied on his affirmations to stay grounded and focused on why he was there: to share his story and inspire others.
The most rewarding part? Simply knowing that his words resonated with the IA community.
—
Closing Advice: Take the Leap!
Flynn’s biggest takeaway from TEDxIA? Take risks, even when you’re nervous.
“You never know what could become one of your greatest strengths,” he shared. His advice to anyone considering public speaking is simple: stay open-minded because inspiration can come from the most unexpected places.
After all, who knew that Snoop Dogg could be the spark that changed his life?
—
Final Thanks & Congratulations!
A huge congratulations to all our speakers for their bravery, passion, and inspiring messages! And once again, thank you to the TEDxIA committee, volunteers, and audience members who made this event such a success.
TEDxIA 2025 was only the beginning—we can’t wait to see what sparks of inspiration the next event will bring!
