In this talk, Liz challenges the idea that conforming is required to be successful—and reminds us that our passions aren't a flaw, but one of our greatest strengths. Dr. Liz Scott graduated from Saint Andrew's in 2008, after which she completed her medical education at Duke University, the University of Iowa, and Boston Children's Hospital. She is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Duke University.  As a sports medicine surgeon with an eternal love for the medieval, Liz has forged a life path that blends history, martial arts, and medicine in a way that is uniquely her own. When she's not working, you can find her riding her horse Lance, coaching historical fencing, or diving deep into obscure medieval or renaissance history. She is thrilled to be back at her alma mater and able to share her message with the SAS community.

In this talk, Ms. Pamela Ascroft shares her spoken word poem "Permission To Leave The Room", and encourages students to explore all manner of poems to find healing, resonance, contemplation, beauty and profound thought,  then innovate and create with language and form to find their own voice.  Pamela is originally from Vancouver, Canada, and has studied, performed and taught in Canada, England and the US.  She is an actor, director, singer and writer and has taught Theatre, Musical Theatre and Literature in Saint Andrew's Middle School for 18 years. Outside of teaching, Pamela loves spending time with her daughter, a Saint Andrew's 'lifer' now in Upper School, reading, writing poetry and plays, going to the theatre, watching British television dramas and historical documentaries, kickboxing, and fostering cats. She joined TEDx to shine a light on the power of poetry and the unending, richly colored skeins of words from which we can all choose and weave into our own unique tapestry.