Avery Stark ’21 was part of a very select group of students chosen to present her talk from the 2019 TEDxSaintAndrewsSchool event to TED-Ed weekend attendees. Avery’s talk provides the perspective of being a former student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas and outlines the trauma and its damaging toll on those involved first hand, second hand, and beyond. 

Avery’s talk also offers strategies for moving ahead and beyond trauma. “It was not an easy topic to talk about, yet she delivered it calmly and confidently,” said Mrs. Winer. “Her talk was raw and real...and sadly, very relatable,” said Upper School TED-Ed Teacher and certified TED-Ed Innovative Educator Lisa Winer.

Saint Andrew’s proudly sent Avery with four of her peers to this year’s conference - each of whom gave talks at the 2019 TEDxSaintAndrewsSchool event last April. These students include Jake Goldberg ’21, Jack Rogers ’22, Ashlyn Goila ’21, and Evie Heath ’23. 

TED-Ed Weekend showcased and amplified Scots voices as members of the next generation of TED. It was an opportunity for Saint Andrew’s to join youth leaders around the world to explore ideas that will shape their local communities and the global community. 

Winer believes that Avery was chosen not just due to the topic of her talk, but also due to her incredible presentation at TEDxSaintAndrewsSchool in 2019.

After Avery gave her talk over the weekend at TED, a lot of people approached her with their stories and how her talk affected them. “This experience truly makes me feel like I am making a difference for people who have experienced some form of trauma. Through this event, I also made a ton of new friends from around the world who inspired me in many ways,” said Avery. 

“Giving my TED talk this weekend was an incredible experience,” she added. “Though it was extremely stressful, I am proud of all the work that I put into it and the outcome of it. I learned that speaking in front of a crowd is extremely difficult especially with the subject of my talk.”