Mental Health Gets Spotlight in Student-Run TEDx Talk

“I hated my body when I was 6 years old,” said Sabrina Avolio, a 14-year-old who just graduated from Dos Pueblos High School, during the school’s first TEDx event on Wednesday.

Standing in front of TEDx veterans under the stage’s spotlight, Avolio shared the heartbreaking story of his battle with anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder. At age 11, she clung to her food scale like it was a lifeline, she said.

She added: “When I saw the number on the scale go down, the calories went down. She lost time, her clothes stopped fitting her, and she was always dizzy’ and he kept getting colder as he seemed to get weaker and weaker.

Eventually, Avolio was admitted to an outpatient program. However, she recovered and has since dedicated her time to helping others with eating disorders and body dissatisfaction – including understanding what eating disorders are. and how it interacts with other mental illnesses, and promoting positive attitudes towards body image and social expectations.

Hers was one of many stories shared on Wednesday, which focused on youth mental health and how young people can make an impact, highlighting ways they can contribute to their communities. see and make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.

Student Kaitlin Martin warned her audience about social influence, using an illustration to show that we are in danger of comparing ourselves to those around us. She said she bleached her hair to match her “pretty white girl” friends in middle school, adding that it was a “dark time.” He emphasized that this kind of implicit influence shapes our values ​​and behavior, sometimes in a worse way than changing the color of our hair.

Student Elaine Hu talked about demystification and “time travel” — including some interesting mathematical approaches to traveling at the speed of light — noting that even if we could, in theory, travel millions from years to the future, we cannot undo the past. Instead of holding moments of regret at night, lying in bed and self-doubt, we can grow from our mistakes.

“Am I still confused? Yes, I fumbled for words in this speech,” Hu said. But do I need to go back in time to fix that? No I do not.”

All of these young speakers have shown a real flair and authority in their subjects. Others talked about struggling with depression and burnout and how we can be more compassionate towards others. Others were suppressing their emotions, finding one’s passion, being creative and being more present. Many tackled the “unprecedented” challenges this generation is facing: from the growing global pandemic, to being “internet long,” to lead to an uncertain future in the face of climate change and other disasters.

This impactful event was organized entirely by students, led by DP seniors Amelia Vander May and Sienna Valentine, who also served as ambassadors for the event. These students organized a press release, created the theme of “Youth Show,” linked to campus resources, and thought of everything – down to the microphone batteries – to do. for the event to come to life.

Dos Pueblos Principal Bill Woodard, who was in attendance along with other district employees, including Superintendent Hilda Maldonado, was filled with pride.

He said: “I told them I was going to get extra batteries for the microphone, but they said, ‘Principal Woodard, we have five right here.’ They really do everything. I am very impressed.”

DP News students covered the incident, which can be viewed on their YouTube channel: youtube.com/watch?v=9ZHCqfo72DU.