At Oak Park High School, the TED-Ed Club provides students with a space to practice public speaking and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers. By encouraging public speaking, the club offers students opportunities to refine their communication skills and learn different perspectives.

“I want everyone to know that the only thing they need to do is listen and have an open mind because you never know the ideas that might inspire or make you think the most,” sophomore club president Yashika Kumar said.

Students do not need to be experienced speakers to participate, as anyone can join and share their ideas. The club emphasizes learning through doing, allowing members to experiment with delivery, receive constructive feedback and gain confidence in conveying their thoughts, no matter their starting level. It creates a supportive environment where presenting becomes less intimidating and more about connecting with others.

The creation of the club stems from a desire to elevate communication and create a platform for student expression.

In meetings, students participate in writing processes that mirror real-world public speaking environments, ultimately preparing for a final TedEd-style event at the end of the year.

“We draft, revise, give constructive feedback on speeches and finally have an official event at the end of the year,” Kumar said. “It’s rewarding to see how ideas evolve from the first draft all the way to the final presentation, and to watch everyone gain confidence along the way.”

The discussions themselves are a key part of what keeps students engaged. Topics typically focus on relatable experiences, so both accessibility and depth can be included in their respective speeches.

“If we discuss something that’s relatable to all of us, I see everyone has different opinions and perspectives,” Kumar said. “Things like school, current news or even topics about how we spend our time and organize our lives—everyone always has a unique take, and it’s really interesting to hear all the different viewpoints.”

Through these conversations, the TED-Ed Club centers on developing and refining student ideas through a structured, collaborative process. Modeled after the broader TED-Ed program, the club guides members in shaping “ideas worth spreading” into engaging talks. The club’s focus remains on both communication and critical thinking, with an emphasis on articulating ideas effectively.

“I think the club has helped me understand that with teamwork, we can not only solve problems, but even just talking about it takes the pressure off,” Kumar said. “Sharing ideas, hearing different perspectives and working together on a speech or project makes challenges feel more manageable and even opens up new ways of thinking about a topic.”

The club also provides a break from constant digital interaction, giving students a place to engage face-to-face in a more focused and intentional way. In an environment where much of students’ communication happens through screens, the TED-Ed Club creates an opportunity for real-time conversation.

“I think [TED Talks] are important because we all need to log off and just get to be in the present more,” Kumar said. “This club helps discuss ideas and share criticism, which are very important skills along with communication. It also is a space to freely discuss whatever someone wants to talk about.”

The TED-Ed Club is a place where students see the full arc of an idea come to life while learning how to find their voice. The club lets students try new things and take on big projects. Kumar cites it as a point of growth and notes several speeches that have had a lasting impact on her.

“The way we look at our bodies and the time that we have in a day, are topics in a speech that I thought about even after hearing the speech,” Kumar said. 

The culmination of this effort, the TED-style event on March 24, is a celebration. A compilation of the breakthroughs that happen when students take risks, revise and ultimately bring their ideas to life for the first time in front of a wider audience. For students interested, the TEDed at OPHS Club meets on the first Tuesday of every month in C-05.