Small Words, Big Possibilities | Luciana OrRico Gomes | TEDxDesign Tech HS

A high school student's TEDx talk argues that a small act of encouragement from a teacher can change what a person believes is possible. Drawing on a period of self-doubt, the speaker presents belief and support as ways for people to act on abilities they already have. The talk was given at a independently organized TEDx event. The speaker introduces their own work, including founding Bracelet Making Connection: Givers Get Club, an initiative against loneliness and exclusion at school, and a youth innovation challenge collaboration with National Geographic on a narrative survival game.

• Encouragement from a teacher can shift a student's sense of what is possible
• Belief and support help people act on abilities they already have
• Founder of Bracelet Making Connection: Givers Get Club, which anonymously makes bracelets for students
• Collaboration with National Geographic on a youth innovation challenge

A small act of encouragement can change what a person believes is possible. Drawing on a teacher’s recognition of her potential during a period of self-doubt, this talk argues that belief and support help people act on abilities they already possess. I’m a high school student passionate about creativity, community impact, and designing meaningful experiences. Whether I’m leading a project, building a game concept, developing an app, or running a kindness-centered club, I care about solving real problems in innovative, human-centered ways. I’m the founder of Bracelet Making Connection: Givers Get Club, an initiative focused on combating loneliness and exclusion at my school by anonymously creating bracelets for every student. Through this project, I’ve built skills in project management, organization, team leadership, and community engagement. I've collaborated with National Geographic on a youth innovation challenge, designing a narrative survival game that teaches an explorer mindset through interactive storytelling. I also work in my school’s PR team, creating visual campaigns and managing creative direction for student-facing events. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx