TEDx UGA 2026

My journey navigating through the TEDx class at the University of Georgia.

January 2026 — April 2026

Throughout high school, TEDx became a huge part of my life. From organizing the first TEDxYouth event in my city to speaking the following year, I had been pulled into the TEDx world without even realizing it. As I came into college, I wanted to get involved with TEDx UGA. As a Biomedical Science major on track to attend dental school, I found it hard to fit this class into my schedule. But in the spring of 2026, it finally worked out!

Coming into this class, I was just expecting to work backstage for the TEDxUGA event, but I didn’t really know anything else. At first, when Isa was telling us about all the work we had to do, I was a bit hesitant. But I am so glad I stayed in the class, as I would not have found such an experience anywhere else.

TEDxUGA 2026 class photo

The class started with us “Rookies” learning about what makes a talk resonate and learning how to structure ideas in a way that connects to the audience. We practiced this and drilled it into our heads before we got assigned a speaker.

The theme for TEDxUGA this year was “Dark Mode”. This focused on shifting perspectives and bringing ideas that were often overlooked.

The TEDxUGA 2026 Team

I had the wonderful opportunity of working with the presenter, Celia Nowlin, under the Veteran: Amy Kitti. Celia is a board-certified music therapist and Master of Music Therapy candidate at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. She dedicated herself to studying the neurological influence of music and raising awareness about how it can be used in therapeutic settings.

Celia’s curation team

In her talk, Celia discusses the body’s inherent rhythms, such as heartbeats, and how they can be regulated through music to improve overall well-being. She highlights that this connection is accessible to everyone, regardless of their musical experience.

Even though the idea is brilliant, one of the biggest obstacles we faced was finding the balance between scientific explanations and practical applications. This is due to the fact that this speech required a detailed explanation of research and the personal experience Celia gained from her clinical work.

When I heard Celia’s speech for the first time, it completely changed my perspective on it. The rhythm of her speech, the pauses, and the way she naturally embodied her message made it much more powerful. A key thing that stood out in her speech was her introduction. The way she started with the sound of the drums, then her singing, and eventually the audience singing, it was a very new and creative way to bring in the audience’s attention. We couldn’t wait to see how this would turn out on the big day!

A lot of our work from that point onwards went into her visuals, and making sure that the slides of the brain scans, especially, were accurate. The goal of the slides was to support her message without causing a distraction. Eventually, we were able to lock in everything and make sure Celia was ready for her big day.

Being with Celia backstage and cheering her on from the sidelines is a moment that I won’t forget.

Celia and I after she practiced her speech during dress rehearsal

Reflecting on this experience, working with Celia was one of the most meaningful aspects of my semester. I truly learned a lot from Celia and Amy, not only about music, but also about work ethic and working in a team setting. Celia is incredibly thoughtful and passionate about her work, and it was clear how much she cared about making her message accessible to others. I’m really grateful that she trusted us with her ideas, because it made the experience feel much more personal than just a class assignment.

I came into this class thinking that it was mostly about public speaking, but I truly gained so much more than that. I learned that it’s about communicating your ideas clearly and effectively while at the same time engaging your audience at an emotional level.

In the end, I learned that whether it’s a talk or everyday life, what truly matters is how deeply it resonates with others.