Illinois teacher Adam Peterson didn’t plan on becoming a TEDx speaker. But when a classroom kindness project went viral, it didn’t take him long to find the stage.
Adam’s talk, “Be the Yellow,” was inspired by the memory of his colleague who radiated positivity. TEDx featured it on a stage in Illinois a few years ago, and now Adam is sharing the experience of TEDx with us in this Q&A. If you’ve ever thought about being a public speaker, TED-xer, or even just a presenter at a conference, you’ll want to check this out.
You can also follow Adam on his website, Adam Peterson Education.
Q: Why did you decide to create a TEDx Talk?
My TEDx journey began years prior to my actual talk date in my classroom and school. I created a YouTube video about something our school was doing to spread kindness, and it spread quickly through views and shares among teachers all over the world. I wanted to take this idea to an audience outside of the education space, and I felt the TEDx stage was the best way to do that.
Q: Was giving a TEDx Talk always a dream for you?
I wouldn’t say it was always a dream, but I have always loved watching other TEDx/TED Talks. When I began speaking to teachers at conferences, I fell in love with public speaking and sharing ideas, so speaking on a larger stage like TEDx naturally became an interest.
Q: How did you come up with your topic?
The topic originated after my close friend and teaching partner, Honor, lost her battle with cancer. Her courageous and positive battle inspired hope in everyone around her with her continuous positive mindset throughout it all. Her favorite color was yellow, and I took that idea and wrote a children’s book about her positivity and the happy feeling associated with the color yellow.
This then led to our school starting a yearly celebration on her birthday—we call it Yellow Day. When it was time to write my TEDx Talk, I wanted to convey a way that anyone, not only teachers, could spread kindness in the way my friend Honor taught me, and that’s where Be the Yellow came from.
Q: What was the process like to get it right?
The process was a fun one! Once I was selected to be a speaker, I was assigned a coach. My coach was phenomenal! After writing my talk and practicing it on my own, I had multiple virtual sessions with my coach to rehearse and revise the idea. The beautiful part of this is that my coach never tried to change my idea or my voice in sharing my message, but instead helped me shape it in a way that would resonate with an audience of people from all walks of life.
Q: TEDx can be competitive. What was the application and selection process like for you?
The answer I always give when someone asks me for a tip or advice for speaking on the TEDx stage is: Be unapologetically real! Your idea needs to sound original, passionate, and real. Audiences want to hear an idea that comes from the heart so they have a connection in putting it to work in their own lives. I just happened to see a social media ad that was looking for speakers to apply, so I took the chance. The application process was easy for me, but it was definitely nerve-racking during the waiting process for acceptance.
Q: What makes a TEDx Talk a good fit for educators?
A TEDx Talk helps you take your ideas far beyond the four walls of your classroom. If you have an idea you think others will appreciate, then go for it! There are so many things happening in classrooms that are important and impactful for people who aren’t educators. If you want to reach an audience that typically wouldn’t follow your socials or see and hear you speak anywhere else, the TEDx stage is the perfect place to begin.
It definitely impacted my career in positive ways. My TEDx Talk has led to me now being a speaker not only for teachers but for kids. I have been booked to speak at children’s assemblies more since my TEDx experience, and it has led me to work with amazing people I never would have met otherwise.
Q: You’re a presenter already—how did that experience help?
Being a public speaker helped for sure, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. When I present to educators or give a keynote talk, I am usually all over the room. For my TEDx Talk, I had to stay inside the red circle! That was tough! 🙂 I think teachers naturally have an easier time doing talks in front of others because they’re so used to presenting ideas on a daily basis. But if anxiety is an issue, I truly believe that your nerves get calmed when you speak from the heart.
Q: What tips do you have for teachers who want to try speaking, conferences, and keynotes?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Be real! Your ideas matter and they will be more well received when your audience can feel your sincerity. To get started, I would suggest doing what I did: Find a local conference that accepts session proposals and go try out a topic.
I did that over a decade ago at a conference I wanted to attend but my school wasn’t going to send me to. I found out that if you present, you can attend the conference for free. So, I signed up to share a writing idea I had done with my students. Long story short, it went well and I got invited back the next year. The rest is history, and now speaking is a big part of my job. Got an idea? Go share it with others and see what happens!
Q: What’s something about the TEDx experience people don’t talk about?
What I didn’t know about was the connections that would be formed with the other speakers involved in the TEDx event I spoke at. The day before the event, we all gathered at the location for a rehearsal and an evening of dinner and conversation. I started friendships with people from all over the country. I never would have met them if it weren’t for TEDx.
Q: Anything else we should know about TEDx?
You may not think your idea is important or will resonate with others, but you’ll never know if you don’t try. If you have an idea and you’re passionate about it, sharing it on a TEDx stage will help others see the value in it and help it grow!
