Xixi Wang

For over a decade, TED-Ed Student Talks has helped millions of students around the world find their voices, passion, and confidence.

Now, in partnership with the renowned organization Immerse Education, TED is taking that mission further with TED Summer School — a transformative two-week program for motivated students aged 15 to 18. Through core theory and practical sessions, guest speakers, and personal coaching from expert tutors, participants develop public speaking skills, storytelling mastery, and leadership abilities.

TED-Ed Program Manager Shraya Sharma spoke with student Samya Gupta, who participated in TED-Ed Student Talks in India, helped organize local TEDx events, and will be attending TED Summer School in Singapore. Here, they discuss Samya’s public speaking journey, how she earned a scholarship to TED Summer School, and what she hopes to gain from her next adventure.

Shraya Sharma (SS): How would you describe yourself as a student?

Samya Gupta (SG): I’m a bit more curious — I’m more on the social impact side rather than just the traditional schooling system. I like to focus on extracurricular activities, and my interests lie in finance, economics, and social issues. I’m definitely on the outspoken side. I like to interact fully with everybody in class. Just getting taught and learning the concepts is not what school life should be about. It should be about interacting in class, talking to your peers, and engaging in meaningful conversations.

SS: Can you share your experiences with TED-Ed Student Talks and TEDx at your school?

SG: Our school has hosted two TEDx events and one Student Talks program. The first TEDx in 2024 was a very new experience. We had people from all over India — people in politics, influencing, journalism. It was such an awakening event. That first TEDx taught me how to actually organize things, take up leadership, focus on deadlines, and make the event work.

Then, we had TED-Ed Student Talks. About 30 to 40 students were shortlisted to develop a talk, and then the teachers judged everyone and narrowed it down to eight or ten. I chose mental health struggles for teenagers in India as my topic. I wanted to get to my target audience, which were the parents. The talk really helped me share my thoughts because the audience in front of me were mostly parents, and I wanted them to understand what people of our age are dealing with.

For the most recent TEDx in September, I had more responsibility — I was appointed as the student coordinator. I managed logistics, speaker schedules, and presentations. It gave me valuable experience interacting with such intellectual and successful people.

Samya and her fellow students participating in the TED-Ed Student Talks showcase

SS: How have these experiences changed you as a speaker and as a person?

SG: It has definitely increased my speaking skills because it helped me share such a broad and vast idea in a short time. That taught me how important time is when you have to convey a powerful message. For the TEDx events we organized, it helped me become a lot more responsible. Even now when I look back, I think it prepares me for any kind of project I take up in the future.

SS: What drew you to TED Summer School, and how do you see it as the next step in your journey?

SG: TED Summer School for me is about seeking more mentorship. [It] is going to help me get more exposure and learn a lot…and think more deeply about situations. I’m going to implement what I learned, learn new things, and then deliver that actual talk.

SS: You participated in the “Learning to be Heard” challenge that invited students to record a one-minute video sharing a message with the world. Out of 2,000+ entries, you were one of the top 11 students, and won a scholarship to TED Summer School. How did you approach this competition, and what message did you share?

SG: The question was: “If the whole world is listening to you for a minute, what would you say?” I knew that whatever message I shared should be very personal and something I deeply care about. Issues like poverty, child labor, and climate change are things every other person is advocating for. But what really affects me as a person? What have I experienced?

I come from a small town in India. When I go to places like Delhi or Mumbai, I feel like we are lagging behind — there are things I didn’t know about, terms I hadn’t even heard. I was made fun of for being from a small town, and it affected me deeply. I didn’t want anybody else to feel that way. So I wanted my video to convey that your town is not your destiny. If a person like me, who didn’t even know what a summer school was a year ago, can make it to a global platform with a scholarship, anybody can.

SS: What did winning the scholarship mean to you?

SG: It was the first time I got a scholarship, so I was extremely happy. Being involved with TED is already a backbone to this whole experience. I chose Singapore as my destination because it’s a potential university country for me.

It meant a lot for my family too. My father shared this opportunity with me — he’s very involved in my extracurriculars and is actually the curator for our school’s TEDx events. TED is something he deeply cares about as well, so it was very exciting for him. For me, the scholarship was a kind of confirmation that despite where I come from, I can do what I set my heart to.

If it weren’t for the scholarship, I wouldn’t have thought about the summer program. Getting that scholarship gave me the [motivation] to go there, experience things, and tell other people about it — that if I can do it, you can too. It was definitely a lot more accessible thanks to the scholarship.

Samya Gupta giving her talk

SS: Looking ahead, what do you hope this summer changes for you — academically, personally, and career-wise?

SG: Personally, it’s about getting out of my comfort zone and becoming more confident speaking with people. I’m sure there will be people from all over the world, and that global exposure will help me communicate more efficiently and develop stronger ideas. The end goal is not just to be heard, but to actually say things that matter.

Academically, interacting with so many people who are also preparing talks will help me understand how others think. And career-wise, during the TED Summer School orientation, they mentioned we’ll interact with students from leading universities who will be our mentors. If my mentor happens to be from a university I’m considering, I can ask about the environment and what it’s like, so it’s going to help me narrow down my choices and learn from people who are actually in my shoes.

Join Our Global Community of Young Changemakers

You can join Samya and other ambitious students at the TED Summer School in Singapore, New York, London, or via our interactive virtual cohorts.

This transformative two-week program brings your ideas to life through a syllabus built for storytelling mastery and personal coaching from expert tutors. Whether you choose to learn on-site in an inspiring global environment or develop your public speaking skills from home, you will design, refine, and record your own TED-style talk on a topic that matters.

Explore TED Summer School and enroll now

We’ll check-in with Samya after her TED Summer School experience, and share what she learned, how she grew, and what she had to say in her TED-style talk! Stay tuned!

Xixi Wang

What if your summer could change how you see yourself, and how the world hears you?

For over a decade, TED-Ed has helped hundreds of thousands of students around the world find their voices, passion, and confidence with TED-Ed Student Talks. Now, in partnership with the renowned organization Immerse Education, TED is offering a more intensive opportunity for students to discover, shape, and share their best ideas under the guidance of expert tutors over the summer.

TED Summer School is a transformative two-week summer program for motivated students aged 15 to 18, with each participant building confidence, storytelling mastery, and leadership skills through core theory and practical sessions, guest speaker events, as well as personal coaching. Students have the option of participating either in-person in London, New York, or Singapore, or 100% remotely through the virtual program. Both the in-person and virtual programs include live, small group instruction with professional TED-trained tutors helping students work on their ideas.

At TED Summer School, students will learn to shape their ideas and deliver them with clarity, confidence, and presence, culminating in each student presenting their TED-style talk. The program experience combines TED-Ed’s credibility, inspiration, and global reach with Immerse’s expertise in delivering high-quality academic enrichment programs. It empowers students to become thoughtful, articulate communicators who understand the power of their own voice.

Immerse Education: London

Why should you participate?

TED Summer School guides students through a structured, transformative journey to identify, develop, and then share their ideas in a TED-style talk. Over two weeks, students will:

1. Learn directly from TED-trained tutors who help students develop communication skills, storytelling expertise, and confidence to express their ideas with clarity and purpose.

2. Collaborate alongside and learn from peers from around the globe. Students will engage with each other through every stage of their talk development journey: from developing their big idea to stepping onto the stage with confidence.

3. Deliver their TED-style talk at the end of the two-week program and receive a recorded version to take home.

4. Earn a TED Summer School certificate of completion to add to personal accomplishments and portfolios.

You can learn more about the unique opportunities provided by TED Summer School here, and explore the financial and merit-based scholarships here.

Explore TED Summer School!

Immerse Education students

ABOUT IMMERSE EDUCATION

Immerse Education helps ambitious high-school students explore future university and career paths through personalized, transformative learning experiences. Rooted in the teaching traditions of Oxford and Cambridge, Immerse Education’s model brings expert tuition, small-group learning, and practical project work to campuses around the world and to their online programs. They create space for young people to build confidence, develop independence, and produce work they can proudly share as they shape their next steps