‘A Call to Action’: TEDx Barnard returns for its third year

Barnard’s third annual TEDx event brought together nine student speakers and a special alumna guest, showcasing a range of innovative ideas, personal reflections, and research insights.

Photo by Gabriela Valentin/The Barnard Bulletin

By Jazmine Cardenas

March 6, 2026

On February 20, the Barnard Speaking Center hosted their third annual TEDx Barnard College event, featuring nine student speakers and an alumna. The theme of this year’s TEDx was “A Call to Action for the Barnard Community.” 

In the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading,” the TEDx program “helps communities, organizations, and individuals independently produce TED-style events at the local level.” Speaking Fellows Jesha Harlalka (BC ’27) and Zoe Perlis (BC ’26) organized this year’s TEDx event at Barnard, mentored students, and ensured the programming ran smoothly.

For Harlalka and Perlis, organizing the event was challenging, but both reflected on the satisfaction of seeing students’ ideas evolve. Student speakers’ topics ranged from curiosity, community, and self-reflection to technology, economics, and perspectives on STEM at a liberal arts college. 

“We’ve been mentoring the students since January, and seeing their speeches grow over time made the live presentations so much more impactful,” Perlis told The Bulletin. 

Harlalka emphasized that realizing the event’s impact was the most rewarding part of the experience. 

“The speaker would finish their speech and say, ‘Oh, my God, like, it’s done. Like, I feel so good now,’” she explained. “We helped them achieve something that they had worked so hard towards.” 

Several speakers focused on personal empowerment and resilience. In “It’s Okay To Be Alone,” Zainab Anwar (BC ’28) reflected on the value of solitude for personal growth, while Lilly Montelle (BC ’27) encouraged embracing mistakes as a path toward growth in “Permission to Stumble: Overcoming Embarrassment in Social Settings.”

Abiya Syed (BC ’29) highlighted the importance of support networks in fostering learning and connection. In “Amplifying the Impact of Activism Through Empathy,” Nichole Ruiz (BC ’26) discussed how advocacy can be inclusive and impactful. Fahitza Quessa (BC ’26) explored empowerment through cultural narratives in “Fanm Vayans,” a motivational speech in which she stated, “Life will trick you into giving up. But you must carry the spirit of the fun forward. Carry them within your hearts.” 

Exploring how curiosity can be intentionally nurtured in “Rethinking Curiosity as a Practice,” Ria Dalal (BC ’27) noted that “creating space for new ideas is an intentional practice, and it is something we can and should engage in collectively.” 

Dalal found speaking at TEDx Barnard was immensely rewarding for many reasons. 

“I was worried that I might be voicing an obscure concern, but as I was delivering my speech, I saw members of the audience leaning in to listen closely and laughing,” she recalled.

“It’s amazing to see the speakers accomplish their goal,” Perlis commented. “When you're practicing in the Speaking Center, it’s just so different than when you’re in the Oval.” 

Speakers examined the intersection of liberal arts, technology, and overlooked contributions. Htairut Sinpatanasakul (BC ’27) reflected on achievements that often go unrecognized in “The Achievements No One Lists.” Sinpatanasakul ended her speech by stating, “Ambition is what drives our curiosity, our goals, our desire to change the world. But life is more than just ambition. Life is about the courage to care for someone who you know will never recover. … This talk is not about grief alone. It is about what we choose to value.” 

Hana Parker (BC ’29), in “The Liberal Arts Advantage in Tech,” shared how Barnard encourages her interdisciplinary thinking, saying, “Barnard invites me to approach computer science from multiple perspectives, leaning into creative and interpersonal skills and bringing them into technology.”  

Parker said that sharing her perspective on technology and the liberal arts led to meaningful conversations with attendees, from friends to professors. “This topic resonated with many people who have any interest in technology, and I was able to have incredibly meaningful conversations with both old and new faces about this topic,” she said.

Finally, Emili Lok (BC ’29), in “We Don’t Have to Expand the Universe,” encouraged women to claim opportunities confidently: “Women should take any opportunity they want because it’s not taking up space but rightfully enjoying the world’s bounty.” Lok also reflected on the TEDx backstage experience, saying it was “magical to look at the faces of the people who had come to support me.”

Following the student speeches, Barnard alumna Amy Veltman (BC ’89) gave the event’s closing remarks. Veltman, a New York City comedian and creator of the award-winning show “PSA: Pelvic Service Announcement,” reflected on how creative storytelling has increased her confidence. 

“External factors may change and be out of our control, but our values are always firmly within our control,” Veltman stated. “Here is my ask to you: I want to take some time to articulate your values. They may center around nature, the scientific method, or acquiring lots of wealth, or giving it all away … Learn to listen to your own inner voice, and take it from there.”

Looking ahead, student organizers Harlaka and Perlis hope to expand participation for next year’s TEDx Barnard.