High school senior Joy Kinney recently took the TEDx stage to discuss a timeless topic, “What Came First?”. While the age-old question of the chicken or the egg served as her starting point, Kinney’s discussion ultimately centered around a deeper theme: how to engage in civil arguments.
“The official title was ‘What Came first’ and we discussed what came first, the chicken or the egg,” Kinney said. “But overall the topic and deeper message was how to have a respectful argument, even if you can’t come to a conclusion.”
TEDx is an independent, self organized TED event held at a local level. At Vandegrift, this organization gives students the opportunity to share their ideas and spark discussion with viewers. The opportunity first came across Kinney’s radar her sophomore year. However it wasn’t until she joined the International Baccalaureate (IB) program that her TED Talk came to life. Posters plastered in the hallway and word of mouth from peers ultimately drew her into the program.
“I joined IB, and a lot of the IB students were involved in the leadership for the TEDx program,” Kinney said.“I came across it mostly through posters in the hallway or just word of mouth.”
Kinney’s TEDx discussion was inspired by her upbringing and family dynamics, where she first learned the importance of respecting others’ opinions.
“My parents definitely have different opinions,” Kinney said. “They’ve always done a great job of teaching me and my brother to have our own opinions, and for [us] to have our own opinions while expressing theirs, and accepting that they won’t come to an agreement on some topics.”
The current political climate, where controversial issues and polarized opinions often clash, was another factor that influenced Kinney’s topic of choice.
“I feel like since, especially in the political climate of our society, this was a very important topic to present,” Kinney said. “There’s a lot of touchy [subjects] in [today’s society], it’s important to keep the peace in a way, but also acknowledge that we all have our opinions, and that’s okay.”
Kinney’s thoughtful topic on debate and discussion has resonated with many and is still a vital conversation that needs to be had in today’s society. As senior Joy Kinney heads for graduation her message remains clear: respectful disagreement is not only possible, but essential in today’s divided world.
