Hello TEDxUTAustin community!

The Fall 2019 semester has been in full swing for more than a month now. Assignments are due and with midterms constantly creeping up, we know what you need is some good news. So here we are, ready to share how TEDxUTAustin is being revitalized for the new year!

Welcome to our first blog post! We are so excited to launch this fresh project with you! This platform is designated to create a new line of communication, spread innovative ideas that we can all learn from, and connect to the larger TED community. From interviews of community members to recommended TED talks, we’ll have it all! This is from us, curated exclusively FOR YOU!

Origins of TEDxUTAustin

In the case that you haven’t ever heard of TEDxUTAustin before, you may be wondering who exactly we are. We are a network of students, passionate about spreading ideas and creating a large community of creative thinkers. This infectious passion can be seen especially through the eyes of all the founders of TEDxUTAustin, whose eyes light up whenever they speak of the organization. They saw UT as a unique environment that cultivated forward thinkers, intellectuals and visionaries - a potential hotbed for TEDx.

TEDxUTAustin began in 2017 with the eight co-founders. Perhaps you might’ve looked at these at-the-time eight freshmen and not expected much to come to fruition as they pitched their idea of bringing TEDx. You wouldn’t have been the only one. In the face of regulations, administration, and the fact that UT had never before paired with TEDx, the founders endured countless rejections. And yet, in the face of all these no’s, they felt a thrill. It meant that they were the pioneers, charging through with an idea, a concept, that hadn’t been done before. It was finding the “yes” amongst all the no’s that pushed them on.

“It was finding and digging for the yes when everyone was saying no.”

-Luca Tomescu

After countless hours of pitching the concept to administration, faculty, student organizations, and really anybody that would lend their ear, the founders secured their champion: University Communications. From then on, it was sleepless nights of reading through speaker applications and ideas, all a plethora of perspectives on life. But that was what they lived for. It was an opportunity to take these diverse viewpoints, and coalesce them in a way that was educating, inspiring, but ultimately, beautiful. We suppose one of the best ways to describe TEDxUTAustin today is as something that has continually and comprehensively broken down our understanding of what’s possible. To this day, TEDxUTAustin is comprised of high spirited people with a zeal for all things life, constantly asking themselves “what’s next?”

Behind the scenes

We want to introduce the TEDxUTAustin team. You may have seen the speakers on stage, but there’s an entire dedicated, hard-working crew behind each production of TEDx. Without the endeavors of the six teams that make up the UT Austin branch, the success of these events cannot be achieved. To break it down, the different teams comprise of Communications, Curation, Design, Logistics, Finance, and Partnerships, each with their own set of responsibilities and contributions. We will all be working year round to bring you only the best of the best. Interested in learning more about how each division achieves this? Stay tuned for future blog posts that will feature each committee!

What’s next?

The journey that first began in 2017 continues to grow, and we are eager to expand it even more through this new branch that is the TEDxUTAustin blog. Breaking through, let’s see where this new episode takes us. Intrigued about what our theme for this year is? You’ll just have to hold on until our next post.

However, if you simply are bursting with excitement from hearing all about TEDx, you’ll be thrilled to hear that you now have the opportunity to be a part of this amazing community. If you’ve always wanted to share some type of powerful message, then apply to possibly be on the speaker panel. Speaker applications are OPEN, from now until October 27, 2019 at 11:59 PM! Be sure to find the application and more information on the TEDxUTAustin homepage to turn in your application as soon as possible!

As we mentioned before, this is for you. You make this possible. Your enthusiasm to explore and ambition to learn is what drives our mission to spread inspiring ideas. Whether you are a first time reader or have attended our previous events, we want to thank you for the support. 

Until next time we connect,

-TEDxUTAustin