So You Want To Give a TED Talk

by Casey Covel · Published October 4, 2023 · Updated April 12, 2024

I’m… introverted.

And when I say “introverted,” I mean that I’ve scored “100% introverted” on every personality assessment since high school.

When I public speak, go to an interview, or talk to someone I don’t know, the stomach butterflies start flapping their wings. The adrenaline rushes straight to my head like I’m on a roller coaster. Sometimes, I get tongue-tied, or my mind goes blank.

Casey Covel on stage at TEDx Cape Canaveral

One of the worst grades I ever got in college was on an impromptu speech. Standing in front of a class of staring eyes, feeling unprepared, stumbling over my words, fidgeting with my notecard…

But despite all this, I’d always wanted to give a TED Talk. I loved the idea of bringing new ideas to the world.

Little did I know that on May 11^th, 2023, I’d be standing on the TEDx stage, talking about education and pop culture. But what would have really come as a shock to college-age Casey was how much her time at EFSC would prepare her for that big moment.

If giving a TEDx or TED Talk is on your bucket list, here are six ways you can prepare while completing your degree at EFSC:

1. Take Speech Class Seriously… and All your Speeches, Actually

Speech is a gen ed requirement for almost every program at EFSC. This is your opportunity to soft-launch your TED Talk! You’ll get to craft many types of speeches—informative, persuasive, group, and impromptu—while developing attention-grabbing opening lines, building audience interest with your points, and finishing with a mic-drop-worthy finale. You’ll also get hands-on practice crafting PowerPoints to help sell your ideas through the power of images.

Your speech instructor likely knows several public speakers or does much public speaking themselves. Take advantage of any after-class hours to get your professor’s professional insight on your upcoming speeches.

Of course, Speech isn’t the only class where you’ll talk in front of your peers. Public speaking is just downright scary for a lot of us (even more than death!)—but you can calm your nerves a bit by reframing a class speech assignment into an opportunity for you to practice your TED Talk skills.

2. Use the Titan2Titan Closet to Assemble your Outfit

How you dress is every bit as important as what you say. Whether you’re presenting in front of a class or on the red dot of the TED Talk stage, dressing the part will make you look, feel, and perform even better!

Casey Covel presenting in front of audience

While TED encourages speakers to “express themselves” through their choice of clothing, something classy and business casual/formal is an easy crowd-pleaser. However, business clothes can be expensive.

Fortunately, EFSC has you covered with the Titan2Titan Clothing Closet! This closet is a result of professionals and alumni in Brevard County donating gently used items for students’ permanent use. You can browse and keep entire clothing sets for free—and access to the closet is for everyone.

3. Research What You Love

What surprised me most about my TEDx Talk experience was how what I had learned in school formed the basis of my presentation.

Use every research paper, essay, class assignment, and presentation as an opportunity to research your passions. If you aren’t sure what you’re passionate about, consider your favorite class assignments and projects (or projects you received high grades on). These could be paving stones that lead you down the path of your future TED Talk.

The citations you list, conclusions you draw, and logic you formulate can be reworked into your future TED Talk. So, save all your work—don’t delete it from your computer when the semester ends!

4. Reach out to the Pros

Did you know you have an entire team of librarians at your service, ready to help you find great resources for your TED Talk? Or that the Writing Center can help you improve the flow of your speech? Or that your teachers might be willing to mentor you throughout your presentation (especially if it relates to a subject they teach)?

Eastern Florida State College has abundant resources and professionals eager to help you succeed.

5. Get Your Professional Resume Ready

When we hear “resume,” we usually think of a job application… but when I applied for my TEDx Talk, they asked me for one! Fortunately, because of my time working at the EFSC Career Center, I had a professional resume ready to send.

The Career Center offers free, remote-friendly resume-writing assistance. Whether you need a cover letter, resume, or reference page, we can help you create something professional, eye-catching, and well-formatted. It’s never “too early” to start building a resume, and then updating it each semester with new accomplishments and achievements.

6. Put Yourself Out There! – Get Involved

Covel on the red carpet at TEDx event in Cape Canaveral

After reading that last point, you might be wondering, “Why do I need to submit a resume to give a TED Talk?” Because TED expects its speakers to be knowledgeable about their topic!

The resume includes a list of the speaker’s accomplishments, coursework, degrees, extracurricular activities, publications, presentations, and demonstrations of leadership. In other words: What you do in college is as important as how you do!

EFSC offers a plethora of ways to build your resume, including:

Honors courses
Electives
Certificates and Certifications
Clubs (Digital Media, Rotaract, SGA, Cru, etc.)
Honor Societies (PTK, NSLS)
Events
Contests
Service Learning

Check out the Student Life page on the website for these ideas and more!

Ready to Give your TED Talk?

It’s best to start by looking for a TEDx Talk event near your area. Then, follow that event’s instructions to contact the event organizer and submit a speaker application. I highly recommend checking out TED’s brand-developed guidelines so you’re fully prepared. Be aware that it takes roughly 4-6 months to develop, memorize, and rehearse a TEDx Talk, so it’s never too early to start putting together your outline and pitch (or applying!).

If you’re looking for inspiration from a fellow EFSC Titan, check out my TEDx Talk: The Universal Language of Pop Culture or browse through thousands of others uploaded to the TEDx Talk YouTube channel.

And, of course, once you wrap up your Talk and it’s uploaded to YouTube, be sure to reach out to EFSC so that we can spread the word about your success! Now, what are you waiting for? Get your resume ready, study your passions, nail those presentations, connect with the pros, get your outfit together, step on the red dot—and give that TED Talk!

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Casey Covel

As a Career Center Coordinator on the Cocoa Campus, Casey helps students chart career paths and land dream jobs. She earned national honors while completing her A.A. degree at EFSC, graduated with a B.A. in Human Communication through UCF and holds memberships in both Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. An award-winning writer on matters of faith and pop culture, Casey’s hobbies include sipping tea, wielding chopsticks, gaming in the realms of Tellius and Hyrule, growing her action figure collection and squinting at strange words.