Willow Volkert

What motivated you to do a Ted Talk?

I’ve always wanted to do a TED talk because I just think they’re so interesting and I’ve always wanted to speak with an audience about something I’m very passionate about. This year, Ryan McFadden told me Culver would be a perfect TED talk because hardly anyone has heard of it, and I completely agree!

Why did you choose your specific topic?

I’ve gone to Culver for the last three years, yet so many people have no idea how I spend my summers and how unique Culver truly is with all the activities that go on there and the diversity of people who attend. I really want to share more about the people I’ve met there and how it’s given me so much more of a global perspective of the world. I also hope to inspire the audience to find their own Culver and stray from the norm, because that is when you will form the most memorable relationships.

What’s one thing you want people to know/appreciate about your subject?

One thing I try to emphasize in my talk is how weird Culver is. It’s a place filled with people and things I would never come in contact with at home. By sharing my experience at Culver, I want people to appreciate the idea of embracing “weirdness”. At Culver, you’re forced to meet new people and embrace the awkwardness of talking to someone for the first time with no distractions. I really want people to comprehend this idea and try to implement it in their own life!

What makes a strong TED Talk?

I think a strong TED talk is just very casual. It’s someone talking about something cool and interesting to a group of people, not super formal. By just sharing my story of a typical day at camp, I hope to form a relationship with the audience as they learn about my experience and its ups and downs.

When did you first realize you were into your subject?

Probably about halfway through my first year of camp is when I really realized how impactful Culver would be on my life. When I got home, there was no one to share how much my experience meant to me and how extraordinary of a place Culver is, because no one really got what it was like to go there. Finally, after three years, I have the opportunity to really share and go in-depth into my experience and how special a place Culver truly is.

Who are some of the people who inspire you in your field?

At Culver, I’ve always been really inspired by Mr. Seddlemeyer, the director of camps. This past year he gave a really inspirational speech about embracing the weirdness of Culver and really trying new things, which provided the inspiration and foundation for my talk. The others that have really inspired me at Culver those that are mentioned in my talk, so I don’t want to spoil those!

How did you prepare for your talk?

Writing the talk was a lot of exploring every rabbit hole of anecdotes that I could include. After a couple of weeks of this, I’ve finally decided on the main message and which stories are the most important to share. As far as memorizing, I’ve been saying it to myself every morning as I get ready so that, by the time of the talk, it just feels natural.

How nervous are you to speak in front of so many people?

As of now, I’m not nervous, but I know as soon as that day hits, my stomach will be a swarm of butterflies. The thing that calms me is that I know everyone in the audience supports me, and I know that this subject is something that everyone will love because of its unique nature!