Over 700 students signed up for the Moorpark College TEDx lottery, and anxiously crossed their fingers with the hopes of getting in to the limited crowd of 100 students, faculty, and speakers. That event finally took place this Friday, April 18.

The event, held at EATM’s lecture hall, filled up fast with all the chosen candidates excitedly rushing to the check-in table at 9 a.m. to receive a program schedule/name tag, along with a lanyard to display all attendees.

Not wanting to hold out on making this a wonderful experience for all early risers, the TEDx faculty was sure to serve breakfast and lunch thanks to their several sponsors, such as Costco, Trader Joe’s, Custom Melt, Maxon, Stage1Music, Starbucks, and Moorpark College Ceramics Program.

With scientists, artists, professors, students, journalists, poets and an accidental entrepreneur crowding the first two rows of EATM’s lecture hall, it was difficult not to be excited about what was to come.

“I felt the passion,” said speaker and Anthropology Professor at Moorpark College, John Baker.

The speakers at this TEDx touched on several different topics, with all seen and heard as “ideas worth spreading.” The speakers brought an essence of professionalism and ease that made all audience members, as well as the viewers of the online broadcast, intrigued and wanting to hear more.

The branded quote of TED Talks, “be a part of a global conversation,” kicked off the long awaited event within a video that expressed the connection TED Talks and TEDx upholds with the entire world.

Making the metaphorical connection and setting of Disneyland in his talk, Baker spoke on one of the many grappling topics of the thing about being an individual.

“This is an amazing time to be an individual,” said Baker.

Baker created a strong presence in his speech, where he explained that all individuals were different but somehow connected in life. Baker had many students riled up, excited, and even scared as these attendees gladly participated in his talk.

Sydney Sims, chair of the English Department, graciously started off the many great speeches of the day by covering the fascinating truth of dragons being the metaphor for our dark places. Her speech on “How Not To Tame Your Dragon,” expressed the realization of one’s life story and the meaning behind it.

“This is what English majors do; we tell stories,” explained Sims. “Listen carefully to the stories we live, because that may be the cause and effect of actions we take in our lives.”

Next up was student at Moorpark College and founding member of the newly established Philosophy Club, Daniel Seyler, on the topic of “Debating Extremists: Where We Go Wrong.” In the same method as extremists, Seyler touched on belief systems and the idea of using reason versus fighting against something you may not believe. He even flawlessly gave his talk twice due to technical difficulties.

The celebrity of the hour, Sonali Kolhatkar, achieved her Master’s in astrophysics, only to realize that this wasn’t meaningful enough. In the end, she did what any astrophysicist would do: quit her well-paying job at CalTech to take up the job of a broadcast journalist at KPFK Pacifica in L.A., because happiness is overrated, which highlights one of the many themes of her talk. She explained how her job as a journalist, who sees the pain and suffering in the world, doesn’t make her happy, but miserable. However, it is meaningful to her and therefore she continues on.

“We don’t value as much those who sacrifice,” said Kolhatkar.

Ever since, she has helped Afghan women let their story be heard by becoming the co-director of the Afghan Women’s Mission, a non-profit organization that works with solidarity with Afghan women. She is also the author of “Bleeding Afghanistan: Washington, Warlords, and the Propaganda of Silence.”

At the end of her speech, she left the audience with a Marcus Garvey’s quote, “The
ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself but the
ends you serve that are for all, in common, will take you into eternity.”

Further down the list of the many great speakers, Soujourner Kincaid Rolle expressed her true-found voice as a poet, which was emphasized by speaker and accidental entrepreneur Jennifer Case. Case emphasized her life lessons on success and faliure, leading up to her position of how she became a CEO of her own biodiesel company using leftover french fry oil, but more so the fact that what she is doing is her life’s work and that she has a love and compassion for it.

“Faking it till you make it can only get you so far,” said Case. “You have to [be willing] to admit what you don’t know, because arrogance is really insecurity in disguise.”

Other speakers such as scientist Kenta Asahina, High School student Kenny Closser, and L.A.-based artist Brian Mallman may have explored several different topics with incredible ideas and thoughts, but had a synchronicity of passion that should be seen and heard by the world.

For future TEDx or TED Talks, Baker had some simple advice to give.

“If you’re invited, do it! And if you’re able to get in, go!” said Baker.

All speakers and audience members who attended the event felt honored and pleased with the incredible outcome of the event. They were so pleased that they gave recognition to their fearless leaders and behind-the-scenes men and women that gave their hard work to pull this incredible event together.

The event will be posted on Youtube to be seen, enjoyed, and live on forever for speakers and curious fans of the event.