Expanding your Horizons - Phoebee Gahan - TEDxStHilda'sSchool

Phoebee Gahan is a Year 11 student at St Hilda's School on the Gold Coast, Queensland Australia. Phoebee gives a presentation on Expanding Your Horizons.

Ask any 16-year-old
what the best new-found freedom is,

and everyone will say the same thing:

they're officially legal...

to drive, that is,

and in their minds a perfect age

to drink something
a little bit stronger than cordial.

At our age, we are caught
in the middle of our youthful innocence

and the scary world that lies

beyond the borders
of our school and our family,

with lingering expectations
to find our place

not only within what has become
a solidified community here at school,

but rather the ever-growing world
of economics, politics, and design.

Girls find themselves experimenting
and expanding their horizons

by unleashing their most
basic human instincts:

satisfaction and exploration.

Some girls choose to satisfy
their social appetites

diving into the world of
partying and self-expression,

whilst others

explore boundless possibilities
to act beyond their years

and to stimulate their minds
creatively and academically.

We are fooling ourselves
if we don't acknowledge

that every generation
goes through this period in life.

When we get old,
we don't want to have regrets,

and feel the need to break free
from commitments

that apparently tie us down.

A perfect example of this
is the film Hall Pass.

For those of you who aren't familiar,

a group of men put
their marriages on hold

to experience what they're missing
in the singles party scene,

because they regretted
not having taken full advantage

of their days as "studs".

In reality,
it would be bordering on pathetic

if we were to end up
with this kind of attitude.

In saying this,

there are many ways
to explore life beyond childhood

and expand our horizons —

opportunities that will leave us
with a greater insight

into the part that we will play
in our world's future.

I have a personal experience
in expanding my horizons.

At the beginning of the year,
I took on extra studies

and completed a subject called
"Contemporary Issues in Law and Society"

at Bond University.

This involved
studying a wide spectrum of topics,

incluiding politics, abortion, euthanasia,

stem cell research and capital punishment.

All topics, many people believe,
are beyond my years

of experience and knowledge.

In my tutorial alone,
there was a capitalist, a muslim,

an Asian, a European,
and a few other interesting individuals,

all ranging from 15 to 55 years of age.

So there was bound to be
a great deal of difference in opinion,

and this was explored
throughout our 12 weeks.

At university,
everyone is given a level playing field,

meaning we all have the ability

to share and manipulate
many unique ideas.

I formed independent opinions about topics

that girls my age don't usually consider,

developed critical thinking skills,
and learned to effectively

analyze information
put forth in lectures and tutes,

as well as improving
public speaking skills.,

as I learned to speak freely
in front of a diverse group of people.

There are boundless opportunities
out there,

within the grasp of young girls.

It's just a matter of
having the motivation and initiative

to commit to these.

Whilst partying
may be fun and fulfilling,

the abilities to converse and analyze
at a university level

can provide enlightenment
and pave the way for

a more successful and fulfilling future,

personally and professionally.

So don't limit yourself.

Experience the world
outside of your comfort zone,

and take advantage of
ideas and opportunities

waiting out there for you.

Because you never know
where they may lead you.

Thank you.
(Applause)