FHC Inspires Q&As: Penelope O’Meara
Name: Penelope O’Meara
Position: Speaker
TED Talk title: Love Expectations in Teenagers
Why did you apply to be a speaker?
“I applied to be a speaker because I really like talking about intriguing issues. My problem is that I talk about issues that don’t always relate to the topic at hand. That’s why I wanted to sign up to be a speaker for TED Talks. I get to talk as much as I want within the time frame about a topic I am passionate about.”
How are you feeling about speaking at FHC Inspires?
“I am a little nervous to speak at FHC Inspires. The sheer amount of people feel a little daunting. However, I am excited to get to speak about a topic that I find fascinating.”
What was the process of picking the perfect TED Talk topic?
“When I was picking my TED Talk topic, I had a lot of different options. I ended up choosing love expectations in teens because my Media Communications teacher, [Jeff] Manders, was talking about how the media promotes unrealistic standards. This made me wonder what effect the media has on the lives of teenagers.”
What does your message mean to you?
“My message is important to me because it helps me get a better idea of what I should look for in future relationships and in my current relationships (platonic or romantic).”
Who is your target audience?
“My target audience is, obviously, teenagers. However, I am expanding my TED Talk to include parents also.”
Did you ever see yourself speaking at FHC Inspires?
“Nope! I didn’t know it existed until I joined [Ken] George’s [Honors English 10] class, and I was not super interested in participating until I did my TED Talk.”
What are you doing to prepare for the big night?
“To prepare for the show, I will be trying a plethora of relaxation techniques, selecting my outfit, complaining, and improving my TED Talk.”
How does your Google Slide presentation reflect your topic?
“I made my entire slideshow centered around my topic. It has images that correlate to my subject, and I made sure that the color scheme fits a typical giddy, high school love vibe.”
What’s a mobile game you’re currently hooked on?
“It is not considered a game, but I really enjoy reading Webtoons. I have recently been really hooked on one of the Webtoons: Tricked into Becoming the Heroine’s Stepmother.”