Students present ‘Cougar Talks’ at John F Kennedy High School

The seniors in the School and Community Leadership Program at Kennedy High School in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District presented their Cougar Talks on Jan. 10, an evening of sharing unique ideas and messages.

During the first semester, students developed ideas they are passionate about and transformed them into a TED-style talk.  These senior student presenters, who have been a part of the three-year School and Community Leadership program since sophomore year, recited talks about their chosen topics to an audience.  

“The way they developed their talk and collaborated to improve each other was probably the most impressive part,” teacher Brad Seidman said. 

The 25 students in the program shared their experiences traveling the world, experiencing happiness, experiencing their family traditions, and more.  

Skylar Weiss’ speech, “The Very Last Place I Want to Be,” spoke about overcoming the fear of public speaking and challenging herself to perform a Cougar Talk. Dylan Cutler delved into three life lessons: being present, being confident and being resilient.

Claire Schwartz’s speech, “Nothing New,” addressed how she draws inspiration from a chance encounter with her role model, Taylor Swift.

“(Being a fan) has become a defining aspect of my identity and a source of inspiration,” she added. “Taylor’s music has become my guiding force. As a student navigating a rigorous schedule, her story of success resonated with me and inspires me to approach my studies with a similar work ethic.”

Dan Kahn’s speech, “The Perfect Formula,” addressed how Formula One racing relates to life and how “every aspect of it hinges on precision.” 

“The meticulous attention to details and maintenance of the car exemplifies how precision leads to excellence,” he noted. “With precision comes planning and patience. Precision makes us more conscious and responsible. In a world where there is a need for speed, just like in formula one, we must pay attention to details, communicate, be patient and organized.” 

“I am full of pride over the way these students presented their talks,” added Seidman. “They were confident, mature, and extremely poised.”