Carlswald learner touches back down in SA following her Ted Talk address in New York City
MIDRAND – "My sister and I have been blogging since I was six-years-old," said 12-year-old Ayanda Bokaba.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past two weeks, Ayanda Bokaba has returned from New York following her Ted Talk address.
The Carlswald House Preparatory learner gave a talk on How criticism affects people’s confidence at the Ted-Ed Weekend event which was held from 17 to 18 November, as reported in Midrand Reporter in the article Confident trip to NYC, Week ending 23 November.
Ayanda said she enjoyed the experience of being on an international stage and was excited to have met others who worked just as hard as she did, to get to where they are.
“My talk taught me a lot about myself. I found out that I am more curious than I thought. Curiosity is a good thing because it allows me to have an opportunity to learn more.”
The 12-year-old, who was one of the youngest speakers at this year’s event, said she is happy that her talk could help someone. “After I did my talk, people came to me and told me how much they could relate to my talk. I also started to notice more and more people who are isolated and closed off. My talk will encourage people to be comfortable with who they are.”
In her speech, Ayanda said her grandmother taught her how to value herself; to turn something from negative to positive. “I need to go to my granny’s house to see her and thank her because, without her, I would not be here.”
Since blogging at the age of six, Ayanda hopes her channel will inspire people to ‘always strive to boost someone with positive criticism not destroy them with negative criticism’.
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Also check out:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/203805/12-year-old-ayanda-bokaba-flies-sa-flag-at-new-york-ted-talk/
