By Meredith Mohr
In his book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell wrote that “who we are cannot be separated from where we’re from.”
It was at this intersection of action and identity that a group of Prairie View A&M University students found inspiration and ran with it to plan PVAMU’s second TEDx talk: “Becoming an Outlier.” The event, a production by PVAMU’s Honors Program, will be held Saturday, March 5, on campus.
What does it mean to be an outlier? According to Gladwell, ‘outliers’ are people who operate beyond our typical understanding of success and achievement. They are otherwise normal, everyday people who place a high priority on goal attainment, achieving success through intense focus and determination.
Speakers for this year’s TEDxPVAMU conference are encouraging listeners to dig into stories of success, perseverance, personal growth and perspectives to broaden their experience and inspire them to go out and take action—whatever it may be.
Student organizers Kendall Lemons (mechanical engineering/mathematics) and Taylon Owens (senior, chemical engineering) said that Gladwell’s book, a required reading for honors students at PVAMU, inspired this year’s event. And while this is the second TEDx event to be held on campus this year (the first was ‘Unlock Your Mind’), Lemons said, “it’s becoming a tradition.”
“I’m looking forward to the PVAMU community gathering for an event,” Lemons said. Because of the pandemic, it has been a while since he has organized an event with live audience interaction.
“As we are still in a pandemic, I cherish social gatherings in whatever capacity they present themselves in,” he said. “It is very exciting to be a part of such an event.”
Creating an Atmosphere of Excellence
Quincy Moore, Ph.D., director of the Honors Program and associate professor of biology, pointed to a spirit of innovation and creativity as a driving force behind PVAMU’s TEDx events.
“Students in the Honors Program are inspired to not only dream about innovation, but to achieve it,” Moore said. “This year’s TEDx organizers are inspiring a new academic culture on campus, creating an atmosphere of excellence. We encourage students to make what I call ‘Honors Impact,’ which is defined as the intellectual ability to improve people, processes and policies in their disciplines and interdisciplinary work that leads to improvements locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. And they are doing just that.”
Speakers include PVAMU graduates Chayse Lavallais ’19 and Ivy Walls ’16, as well as current PVAMU student Maia McFarlin (senior, political science) and data scientist Jared Bryson. Each brings to the stage a unique perspective on their journey to success: creative entrepreneur, researcher, activist for HBCUs and political strategist.
Bryson, a first-time TEDx speaker and co-founder of WeAreHBCUs, reflected on what he hopes the audience will glean from the message and theme of the event. “As I’ve been preparing my talk, I’ve thought more about my topic: relationships,” he said.
A graduate of Morehouse College and Columbia University, Bryson writes about relationships and connections when he’s not working with WeAreHBCUs, an organization founded on strengthening the cultural legacy of HBCUs.
“I keep coming back to the fact that I’m not here to talk about relationships because I’m a guru, but because I’m an amateur,” said Bryson. “Given that I’m closer to the starting line in my journey, the audience might be able to connect to the message more. I’m excited for the challenge.”
The Journey to Success
The path to success isn’t always easy, but the speakers agree that’s part of what this theme is about: connecting with the stories of others that might help you get from one point to another on your own journey to your goals and dreams.
McFarlin, who is set to graduate this May, said PVAMU has been a pillar for her—the best place to complete her undergraduate career—thanks to advisors, coaches, professors and peers who encouraged her success.
Throughout every endeavor—leading the PVAMU speech and debate team to 10 competitive titles (including five championship titles), interning for U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and volunteering as deputy voting registrar for Waller County—a university beloved for its supportive network and can-do spirit has helped her every step of the way, said McFarlin.
Her talk at PVAMU’s TEDx will offer a glimpse into that experience.
“I want to deliver a message that’s honest yet hopeful,” McFarlin said. “I hope that watchers and listeners walk away knowing the power of self-definition on their respective paths. The best way to become an outlier is to simply believe that you are one.”
Moore noted that “Becoming an Outlier” is going to engage, educate and empower the audience to take the necessary steps to realize their true potential.
Lavallais, a 2019 PVAMU alumnus, said he hopes this event also helps listeners explore ways to grow personally so they can then double the positive effects by giving back to those who helped them achieve success.
“Sharing those experiences and stories can open your eyes to new perspectives that you may have never thought of,” Lavallais said. “I am constantly thinking about what aspects of my story have put me on the path that I am on and what stories exemplify those aspects. Prairie View A&M University invested the time in my personal development that allowed me to find my passions and actively pursue them. Because of Prairie View, I feel confident that I was given all the necessary tools to make a difference in my community.
“Becoming an outlier is not something available for the select few. Everyone is capable of becoming an outlier and making an impact in their community. I hope from this TEDx experience that viewers realize they can find in their personal stories what makes them unique and use that gift to start taking steps to make a difference.”
