In Sarah Kay’s “If I Should Have a Daughter,” Kay explains the importance of walking through life with open arms because without doing so, society will not be able to appreciate the aspects that make life worth living. For Kay, that was opening up her arms to spoken word poetry and embracing the risks. Without Kay having open arms to this new situation, she never would have opened all the doors that lead her to the helpful life she leads now. Through Kay’s TED Talk, she has illustrated the importance of walking through life ready to embrace everything, even the pain.
Sarah Kay’s TED Talk was interesting and easy to follow because of her effective speaking techniques. Her techniques involved being very vocal, maintaining eye contact, having appealing posture, and speaking at a perfect speed. Throughout her talk, Kay spoke loud and clear and maintained eye contact, helping to keep the audience involved. She also always stood with good posture; indicating that she was not nervous and did in fact want to be giving her talk. Finally, she spoke in a clear and perfectly paced voice. Except when telling anecdotes or spoken word poetry, Kay maintained an impeccable pace. She never spoke too slow or bored her audience, but she also never spoke so fast that the audience could not decipher what she was saying. Kay’s effective speaking techniques allowed her TED Talk to appear well rehearsed and well put together, resulting in an outstanding speech.
Sarah Kay, in her TED talk “If I Should Have a Daughter,” correctly illustrates the importance of being vulnerable because without vulnerability, society loses its identity of being human. Kay portrays how when people walk through life guarded, they miss all the pain and sorrow, but they also miss the happiness and joy. When people walk through life guarded, they become unable to feel emotions. People are so focussed on guarding themselves and nothing else, that they begin not to feel. Kay believes it is necessary to walk with arms open to anything because although “you protect yourself from all the unexpected miseries and hurt that might show up...when beautiful amazing things fall out of the sky, I am ready to catch them” (Kay). Kay is not afraid to feel and is not afraid to be human. According to Rachael Oakes- Ash, a writer for The Sydney Morning Herald, “Vulnerable-apparently now represents courage and the ability to be real. Vulnerability makes us approachable, human, humble, and honest.” (Oakes-Ash). Oakes-Ash’s article about vulnerability describes how being defenseless is the new way to be strong, approachable, and real. No longer is vulnerability tied to hysterics, but to strength and genuine humanity. Opening up to others and to oneself can ultimately help one to rediscover what it is to not be a controlled robot. Kay also points out if one allows oneself to be exposed and, “to express yourself and have the courage to present those opinions and stories, you could be rewarded with a room full of your peers, or your community who will listen…” (Kay). If everyone in society walks through life in a guarded stance, there is no chance to be vulnerable and feel the emotions that make people human.
Works Cited
Kay, Sarah. "If I Should Have a Daughter." Sarah Kay:. TED Talks, Mar. 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Oakes-Ash, Rachael. "Why Vulnerable Is the New Confident." The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media, 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Good job with your summary and response. Keep pushing the extensions in your response. What would happen if society did as you advocate? What would schools be like? occupations? etc...
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