The invisible words that shape our lives | Sharonda Taylor Johnson | TEDxSHSU

Описание: Words are more than sound, they are weight. They shape how we see ourselves, influence what we believe is possible, and can either anchor us in pain or lift us into purpose. In this talk, Sharonda Taylor Johnson explores the unseen power of language through personal testimony, neuroscience, and stories of transformation. From a grandmother’s life-giving words that pulled her back from the edge, to students whose lives were rewritten through encouragement, Johnson reveals how every word spoken carries the potential to build futures or break them. This talk invites audiences to reflect on the words they receive and release, while challenging them to become voices that lift rather than crush. Ultimately, it is a call to recognize that our words don’t just describe reality, they shape it. Sharonda Taylor Johnson is an ordained minister, author, empowerment coach, and administrator with over 28 years of educational leadership and teaching experience. She is Director of the Hornet Success Academy in Huntsville Independent School District in Huntsville, Texas, where she has helped build a thriving alternative education program that equips students with mentoring, internships, and college-career readiness opportunities. A second-generation college graduate, she earned her BA from Stephen F. Austin State University and master's in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University. Sharonda is a two-time near-death survivor, which fuels her passion for helping others break free from victim mindsets and embrace resilience. She believes in giving not a hand-out, but a hand-up, empowering others to rise above adversity through education, preparation, and determination. Her mantra, and that of her students, is: "I can. I will. I must. Because failure is not an option." This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx