Amazing 11 year old

From Ted.com, 11year old Birke Baehr gives a five minute presentation that amazes me for several reasons. 

Birke Baehr

First, he provides an amazing commentary on the problems with industrialized farms, challenging our views on food production. 

Second, I find it remarkable that someone at his age shows such passion and knowledge about a complex subject that escapes the grasp of most people. 

Third, he goes beyond just pointing out the problems and provides a vision of what agriculture should look like.

In teaching students on how to do persuasive speeches and problem speeches I am confronted with presentations that are lacking energy or creativity.  Its not a question of modeling as students know and have seen what effective speeches look like.  They have had practice that familiarizes them with being in front of an audience.  They get to choose their topics and can find any number of subjects that are of interest to them.  Yet, seldom do students demonstrate the passion that Birke shows in his talk.  What makes him so passionate and insightful, even at what we might consider a young age?

The potential resides in each student to do amazing things, but often the people I teach are hesitant and even resistant to extending outside their comfort zone.  It strikes me that inherently they avoid being creative and passionate regardless of the prodding and encouragement I give.  I would welcome any thoughts for what creates a disparity in, not abilities, but personal expectations among students.