Summit County Middle School student Gabriella Zheleznyak came up with a new conclusion to her speech for the TEDxBreckenridge event, “METAMORPHOSIS,” during her live performance in front of a packed Riverwalk Center. 

That wasn’t evident to the crowd, which was captivated within seconds by the 14-year-old’s speech. 

While walking out to perform to an audience of around 500 people, film crews and photographers, Zheleznyak describes “waiting for (her) brain to come up with something” to close out her speech. Luckily, she said, it did. 

The TEDxBreckenridge crew first came across Zheleznyak during a visit to her English class. The organization’s public relations lead, Dave Servinsky, said his team was “blown away” by the speech she gave in class that day and were quick to follow up with her. 

Getting noticed by TEDxBreckenridge’s team didn’t guarantee her a slot to speak at the “METAMORPHOSIS” event at the Riverwalk Center Feb. 15, which was focused on stories about transformation. She had to prove her talk stood out among the approximate 530 applicants seeking one of 12 spots for the event. 

Six months later, she found herself at a live audition. 

“It was so different from doing it in middle school,” she said. 

At the middle school, she said she was given a rubric to serve as a roadmap to help her formulate her talk. 

When she got to the first round of auditions for “METAMORPHOSIS,” she said she was told the “goal is to get the creative juices flowing in other people’s minds.” 

The prerogative quickly changed from getting an “A” on a speaking assignment in class to captivating strangers. 

After being chosen, she said she rewrote and revised her talk “Peer Pressure” numerous times and worked with a coach provided by TEDxBreckenridge. 

When Feb. 15 finally came around, the thought of performing to around 500 people seemed more nerve racking than it had previously. She said, luckily, her classmate and friend, Grace Klein, was also one of the 12 chosen to perform. The two counted to four over and over again and pulled out every anxiety-soothing, pre-performance trick they could think of, she said.

Mustering up the courage necessary to stand under the beaming lights directed at one spot on the Riverwalk Center’s stage, she walked out and asked the audience a question she asked herself nearly five years ago now: “Should I jump?”

On stage she recalled an instance from third grade when peer pressure led her to consider jumping off of a high platform into a pool. Before she made the decision, someone else pushed her. 

She spoke about peer pressure serving as a social currency of sorts for young people, and how the concept of peer pressure is nuanced.

“Now, peer pressure is more than just one thing,” she said during her talk. “Peer pressure is good, bad, big and small. And with this, I’ve created experiences in my life that have formed me to be the person I am today.

The other middle schooler in the line up for “METAMORPHOSIS,” Klein, earned her spot with her poem “I am,” which focused on her identity as a Summit local and her passions.

Frisco native Walker Robinson, who is 18 years old, was also among the four youth speakers, touching on his experience as a decorated ski cross athlete in his talk. 

Another Summit local, Rootstalk’s Patrick Murphy, spoke about the hospitality industry holding the power of transformation in numerous senses and how human interaction and connection are at the crux of it. 

Frisco-based, longtime hairstylist Melanie Ash took the stage to talk about the transformative role hair can play in people’s identities. Also, Frisco-based Thayer Hirsh shared his vision for a Summit County with a more diversified economy which will create financial stability for more locals.

Breckenridge’s Drew Petersen’s talk, “Asking for help,” gave insight into the professional skier and ultra-runner’s experience with mental health struggles.