Asha Christensen at TEDxKids@SMU 2012

Asha's name means hope and she is full of it. Her first TED experience was from the center front row of the first ever TEDxKids @SMU when she was nine. She heckled Rives and made a friend -- he was the first spoken word poet she'd ever met. When her school announced a slam poetry competition, she was inspired. She watched a bunch of TED talks and wrote a poem about writers block. After winning the McKinney ISD District wide competition, she was too young for the prize, a slot on a team headed to Brave New Voices: a national youth poetry competition, but she is tickled to be able to perform at TEDxKids this year. Her hobbies beyond poetry are piano, cello, composing music, sketching, and bugging her sister Priya. Asha is currently 7th grader at Imagine International Academy of North Texas.

About TEDx:
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[amnanur]

This girl remids me of Hermione Granger in Harry Potter

[vijaysourabh]

Her Expression and the pronunciation brings a smile of encouragement in everyone's interest in language

[Isabbellla]

"Writers block" by Asha Christensen
If anyone needs this (this is the full poem)

I pick up the pencil,


but I ask myself, "Why?"


I have no story to tell,
no pain, no reason to write.


Staring at the blank page,


a thought (snaps her fingers)
wanders before me.


I see a spark.


Reaching out to grab it, my hands
stretched out as far as I can, and -


- nothing!


It's all lost: all thought, all purpose.


So I stare at the paper again -
for hours it seems!


As I look up at the clock shining 1 p.m.,


I was ready to take a break.

Standing up, fist clenched,
shoulders broadened -


until I had realized I'd started at 12:59.


And that hunched me back over
while releasing a sigh.


So I continue to stare,


waiting for that booklet
of notebook paper to work its magic,


to stare back at me, and blink.


That is what fules me

a sense of accomplishment
that I couldn't receive from the clock.


As the time slips away,
I realize I'm not alone,


lost and abandoned in this blank page.


So when you find yourself,
and you're reaching for that sparkle,


ready to grab it, but pull

when you have emotion
[that] builds up inside,


but [you] can't seem to find
the words to release

and to release you,


I am trapped, my feet glued to the floor,


a cluttered closet
of insignificant thoughts,


searching for the one to set me free,


to fill up the emptiness
of that blank page.


But this time, this time,


when I look back at that page,


I see words.


So when you battle
with that first blank page,


those words you can't seem to find,


just pick up that pencil,


as I did mine.

[fahadmasood]

so good so confident child in speaking and pronouncing a big hand👏👏👏👏👏 got this girl

[sanjanaaneja]

I'm going to recite this poem tomorrow in my school. And let's see what will be the expressions of my teachers .whether they Will select me or not !! I am fully excited.

[ElowenFaye]

holy shit she reminds me of Grace VanderWaal!

[benasirabdulazeez]

Her accent is just like british people ! She is confident and smart.

[vasandradevi]

Very nice poem. I like it very much. It was really helpful for me. I'm gonna recite this very same poem on a competition which is next month at my school... 😃😃😃

[ANEESHAVV]

Wow nice i give you a big 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[adheenagopi]

my reci is there...and I'm super nervous abt that...pls guys...pray 4 me..wish m
e well

[karunakarank]

I recited this poem for a competition and I got 2nd place in sub district level. Iam 9 year old girl studying in 4th std.My name is Devamitra I am from kerala. I like your poem very much. Thank you Aunty

[govinds]

Blank pages can be frustrating at times.But remember that spark can come out of the blue!

INCREDIBLE!ASHA

[asmijadhav]

What is this poem called I want to perform it I am a big fan of asha

[Adora_]

a year ago, When I saw this for the first became a great fan of Asha Christensen 😲😲😲😇😇

[idvlogs.]

Can you please give the lyrics of this poem

[syenisabilaayu]

Aku mengambil pensil itu, tp aku bertanya pada diri sendiri, "Mengapa?" Aku tidak punya cerita untuk diceritakan, tidak ada rasa sakit, tidak ada alasan untuk menulis. Menatap kosong, sebuah pikiran terlintas di depanku. A-Aku melihat percikan api. Mencoba untuk meraihnya, tanganku terulur sejauh yang aku bisa, dan tidak ada apa-apa! Semuanya hilang: semua pikiran, semua tujuan. Jadi, aku memandangi kertas itu lagi selama berjam-jam! Ketika aku melihat jam menunjukan pukul 1 mlm. Aku sudah siap untuk istirahat. Berdiri, tangan mengepal, bahu melebar. sampai aku sadar aku akan mulai jam 12:59. Dan itu membuatku membungkuk. Jadi aku terus menatap, menunggu kertas notebook untuk menunjukkan keajaibannya, menatapku, dan berkedip. Itulah yang memicuku, rasa berhasil yang tidak bisa saya terima dari waktu. Aku sadar tidak sendirian, tersesat dan terbuang di halaman kosong ini. Jadi, ketika kamu menemukan diri mu sendiri, dan kamu meraih cahaya itu, bersiap untuk mengambilnya, ketika kamu memiliki emosi menumpuk di dalam, tetapi kamu tampaknya tidak dapat menemukan kata-kata untuk melepaskannya, dan untuk melepaskanmu, aku terperangkap, kakiku terpaku ke lantai, sebuah lemari berisi pikiran-pikiran tidak penting, mencari yang membebaskanku, untuk mengisi kekosongan halaman kosong itu. Tapi kali ini, kali ini, ketika aku melihat kembali halaman itu, aku melihat kata-kata. Jadi saat Anda bertempur dengan halaman kosong pertama itu, kata-kata yang sepertinya tidak bisa kamu temukan, ambil saja pensil itu, seperti yang aku miliki.

[sveltesag]

Can anyone plz tell me the full name of the poet and the name of this poem?? 😍

[farhanabbas]

From where I can get the lyrics of this poem??? And also the name of the poem

[kefseremaxhuni]

Can enybody write this in lyric or where can I find the lyric of this poem

[bonalisacotopeti]

Fantastic Asha I love you and the expression you have.