How a unique relationship with a stray cat can change the way you think about the connection animals have to human mental health and relationships.
Emma Flaherty is a second-year student majoring in Art History at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Her particular area of focus is in Northern Renaissance and Dutch Baroque Art and she aspires to be a curator at an art museum. A 2021 graduate of Daniel Hand High School, Emma is excited to be returning to her home community to share her story. She hopes her message about an unlikely bond she formed with a stray cat can inspire others to reevaluate their relationship with animals, and how that consequently can re-frame the way they look at mental health and human interaction. When not spending time with her friend Harold the cat, Emma can be found reading, playing guitar, or knitting. 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