Enjoy brilliant speakers, thought-provoking conversations and new connections at this year's TEDxUTS Youth.

Students, staff, families and community members are welcome! Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and speakers begin at 4:15 p.m.

Tickets are $5. Proceeds go to support this student-led initiative.

Buy tickets

Speakers include

Jacob Gaochen
Growing Up: Navigating the Challenges of Youth

Jacob is an 11-year-old who has plenty of firsthand experience with the challenges of growing up. He's learning to balance responsibilities with hobbies while navigating the ups and downs of being a kid today. His journey includes eight years of dedicated piano practice, a constant curiosity, and a passion for learning—whether it’s math, writing, or anything in between. Through it all, he’s discovering new things about himself and finding the bright moments along the way.

Michelle Liu
When Noise Becomes Music: The Art of Listening

Michelle Liu is a 16 year old student attending University of Toronto Schools. After experiencing temporary hearing loss, Michelle discovered how listening deeply can transform the mundane into sources of inspiration and connection. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, composing, going on walks, and trying new foods!

Aayaan Jain Singal
From Passion to Purpose: Funding the Future

Aayaan Jain Singal is a high school senior at the University of Toronto Schools where he is currently studying to pursue astrophysics and software engineering. These passions came about through postsecondary preparatory opportunities at both John Hopkins and Columbia University respectively. However, he is also active in various other STEM fields, currently engaging in quantum computing research at U of T and an internship with a heart surgeon at St. Michael's hospital in Toronto. He currently lives in Mississauga, Ontario, with his parents and younger brother.

Laura Ruo Hua Wang
My Path or Theirs? A Teenager's Journey Through Parental Expectations

Laura is a Grade 11 student at the University of Toronto Schools with a passion for the humanities, particularly law and politics. She is actively involved in competitive speech and debate, and thrives on sharing her ideas and engaging with others. Like many teenagers, Laura faces parental pressures that can often be burdensome. However, through her growth, she has come to realize certain nuances of this expectation. Laura presented this TEDx talk with the hopes of inspiring listeners to reflect on their own lives and rethink the complexities of parental expectations. She shares her personal experiences and the reason she wants to speak about this topic. Her speech encourages meaningful introspection that empowers people to embrace their unique paths while also fostering better relationships.

Honwell Xing
The Hidden Science of Happiness

Honwell is a University of Toronto Schools (UTS) student who has an enthusiastic outlook on life and a love of learning. She enjoys a variety of hobbies from solving math problems to competing in debate tournaments. With a passion for public speaking, she is excited to share her knowledge of scientific research on happiness, hoping to inspire others to find joy in everyday moments

Student TedxUTS Youth Team

Lead Organizer

Xuezhen Yang
Xuezhen is a grade 10 student who strives to bring about positive change and influence to the communities around her.

Organizers

Shanti Huang
Shanti is a Grade 10 student passionate about science, running, adventure and learning new things.

Ethan Li Ngan Sun
Ethan is a driven and curious individual with a passion in mock trial, film production, and watchmaking.

Siqi (Vanessa) Ren
Siqi is a self motivated current UTS 10th grade student with a passion to pursue professional projects including organizing TEDx.

Public Relations Manager

Rownen Satura
Rownen is a grade 10 student at University of Toronto Schools who is passionate about geography and sports.

Head Secretary

Via Zhao
Via is a Grade 11 student at UTS who loves reading nonfiction and playing music.

Volunteer Helper

Annie Yin
Annie is in grade 10 and enjoys hiking and playing volleyball.

TEDxUTS Youth