TEDxOTIA Youth

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Bella Wang

  Bella Wang is a dedicated Grade 10 student at OTIA, currently challenging herself with a Grade 11 curriculum. As the Head of the Sports Department in the Student Council and a core player on the OTIA Girls' Varsity Basketball team, Bella is a natural leader who thrives in competitive environments. Her basketball journey spans seven years, marked by her role as a three-time captain and, most recently, leading her team to a second-place finish in the HISAC League. Beyond the court, Bella’s passion for engineering is evident in her five-year commitment to FTC and FRC robotics. She has experienced both the pinnacle of success as a National FTC Champion and the resilience required to navigate the complexities of founding an FRC team. Bella’s academic path has been a unique "learning journey" across different systems. From her early years in Hong Kong and international schools in Shenzhen to a period in the public school system, she has consistently maintained high standards, securing three valid AP scores by the end of Grade 9. Now living independently in Hangzhou, Bella continues to embrace new challenges, proving that her eagerness to learn and adapt is not restricted to the classroom but is a fundamental part of who she is.

• Jack Liu

  Jack is an ambitious Grade 10 student at OTIA who always embraces a competitive environment and never dreads challenges. One of the words he frequently reflects on is “why”—he’s curious about the reasons things happen. Hence, Jack continuously makes improvements comprehensively. On top of that, he usually embraces new ideas in various fields, which become essential factors helping him discover interesting facts in life. As a digital native, he grew up in the world of algorithms and the Internet. He received his first wearable device in primary school. Since then, Jack developed an immense interest in modern technology, and he has worn smart watches or smart bands for more than 5 years. He simultaneously participated in the study of programming and global contests such as FTC. To sum up, Jack pushes himself on the journey of exploring without hesitation.

• Luke Sun

  Luke is a Grade 10 student at OTIA and a participant in the Yuanpei Young Scholar Program, specializing in cultural sociology. As an INTJ, Luke has a strong interest in anthropology and the social sciences, driven by a clear sense of self-awareness and long-term personal goals. Earlier in his journey, Luke was deeply concerned about how others perceived him, which often led him to hide his true thoughts and feelings. Over time, however, he learned to shift his focus inward, choosing authenticity over external approval. This shift allowed him to express himself more confidently. Unlike those who struggle to achieve success as early as possible, Luke often gains his momentum later in his development. While he sometimes experiences short bursts of motivation, once he makes a firm decision, he always demonstrates strong perseverance and discipline. This steady growth continues to shape both his academic path and personal development. Beyond the classroom, Luke is passionate about a wide range of interests, especially football. By incorporating his personal interests into his academic pursuits, he constantly pushes himself to step out of his comfort zone, as he now overcomes his fear of public speaking and takes part in this TEDx talk.

• Rayn Li

  Rayn loves exploring the subtle connections between people and society, and he really enjoys sharing those insights—whether through talks, conversations, or writing. As a classic ENFP, his mind is always buzzing with possibilities and new ideas. While he tends to overthink things quietly on his own, put him in front of a group or with a mic, and he lights up—talking freely, connecting with people, and diving into discussions. Moreover, he is quite attentive to language and how words shape meaning, always aiming to express complex ideas in ways that feel clear and relatable. Ultimately, he hopes you can learn from his talk on regret how to face it the right way—and then turn it into your greatest teacher.

• Samantha Zheng

  Samantha lead OTIA Rescue-Pet Charity club, where they raise funds for stray animals. The club visit neighborhood animal shelter every month and arranges donation activities every month, including charity markets and online fundraisers. In the end, Samantha and the club members raised over 20,000 Chinese Yuan last semester. In addition, Samantha initiated a group fan art project, which consisted of a set of B5 graphic albums. Her responsibilities included overall visual style direction, publicity, and layout design. Samantha contacted 30 fan art illustrators, managed our production schedule, and coordinated style communication. Her leadership and team management skills helped our team complete a high-quality project successfully.

• Starry Wen

  Starry is an ambitious 10th-grade student at OTIA, where he constantly pushes herself to do her best and pursue self-transcendence in all aspects. Building on her background as a former top student at a public school, Starry won a full scholarship to OTIA and maintains a rigorous attitude toward academics. However, the new international environment brought challenges—even with strong English at her previous school, she struggled with OTIA’s high English standards. Undeterred, she attended the Round Square International Conference in Dubai, where she dared to communicate directly with native speakers. This experience not only improved her English but also helped her make friends, sharpened her leadership, and deepened her understanding of Round Square’s core values: environmentalism, service, and adventure. Furthermore, Starry’s growth is multifaceted. As a member of the student union, she actively engages in various campus affairs, and her excellent time management skills enable her to balance academic studies, competitions, and hobbies skillfully. In her spare time, she pursues long-held interests like painting, piano, and recitation, while bravely exploring new fields such as chess and tennis. Her intellectual curiosity began in childhood: once dreaming of exploring human inner worlds, she now has a passion for cognitive science. To act on this, she independently completed a related research project and wrote a thesis. Striving to be both excellent and open-minded, Starry keeps herself connected to the world around her while engaging in sincere self-reflection. Though often labeled as ambitious, her understanding of self-transcendence goes far beyond superficial progress—it means constantly surpassing her past self, regularly reflecting on her actions, and bravely confronting her inner flaws: perfectionism, over-competitiveness, and unnecessary repression. It is through this ongoing self-dialogue that she continues to grow into a more mature and well-rounded individual.

• Tom Lin

  Tom is an AS level student currently study in the Olive Tree International Academy. He is a fan of social science and a typical INTP, which indicates that he is a logician. He always immerses himself in the studying of economics, sometimes he may forget about the time when he is thinking about some really challenging economics topics, as it can exactly offer him a sense of achievement. In his TEDx talk, he will lead your guys to reveal the veil of information cocoon step by step. He hopes you can be inspired by it.

• William Feng

  William is a Grade 10 student at OTIA known for a passionate, creative mindset and a fast-jumping stream of ideas. A music lover at heart—especially a fan of David Tao—William finds joy and confidence through singing, using music as a way to express emotions and connect with others. Beyond the stage, William is also curious about how we think and learn in a rapidly changing world. In the age of AI, William believes that questions matter more than answers: the right question can guide exploration, reveal hidden assumptions, and open new possibilities. With a playful spirit (including a “sleeping competition” grand prize), William hopes to remind everyone that creativity often comes from staying curious—and daring to ask better questions.

• Yoyo Jin

  Yoyo is a Grade 10 student at OTIA who embraces challenges and thrives outside her comfort zone. She sees difficulties not as barriers, but as opportunities to grow stronger and more capable. Dance has shaped her life since the age of five. Trained in Chinese dance, Latin, and jazz, she has won multiple awards while developing discipline, resilience, and confidence. For her, dance is more than movement, but a way to express emotion and identity. Yoyo loves participating in different types of activities and competitions. This same passion extends to her leadership skills; as the Head of the Activity Department, Yoyo demonstrates leadership by organizing school events and guiding teams through competitions. She enjoys taking initiative and solving problems under pressure. In addition to her love for performing and leading, she is also passionate about debate and social issues. By researching and speaking about different social phenomena, she has strengthened her critical thinking and communication skills, learning to view the world from multiple perspectives. Yet beyond achievements and titles, Yoyo has started to ask herself a deeper question: beyond being a dancer, a leader, or a speaker—who am I? And this question is what she now hopes to explore.