Past TEDx event

TEDxWAIS Hangzhou Youth

Embrace Change

Took placeApril 10, 20261:00 PM - 4:00 PM (GMT+8)
LocationHangzhou, Zhejiang, China
FormatYouth
The message that every teacher wants to hear is not from a student who is doing well in their lives, nor is it about how summer holidays are extended. Though delightful in their own way, the reason teachers struggle out of bed to work every day is because there is always the chance that a student has changed. It is inevitable that children change. The same child that delighted you when they were young will become a dour teenager and a nervous young adult. Some will choose a rambunctious route, followed by quiet confidence as a new professional. It does not have to be a large change, nor a positive one. The routes to success take many forms and most people don’t see the path they’re taking until they reach the destination. Parents try and hold on to that precocious child they remember from years ago, and teenagers struggle to be treated like the adults they will soon become. Our event this year wants to show that each of these paths hold value and opportunities for reflection. As has been the case for our previous two events, we want to continue a narrative that started by examining the difference between real and virtual humanity, what it means to be human in a digital world, and now how the impact of new technologies changes our lives. We will hear from students finishing their journey in school, classmates who have chosen careers completely different from their plans in school, and those who are longing for a change to come. TEDx offers a valuable platform for staff, students, and guests to share, discuss, and examine why change is never as it seems.

Speakers

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

  • Dean Proffitt

    A grade 12 student at WASHZ with a personal interest in education and its influence on society, Dean explores how educational systems around the world shape young people. His speech examines whether these systems encourage individuality, creativity, and curiosity, or instead push students to conform to societal norms and expectations. Through this discussion, he reflects on the balance between structure and freedom in education and considers how it can either support personal growth or limit self-expression.

  • Dorah Yu

    A Grade 8 student, demonstrates remarkable talents and a wide range of interests. She excels academically, showing a strong passion for languages and a growing curiosity about psychology and how it influences daily decision-making. Beyond her studies, Dorah is a skilled dancer in Chinese traditions and a talented singer who expresses herself through pop music. Her combination of intellectual curiosity, artistic ability, and dedication highlights her as a well-rounded, motivated, and creative young student with immense potential.

  • Melody Liang

    A grade 11 art student and a dreamer, always seeing the beauty in the world. Her idealism fuels her creativity, whether she is painting or listening to music. Beyond imagination, she is deeply driven, consistently striving to improve her skills and bring her visions to life. Her dedication combines passion and discipline, allowing her to explore new ideas while refining her craft, turning inspiration into tangible artistic expression and continually growing as a young artist.

  • Shufan Jiang

    A sound practitioner working across improvisation, experimental music, and social practice. Her work approaches improvisation as a response to change. She explores how, as control loosens, individuals encounter themselves beyond habit, how relationships form through real-time response, and how structures emerge without predefined rules. Improvisation is not about display, but about staying close to what is happening within, allowing new ways of sensing, relating, and creating to emerge.

  • Yul Woo

    Yul Woo is a Grade 9 student at WASCZ. In his talk, he explores how we define ourselves and what we need to learn in the age of AI. He began writing it after noticing something subtle but unsettling: the boundaries of his life were shifting without him realizing it. AI was quietly weaving itself into everything—his searches, his habits, even his sense of what is “good enough.” Living alongside something that never doubts itself made him wonder: what happens to the messy, imperfect, deeply human parts of who we are?

Organizing team