Past TEDx event

TEDxLUAC Youth

Inside Out

Took placeMay 21, 202611:15 AM - 12:55 PM (GMT+8)
LocationYuen Long, New Territories, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
FormatYouth
Inside Out represents our vision to bring hidden struggles into the open and transform silence into understanding; to inspire people to turn vulnerability into strength and awareness into action. Inside Out captures our aspiration to shed light on the thoughts and emotions often kept beneath the surface. It marks the moment where what is internal is given a voice, where quiet battles are no longer fought alone, and where honesty becomes a catalyst for connection. Today, the world doesn’t lack people who are struggling — it lacks safe spaces to speak about those struggles openly. Whether within our school, across Hong Kong, or on a global scale, we believe in the importance of creating those spaces, where sharing is not seen as weakness, but as courage. By turning ourselves inside out, we begin to break stigma, foster empathy, and remind one another that no one has to face their darkness alone.

Speakers

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

  • Alicia Leung

    Student at Maryknoll Convent School

    Hi everyone! I’m Alicia, a G10/Y11 from Maryknoll Convent School. An embarrassing fun fact about me is that, since Grade 6, I have watched TED videos every morning before school (hoping to improve my English). But over time, I became fascinated by something much deeper: the power of people sharing honest stories about struggles that others are often too afraid to talk about. This is also the reason why I pursued public speaking seriously! Every competition I’ve entered and every speech I’ve given since then has been driven by the belief that words can make people feel seen, understood, and less alone. I want to talk about something deeply personal to me: the pressure high-achieving students face, and how achievement can quietly become a treadmill where nothing ever feels like enough. I’m so grateful to have the chance to share this idea with everyone here at ELCHK Lutheran Academy, see you!

  • Americana Chen

    Youth Affairs Coordinator of UNESCO Hong Kong Association

    What if the cure for academic burnout isn't just more rest—but more purpose? In this talk, I will share my journey from volunteering at the UNESCO Hong Kong Association during high school to working as the Student and Youth Affairs Coordinator. I will reveal how contributing to the global community boosted my confidence, how cross-cultural exposure freed me from narrow definitions of success, and how embracing global citizenship became an effective mental health reset you might have never expected. If you've ever felt crushed by comparison or trapped by expectations, this talk offers a radical reset. Your mental health and the world's wellbeing are the same mission.

  • Cheryl Lam

    Practising barrister in Hong Kong

    Have you ever seen a duck gliding across a pond? On the surface, they look completely calm, effortless, and elegant. But beneath the water, they are paddling furiously just to stay afloat. I am currently a practising barrister in Hong Kong. Since high school I have been branded as a “high-achieving student”, one that would surely ace every subject and would fly high in my teachers’ eyes. I was awarded scholarships, prizes, and awards every year. I had always appeared confident, even among my peers in law school. Little did everyone know how I struggled beneath the surface. In this talk, I will pull back the curtain on "Swimming Duck Syndrome", the exhausting pressure to look perfect while struggling underneath. Drawing from the high-stakes world of law school and the courtroom, my TED session explores why even high-achievers feel like "imposters" and how to trade the stress of perfection for the power of authenticity.

  • Christa Chan

    Founder of Solve to Soar

    In Hong Kong, we often pretend education is a meritocracy: work hard, get good grades, move up. But from what I’ve seen through Solve to Soar, a student-led organisation offering free math tutoring to underprivileged kids, the system does something quieter and harsher. It tells some students, over and over, that no matter how hard they work, they are already behind. That belief shows up as anxiety, burnout, and silence in classrooms long before it shows up on a report card. As a Grade 10 student at Hong Kong International School who has spent the past few years working with these students, I’ve watched how even small, consistent support can start to shift that story. In this talk, I’ll share what happens when that belief is challenged, and how the right kind of support can start to rebuild confidence from the inside out.

  • Joanne Hay

    Author of “Please Be You and I Am Me”

    In a world trained to judge, advise and instantly fix other people’s emotions, what if the most powerful thing we can do for mental health and belonging is… stop fixing? If so, what can we do instead? Drawing from real-life stories as a coach, mother and children’s book author, I share a simple but radical shift that helps us create safety, connection and true belonging, starting with ourselves.

  • Zaynab Kola

    Founder of Speechless x HKIYA

    I am Zaynab Kola, a Grade 11 student at HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College, a public speaker, advocate and founder of Hong Kong’s first public speaking initiative for Muslim youth, Speechless x HKIYA. Drawing from my experiences as a youth of mixed heritage navigating Hong Kong, I reflectson how public speaking, debate and diplomacy can empower young people to find their voice. In my work, I pass the microphone forward by equipping underrepresented youth with the skills and confidence needed to articulate their perspectives. My advocacy takes diverse forms, ranging from providing opportunities Muslim youth across Hong Kong through Speechless, to training my peers and curating debate curriculum that has shaped new debaters over the years.

Organizing team