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Our 2022 Speakers
Afternoon Session
Kyara Lalli
Sibling Conflict - Pathway to Growth Through Overcoming Comparison
Kyara Lalli is a 17-year-old Vancouver student who cares a lot about family, especially her twin sister. However, she faced difficulties growing up alongside her sister and feels it is important for everyone to recognize the adverse affects of comparison. Kyara’s favourite activity to do with her sister is take their dogs out for long walks.
Kyara Lalli is a 17-year-old Vancouver student who cares a lot about family, especially her twin sister. However, she faced difficulties growing up alongside her sister and feels it is important for everyone to recognize the adverse affects of comparison. Kyara’s favourite activity to do with her sister is take their dogs out for long walks.
Lucas Wei
Life & Death — Preparing For Big Responsibilities
Lucas Wei is a grade 9 student from Ontario attending Toronto Montessori School, who is preparing for being a lifeguard as a first job and has so far finished several courses in the “lifesaving society” as well as some emergency first-aid courses. He gained more valuable experience in the lifesaving class than in the certificate and hopes to share it with more people.
Lucas Wei is a grade 9 student from Ontario attending Toronto Montessori School, who is preparing for being a lifeguard as a first job and has so far finished several courses in the “lifesaving society” as well as some emergency first-aid courses. He gained more valuable experience in the lifesaving class than in the certificate and hopes to share it with more people.
Jade Wang
My Secret to Loving New Things?
Try Them Twice
Jade Wang is a 14 year old student currently residing in Calgary, Alberta. She enjoys debating, public speaking, science fairs, and trying new things. Jade has noticed how many people quit activity after activity, without giving them a fair shot, and is determined to help them find the motivation and methods to learn to love new things. In her spare time, she can be seen sitting in front of a computer debating at every tournament she can find online.
Try Them Twice
Jade Wang is a 14 year old student currently residing in Calgary, Alberta. She enjoys debating, public speaking, science fairs, and trying new things. Jade has noticed how many people quit activity after activity, without giving them a fair shot, and is determined to help them find the motivation and methods to learn to love new things. In her spare time, she can be seen sitting in front of a computer debating at every tournament she can find online.
Vanessa Wideski
The Power of Intention
Vanessa Wideski is the executive director of The Low Entropy Foundation. She lives in Coquitlam, BC with her husband and their blended family of four children. Traveling extensively and following her passion, Vanessa is a voracious learner who shares her love for community building through volunteerism and advocacy work.
Vanessa Wideski is the executive director of The Low Entropy Foundation. She lives in Coquitlam, BC with her husband and their blended family of four children. Traveling extensively and following her passion, Vanessa is a voracious learner who shares her love for community building through volunteerism and advocacy work.
Joey Liu
How Comparisons Made Me A Better Person
Joey Liu, 15, is currently attending high school in Surrey, BC. As someone who is driven by self
improvement, he believes that anyone can better themselves by turning simple ideas into productive tools. When he’s not preparing his TEDx speech, he can be found dabbling in competitive STEM competitions and building his textbook collection.
Joey Liu, 15, is currently attending high school in Surrey, BC. As someone who is driven by self
improvement, he believes that anyone can better themselves by turning simple ideas into productive tools. When he’s not preparing his TEDx speech, he can be found dabbling in competitive STEM competitions and building his textbook collection.
Aaron Wang
Why You Should Compete With Yourself More Often
Aaron Wang, YouTube educational creator, is an intern at Dark Star Quantum Lab. Aaron’s fresh perspective demonstrates how implementing small changes in your daily routine can transform goals from seeming unattainable, to within reach. Aaron’s goal is to end suffering and save the world through imagination for a brighter future.
Aaron Wang, YouTube educational creator, is an intern at Dark Star Quantum Lab. Aaron’s fresh perspective demonstrates how implementing small changes in your daily routine can transform goals from seeming unattainable, to within reach. Aaron’s goal is to end suffering and save the world through imagination for a brighter future.
Amanda Qi
Teaching: The Key to Becoming Better
Amanda is a 16-year-old student in Vancouver who loves dancing, playing the piano, and drawing. Having seen so many people become frustrated as their growth stagnates, her goal is to inspire them to ignite their passions and grow their skills through the process of teaching.
Amanda is a 16-year-old student in Vancouver who loves dancing, playing the piano, and drawing. Having seen so many people become frustrated as their growth stagnates, her goal is to inspire them to ignite their passions and grow their skills through the process of teaching.
Mia Xu
The Power of Positive Thinking
Mia Xu is an 8-year-old girl from Ontario attending Unionville Montessori School who loves to swim. In her spare time, Mia enjoys reading all kinds of books and is often found fantasizing over fictional characters. Mia wants to share with you her story about being positive in her first swim meet. Always remember to stay positive, and things might turn out not so bad after all.
Mia Xu is an 8-year-old girl from Ontario attending Unionville Montessori School who loves to swim. In her spare time, Mia enjoys reading all kinds of books and is often found fantasizing over fictional characters. Mia wants to share with you her story about being positive in her first swim meet. Always remember to stay positive, and things might turn out not so bad after all.
Kimberly Newell
(Jiaying Zhou)
Why winning alone doesn't make us happy
Kimberly Newell is an Olympian and professional ice hockey goalie for Team China. She inspires and develops the next generation of female athletes through her involvement in the local community. She explores the importance of human connection in sports and in life.
Kimberly Newell is an Olympian and professional ice hockey goalie for Team China. She inspires and develops the next generation of female athletes through her involvement in the local community. She explores the importance of human connection in sports and in life.
Grace Hu
Begone, Embarrassment: Banishing Humiliation in 3 Sorta-Easy Steps
Grace Hu is a 17-year-old from Vancouver. She believes that taking personal risks is required to push us forward—whether to pursue our dreams, or to forge meaningful relationships. Meanwhile, you can probably find her writing, debating, playing music, and indulging her insatiable interest in a billion unrelated things.
Grace Hu is a 17-year-old from Vancouver. She believes that taking personal risks is required to push us forward—whether to pursue our dreams, or to forge meaningful relationships. Meanwhile, you can probably find her writing, debating, playing music, and indulging her insatiable interest in a billion unrelated things.
Evening Session
Erfan Torfenejad
How to Control Chaos When You Feel Out of Control
Erfan Torfenejad is a 19-year-old college student who immigrated to Canada at the age of 16. Since then, he has found a strong passion in volunteering because he believes that people can discover their tru selves by being involved with their community. Erfan also mostly travel with public transit since he finds the daily interactions between strangers fascinating.
Erfan Torfenejad is a 19-year-old college student who immigrated to Canada at the age of 16. Since then, he has found a strong passion in volunteering because he believes that people can discover their tru selves by being involved with their community. Erfan also mostly travel with public transit since he finds the daily interactions between strangers fascinating.
Kimberly Newell (Jiaying Zhou)
Why winning alone doesn't make us happy
Kimberly Newell is an Olympian and professional ice hockey goalie for Team China. She inspires and develops the next generation of female athletes through her involvement in the local community. She explores the importance of human connection in sports and in life.
Kimberly Newell is an Olympian and professional ice hockey goalie for Team China. She inspires and develops the next generation of female athletes through her involvement in the local community. She explores the importance of human connection in sports and in life.
Alex Jing
Be A Helper to Belong
Alex is a 12-year-old student in Vancouver, BC. He is currently attending grade seven at Norma Rose Point elementary. Experiencing moving from his home country China to an unfamiliar place, Alex goes through the struggles of blending in and connecting with others. Alex is sharing many of his personal stories about how he fought for a sense of belonging. Alex enjoys playing basketball, ultimate frisbee, guitar, dancing, and outdoor activities. You are welcome to join Alex as he goes back in time and speaks about belonging, connecting with others, and asking for help along with giving others help.
Alex is a 12-year-old student in Vancouver, BC. He is currently attending grade seven at Norma Rose Point elementary. Experiencing moving from his home country China to an unfamiliar place, Alex goes through the struggles of blending in and connecting with others. Alex is sharing many of his personal stories about how he fought for a sense of belonging. Alex enjoys playing basketball, ultimate frisbee, guitar, dancing, and outdoor activities. You are welcome to join Alex as he goes back in time and speaks about belonging, connecting with others, and asking for help along with giving others help.
James Du
How to Make Friends by Showing Your Magnetic Self
James is a 12-year-old student in Vancouver, BC. He is currently attending
his last year at Dr. Annie B. Jamieson, one of the most wonderful elementary
schools ever. With many lessons gathered from the loneliness of not having many friends, James wants to share how he has grown socially over the past few years. James loves to hang out with all his friends, make new ones, and partake in every single one of his passions. He draws, plays violin, guitar, is level 10 in public speaking, can skate, swim, play basketball, and badminton.
James is a 12-year-old student in Vancouver, BC. He is currently attending
his last year at Dr. Annie B. Jamieson, one of the most wonderful elementary
schools ever. With many lessons gathered from the loneliness of not having many friends, James wants to share how he has grown socially over the past few years. James loves to hang out with all his friends, make new ones, and partake in every single one of his passions. He draws, plays violin, guitar, is level 10 in public speaking, can skate, swim, play basketball, and badminton.
Verity Leung
The 4C's For Making A Difference In The World
Verity Leung is a 12-year-old homelearner from Vancouver who loves to play the piano. Having experienced the difficulties of the pandemic, she found her unique way, within the confines of her home, of connecting with people from all over the world to support asylum seekers who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries. In her spare time, Verity enjoys reading, doing parkour and analyzing human minds and behaviours.
Verity Leung is a 12-year-old homelearner from Vancouver who loves to play the piano. Having experienced the difficulties of the pandemic, she found her unique way, within the confines of her home, of connecting with people from all over the world to support asylum seekers who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries. In her spare time, Verity enjoys reading, doing parkour and analyzing human minds and behaviours.
Sophia Shi
The Fake Reality of Social Media - Learning to Accept Yourself
Sophia Shi is a 16-year-old Vancouver student seeking to raise awareness of the fake reality on social media. At 11, she became the youngest Vancouver Fashion Week model and has walked for many runaways and appeared in over ten publications, including British Vogue and Vogue China. Through her experiences as a model, Sophia intends to empower young women by combating unrealistic beauty ideals and promoting unconditional self-acceptance.
Sophia Shi is a 16-year-old Vancouver student seeking to raise awareness of the fake reality on social media. At 11, she became the youngest Vancouver Fashion Week model and has walked for many runaways and appeared in over ten publications, including British Vogue and Vogue China. Through her experiences as a model, Sophia intends to empower young women by combating unrealistic beauty ideals and promoting unconditional self-acceptance.
Lev Karasin
How to Create Open Door Moments
Lev Karasin is a serial entrepreneur, risk-taker, thrill-seeker, and a man on a mission. Since 2012, he’s been investing, empowering, and mentoring people. His intention is to guide others to grow their organizations while making a profound impact in the world. One without the other isn’t good enough. A skydiver and master scuba diver, Lev appreciates a bigger view and the challenge of discovering new and better ways to serve, grow, and profit.
Lev Karasin is a serial entrepreneur, risk-taker, thrill-seeker, and a man on a mission. Since 2012, he’s been investing, empowering, and mentoring people. His intention is to guide others to grow their organizations while making a profound impact in the world. One without the other isn’t good enough. A skydiver and master scuba diver, Lev appreciates a bigger view and the challenge of discovering new and better ways to serve, grow, and profit.
Anirudh Kashyap
How to Achieve your Life Goals–by Thinking Deeply
Anirudh Kashyap is an 15-year-old Langley student who loves to challenge himself. Having experienced the hardships that come with a lack of self confidence, He believes that through goal setting, every kid in British Columbia can improve themselves and learn to appreciate who they are as individuals. In his spare time, Anirudh enjoys playing piano on cloudy evenings and is often found listening to Jazz music.
Anirudh Kashyap is an 15-year-old Langley student who loves to challenge himself. Having experienced the hardships that come with a lack of self confidence, He believes that through goal setting, every kid in British Columbia can improve themselves and learn to appreciate who they are as individuals. In his spare time, Anirudh enjoys playing piano on cloudy evenings and is often found listening to Jazz music.
Aaron Pierce
From Fearful to Fun: How to Conquer The Fear of Speaking
Aaron is a Vancouver based teacher, mentor, and speaker. His passion for public speaking has led him to develop multiple public speaking curricula, make it to the quarterfinals of the 2021 Toastmasters World Championships of speaking, and coach speakers of all ages. In his role as a public speaking coach, he's seen how many people struggle with a fear of speaking, and works to help them gain confidence, and reach their full potential.
Aaron is a Vancouver based teacher, mentor, and speaker. His passion for public speaking has led him to develop multiple public speaking curricula, make it to the quarterfinals of the 2021 Toastmasters World Championships of speaking, and coach speakers of all ages. In his role as a public speaking coach, he's seen how many people struggle with a fear of speaking, and works to help them gain confidence, and reach their full potential.
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