Theme: A World in Transition: The Dimension of Infinite Possibilities.

Change remains the sole constant in life, signifying a world in perpetual transition. The evolution of our thoughts, lifestyle, and knowledge stands as evidence of progression within a realm brimming with boundless potential.
This year, TEDxYouth@AbbeyParkHS delves into comprehending the profound impact of change across the globe. Our societal norms continually evolve, necessitating our adeptness in acknowledging these shifts as opportunities for personal and communal enhancement. Embracing change in a positive light is pivotal in fostering the journey towards a brighter future.
Join us on May 2nd to learn how we can harness change for the better.

Abbey Park High School Theatre
1455 Glen Abbey Gate
OAKVILLE, Ontario, L6M 2G5
Canada

Aryan Mohanty

Student

Aryan is in Grade 7 at Dr. David R Williams Public School. He applied to be a TEDx speaker to make a change in his surroundings through public speaking. A quote that inspires Aryan Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” quoted by Mahatma Gandhi, this quote not only highlights the importance of being ambitious but also relates to Aryan's goal of making a difference. In his spare time, he enjoys swimming, reading and cooking. One of Aryan's guilty pleasures is binge-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine. One day he hopes to travel to Australia to swim in the coral reefs.

Aya Kaab

Student

Aya Kaab, a grade 12 student at Westmount Secondary school. As an aspiring Organizational Psychologist, she’s driven by Nelson Mandela’s insightful words, “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” Her hobbies include gardening and interior design, and showcase her love for nurturing growth and creativity. Aya’s speech, focusing on using perspective to embrace and leverage change, aims to inspire others to take meaningful action in their lives. With a deep desire to share knowledge and motivate, Aya seeks to make a significant impact on the world.

Ebube Nwafor

Student

Ebube Nwafor, a Grade 8 student at Joshua Creek Public School. Inspired by young TEDx speakers, she applied because of her dream of performing on stage. Her goal is to spread awareness about covert racism and help schools all over Halton further adapt to a safer and more comfortable environment for all children and teenagers. Having lived in three countries and attended seven schools, she’s seen the power of understanding different cultures and believes everyone deserves to belong. She is motivated by Emmanuel Macron's words, “We need people who dream impossible things, who may fail, sometimes succeed, but in any case, who have that ambition.”

Fiza Mehfil

Student

Fiza is a Grade 9 student at Milton District High School. She applied to be a TEDxYouth@AbbeyParkHS speaker because she wanted to speak about a topic important to her and resonated with this year’s theme. Fiza's favourite quote is, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. She tries to incorporate this quote into her everyday life by practicing kindness and advocating for justice. She believes that small actions can have a ripple effect and contribute to positive change on a larger scale. In her free time, Fiza enjoys painting, reading, or watching interesting movies. She also enjoys travelling to new places and exploring different cultures. Fiza likes to travel because it allows her to try different cuisines and have new, unique experiences. Her favourite part about visiting a new place is buying a souvenir that she can keep as a memory. Fiza hopes to one day travel to Costa Rica because she loves Costa Rican food and culture.

Hallie Green

Student Musician

A Grade 11 student at Abbey Park High School. Her TEDx speech explores how music reflects and shapes culture, along with its physiological and physical effects on humans. She chose this topic to highlight music's pervasive yet often overlooked presence in daily life, aiming to foster a deeper appreciation and curiosity about why music exists. Her favourite musicians are Olivia Rodrigo and Britney Spears, and she is inspired by a quote from Apple's late Steve Jobs: "Stay hungry, stay foolish."

Kaitlyn Hou

Student Entrepreneur

Kaitlyn is a Grade 10 student at Abbey Park High School. Driven by a profound passion for public speaking and empowering our community's youth, she pursued TEDxYouth@AbbeyParkHS, to use this platform to share my journey and insights, inspiring fellow young people to uncover their potential. Reflecting on the challenges presented by societal norms, physical barriers, and self-doubt throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Kaitlyn feels compelled to assist other young individuals in navigating their obstacles. Through her upcoming TEDx Talk "Youth Entrepreneurship: Why You Don't Have to Change the World," She aims to break down the process of starting a business and challenge the expectations and stigmas imposed upon us. With just 1.7% of Canadian entrepreneurs under 30, Kaitlyn is determined to alter this statistic.

Menna Gebril

Student

Menna is a Grade 11 student at T.A. Blakelock High School. This year, she wants to talk about the idea that passion isn't a predetermined path or a fixed destination, rather it's much more dynamic than we think. She thinks it's a conversation we need to have, especially during high school when we're all trying to figure out our next steps. Menna is into business as it's her way of making sense of the world. It's not just about profit and loss to her, it's more about understanding how things work and making a positive impact. Speaking of impact, Menna's favourite quote is: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.” Menna is speaking at this year's conference because she's noticed a lot of youth get stressed over finding their "true passion" like it's buried treasure. She wants to share her take on it — that it's okay not to have it all figured out and that our passions can evolve.

Nivaan Saggar

Student

Nivaan Saggar, a Grade 7 student at Rotherglen School, who aspires to enhance his public speaking skills and share his passion through a TEDx talk. Inspired by Marshall McLuhan’s quote “There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew”, he is inspired by the James Webb Space Telescope and is driven to accomplish his goals. He also values the guidance of his parents, his greatest role models. Nivaan aims to become a hardware and software engineer, start a world-changing business, and invent practical machines, including building a go-kart.

Sandy Miao

Student

A 10th grader at Abbey Park High School, who is passionate about connecting with her community and sharing her love for stories. Inspired deeply by literature, Sandy values its diverse perspectives, fueling her open-mindedness and innovative problem-solving skills—traits nurtured by her parents. They've taught her the importance of authenticity and courage in facing challenges for a better future. Looking ahead, Sandy aims to study law to amplify oppressed voices, advocating for a more inclusive society. She also dreams of travelling the world to witness its wonders firsthand.

Shreya Rajesh

Student

Shreya's a grade 11 student from Abbey Park High School. She's extremely thrilled and grateful for this opportunity to be a speaker this year! Her topic is something that she feels deeply affects many people and it is something I believe needs to be brought into the light. Shreya's goal in life is to feel fulfilled with what she has achieved and find a way to balance her passion for music and art with her future career. In addition to Shreya's academic pursuits, exploring the realms of STEM has not only broadened her understanding of the world but has also ignited a curiosity within her to explore the possibilities of future technological advancement. Some of her core personal values include sincerity and reliability. She believes in the importance of authenticity in all aspects of life, striving to always be genuine to herself and others.

Umair Ansari

Student

Umair is a 7th-grade student currently studying at Viola Desmond Public School in Milton, Ontario. Some fun facts about him are that he loves swimming and knows how to write in cursive. Some of Umair’s hobbies are collecting legos, cooking and reading. In reading his favourite genres are fantasy and horror. My favourite quote is by Mahatma Gandhi “ Live like you were to die tomorrow. Learn like you were to live forever”. Through my topic “The Power Of Why” Umair would like to speak on how a simple yet transformative word can change the way we think and open a world of infinite possibilities for us. It is an essential tool that can materialize our curiosity and take us on a path of progress. Through my speech, I wish to spread the message of inclusion and maintenance of an environment that is free from judgment and where curiosity is cherished and acknowledged greatly.