Discover the true purpose of extracurricular activities for students as they begin their journey to apply for college!Stressing over how to present yourself to colleges? Worried about what activity to sign your child up for so that they have an advantage by the beginning of their senior year? Lucy Ann uncovers the best type of extracurricular activities for college and life. Lucy Ann Enomoto is a sophomore, enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program at Valencia High School. Lucy Ann’s favorite subjects are AP chemistry, AP environmental science and AP US history. Lucy Ann is a second-year varsity softball player who plays 3rd base. During the summer and fall, Lucy Ann spends her time competing around Southern California with the Bownet travel softball team under Coach Suzy Brazney. She is also an accomplished pianist and recently completed the Certificate of Merit: Level 9, earning State Honors. Lucy Ann serves on the National Ticktockers Advisory Council for the National Charity League and volunteers for Meal on Wheels. Lucy Ann is an avid Los Angeles Dodgers fan whose goal is to visit all 30 major league ballparks with her dad. So far, they have visited 23 stadiums across the country This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Silent Struggles of Police Mental Health are not to be Ignored - for their safety and ours.Communication is a living, breathing entity, omnipresent in our lives. But what sparked its existence? Whether it's through galloping horses, handwritten letters, or texts, energy is the single driving force behind why we are able to stay connected. Energy is the pulsing heart of communication, pumping life into every word spoken, every message sent, and every thought exchanged. It courses through ink on paper and vibrates the air when we speak. Prepare to experience the connection that energy enables, and watch how it lights the candle of communication! Chandrika Bakshi is a senior at Valencia High school and is a candidate of the Val Tech program with a focus in computer science. She is passionate about helping her community and shining a light upon those who may often be overlooked. She volunteers at various city events as well as planning some as president of the service club Interact of Placentia, sponsored by Rotary of Placentia, and in part of time spent as North Area Coordinator and serving on the Advisory Council for District 5320 Interact, a club based upon Rotary International. One event she planned was to show appreciation for the neighboring police department, and that experience, along with many close encounters, served as the basis for her TedX talk, “The Weight of the Badge.” Along with city events, Chandrika volunteers at different senior homes and most school events. Chandrika hopes to spend her time in the future continuing to help others who cannot help themselves. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Chase your dreams, but don't be blinded by them.Is chasing pursuits other than a dream a waste of time? No. People shouldn't be so blinded by their goals that they forget to make the most of now. A dream will always be there, but the current opportunities a person can take advantage of right now will pass. Bill Meng, a Senior in the Val Tech program at Valencia High School, is an aspiring concept artist pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Bill has been drawing since the age of 4 and loves to create worlds and tell stories through his art by designing dynamic characters and environments. At his high school, Bill is the President of the Arts and Creations Club, spreading the visual arts through community service activities such as mural painting and poster making. Mock Trial: State-level award-winning Pretrial Attorney & courtroom artist. FBLA: national competitor for Visual Design & Graphics Director - creating promotional posts and designing logos for the FBLA organization. Bill is a 2-time TEDx speaker, Chinese Club treasurer, & graphics artist for his school. Recently, Bill interned at U.S. Arts & Design as a teacher’s aide. Bill has participated in and won numerous awards in art competitions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Pediatric Innovation: Reimagining EEGsYamini Vunguturi speaks on the lack of pediatric medical innovations, especially in diagnosing neurological disorders in children. The speaker shares the story of Kenny, a 4-year-old boy with epilepsy and autism, whose difficult experience with traditional EEGs inspired the creation of Brainy Buddies—a child-friendly EEG.This innovation aims to provide a more comfortable, accurate, and fun diagnostic experience for children, helping with early detection of neurological disorders and inspiring more pediatric-focused advancements. Yamini Vunguturi is currently a senior at Valencia High School and is pursuing the dual International Baccalaureate and Val Tech diploma. She is an avid reader and loves rainy days. She is pursuing a career in biotechnology and/or cybersecurity. Outside of school, she was placed 9th overall competitor in the Orange County Academic Decathlon competition, of which she has been a part for the past 4 years. She serves as the secretary for the Future Business Leaders of America chapter in her school, where she oversees the organization of events and members. Yamini is also a chapter outreach coordinator for the non-profit organization STEMsters, an organization that teaches children STEM experiments, and the founder/president of her school's chapter. Recently, she researched pediatric innovation and earned runner-up placement for her team’s innovation within the county. In the future, she hopes to help others in any way she can and travel the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Cancer among black populations is rising at an alarming rate, prompting the question: can we learn from the largest land animal that rarely gets cancer? This talk explores how nature’s hidden genetic code can be leveraged to prevent cancer and save African lives from the emperor of all maladies.Intro audio: Chillout by AudioCoffee | https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Professor Rotimi is a Biochemistry professor whose research explores how African DNA holds vital clues to cancer prevention and cure. He combines scientific expertise with a passion for turning genomic discoveries into life-saving solutions for Black communities. His portfolio spans 50+ studies on genomic and inflammatory factors in prostate cancer among African men, the impact of vitamin D deficiency, and effects of environmental toxicants.His team’s groundbreaking work has identified unique tumor signatures and BRCA mutations in African patients, paving the way for population-specific precision medicine. A Fulbright Scholar and honored researcher, Professor Rotimi advances precision oncology, policy, and equitable cancer care across Africa and its diaspora. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Silicon Valley doesn’t “predict” the future. It picks the one it wants and then pours billions of dollars into making it happen. So when they say "AI will replace us", that’s not a helpful warning. It’s their business plan. We need to awaken to this reality and do what it takes to secure our place in the future.Intro audio: Chillout by AudioCoffee | https://www.audiocoffee.net/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Adeife is a senior cybersecurity consultant and AI security engineer with a deep focus on governance, risk, and compliance. Over the past decade, he has worked with major banks and fintech innovators across Africa, the UK, and the USA - securing systems at the heart of the global payments industry.A Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and one of LinkedIn’s top cybersecurity voices, Adeife is passionate about making digital trust accessible and actionable. He brings a human-centered perspective to cybersecurity, showing how technology, policy, and people intersect in today’s connected world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx