The speaker shares her journey from a small-town girl bound by stereotypes to a young woman who dares to define herself. Moving abroad shattered her ideas of what a “good girl” should be and inspired her to fight expectations with courage and action. Through failure, determination, and self-discovery, she learned that true connection begins when we stop fitting in—and start becoming who we truly are. Julia Jin is a passionate debater and speaker, known for her sharp intellect and creative approach to complex issues. Through the power of persuasive discourse, she seeks to challenge conventional thinking, introduce new ideas, and inspire meaningful dialogue among her peers and the wider community. She has got in the final of WSC and will be participating in debates held by Yale University later this year. Her analytical mind finds harmony in her artistic expression as an accomplished pianist, where discipline and emotion converge at the keyboard. This unique blend of logical reasoning and artistic sensibility enables her to approach problems with both clarity and originality. 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

The speaker humorously redefines failure—not as a shameful weakness, but as a wise, nagging teacher that pushes us to grow. Through personal stories and sharp insights, the talk reveals how fear of failure limits our courage, creativity, and joy. By learning to face mistakes with honesty and resilience, we transform failure from a burden into a powerful force that shapes confidence, strength, and true growth. Sarah Shen is a reflective young voice dedicated to reshaping how people see failure. She’s passionate about challenging the unspoken pressure to “pretend success” and the shame that lingers around missteps—believing these norms steal vital chances to grow. Sarah shares a fresh take: failure isn’t something to hide, but a natural, valuable part of progress. Her goal is clear: to help peers let go of the fear of imperfection and recognize that resilience grows from facing, not avoiding, setbacks. 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

In “Connection,” the speaker explores the paradox of living in a world more connected yet more isolated than ever. Through vivid reflections and humor, the talk reveals how social media’s efficiency and performance culture have stripped real emotion from our relationships. The speaker challenges us to rediscover authentic bonds — to replace likes with late-night calls, and scrolling with shared moments. “Connection” reminds us that true intimacy is not built by technology, but by honesty, presence, and the courage to care. James Chen explores the paradox of digital connection in an age of high interconnectivity. He argues that despite the illusion of community created by social platforms, true emotional bonds are often replaced by shallow exchanges. James calls for a conscious shift toward depth and authenticity in human interaction, emphasizing that meaningful connection requires courage, time, and the willingness to be genuinely seen. 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

Rithvik demonstrates how gamification turns goals into engaging challenges, making motivation and persistence feel effortless. Rithvik Burki is currently in 8th grade at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. Rithvik enjoys developing ideas and bringing them to life, both in the physical and virtual worlds. His interests in mathematics, robotics, computer science, and history have helped him explore complex concepts and develop his unique worldview. He is fascinated by the engaging nature of video games and how he can leverage these concepts in real life to build and maintain good habits. He loves hiking, biking, playing tennis, watching football, and spending time with his family. 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

Aline Mariano compartilha sua trajetória e aprendizados no universo do terceiro setor, mostrando como o propósito pode sair do campo das ideias e se transformar em impacto real na sociedade. Com exemplos práticos e uma fala inspiradora, ela revela como a empatia, a colaboração e a gestão eficiente podem potencializar causas. Com mais de 20 anos de atuação no Terceiro Setor, possui ampla experiência nas áreas de filantropia, diversidade, equidade e inclusão (DE&I), responsabilidade social, educação corporativa, com foco especial em inclusão produtiva de meninas, jovens e mulheres e equidade racial e de gênero. É psicanalista, professora, palestrante, mestre de cerimônias, e atualmente doutoranda em Educação pela UFSCar. Atua como Diretora Executiva de Operações Sociais (COO) no Instituto Nação Valquírias e é fundadora da Alma Treinamentos. 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

Arthur Santini nos convida a explorar a interseção entre a inteligência humana e a artificial, mostrando como essa parceria pode redefinir o futuro da sociedade, dos negócios e da criatividade. Em uma abordagem visionária, ele apresenta a simbiose entre humanos e IA como um caminho inevitável, e transformador, onde a tecnologia não substitui, mas potencializa as nossas capacidades. Uma reflexão sobre ética, propósito e o papel da humanidade em meio à era digital. Ele é palestrante, consultor e autor, com ampla experiência em gestão estratégica, finanças e tecnologia. Fundador da iAS Consultoria, atuou como CFO e CTO em empresa de grande porte e foi auditor e consultor na KPMG. É professor certificado pela Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) e leciona em cursos de MBA e pós-graduação em diversas instituições de ensino superior. Autor do livro "RFID – Conceitos, Aplicabilidades e Impactos" (Editora Ciência Moderna, 2008), é referência nacional no tema. 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