2019 TEDxValenciaHighSchool TEDx Talks

Phil Devera

Phil De Vera is a seventeen-year-old, American-born Filipino. He is a senior at Valencia High School in the International Baccalaureate Program. He is in the Tiger Regiment marching band at his high school, leading the band as the head field drum major. He also serves as the Vice President of the Valencia High School chapter of the National Honor Society. Phil enjoys being a part of the Future Business Leaders of America Club and competing in the Sectional and State Conferences. Outside of school, Phil is a 3rd degree black belt in taekwondo. This fall, Phil hopes to enter college with a major in Biochemistry and possibly take on a minor in Psychology. After pursuing his undergraduate degree, he hopes to go on to Physician Assistant school or medical school. Phil aspires to go into the medical field because of his strong desire to help people and his aptitude in science. He greatly enjoys to spend time with his family and friends whenever he is free.

A(Way) with Words - Linguistic Determinism & Immigration

Have you ever faced a situation with family, or just random strangers, where you were unable to communicate with a certain language? Language serves as the backbone of our means of communicating with others, and children of immigrants tend to become disconnected from the linguistic aspects of their culture. Language brings a sense of belonging and people should learn the language from their heritage to bridge the gap from their own cultures.

Daanesh Jamal

"Eyes Off The Prize - The Joy of Imperfection"

How well do you really know your own family? Do you even truly understand your own parents? If your immediate reaction to these stimuli was consternation, do not be too ashamed, you are not alone. Our society has propagated the falsehood that genuine happiness lies at our own feet, when in reality, the construction and discovery of meaning in our lives demands focus and sacrifice at the altar of something greater than ourselves; in this case our families. So I invite you to listen to this talk, encourage you to learn about the man-made dams obstructing the flow of transparent and invigorating human connections, and finally ask of you, no beg of you, to dismantle those unnatural systems and practice belonging with your families each and every day. Screen reader support enabled.

Jenika Kolacz

Going Off-Book (Stage directions are recommended, but not required)

Turns out you have been judged since the first day of kindergarten. Yet, the worst part was when you realized, four years later, that you have been bullied ever since that day. Persistent teen, Jenika Kolacz, overcomes social issues and bullying through self-discovery.

Jenika Kolacz is a junior at Valencia High School and it is her second time participating in the TEDx event at VHS. She is involved in many of her school’s programs including the Valencia Technology program, playing on the Girls Varsity Volleyball team, the Theater department, Associated Student Body as well as being a twelfth year Girl Scout and being enrolled in AP classes. In Girl Scouts, Jenika has earned many distinguished awards in including the Gold Award which is the highest ranking award she can earn. This school year, Jenika fell into the Stagecraft program at her school and without any experience, she became the Stage Manager of her school’s production of Into The Woods. The theater is where Jenika truly felt at home and only wished she found it sooner in her life.

Jacqueline Duong is a sophomore who is part of the Varsity Tennis and Speech and Debate teams at Valencia. She has always enjoyed public speaking and loves to learn as well as teach others. She is very passionate about the work her mission group has done in the country of Belize and particularly enjoys spreading joy through words to the locals there. She looks to become a high school leader at her church’s youth ministry in the hopes of being able to touch the lives of others. Jacqueline is confident that her ability to speak has made a significant impact on her life and she dreams that one day she will be able to use her voice on a large platform and potentially have an impact on the world.

Jacqueline Duong

"It's Not You, It's Me: Belonging as an Ability"

We think it's natural to feel a sense of belonging, but we don't realize that everything in life has to be learned. Belonging is an ability in which we must grow and adapt to others while staying true to who we are through the lens of extra curricular activities and self-efficacy.

Avery Eun

Dear Parents, This is Why You SHOULD Let Your Kids Play Video Games!

Dear Parents, This is Why You SHOULD Let Your Kids Play Video Games: eSports - the new frontier of competitive gaming. The gaming community and competitive eSports have seen a tremendous hike in popularity and size in recent years. This is due to the fact that video games are incredibly interactive and actually promote socialization. Avery is one of many people who have found a sense of belonging in the gaming community through competing in and watching competitive gaming, mostly in the game "Overwatch". In this talk, he discusses the rise of video gaming and his experience being a part of his school's Overwatch team.

Avery Eun is a senior at Valencia High School, enrolled in both the International Baccalaureate and Valencia Technology diploma programs. He is a violinist in the school’s orchestra, a varsity swimmer, a former intern at The Boeing Company, and the president of the Model United Nations team, through which he has earned several research and debate awards. Despite having a resume that makes him seem like an over-achieving robot, he devotes a shameful amount of his time to one of his favorite activities: video games. Avery is a founding member of the competitive Overwatch team for his school’s eSports club. Being a part of eSports has played an integral role in giving Avery a community of friends and teammates, several networking opportunities, and an excuse to play video games on a school night. “I’m not playing, mom. I’m practicing for our next match!”

Sidra Ali is currently a senior at Valencia High School. Along with taking the rigorous classes of the IB program, she also participates in academic decathlon and national honors society and has participated in mock trial, color guard, and choir as well. She loves spending time with her two younger sisters and her cat Destiny, as well as her friends. In her free time, she loves spending time listening to music, using social media, making art, and doing anything creative. In the future, she hopes to find a career that combines all of her passions and helps her give back to the community.

Sidra Ali

Split Ends - Journey of Self-Discovery Via Hair

I've been in hairy situations my whole life. But your differences are exactly what set you apart, and once you take a step back and look at the amount of growth you can achieve if you let yourself be who you are, you'll look back on the bad times with a smile on your face seeing how you found your place in the world.

Jay (Jeong Hoon) Kim-Turner

"Belonging to the Wrong Minority"

Exploring the concept of "Asian Privilege" as it applies to higher education. In 2019, certain students with high achieving transcripts and standardized test scores are getting wait-listed or flat-out rejected for admission into the colleges they have worked (some since Preschool) to attend. Students who would have gotten into their dream schools, only a few years earlier, are finding that in many cases personal heritage is playing a larger role than scholastic/community achievement. Even before the "Varsity Blues" Scandal, Harvard University was sued over its admissions policy - where it was discovered that Asian students were being unfairly discriminated against during the Admissions process. This TEDx Talk hopes to shed light why students who would have been accepted to institutions of higher learning five years earlier are now facing rejection, based on the color of their skin, not the content of their character. Jay hopes our culture is able to evolve to where we value diversity of thought more than diversity of heritage.

Jay Kim-Turner is a senior at Valencia High School. You’ll find that Jay has a wide range of interests: whether it be on the basketball court, at a speech and debate tournament, or making Chipotle runs with his closest friends. Currently, he is a candidate for Valencia’s renowned International Baccalaureate. Outside from the classroom, the President of Valencia’s award winning Speech and Debate team, expanding it nearly triple since he first gained leadership of the team. He has also participated in Valencia’s water polo, basketball, and swim programs. He also has a passion for music, being involved in both orchestra and chamber choir. Jay enjoys volunteer basketball coaching for middle school students. One day, Jay hopes to pursue a career in law and politics. He aspires to create change and represent those who cannot represent themselves.

Samantha Harker

I Memorized 1,294 Digits of Pi!

Pi - The Irrational Outcast - How can something of critical importance belong and not belong at the same time? On March 14th, 2018, Samantha recited 1,294 digits of Pi from memory. Her talk pertains to her interest regarding the number and how prevalent it is in our lives. By referencing Pi, she also elaborates on how our conceptions impact the way we think, and influence our mindsets.

Samantha Harker is a Freshman at Valencia High School enrolled in the school's prestigious IB and the Val-Tech programs with a course load of 9 classes, most of which are honors and advanced placement levels. She enjoys playing sports such as running cross-country, and playing on the Lady Tigers’ basketball team. One of her talents is memorizing Pi, in fact, she memorized 1,294 digits, and was the reigning champion at her middle school for 3 years. She is especially excited to participate in TEDx, because it gives her the opportunity to express her interest about this fascinating number. When Samantha isn’t memorizing digits of Pi, she enjoys exploring technology, listening to music, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. In the future, Samantha hopes to become a neurologist, so she can study the function of the brain, and perform research on the concepts of memory.

Adila Ahmed is a junior at Valencia High School and is currently enrolled in the International Baccalaureate and the Val Tech programs. With an infatuation for tennis, she has played ever since she was a little girl and played in high school too. A passionate lover of music, she learned how to play the clarinet, tenor saxophone, piano and loves to sing with the Valencia choir. She loves science and hopes to pursue a career in the medical field. She has to balance her busy school schedule with her extracurricular activities where she holds leadership positions (such as being a team captain for Mock Trial and Speech and Debate). In addition to her school work and public speaking activities, she enjoys alleviating her stress by dancing in Valencia’s TAAL Bollywood Dance Club & Korean Dance Club.

Adila Ahmed

The "Post-It Note Effect" - The Impact of Bias

When bias and prejudice enter the conversation- it shows. As human beings, we naturally have bias and prejudice, but what happens when we let it take over. We all want to be accepted for who we are but when our differences get called out for being the reason due to bias and prejudice, belonging slowly disappears.

Jacob Perreria

Football is Family

How does a sense of belonging within a team bread overall success? High School Senior, Jacob Perreria, talks about the power of belonging to a team that becomes your second family. Dedicated to Coach Gray, Jacob chronicles his journey of his high school football career, tying it heavily to the team mantra, taken from an old African Proverb: "If you want to go fast go alone but if you want to go far go together"

Jacob Perreira, 17 years old, is currently a High School Senior at Valencia High School. Throughout his high school career, he has been involved in ASB, football, and the Throwing team. His interest include learning about world cultures, self-improvement and entrepreneurship. He will be attending Santiago college next year pursuing a degree in business and looks forward to simultaneously studying and working as a realtor. He would like to thank Coach Gray for his continuous support.

Curtis Liu is a senior at Valencia High School who enjoys creating. Involved in music, Curtis composes music in many genres, experimenting with a fusion of orchestral & electronic music (utilizing his background in violin & piano). Curtis is concertmaster in Valencia’s Sinfonia orchestra and associate concertmaster in the Orange County Youth Symphony. Additionally, Curtis loves creating programs in Computer Science, from a collaboration with a friend to make a Java Piano to an Internal Assessment featuring a fully functional game. Beyond creating, Curtis is involved academically in Valencia’s Tech program and International Baccalaureate programs, enjoying challenging himself with a difficult course load to explore important subject areas with more depth, in addition to academic activities like Valencia’s Academic Decathlon team (as Team Captain) where he will compete at the State Level next week. Curtis is also active in FBLA, Corazón de Vida club, & National Honor Society.

Curtis Liu

"Fish Are Death, Not Food!"

A glimpse into the brain of a guy who is allergic to EVERYTHING - or at least that is how it feels sometimes! Sometimes the greatest fears come from within. Experiences and conditions impact our perceptions of the world. For some, Mount Everest seems terrifying, for me, my greatest fear is the all-you-can-eat-buffet. What I did not realize was that this fear altered my entire perspective on making mistakes and having meaningful connections with others. This talk explores how I navigate in a world full of potential death traps at every meal and hopes to give others insight into their own perceptions of medical issues and the world.

Neha Upadhyaya

Existentialism: Finding Your Purpose

How to overcome an existential crisis? Everyone has a purpose in society and the discovery of this purpose will allow a person to achieve a feeling of belonging in society. Society can be represented by a structure of Jenga blocks, in which each block that creates the structure and holds a purpose in society. The role people serve in society typically is found in the jobs and careers they take one. Many people face a struggle in their life where they cannot find a place for their Jenga block in society, however, the discovery of one's purpose is achievable.

Neha Upadhyaya is a senior at Valencia High School enrolled in the IB program. She has been a Girl Scout for over ten years and is currently working on her Gold Award project. She enjoys involving herself in her community through the Yorba Linda Library Teen Advisory Board and serves as the board’s secretary. On campus, Neha is the president of the TAAL Indian Dance club and runs the annual Culture Show. Additionally, she is the vice president of the French Club and winner of the club’s 2018 film festival. She has allow been apart of Mock Trial for three years and spent her last year as one of the team captains. Her passions include volunteering, dancing, and reading. Next fall, Neha is excited to attend college to pursue a degree in political science.

David Lee is a junior at Valencia High School who has yet to shy away from the challenges posed by the IB and ValTech programs. When not socializing with his closest friends, playing street basketball, or out in the archery range nailing bull’s eyes, you’ll likely find this learning-enthusiast sitting in front of a computer screen staring at hundreds of lines of code. While immersed in the world of technology, David also often finds himself lost in artistic thought, with his musical passions willing him to play the cello for local orchestras and his eyes for graphic design yielding his position as an editor-in-chief of Valencia’s publication group called El Tigre. As he continues to embark on the next stages of his education with excitement, he hopes to explore the technological industry, possibly even developing and researching technological improvements that would transform the lives of every individual in his community and in his world.

David Lee

Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe?

The ubiquity of technology in the 21st century poses a dilemma for the future of all of mankind, one that can and must be addressed now. In the Information Age, we can’t escape the presence of technology, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) beginning to make its mark in the world. Common myths depicting AI in fictional form simply attests trek of technology throughout history , though it doesn't quite capture the computational power of AI, as well as the risks involved. At the end of the day, the dilemma of AI out-competing humans in the industrial workforce can and must be addressed, with members of the status quo guiding technological evolution towards a future of complementing co-existence.

Elijah Chung

Harmony: Be You to Belong

Evidence for Conformity - In music and life, harmony is most beautiful with a myriad of strong parts. Know what you are created to be and strive to play that role with all that is within you. Then you will finally realize the irreplaceable value that is innate in your role and will come to appreciate how it blends beautifully with everyone else's roles to create such powerfully moving moments in both music and life.

Elijah Chung is a high school junior involved in Valencia’s International Baccalaureate Program and a variety of extracurricular Activities. Music has always been a major part of Elijah’s life due to his father’s prominent role as a worship leader at a bible camp the Chung family would attend semi-annually. Initially shy and timid about his voice and musicianship, Elijah - through encouragement from his parents to join the Kraemer and Valencia choirs- has found his voice through the deep connections he has forged with his classmates that provided a conducive environment for him to develop self-esteem and as a musician. Elijah attributes his experiences with music as lessons that apply to all of his areas of life: whether it be on the volleyball court or in the classroom.

Adeline Woltkamp is a senior in the International Baccalaureate program at Valencia, a Tiger Tutor as part of the National Honor Society, as well as a member of the Valencia Tiger Regiment marching and jazz bands (she was Drum Major!). Her hobbies include reading, writing, listening to music, and telling herself she’ll only watch one more episode of Jane the Virgin but then watching six because they all end on cliffhangers. She would like to thank Mrs. Filowitz for having her back no matter what and working to make this experience possible. She would also like to thank her family for supporting her on her educational journey and throughout everything she does. Adeline’s TEDx talk is dedicated to her father, Anthony Woltkamp, who passed away on October 20, 2018.

Adeline Woltkamp

"Requiem - Coping With the Loss of a Parent"

Losing a beloved parent as a teenager feels like your whole world is crashing down, making it difficult to connect to certain aspects of the way your life was before. Loss can be all-consuming, compartamentalized, or pain you learn to live with - true grief is different for everyone. But for everyone, it CAN be difficult to re-establish your groove with acquaintances, friends, and loved ones once your perspective shifts and your life is changing. This talk touches upon reaching out and relying on the love and support of people and communities, in whatever form it may come, during difficult periods. This TEDx talk is dedicated to Anthony Woltkamp, who passed away on October 20, 2018. #Cancer #Communication #Community #Compassion #Death #Emotions #Empathy #Family #Health #Life #Memory #Mental health #Pain #Parenting #Relationships #Self-help

Brandon Kwon

The Magnitude of Nostalgic Forces ("Belonging" as Noun")

Motivation From the Familiar - in this case a basketball. Within every weakness is an untapped strength. Our world has transformed into a systematic society where intense expectations and work-first mentality has made psychological burnout and a lack of motivation a common occurrence. However, something as simple as a nostalgic memory can be the small encouraging factor that places one back on their road to success.

Brandon Kwon is a junior enrolled in the IB & Val-Tech programs at Valencia High School. Brandon strives to be an active member of society and contribute when possible. As an enthusiast of fast-paced sports, Brandon translates his passion as a member of Valencia Varsity Tennis team. He also volunteers at a local hospital, building relationships with patients and peers. Additionally, he participates in Valencia STEM, which provides young children at the Yorba Linda Boys' & Girls' Club with an enjoyable, learning experience through varying experiments. Brandon has been participating in Lincoln-Douglas Debate competitions since 7th grade and serves as Vice President in the VHS Speech and Debate Club. However, outside of preparing for school activities, Brandon enjoys watching movies, listening to music, doing thrilling activities, & most significantly playing his childhood favorite sport, basketball. In the future, he hopes major in biochemistry & become a medical professional.

Armaan Bhata is a senior at Valencia High School. He is currently enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program at school, and hopes to get his IB Diploma after four very exhausting years. He also enjoys dance; this interest has led him to join the Indian Dance Club at his school, allowing him to easily and conveniently blend his passion for performance and his own Indian culture. In addition, he is also a member of the LINK Crew, helping freshmen get accustomed to their new high school life by hosting events and gatherings to make new students feel welcomed at Valencia. Outside of school, he enjoys skating at his local ice rink, spending his hours doing his best not to fall flat on his face with the support of his friends. Armaan hopes to become a journalist, traveling the world and reporting in the fields of fashion, sports, and entertainment.

Armaan Bhatia

Move Like You Mean It - Tales of a Colorguard Unicorn

Belonging isn't always about fitting in to societal norms and following the cookie cutter roles laid out for us; you can create your own sense of belonging by finding whatever it is that makes you happy.After joining my school's colorguard team(s), I noticed a great deal of unspoken criticism towards my joining a sport that was dominated mainly by girls. I started to feel that maybe I didn't really belong in this sport, and that joining the team was a mistake. Fortunately, after a while, I found that the sideways glances and prolonged stares meant next to nothing to me anymore. I realized soon enough that the only thing I needed to make me feel that I belonged was the passion I had for what I did.

Xavier Nunez-Sundara

Serendipitous Cultural Fusion - From Civilizations to the Playground

From civilizations to the playground, belonging is an essential element in being human. But, what does it mean? In this discussion, 9th grader Xavier Nunez-Sundara describes his own views of belonging in relation to a broader cultural perspective (specifically, looking at the Druze in Israel and himself in relation to the world around him).

Xavier Nunez-Sundara is currently a Freshman at Valencia High School, enrolled in their prestigious International Baccalaureate program. He ran for the Valencia Cross Country Team and proceeded to run for the Track and Field team as a distance runner. When not working on school work or running with his team, Xavier can be found reading a book or watching videos on the internet, both in an attempt to satiate his curiosity and love of learning. While he often seems impatient with his friends, Xavier recognizes that, when people are in a rock and a hard place, they need a level head that is willing to listen to them and is more than willing to be that level head.

Lyba, 17 years old, is currently a high school senior part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at her school. Her passions include public speaking, dancing, and coding in Java. Lyba always admires Bollywood dance, and fulfills her passion through the TAAL Indian Dance Club at school where, as vice president, she organizes and participates in the annual culture show. She is also co-founder and Vice President of the #BuiltByGirls club at her school that connects girls in the community with people in the technological industry. Lyba’s experience with computer science began when she took her first computer science course at school. Her love for coding in Java only increased from there, and is currently taking the Higher Level IB class. Lyba plans on attending a four year university and her future goals include, but are not limited to, obtaining a degree in computer science and traveling around the world in order to spread passion for technology for the betterment of society.

Lyba Batla

The False Realities of your Imagination

News Flash! High School Musical isn't not real!! High School Musical really displayed the expectations of what high school is supposed to look like. However, the reality of the situations is completely different. Everybody has a different definition of belonging and sometimes it's distorted by society. Being able to connect with those closest to you is key!

Sydney Tsai

The Facade of Representation - The Impact of Incorrect Casting

Sydney Tsai is a junior at Valencia High School who is completing the International Baccalaureate program. Because of her interest in a variety of cultures, Sydney is a self proclaimed "history buff" who enjoys learning about U.S. and East Asian history, since she learns a lot more about herself in the process. Her main school activity is mock trial, which she recently became a team captain for this school year. Outside of school, Sydney pursues long distance running in half marathons and "fun runs" with friends. If you ever see Sydney, she would most likely be talking to friends, doing homework, watching Pixar and Studio Ghibli movies, or practicing her drawing skills. Sydney hopes to enter college as a political science major and eventually pursue law.

Saleem Haider

STUDENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/COORDINATOR

Belonging to the Process

A colloquial and last minute speech on how to go with the flow! What does it even mean to take risks? Well, Saleem Haider aims to explain how he has gone through his high school career and the different things he has overcome. He offers an interesting perspective on a relate able topic by delivering his beliefs in a rather unusual, but entertaining manner.

Saleem Haider is a seventeen-year-old student here at Valencia High School currently enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Program. Delving into problems and concepts headfirst and learning hands-on is what Saleem enjoys on campus and at home. Being a member of the Valencia High School Tiger Regiment Drumline, Saleem’s passion is playing music. Having spoken at a TEDx event not once, but twice in the prior two years, he is excited to be performing for the third time in his high school career. During the past year, Saleem has been assistant-director for this year's TEDx event and has helped make this night the success it is. He has a passion for public speaking and sincerely hopes you enjoy his talk tonight.

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