On 7 Nov, Harrow Shanghai hosted the TEDx Harrow Shanghai Youth event, with nearly 30 students from Harrow Shanghai, Harrow Shenzhen, Harrow Nanning, and Harrow Haikou taking the stage.
The event, themed “Place”, showcased the young speakers’ exceptional critical thinking and presentation skills through personal stories, cross-cultural reflections, and deep insights into the future, as well as artificial intelligence. The students highlighted their understanding of our multi-cultural world and their sophisticated global perspectives.
Nicole Z., a Year 6 student, focused on the theme of “The Library,” discussing how libraries are not only channels for acquiring knowledge but also spaces for cultivating critical thinking. She quoted Neil Gaiman to emphasise the unique value of books and encouraged her peers to make use of this resource to build a strong foundation for their future.
In a globalised world, the blending of cultures shapes students’ development. Luke P. from Year 11 shared his experience of finding a sense of belonging while living in multiple countries. Phoenix R. from Year 7 spoke about adapting to life in China as a British student. Haoran from Year 9 explored the theme “Where We Belong?” to further explore the construction of belonging and self-awareness in a cross-cultural context.
Year 11 student Lucas L. discussed “The Places We Inhabit,” offering insights into how individuals find connection and inspiration in their environments. Xavier K. from Year 8 used his hometown as an example to reflect on the significance of one’s hometown to personal identity, encouraging the audience to contemplate their own relationships with their places of origin.
In his talk “Digital Spaces: The Metaverse,” Year 9 student Caspian H. analysed the future potential of virtual spaces. He explained that the metaverse is a space for learning, communication, and innovation, inspiring his peers to critically consider the impact of digital technology.
Winnie H. from Year 6 shared precious moments of school life, inspiring the audience to cherish the memories we create on campus.
The celebration party was also exciting, with our young musicians delivering an audio-visual feast. The choir, bands, and even a traditional guzheng performance took to the stage, collaborating with students from other Harrow schools in improvisational performances. Music proved to be our common language, transcendng cultural backgrounds.
Haoran (Year 9)
I had the amazing opportunity to speak at TEDx, sharing my journey with selective mutism and Bruck Syndrome. Selective mutism, affecting 1 in 140 children, affected me a lot, despite being outgoing and talkative at home. With support from my teacher, therapist, and family, I overcame it in 2019, marking one of my life’s happiest moments. Now, living with Bruck Syndrome, I carry on with my life in a wheelchair. While my condition presents challenges, like accessing certain places, it teaches us the importance of inclusivity. A modern society is one where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, feels represented and valued. As I reflect on my past and embrace my present, I try to inspire hope and understanding, reminding others where true belonging starts.
Winnie H. (Year 6)
The theme of my TEDx Youth conference was “The Treasures of School.” In my speech, I narrated four anecdotes from my school life that showed the power of true friendship, the extraordinary leadership of our teachers, and the unforgettable imprint of memories. These stories reflect how Harrow Shanghai has shaped my character. Over the course of my eight-year journey at Harrow Shanghai, I’ve formed lasting bonds, achieved academic honors, and enjoyed countless moments of joy. But most of all, I have felt a deep sense of belonging within the community around me. Harrow Shanghai has bestowed upon me far more than just academic knowledge or grades. It has given me the embrace of a second home that will always be open and nurturing. I believe that Harrow shanghai is one of the best schools in the world and that it will continue to play a truly exciting, caring, and memorable role in my life.
Caspian H. (Year 9)
The theme of my talk at this TEDx Youth Conference was “Digital Places: The Metaverse’. It is really fascinating to learn how technology brings a new virtual world.
It all started to me in Year 4 when school lessons went online during the COVID pandemic. We used a virtual whiteboard for brainstorming ideas. This ability to map our thoughts out visually enabled us to work efficiently and to collaborate real time with creativity. It was not only fun, but also rewarding.
Today, we use digital places to hold family reunions, to collaborate with teammates and to exchange ideas. I believe the age of digital places has arrived for us to join, not to fight.
Xavier K. (Year 8)
The theme of my talk at this TEDx Youth Conference was “My hometown”. In my speech I discussed the point why a hometown in significantly important to a persons identity. Also I gave an example of how is my hometown important to me in different ways like the culture and community. Finally I mentioned the point how does where we live connect to our identity. With all this in mind I hope everybody will feel more connected to their hometown.
Nicole Z. (Year 6)
The theme of my talk at this TEDx Youth Conference was “The Library”. In my speech, I talked about how the library is important to us, and how it can affect our grades. I have also quoted one of Neil Gaiman’s most famous quotes, which is this: “Google, can bring you 100,000 answers, a library can bring you back the right one.” This sentence reminds us the importance of books to in our daily life, whether we are doing homework or learning about something new. With this in mind, I believe that we will all become smarter, successful adults in the future.
Phoenix R.（Year 7）
In my speech, I discussed how I moved to China as a British child using the metaphor of playing chess. I talked about not fitting in and the different challenges I faced trying to navigate a different culture when my own sense of identity wasn’t even yet formed. My goal was to make sure, people know it’s ok not to fit in and that our differences should be celebrated.
Luke P.（Year 11）
My Tedx speech is about my diverse background and experiences growing up in different countries to my own and how I needed to learn and adapt in order to fit in to different cultures and communities.
Lucas L.（Year 11）
In my speech, I shared my experiences of moving from China to the UK at a young age, including the challenges I faced and the personal growth I achieved. I spoke about the fears and uncertainties of leaving behind everything familiar to start anew in a foreign place. Through adapting to a new environment, getting involved in sports, and participating in extracurricular activities, I gradually found my identity and gained confidence. My journey reflects how embracing change and stepping out of one’s comfort zone can lead to personal transformation.
