Theme: Breaking Barriers

"Breaking Barriers" is an idea in someone who has overcome adversity through the use of imagination and perseverance. Many people would be able to relate to an individual that has surpassed challenges and struggles within their own journey and that demonstrate a will to be unique and to never give up. The main message for the audience to take away is that barriers will never shield us from reaching our goals and aspirations, only we have the power to dictate our own path and outcome. Strive for greatness, be yourself, and use your imagination to pulse past troubles in life.

Lyceum Theater
1122 Se 228th Ave
Sammamish, Washington, 98029
United States

TEDxYouth@Sammamish

Many people in our audience will be able to relate to an individual that has surpassed challenges and struggles within their own journey and that demonstrate a will to be unique and to never give up. The main message for the audience to take away is that barriers will never shield us from reaching our goals and aspirations, only we have the power to dictate our own path and outcome.

Brad Anderson

Corporate VP, Microsoft

Brad Anderson focuses on supporting a modern workforce that operates in a world of connected devices. He believes strongly in equality within the workplace.

Kedar Yadav

Student

Kedar Yadav is a Skyline Senior. Although he is still in high school, he aspires to attain a PHD in physics and pursue the natural sciences in general. He hopes to work in either quantum computing or other modern fields such as particle physics.

Lisa Thompson

Mountaineer

Lisa Thompson is an accomplished mountaineer who has stood on top of six of the world's highest mountains, including, as you will hear, Mt. Everest. Throughout her life, she has become adept at gracefully overcoming challenges in order to accomplish unexpected things. She is still the only person in her entire family to graduate from college. Afterwards, she grew her career from a field service engineer to the leader of a $25m organization.

Nicki Cox

Student

Nicki Cox is a 17 year old student at Skyline High School. After almost dying from a young age from Anorexia, she has had to grow up a bit faster than most high schoolers. Eating disorders are a serious problem that should never be left unaddressed. It's a journey both physically and mentally but definitely one anyone can overcome!  

Paari Gopal

Student

Paari Gopal is a senior at Skyline High School. Next year, he will be studying computer science in the Paul G. Allen School at the University of Washington. In his free time, Paari likes to play soccer and basketball and hang out with his friends. He is an avid member of his school's math and stock club. He is always listening to music or watching television in Spanish as he is a big fan of the language.

Russel Newman

Vice President Field Management and Distribution

Russel Newman is first and foremost a husband and father. He has been married to his wife Magdalena Newman for almost 15 years. He has two amazing sons, Nathaniel 13, and Jacob soon to be 11. He earned his Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law in San Diego, CA. but has never once stepped into a courtroom as an attorney and has spent the bulk of his professional career in Sales & Marketing. He is currently the Vice President of Field Operations Management for QBE, NA part of the global insurer based in Sydney, Australia QBE Insurance Group. His family has navigated through storms unimaginable. He has witnessed in his wife and children courage beyond measure and has learned that unconditional love is an unstoppable force.

Sharan Jhangiani

Student

Sharan Jhangiani is a senior at Issaquah High School and incoming freshman at the University of Washington. At school, he is an officer in the Issaquah DECA Program, running the DECA store as well as placing top ten internationally this April. He also runs the Issaquah High School Code Club, a club he started to stimulate growth in computer science at Issaquah High School. He is extremely sociable and lives for the connections he makes with others. Sharan is an avid soccer player and played this past season for the Issaquah High School Varsity team. He loves to share his passion for business, technology, innovation and his general curiosity for the world among his peers and is excited to be working on a startup later this summer. 

Tara Krishnan

Student

Tara Krishnan is a freshman at Skyline High School. She really enjoys working with younger children and teaching them about subjects that interest her, such as math, biology and anatomy. In the future, she wants to become a teacher and mentor for kids. She also really likes public speaking as it challenges her to share my ideas. She also pursues many things outside of school such as art, dance and tutoring.