Ahmet Demir
High School Student
A 15-year-old science and learning enthusiast who loves to teach and elucidate things for his colleagues. Enjoys reading and dark humor, is an avid micro fiction writer, and classical music connoisseur.
Anna Ostapenko Alatalo
High School Student
I'm Anna Ostapenko Alatalo, a high school student in grade 11, aspiring to become a dentist. But beyond that, I have a passion for social justice. I'm sure I've often been called annoying for my outspoken personality, but I believe that standing up for what you believe in is a right everyone should exercise without fear. I think it is especially important for women to exercise this right as we are often discouraged from speaking our minds or seen as unconventional and strange if we do. I want to encourage other people, especially girls, to never submit to pressure and to always challenge the status quo if it is unfair. To achieve this dream I have started a passion project called Bridging Perceptions with like-minded individuals from my school. We plan on educating our local community - and the rest of the world through social media - about injustices around the world that have been unrepresented by mainstream media.
Ayşe Demir
High School Student
In a world undergoing constant change, it is up to us, as youth, to not only acknowledge the morphing nature of fields like education, politics, and healthcare but to also harness our capabilities to discover and uncover the hidden chambers encased within the depths of both the world and ourselves. As an aspiring physician entranced by the wonders of neuroscience and genetics, I am looking forward to sharing a piece of the present, and the future, that lies in every one of us. Join me on an endeavor into what seems like philosophy but is more crisply described as reality.
Saara Doi
High School Student
When faced with the abandonment of those in need by all modern reserves of power, it becomes imperative for society to reclaim their fundamental democratic liberties in order to make decisions that prioritize the well-being of the entire community over the interests of a privileged few. I aim to explore a shift in perspective on the term radicalism, diverging from the mainstream narrative perpetuated by media. I will argue that regulation in quest for justice is no virtue, exemplified by Malcolm X in his monumental Oxford Union debate. This marks a crucial stride towards alleviating suffering, because as Angela Davis once remarked, "You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time".