Theme: Mainstream to Introspective: Changing the Way We Think

Our event will explore how diving deeper beyond how we currently think can help us get down to the bottom of the issues that surround us. By considering how our thoughts are influenced by other people, popular media, and other outside factors, we will question if the widespread ways of approaching problems really work. And if they don’t, what is a better way? Our thoughts are powerful enough to shape not only us but also the people in our lives. Together, let’s explore, question, and change the way we think so that we can manifest those ideas to truly change the world.

Event photos on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tedxyouthlowellhs/ !
Talks uploaded on TED and YouTube in TEDx Talks!

Lowell High School
1101 Eucalyptus Dr. Main Building, Second Floor
San Francisco, California, 94132
United States

Brandon Ng

High School Student, 11th grade

Brandon Ng is a current junior at Lowell High School in San Francisco, California. He is one of the co-presidents of the school's TEDEd Club, the secretary of the Eco Club, and a reporter for the student-run newspaper. His passion's include caring for the environment, public speaking, writing, photography, and helping others.

Jessica Sun

Technical Program Manager, Facebook Reality Labs

Jessica Sun moved to the Bay Area 8 years ago to attend school at UC Berkeley. Originally from Austin, TX, she studied mechanical engineering and earned her Bachelor's Degree in 2016. Post-graduation, she spent a semester abroad in Shanghai, China, and then began her career as an Engineering Project Manager at Apple, where she worked on Audio Products hardware. In August 2019, she shifted her career direction and spent several months at Zoox, now a subsidiary of Amazon, aiming to develop autonomous mobility (aka self driving cars) from the ground up. She is now part of the Facebook Reality Labs team, with a mission to build platforms that make people feel more connected even when apart. In her free time, she enjoys baking, swimming, and hosting get togethers (pre-COVID). As a millennial influenced by technology, she cares deeply about inspiring current and future generations to be fully present and enjoy the intangible parts of life.

Olga Tymofiyeva

Assistant Professor in the UCSF Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging

Olga Tymofiyeva was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and came to San Francisco 10 years ago to conduct research at UCSF. She hold degrees in Physics (PhD, University of Wuerzburg, Germany), Electrical Engineering (MSc, University of Applied Sciences, Karlsruhe, Germany and BSc, NTUU “KPI”, Kyiv, Ukraine), and Psychology (BSc, University of Hagen, Germany). As part of her lifelong learning endeavor, she is also in the process of earning a MSc degree in Psychology (University of Hagen, Germany, Distant Learning). At UCSF, Dr. Tymofiyeva leads a research lab called “BrainChange.” The focus of her research is non-invasive mapping of the structure, microstructure, connectivity and function of the developing adolescent brain. In her lab, they develop and apply advanced MRI techniques to study the neurobiological substrates of mental disorders, such as adolescent depression, and the effects of non-pharmacological mind-body interventions (such as mindfulness meditation and placebo) on teens.

Tanya Santos

Freshman at UC Berkeley

Tanya Santos is a Class of 2020 Lowell graduate and a first year at Berkeley. While at Lowell, she was the president of Impact Delta and Eco Club, reflecting her passion in public health and environmental advocacy and sustainability. With her talk, she will share her own experience with religion and how her perspective has changed over time.