John Marcus

Change Agent, Idea generator, Journalist, Marketer, Performer, Producer, Project manager, Student

I am a high school senior at Palisades Charter High School in Los Angeles, California, where I pursue an ambitious course load of Honors and Advanced Placement classes. In addition, I am deeply involved in video production, journalism, and acting. As the Special Projects Manager of my school's video production class, Pali Production, we film and live stream school events. I am also an editor on my school's newspaper, The Tideline where I write about issues relating to students. I also contribute articles to a blog sponsored by the Los Angeles Public Library, writing about interesting places in LA, both the well-known and the hidden. Since my freshman year, I have been a member of the theater department, where I act and direct scenes on campus and in regional theater festivals. This fall, I will be applying to colleges where I look forward to studying journalism, public policy, and media studies.

Last year, I co-organized TEDxYouth@ElectricAvenue. I met Jess Walia, the host of the event, only a few months before he began to plan the conference. We hit it off, and as a producer and the Director of Technical/Logistical planning, I designed posters and programs, coordinated a film crew, and stage managed the event. My main incentive to create another TEDxYouth conference is to inspire my community and to showcase ways students can expand their interests in a variety of fields.