Judy Zhou

Change Agent, Philanthropist, Student

My story begins in the heart of Beijing, the bustling city in which I took my first breath of air. With two working parents, I see my paternal grandpa, a man defined and decorated by his many years serving the Chinese Air Force, as my primary caretaker in my toddler years, and from him I found my courage, curiosity, and compassion as I would embark on my journey in exploring the world. Fast forward 4 years of my life, and I found myself halfway across in globe in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, and thus began the dance of Chinese and Western Culture in my heart. Being brought into a completely different culture at such a young age, I discovered confusion and loneliness, but more importantly found the ability to search for similarities beyond differences and the open mind to adapt and integrate myself into different groups of people. People intrigued me then, and my interest has yet to subside to this day. Another four years later, I finally landed where I am today, away from the British Columbia lakes and forests and inside a suburb within Los Angeles County. Today, I am 17 years young as a senior in high school that is enrolled in independent study, after developing chronic disabling migraines that forced me to miss too much school to continue being in the traditional high school education system. I cannot completely complain, though, because I treasure that I have been given the opportunity to be a sponge that absorbs knowledge not quickly, but deeply. Beyond academics, I am involved in student leadership programs, I am starting my own nonprofit initiatives, and of course, I am in love with the platform and community that TED has created.

TEDxYouth@Fullerton, mental illness advocacy, youth leadership, sustainable consumerism, healthy eating, and empowering peers.

Peer counseling, training, and support. Living with chronic depression throughout my high school career has been difficult at many points, but has also opened my eyes to the potential of each individual in the present. Therefore, it has become my goal to help the youth around me realize the potential of the actions and steps that they can begin taking today for their own passions and visions. Whether it be peer counseling for adolescence also suffering from mental illnesses, or peer training to grow together as leaders, the power of working with those like us is the most inspiring thing anyone can experience.

My freshman year of high school, I was in deep need for inspiration. A friend had linked me to a motivational speaker, and from there, I stumbled into the TED Talks side of Youtube. I watched almost every video on their Youtube channel that weekend, and have been following up with their speakers ever since. When I was given the opportunity to work with TEDxYouth@CityOfIndustry, I was absolutely delighted. I served as the 2013-2014 sub-organizer of logistics, and I fell in love with being able to do all the behind-the-scenes work that makes any TEDx Event possible. To have the opportunity to inspire my community as TED inspired me is such a fulfilling experience. Because I was so drawn to the organizing side of TED, I quickly went on to spread TED to the city of Fullerton by obtaining my own license to become an event organizer myself! Today, I am pushing both my team and the youth of my community to break boundaries with me.