TEDxColegio Maya Youth

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Anelisse Cristel Quan

  Student

  Anelisse Cristel Quan is a Colegio Maya student that has never been scared of speaking up. Speaking up has been her passion since she was small, for the ones who don’t have a voice and for the ones whose opinion surrounds them. Another one of her passions is reading, especially classics. One of her favorite authors is Mieko Kwakami, she writes about gender inequality and womanhood, her favorite book being “Breasts and Eggs”. The goal of her TED talk is for people to lookout for themselves and for the rights, freedom and respect of others.

• Belén Pimentel Ruiz

  Student

  Belén describes herself as a loving person who deeply values justice, empathy, and making others feel seen. Having faced challenges through childhood and teenage years, Belén has learned that our experiences shape us without defining who we are. Inspired by artists like Tyler, the Creator, whose music reflects on personal experiences and change, she has found a connection to her personal background that has shaped the person she is today. Through her TED Talk, she hopes to give a voice to those who feel unheard and to encourage others never to judge someone's silent battles. Most importantly, she wants people to remember: "You matter".

• Braylon Moore

  Student

  Braylon Moore is a high school sophomore who is passionate about certain things in the world. This includes basketball, track and field, and a little bit of cooking. He is not passionate about many things, but when he is, he is always determined to do his best until he can no longer continue. A student who is seen by many through a thousand different lenses but believes in his true self and who he really is.

• Chris Muller

  Secondary Principal

  Chris Muller is an international school leader, United States Marine Corps veteran, and doctoral researcher whose work explores how leadership lessons transfer across professions and cultures. He serves as the Secondary School Principal at Colegio Maya–The American International School of Guatemala and has spent more than 15 years working in American schools throughout Mexico and Guatemala. Before entering education, Chris served as a Marine platoon sergeant and completed two combat deployments to Iraq. His experiences in the Marine Corps. particularly seeing how trust, decentralized decision-making, and service to others develop leadership capacity, continue to shape how he works with students, educators, and school communities. Chris is completing his doctoral studies at Wilkes University to earn a doctorate in Educational Leadership, where his research examines the transferability of military-developed servant leadership into educational leadership.

• Da In Lee

  Student

  Da In Lee is a 10th-grade student at Colegio Maya in Guatemala, where she has been a student for 12 years, creating a deep connection with the school. She is a South Korean who grew up in Guatemala her whole life, giving her a unique connection to both cultures. Outside of school, she loves spending quality time with her family, friends, and her dog, whom she loves very much. She also enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and making memories.

• Ellie Ng

  Student

  Ellie Ng is a individual who lets creativity and design take control, finding inspiration through her surroundings and transforming Ideas into forms of expression. Beyond creativity, she values personal growth, individuality, and curiosity. As a 10th grade student she recognizes that every experience enriches an aspect of who she is, helping her become the individual she aspires to be. Ellie hopes to continue experimenting with different creative elements that guide her through her process of self discovery. Through this journey she encourages others to embrace exploration, step beyond what feels familiar, and discover the variety of elements that can allow us to build a unique identity.

• Hyeun Do (David) Ko

  Student

  David is a driven 10th-grade student and aspiring sports manager who believes that personal growth comes from self-discovery rather than constant competition. After spending years navigating the pressure of being compared to an academically high-achieving sibling, David discovered how to transform insecurity into self-confidence and leadership. Today, as President of the Athletic Booster Club, David works to encourage peers to step out of others' shadows and build their own authentic paths.

• Jun Lee

  Student

  Jun Lee was born in Guatemala with Korean heritage and is passionate about football, volleyball, and photography. He enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. Jun also enjoys serving the community and actively participating in NHS service activities to help the community. Jun hopes to foster school spirit while getting people involved in serving the community around them.

• Katia Rost Lizama

  Student

  Katia is a 10th grader at Colegio Maya. She has lived in Costa Rica, Argentina, and Peru, moved to Guatemala in 6th grade, and has been part of the school ever since then. She loves spending her time traveling and exploring new places. Part of the reason why she loves traveling is because she enjoys meeting new cultures and new people. She loves enjoying every little moment the most. She also loves spending time listening to any type of music and is really passionate about it. Her family is a very important part of her life, she enjoys spending time with them and sharing lovely moments. She really enjoys being part of the Maya community and looks forward to continuing to be a part of it.

• Marcelo R. Vives

  Student

  Marcelo R. Vives, a 10th-grade student at Colegio Maya, is deeply passionate about theatre, fashion, and being able to explore how one can grow into the person they want to be. With his silly experiences as a high schooler, Marcelo is able to resonate with the audience as both a leader and a performer. Also, he has been able to develop a curiosity about how people can change.

• Marisa Koike

  Student

  Marisa Koike is a 10th grade student at Colegio Maya with a passion for political science, international relations, and understanding the world around her. As part of a U.S. Embassy family, she has grown up traveling and living in different countries across multiple continents, experiences that have shaped her perspective on global issues and the stories that receive attention. Outside the classroom, Marisa has been involved in theater as a stage manager for several years and enjoys reading and writing. Through her work, she hopes to encourage others to look beyond the stories they see most often and consider the ones that may be overlooked.

• Natalia Baldizon Valencia

  Student

  Natalia Baldizon Valencia is a dedicated student from Guatemala who values personal growth, curiosity, and meaningful connections. She is passionate about business, design, and learning. For her TED Talk, Natalia explores how reliving the past can affect the present, combining personal experiences with psychological research to encourage others to stop dwelling on what happened and focus on the life in front of them.

• Sofia Orero Sugasti

  Student

  Sofia Orero is a tenth-grade student at Colegio Maya who loves being surrounded by good people, good energy, and new experiences. She would describe herself as outgoing, curious, and definitely not someone who likes to stay in one place for too long. Sofia enjoys being creative, spending time with her friends and family, and making memories that she can look back on. Her faith is also an important part of her life and has helped her through both good and challenging moments. She believes that some of the best parts of life come from the people you meet, the lessons you learn, and the moments you never planned for.

• Suyoung Kim

  Student

  Suyoung Kim is a 10th-grade student who has grown up traveling and living in several culturally diverse countries. Growing up in different environments, she learned how to adapt to new cultures, perspectives, and communities. At school, she enjoys learning about Biology and History. Beyond academics, Suyoung likes playing piano, reading books, baking, and spending time with her family and friends. These experiences have shaped her into a curious, open-minded person.

• Trini Pando

  Student

  Trini Pando is a 16-year-old student shaped by different countries, cultures, and ideas of home. Living through constant change sparked her fascination with memory—how ordinary moments become sacred only once they are out of reach. Through nostalgia, she explores the invisible thread between who we were and who we are becoming.