With the theme “In youth, this is the way I have”, the event was intended for teenagers to express their views on self-development, interpersonal relationships, and typical social issues, and show their outlook on life, values, and the world.

 KWA officially obtained TEDx authorization in 2018. This event took the form of open recruitment and interview screening. All KWA students in Grade 6-11 could apply as an individual or as a team. The interview focused on three aspects: whether the content of a speech conformed to TEDx’s philosophy; whether the content was novel enough; and whether the speaker(s) had excellent English expression and basic stage skills. After three rounds of interview screening, four groups of students emerged and obtained the opportunity to share their views on stage.

In the following one and a half months, the students actively searched for materials and integrated speech content. The instructors, program leaders, and Academic Principal Wang Shi all offered their professional suggestions to help the students expand and perfect their ideas.

Meng Ziyuan and Jia Zixi, two 10th-grade students, jointly completed the “Effective communication” speech. On stage, Meng Ziyuan described her experience of studying first at a school in the United States and then at KWA. She emphasized the importance of effective communication with friends, teachers, and parents, and provided ways to improve the effectiveness of communication.

Eleventh graders Xie Xiaoyi and Xu He made a speech titled “The way to be myself in music.” Through telling their own experiences in the field of music creation, they demonstrated their life creed of daring to pursue dreams and sticking to their ideals. At the scene, Xie Xiaoyi also sang his latest original song, “0406”, and drew waves of cheers.

Teacher Elle, one of the program leaders, said, “KWA has been working hard to find a professional stage for students to express themselves and demonstrate their academic ability. We started to apply for TEDx authorization at the end of last year. We submitted lots of information and repeatedly communicated with the organizer. In the process, we once had to apply all over again because of content adjustment. Although the application process was hard, we were very happy when we saw our students enjoying the stage so much.”