2025 Speakers

Get to know those on the stage.

Cruz Xu ‘27

Emcee

Cruz is an international student in the 10th grade at York School from Shandong, China, and he's thrilled to be the emcee of the TedxYorkSchool2025 event! He's passionate about technology, tennis, and video games, and his academic strengths are in math and physics. This is his second year studying and living in the United States. He absolutely loves the academic atmosphere at York, and he's already taken three AP courses in his sophomore year. He's excited to use a more rational perspective to view the world through continuous learning because he believes that learning can provide answers to the things that happen in life.

Yolanda Chen ‘25

Student Speaker

Yolanda, a senior student, artist, tennis player, a Chinese girl, a daughter, and granddaughter, is excited to take the stage at TEDx 2025. With a deep love for animals, trees, fossils, food, writing, and cherished moments with loved ones, her life is rich with exciting adventures and treasured memories that have shaped who she is. Through the adventure stories about her life and her grandfather's, she will embark on a journey of self-discovery, exploring the essence of who she truly is.

Ja’Khiah McMillian ‘26

Student Speaker

Ja’Khiah is 17 years old and in the 11th grade. Her hobbies are sleeping and eating while always watching tv. She also enjoys crime shows and hopes to become a lawyer one day attending FAMU. Through the loss of her grandma, Josephine, she went through trials and tribulations at a young age and hopes to further find herself through her grief and her future career.

Justin Robles Parra ‘26

Student Speaker

Justin is 17 years old and is in the 11th grade. Some of his hobbies are deep thinking and building Legos. He also likes to meet and learn about new people. He tries to take opportunities that will help his future, like public speaking. Justin likes to volunteer and am the founder of York’s Service learning club.

Xinyao Zhang ‘26

Student Speaker

Xinyao (Shīn-yáo), a junior at York and an international student from Hangzhou, China, is thrilled to take the stage at TEDxYorkSchool 2025 to share her journey of navigating the delicate balance between seeking external validation and pursuing her true passions. A passionate adventurer who embraces new challenges, Xinyao made her musical theater debut last year as Constance Blackwood in Ride the Cyclone and will be returning to the stage this year as Fantine in Les Misérables. Outside the theater, she is a dedicated artist and serious academic who spent her last summer immersed in the study of biology and human physiology. With her love for spreading positivity, Xinyao hopes to inspire and uplift you tonight!

Bryan Kim ‘25

Student Speaker & Musical Element

Bryan Kim is a senior who is dedicated to his lifelong hobby of music. He is excited to give a short TEDx talk about how he models his living after the drums and provide music during breaks of the show. When not playing music, you can find Bryan lifting weights, playing basketball or tennis, or debating over sports with his friends.

Elizabeth Siva

Guest Student Speaker

Elizabeth Siva is a junior at Palo Alto Senior High School. She’s passionate about mathematics and public policy and has a pet dog, Sandie. Over her high school career, she’s taken several university level math courses, and is a passionate advocate for mathematics policy. In her free time, she enjoys classic literature, choir, baking, and running. She’s excited to share her journey in mathematics!

Candi Deschamps

York Faculty Speaker

Candi Deschamps is the Chair of the Humanities Department at York School. Before joining York, Ms. Deschamps lived in New York City for eighteen years, where she worked for various arts organizations and soaked in a lot of life before becoming an English teacher. Beyond the classroom, she is a writer of fiction and memoir, and she is passionate about many topics, including sobriety, the criminal justice system, and Lana Del Rey. Ms. Deschamps lives in Marina with one spouse, two children, and three pets.

Dr. Kim Stone ‘99

Community Member

Kim Stone is a proud alumna of York School '99. After graduating from York, Kim attended Stanford where she majored in Human Biology as a premed student, and competed in the high jump on the track team. Kim now lives in the Bay Area with her husband and 2 boys, where they hike, bike, and frolic near Stanford where she works as a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery. Kim's area of clinical expertise is in the treatment of breast cancer, and she is looking forward to sharing with you her journey.