Breaking the Silence—GNS Student Leah Wang ’27 Finds Her Voice

Many of us are familiar with TED Talks, and the local equivalent TEDx, inspiring conferences that embody the spirit of ideas changing everything. The astounding knowledge and creative thinking shared through these events encourage listeners to take action in their everyday lives.

It is incredibly exciting, then, that the TEDxVictoria Conference is returning on June 10 at the McPherson Playhouse to bring ideas, energy and impact to the community. Last year, the sold-out event showcased speakers who inspired, engaged and encouraged the audience.

This year, the youngest speaker is none other than Glenlyon Norfolk School Grade 10 student, Leah Wang. Embodying the theme of ripples, how small actions can make a larger impact, Leah will speak on the power of communication, drawing from her own life experiences. She firmly believes that everyone’s voice can make a difference and that public speaking is a transformative life skill to have. 

Leah explains that she came across an Instagram post announcing that TEDxVictoria was looking for speakers, and that she said to herself, “It’s always good to shoot your shot. Even if you don’t think you can do it, you may as well try” before submitting a video application. Three months later, she heard she was moving on in the process and ended up in the top 3% of applicants, being the youngest of only 14 speakers chosen. 

After growing up with selective mutism and a stutter that lasted around ten years, Leah overcame these challenges with the help of an unexpected new hobby—public speaking. As a child, she struggled with these communication issues and now reflects that “that’s a story that I’d never heard that much. When I listen and read about selective mutism in youth, I always see it from the perspective of a doctor or a parent, but never the actual perspective of the child who dealt with the selective mutism. I thought that it’s my chance to share with the world, what my experiences were like, and how I can help other people and share what happened to me.”

Leah recognizes that her journey with both speaking issues and public speaking may be seen as somewhat of a contradiction, describing her previous self as terrified of even speaking to a cashier. She now looks forward to speaking in front of thousands of people and explains how much it helped her overcome her fears and struggles by pushing her out of her comfort zone. After her first summer camp in the subject, “I realized that people listened to what I had to say, and I thought, it’s so valuable to be heard. Because it’s not about being perfect or being the loudest speaker, it’s about how much people can hear you, and that’s what I want people to take away from my speech.” 

At GNS, Leah Wang has made a splash in her first year at the school, having a profound impact on her community already. CAN Club Teacher Sponsor Ms. Jennie Greven shares that “I am so impressed with Leah! She is a quiet mover and a shaker, taking on leadership roles that show her passion for creating positive change in her community, and that require strong organizational and communication skills. She’s also just a lovely human to be around.” 

Ms. Sarah McKerlich, Round Square Coordinator, also shares that “She has emerged as a capable leader, organizing Round Square initiatives and following through on her actions.” Leah will also be representing GNS at Sc3: Student Conservation Community & Congress this summer, a prestigious student leadership program for aspiring change-makers.

Through the Youth Debate League outside of school, Leah also coaches students ages 8 to 10 on public speaking, argument structures and critical thinking as a way of giving back. She encourages others to focus on being heard when speaking, and not on perfection. Her speaking mentoring is also part of a free program, making speech more accessible as well. “That’s my ripple, because I struggled, and I know that not everyone has the same access to help that I did,” Leah shares, referencing the TEDxVictoria theme. 

As Leah gears up to share her story, she hopes that people listening come away with more patience and respect for others. “We should understand that we all live lives in our own ways, and I believe that we all speak in our own ways.” In addition, GNS parent Dr. Olav Krigolson will also speak about his groundbreaking neuroscience work. If anyone is interested in attending the conference to hear Leah Wang, Dr. Krigolson and the rest of the inspiring lineup, you can find more information here: tedxvictoria.ca.