A simple experiment to discover what stresses high school students leads to disturbing results that soon become a story on their own. Michaela Horn shares her journey, results, and the alarming turn of events that unfolded.

A junior at Wheaton North High School, Michaela Horn is a cultural and philanthropic powerhouse. She plays piano and violin and is a member of the Wheaton North Sinfonia Orchestra and Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, having performed with her school at venues in Beijing and Shanghai. She’s a member of the Wheaton North speech team. She also writes for the school’s Falcon Flyer newspaper. She’s stood on five continents. She’s organized a book and donation drive, distributing more than 3,000 books to schools and orphanages in Ghana. She referees children’s soccer, was an assistant chess instructor for a grade school chess team, and sponsors a fellow student in Ghana, providing financial and personal support. She’s also a junior counselor at the Camp Invention summer education program. And that’s all before 18 years old.

Michaela was selected as a member of Oxford University summer educational program. She is looking forward to attending college after high school, possibly majoring in engineering. A junior at Wheaton North High School, Michaela Horn is a cultural and philanthropic powerhouse. She plays piano and violin and is a member of the Wheaton North Sinfonia Orchestra and Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, having performed with her school at venues in Beijing and Shanghai. She’s a member of the Wheaton North speech team. She also writes for the school’s Falcon Flyer newspaper. She’s stood on five continents. She’s organized a book and donation drive, distributing more than 3,000 books to schools and orphanages in Ghana. She referees children’s soccer, was an assistant chess instructor for a grade school chess team, and sponsors a fellow student in Ghana, providing financial and personal support. She’s also a junior counselor at the Camp Invention summer education program. And that’s all before 18 years old.

Michaela was selected as a member of Oxford University summer educational program. She is looking forward to attending college after high school, possibly majoring in engineering. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx