Five Amazing Teenagers Who Are Changing the World
Not all teenagers spend their days with their noses in their phones. Some, under twenty, are making the world a better place. Encourage your teens to read about these five teenagers and how they have inspired the world.
Nick D’aloisio, 18
This teenager is responsible for the app Summly, which changes the way we interpret news by taking news articles and summarizing them in plain language for the reader. D’aloisio sold his app to Yahoo for a mere thirty million dollars. The Oxford student, computer programmer and internet entrepreneur probably has very little time to enjoy his millions because he is busy building a team of the best minds in the business to take his ideas to the next level. There is little doubt you’ll hear his name again, very soon.
Brittany Wenger, 18
Brittany Wegner taught a computer to diagnose Leukemia. Not your average teen, I guess you’d say. In computer speak, Wegner “built a custom, cloud-based artificial neural network to find patterns in genetic expression profiles to diagnose patients with an aggressive form of cancer called mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)” So, she’s basically a genius and a superhero. Way to go Brittany.
Zach Sobiech, 18
Zach was diagnosed with a rare and terminal cancer at the age of 14. So, he made an album, inspired millions of people with his story and raised $750,000 for Cancer research. Not what you’d expect? Well, this teenager shone brightly in the face of terminal illness. If you want to watch Zack’s story, grab a box of tissue and settle in for one of the most inspiring stories you’ll ever see.
Jacob Barnett, 16
After being diagnosed with severe autism as a child Jacob Barnett’s mother was told he would always struggle. But, by the age of 15 he would become one of the world’s premier physicists. By ‘struggle’ his doctors must have meant he would have a hard time finding anyone as brilliant as himself. This kid, and his mother, are one dynamic team. Read about Jacob in his mother’s book, The Spark.
Malala Yousafzai, 17
Young Malala stood up to the Taliban and demanded that females be allowed an education. She was shot in the head for her efforts but survived her attack and has gone on to inspire the world with her message. This teenager was named one of Time’s Most Influential People in the World.
Sources:
http://summly.com/press-team_nick.html
http://mashable.com/2013/05/21/computer-leukemia-diagnosis/#kQWXg7LOiqqR
http://www.upworthy.com/this-amazing-kid-got-to-enjoy-19-awesome-years-on-this-planet-what-he-left-behind-is-wondtacular
http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/jacob-barnett-boy-genius/
http://www.biography.com/people/malala-yousafzai-21362253
