2025 High School Winners

Kelly Guo is a 9th-grade student at Gretchen Whitney High School in Cerritos, California. She first learned about the World of 8 Billion video contest through her biology teacher, who encouraged the class to participate in the competition. Although the project was optional, Kelly was drawn to the topic of child wellbeing because it was an area she had little knowledge of and rarely heard discussed. Intrigued by the opportunity to learn and raise awareness about a topic she wasn’t familiar with, Kelly decided to create a video that would highlight the importance of child wellbeing.

Kelly’s inspiration for the video came from her love of art and creativity. “I’ve always enjoyed arts and crafts,” she explains. “I saw artists on YouTube creating videos, and it sparked an idea for me.” She spent hours crafting small props and drawing intricate details for the video, even though it was challenging to keep the materials intact. Despite these challenges and it being her first video-making experience, Kelly found the experience quite rewarding.

Outside of video creation, Kelly is active in extracurricular activities. She is part of her school’s STEM Club, Science Olympiad Team, and One Heart Fiber Arts group. Through the Science Olympiad, she and her teammates have won multiple medals in regional and state competitions in categories like anatomy, earth science, and engineering. She is passionate about biology and enjoys learning about how things work. In addition to her academic pursuits, Kelly is an avid cook and loves learning how to make traditional Chinese dishes from her mother, like stir-fried tomatoes and eggs.

Kelly also has a soft spot for animals, particularly birds. Growing up, she had 13 pet chickens, and her love for them began with a chance encounter when her mom spotted a chicken in the backyard. Her parents are her biggest role models, always encouraging her to pursue her passions and face challenges head-on. Additionally, Kelly credits her biology teacher, Mrs. Perry, and her Science Olympiad coach, Mrs. Song, for inspiring her to pursue both science and creativity with dedication. She also gives back to her community and has earned a President’s Volunteer Service Award for her work tutoring ESL students.

In the future, Kelly aspires to work in the medical field like her father, though she’s not yet sure of the specific path. The process of making the video sparked an interest in child wellbeing, and she hopes to explore this field more as she continues her education. “I definitely want to continue making videos and submitting them to the World of 8 Billion contest”, she says, “and I’m excited to explore new ways of creating videos that can make a difference”.