Youth Speakers Lab

Youth Speakers Lab Youth Speakers Lab is more than an organization or a program.

It’s a movement to raise the next generation of clear, confident, and courageous communicators—because the world needs their voices more than ever.

A groundbreaking 2020 study published in PLOS ONE examined social anxiety prevalence among young people ages 16-29 acros...
01/21/2026

A groundbreaking 2020 study published in PLOS ONE examined social anxiety prevalence among young people ages 16-29 across seven diverse countries: Brazil, China, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States.
The findings are sobering:
The U.S. reported the highest prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder, with 57.6% of surveyed participants exceeding the diagnostic threshold—more than double the rates in some other countries studied.

The study also revealed that 1 in 6 young people experiencing clinically significant social anxiety don't even recognize they have it.
Why does this matter?
Social anxiety significantly impairs:
Academic performance and educational achievement
Career prospects and workplace functioning
Social relationships and well-being
Overall quality of life
The good news? These challenges are addressable. Communication skills, confidence, and leadership abilities can be developed through structured programs and support.
At Youth Speakers Lab, we're committed to equipping young people with the tools to overcome social anxiety, build confidence, and find their voice.
Source: Jefferies, P., & Ungar, M. (2020). Social anxiety in young people: A prevalence study in seven countries. PLOS ONE, 15(9), e0239133.
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See that curiosity? That's the magic of growing in small groups. ✨When's the last time your kid felt safe asking questio...
01/14/2026

See that curiosity? That's the magic of growing in small groups. ✨

When's the last time your kid felt safe asking questions out loud?
sorourian brings almost a decade of speaking, TEDx coaching, and leadership training to executives and business owners, to youth.

But what matters most? Making it engaging enough for youth to want to participate.

Small class. Big growth.

Check out 2 upcoming classes starting on Jan 21.

Explore 👉 https://www.youthspeakerslab.com/programs

Contact us for questions

This fall, Youth Speakers Lab had the honor of supporting CCA UNITE, a TEDx-inspired community event at Canyon Crest Aca...
01/07/2026

This fall, Youth Speakers Lab had the honor of supporting CCA UNITE, a TEDx-inspired community event at Canyon Crest Academy that had been dormant for years—until three highly driven student leaders decided to bring it back.

Our founder, .sorourian , served as external advisor and lead speaker coach, working alongside Aadi Jariwala, Kaelyn Liu, Lucas Han to revive this powerful intergenerational gathering. The result? Over 400 students and parents attended—six times the previous event.

Through weekly meetings with student leaders and individualized coaching sessions with speakers, we supported the development of a multigenerational platform featuring 4 student speakers, 3 parent speakers, and 1 alumnus exploring the theme "Flourish."

Our approach centered on empowering student ownership—providing frameworks and strategic guidance while allowing young leaders to drive decision-making on speaker selection, event design, marketing, and sponsorship. We also assembled a team of volunteer coaches from Toastmasters - District 5 community to ensure personalized support for each speaker.

Our incredible Speakers: Shahriar Afshar, Avani Goyal, Daniel Zhang, Ethan Leem, Szekeres, Gabriella Bigler, Cherman, Linda Litteral spoke about important topics such as , from , , , and so much more...
These incredible speakers were supported by Del Mar Toastmasters members from Toastmasters District 5
Special thanks to our incredible speaker coaches: Connie Adams, Wakeham , Bob Ransome, Andrew Salisbury for their support.

Student volunteers working behind the scene: Megan Zhou, Sanay Agarkar, Isha Popat, Adam Wu, Niranjan Deshpande

Grateful to Crest Academy San Dieguito Union High School District Principal Killeen and the CCA community for this partnership.

New year, bolder voices. Let's build confident young leaders together. Happy 2026!
12/31/2025

New year,
bolder voices.
Let's build confident young leaders together. Happy 2026!

Most teens don't learn to network until college. Empower Highschoolers with essential skills such as Networking, Profess...
12/29/2025

Most teens don't learn to network until college. Empower Highschoolers with essential skills such as Networking, Professional communication, and more.
In 8 weeks ✓
Interview 3 leaders ✓
Master presentations & professional communication ✓
Build connections with industry experts before graduation ✓

Limited to 8 High schoolers only • 5 spots left

https://www.youthspeakerslab.com/service-page/speak-n-lead-highschoolers-meet-leaders?referral=service_list_widget

Mehran Sorourian, M.Sc

Want to instantly improve your speaking?Pause.Not just once—but at key moments. Before your main point. After an importa...
12/25/2025

Want to instantly improve your speaking?
Pause.
Not just once—but at key moments. Before your main point. After an important question. When you want the audience to really hear what you just said.
Pauses give your words weight. They let your message land. They turn a speech into a conversation.
Most speakers rush because silence feels uncomfortable. But that silence? That's where your audience leans in.
Try it: Say your next point. Pause for two seconds. Watch how much more powerful it becomes.

Youth Speakers Lab partners with schools to equip students with essential skills for success in an increasingly competit...
12/20/2025

Youth Speakers Lab partners with schools to equip students with essential skills for success in an increasingly competitive world.
Our programs combine interactive games and real-world activities to teach critical communication, leadership, and personal branding skills.

Program Options: In-school workshops, after-school programs, and virtual training—customized to your school's needs.

Students learn to pitch ideas, excel in presentations, ace college interviews, and lead with purpose. We meet students where they are and help them find their voice.

Ready to bring Youth Speakers Lab to your school? drop your school name here👇
or email us at [email protected]
www.youthspeakerslab.com

Jefferies and Ungar’s 2020 multinational study found that about 18% of young people who believed they did not have socia...
12/19/2025

Jefferies and Ungar’s 2020 multinational study found that about 18% of young people who believed they did not have social anxiety actually met clinical criteria.
This awareness gap matters—if we don’t recognize the signs, we may never seek help.
Formerly known as social phobia, social anxiety is a disorder when individuals avoid social situations because they are fearful of how they will be perceived by others. Please note that social anxiety is more than shyness. It’s a persistent fear of being judged or evaluated that can interfere with education, career, and relationships of your youth.
NAMI .san.diego
Early recognition, support, and professional guidance can make a huge difference.

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