When I started at my new school in eighth grade, I quickly realized just how academically rigorous it was. I wasn’t alone in feeling the pressure. Across all grades, students experiencing the same struggles. It became clear to me that we needed more spaces to talk openly about mental health. That’s when I co-founded Active Minds, a club dedicated to breaking the stigma and raising awareness. I served as Vice President during my freshman and sophomore years, and now, as President, I’m proud to carry the club’s mission forward: supporting students and promoting awareness across our campus. Through Active Minds, I joined the Active Minds Advocacy Academy, where I learned how to turn passion into purpose. There, I explored advocacy strategies, developed leadership skills, and designed programs that meet teens where they are. It was in that space—surrounded by peers just as driven to make a difference—that the seed of my own initiative was planted.
Around the same time, my cousin in India, who has health issues, reminded me how important it is to offer support. Even across oceans and time zones. I started to think: what if I could combine what I’d learned at the Academy with what I was feeling in my heart? That’s how Purple Hour was born. It’s not about solving everything. It’s about creating a space where someone feels seen, supported, and a little less alone. Sometimes, that’s all we really need.
Purple Hour is a supportive community for teens with epilepsy, offering a safe space to connect, play games, and relax while sharing experiences and building friendships. The meetings are monthly over zoom where we play games, do crafts, and build relations!
I’ve been volunteering at a local hospital for over a couple hundred hours, and my journey there has taught me so much. I started in dietary, which—funny enough—doesn’t have much to do with medicine, but it gave me valuable skills: working in a kitchen, speaking up when I was confused, and learning to connect with people even when I was shy. Later, I moved into transport, my favorite department so far, where I get to explore the hospital, interact with nurses and doctors, and discharge patients. Meeting new patients is incredibly rewarding, and honestly, it makes my day when someone compliments my smile or says I’d make a great caretaker one day.
Outside the hospital, I volunteer at a nursing home, where senior citizens have quickly become my favorite group of people. Whether it’s their excitement when I walk in or their stories about their latest crochet project, there’s never a dull moment. My favorite part is gifting small items—like a painted rock, headband, or canvas painting—which always make a big difference. I’ll never forget one friend who was upset after an argument with her closest companion; a casual conversation and the hug and kiss on the cheek I received in thanks reminded me how special these little connections can be. I also volunteer once a month at a soup kitchen with my mom, prepping and delivering meals to those in need. Each visit is a humbling experience that keeps me grateful, grounded, and in touch with the bigger picture beyond my own life.