Hi! My name is Aditi Venkataraman, and I am a high school senior driven to make a difference in the way society approaches teen mental health.

I’ve long believed in the fact that every problem has some answer that can help mediate the daily struggles we have to endure. I hope to educate teens and young adults that suicide is NOT the answer, and that there are an abundance of resources available to help them get through any mental struggle that they face. I want my peers never to feel like they are alone, and to know that I, along with many others, are always there for them no matter the circumstance. 

Helping to start the Semicolon Initiative has allowed me to do just this. Alongside my incredible team of youth advocates, we have helped build a platform that enables students to engage in conversations and find solutions tailored to their specific struggles. This journey has truly helped me, and so many others, see how vulnerability through emotional expression can be a strength, not a weakness. I am excited to see where future generations take this initiative and continue to make a difference in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.