We were lucky to catch up with Sanika Datar recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sanika, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?
Imagine a world where Earth is thriving and full of vibrance and families are happy, kind towards each other, and are coming together as Earth citizens. But in reality, the world is plagued with the current problems of the 21st century. These are problems that we have created for present and future generations. Problems that exist today, have to be tackled at its roots. The values that are instilled in young children should be the anchor that nurtures, nourishes, and shapes the world for a better future. I deeply believe that building awareness among youth is fundamental to growth since the children of this generation are our future leaders. We are living in a fast-paced world, where the rate of evolution seems far faster than personal growth. Just like a sapling that is well nourished, stands tall amidst adversity, youth who have the core universal values grow to be resilient changemakers.
Modern day research has shown the numerous benefits of learning through exploration and hands-on activities that cannot be solely met in a traditional setting. Listening and analyzing processes occur in the left hemisphere, but visual and spatial processes are handled on the right. By combining multiple styles of learning, the brain forms stronger overall connections and reinforce what was learned. For me, the act of being kind and empathetic, caring about the environment, having an entrepreneurial mindset, and advocating for an equitable world are the key differentiators and the common denominators that connect us all. Having universal core values instilled at a young age is more relevant in today’s world to raise their awareness and consciousness towards sustainable goals for our planet. I believe children who are consciously raised to be environmentalists and taught to be empathetic can unite for a common goal, by being kind and working together as Earth citizens.
Sanika, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a high school sophomore from Kirkland, WA. I am a Presidential Point Of Light nominee, Founder of Space For Youth non-profit, National recipient of Angela STEM Award, Presidential Volunteer Service Award and a National Community Ambassador. I am a TEDx speaker, a published author and an activist for holistic education. I’ve seeded and established various community initiatives for youth in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Environment, Empathy, and Equity in Kirkland and eastside of greater Seattle area.
I look to positively impact our community in simplest forms. I believe that having universal values like empathy, instilled at a young age is to propel towards sustainable goals for our planet. I am a Carson & Davidson Young Scholar, and one among fifteen students in the nation nominated as International Young Achiever.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
When teens are leaders, it’s very inspiring for other people their age to know that anyone can do anything no matter their age. Teens should try to be role models for others by taking action and helping in any way they can, big or small. I believe youth advocacy is very powerful, and teens should strive for ways to make a positive influence and encourage their peers to be changemakers. I believe any small action counts to make a difference and if everyone plays their part, it can create a big change. This summer, I hosted Kirkland’s Children’s Business Fair for the second year for Seattle’s eastside community and close to 60 kids had the opportunity to make their own business and showcase their products. Our event received a grant from the Kirkland Tourism Program since it encouraged tourism at the fair. Our event also inspired several other young students to host similar events in their respective communities.
Highlights from our first event can be viewed at this article: https://lynnwoodtoday.com/
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Michelle Obama is a big inspiration for me, and I’ve always admired the way she takes action on things she’s passionate about. For example, she has taken so many steps to make social changes especially when it comes to empowering women, and this made her a role model for me. When I read her book “Becoming – Michelle Obama” and watched her documentary it really exposed me to what she went through to get to the place she is today, and it was very inspiring. I learned that it was hard for her to go through law school as a black woman and for her to take care of her kids while supporting her husband’s presidential campaign alongside, but despite the obstacles she faced throughout her career, she became very successful and that’s really inspiring.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://space4youth.org/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepEdoAF0Ph1deMIzpOBp0w
- Other: bit.ly/SanikaPointOfLight
Image Credits
Kirkland Lifestyle publication Sustainability Ambassadors, Kirkland City Council, American Girl National Point Of Light