Aradhya Yadav

As a freshman seeking positive guidance, the fellowship was everything I wanted. It provided valuable insights, support, and resources from brilliant mentors who helped me navigate challenges and fueled my passion for making a difference. I was exposed to new STEM-related topics, broadening my knowledge and enhancing my skills in time management and effective communication. This experience truly transformed my approach to learning and personal growth. The fellowship made me a more confident and responsible person, encouraging me to embrace new challenges.

Aradhya Yadav is a high school student from Nepal with a passion for medicine, writing, and social advocacy. She dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon, combining her fascination with neuroscience and clinical practice to make medical treatments accessible to underserved communities. Aradhya grew up participating in national math and science olympiads, and is now actively involved with Karkhana, an organization that offers interactive STEM workshops throughout Asia.

Alongside her STEM ambitions, Aradhya is a dedicated writer. Her work has been published in TeenInk magazine and featured by the International human rights Art Festival (IHRAM). Aradhya is currently working on publishing her first book, a collection of poems advocating for gender equality. Read on to learn more about Aradhya’s journey, her interests in neuroscience, and her dedication to using her writing skills to create positive impact on the world!

Meet Aradhya

How did you initially become interested in STEM?

My interest in STEM began at a young age. Growing up, I was surrounded by family members who worked in various STEM fields, which sparked my curiosity and made me wonder how things worked. I remember being captivated by their discussions on scientific research and advancements. I also took part in various math and science Olympiads and even reaching the national level. That experience helped me build confidence, fueled my interest even more, and inspired me to explore further, solidifying my passion for pursuing a career in STEM to make a positive impact in society.

What fields of STEM are you most interested in?

I'm particularly interested in neuroscience and genomics. Neuroscience fascinates me because it explores the brain's complexity and its impact on behavior and cognition. My ultimate goal is to become a neurosurgeon someday, combining my passion for neuroscience with clinical practice. I also want to help people who can't afford healthcare or surgery by making their treatment cost-free. Within genomics, I'm interested in gene editing. My goal is to conduct research on how CRISPR can be used to treat various genetic diseases.

What extracurriculars are you involved in?

My biggest passion is writing. I'm actually planning to publish a book by the end of this year. My book is a collection of poems about gender equality, inspired by the inequalities I witness daily in Nepal and worldwide. I hope my writing can raise awareness about this issue.

I also enjoy participating in science competitions, and I’ve participated in many hands-on science activities through Karkhana, an organization that offers interactive STEM workshops. I've created several working models. For example, I once made a model of a windmill that can generate electricity. I also created a working model of water supply system, which involved understanding water distribution, planning the layout and constructing a functional system.

Outside of school, I enjoy dancing and am actively involved in my school’s team. I also like to play the piano, swim, and sing, which gives me a way to unwind and express myself creatively.

Summer Experience

What was your favorite part of the fellowship this summer?

My favorite part of the fellowship was the immense support I received from exceptionally talented mentors. They provided me with really constructive feedback, which helped me gain confidence and turn my ideas into actionable steps. I loved how all the mentors shared their own stories, the steps they took, and the lessons they learned, which made their talks incredibly inspiring. They helped me learn more about opportunities in the STEM field and sparked my interest in new areas.

What was your favorite Fireside Chat over the summer?

My favorite fireside chat was Isabella's "Idea to Reality" session. I really resonated with her experiences because I think we share similar interests and passions. Her fireside chat helped me gain practical strategies that I could apply to my writing. I loved how she shared her journey and the steps she took to bring her vision to life. This made her guidance feel relatable and accessible, and her talk opened my eyes to new possibilities in writing, encouraging me to stay focused on my goals. Now, I’m almost 80% done with my book, and am all set to publish it by December of this year or January of next year!

What was the most valuable lesson or skill you learned over the summer?

I believe the most valuable skill I learned this summer was t management. I learned to manage my time effectively, prioritize tasks, and set realistic deadlines. This is crucial as I continue to work on my book along with my academics. I also want to allocate my time to align with my goals by setting clear priorities and breaking tasks into manageable steps. I found that this enhanced my productivity and reduced stress. I still use a lot of the techniques I learned over the summer in my daily life.

Future Aspirations

What are your goals over the next 5 to 10 years, and do you know what type of career you hope to pursue?

Over the next 5 to 10 years, I want to pursue a career in medicine. As I mentioned earlier, my ultimate goal is to become a neurosurgeon someday, combining my passion for neuroscience with clinical practice. During the fellowship, I attended a career panel featuring medical students from top universities, which gave me so much insight into this path. The panelists provided a clear overview of how to pursue medicine at top universities worldwide, the length of the journey, and how important perseverance and motivation are along the way. This experience really helped solidify my dream of becoming a doctor.

Overall, the fellowship really solidified my goals and gave me more confidence to pursue them. Seeing other young people passionate about making an impact on the world or driving social change sparked my interest in social entrepreneurship and research. The fellowship inspired me to dive deeper into creating solutions for real-world problems and motivated me to turn my ideas into actions that can make a positive difference. Overall, the fellowship fueled my interest in creating something meaningful and taught me how to take practical steps toward my goals. Now, alongside my career in medicine, I hope to continue my advocacy for gender equality.

That’s amazing! Could you tell us more about your aspirations to create social change?

Yes! I’m currently working on a book to raise awareness on gender inequalities. There are many women around the world who have been victims of crime and have not been served justice yet, and I want to advocate for them. I want to be their voice. I believe we need change, so I aim to explore horrifying acts like acid attacks and the systemic lack of economic and educational resources for women through my poems. My goal is to raise awareness for these issues and advocate for justice.

Additionally, I want to establish an NGO focused on supporting girls who have been trafficked, cannot afford education, or have faced unfair treatment. I want to create programs that provide education, resources, and rehabilitation to help these girls rebuild their lives and regain their confidence. By combining my passion for writing and advocacy with a career in medicine, I hope to make a meaningful impact in all of these areas.