My name is Mridulashree Murali. I am 16 years old and a Grade 11 student at EuroSchool, Whitefield, Bengaluru.

Just like everyone else, I too have hobbies. They're the things that keep me engaged and happy. One hobby that I am really passionate about is football. I've been playing football since I was in 4th grade. It is the one thing I could always rely on. In a way it has shaped me into who I am and taught me discipline most importantly. The thrill before every competition, celebrating and consoling your teammates and watching your hard work pay off are some of the best feelings in the world.
Another hobby I picked up along the way is writing. Writing has not only helped me to understand myself better, but it has also made me realize my capabilities, It has also helped me connect with myself through my emotions.
Around a year ago, when I was browsing activities I could potentially try out to put on my college resume, volunteering was one such thing I came across. At first I was not really interested in volunteering and working for an ngo. I realized doing so would only help me become a better person. A few of my seniors from my previous school started an ngo called The Iksha Foundation. I enrolled to be a volunteer. The main aim of this ngo is to help the underprivileged students, with books and other study materials. After volunteering for almost a year, I can say that this has changed my perspective on what happiness and satisfaction means to me. Volunteering has also introduced me to concepts like sustainability.
Sustainability is a cause I am extremely passionate about. I have been given the privilege to educate myself on this topic and in the future I look forward to educate and implement sustainability in the field of design and architecture. The one thing that fascinates me about sustainability is the fact that we are able to recreate anything and make it less harmful to the planet.
After volunteering and educating myself on sustainability, I can say that I am more aware of people's needs, I have learned to be more selfless and giving. It would be such an amazing opportunity to help girls my age and make their lives easier. This opportunity not only aligns with my aspirations but I would love to dedicate my time towards impacting the lives of the girls at Makkala Dhama in a positive way.