Aarushi is a 12th grade student from Missouri. After witnessing a lack of training in how to use naloxone (also known as Narcan) to save people from overdosing on opioids, she became interested in emergency preparedness. Aarushi is now working in her community to address the intersection of mental health and substance abuse problems. As part of the YPC, Aarushi hopes to create more equity in emergency preparedness resources, both in naloxone training and in pediatric and neonatal care areas in hospitals.
Locally, Aarushi serves as president of Rockwood Youth Connection, a coalition dedicated to providing peer-to-peer conversations on youth substance abuse. She also works with the American Red Cross as a district representative in Missouri with a goal of involving more youth in emergency preparedness activities.
Aarushi serves as editor-in-chief of her high school’s newspaper, as well as editor-in-chief of Rockwood Lives, a publication that provides a platform for students to tell their own stories through creative, non-fiction essays. She is vice president of policy debate for her school’s speech and debate team.
In her free time, Aarushi participates in Indian Bharatanatyam dancing and has earned a black belt in taekwondo. She also enjoys reading and listening to music.