2016 Oriental Studies Hello! My name is Shreya and I am in my final year of reading Sanskrit with Hindi. My Pathfinders project will be to gain a broader understanding of mental health issues in the USA and Canada, with a particular focus on young people and community-led projects. I am keen to meet local project-leaders, activists, and influencers to discuss the attitudes to mental health within different regions and the challenges they face. Mental wellbeing has been an important aspect of my life since primary school, where I was taught meditation techniques that I still use today. A few years ago I discovered the charity Action for Happiness, when I heard its patron (the Dalai Lama) and co-founder (Professor Lord Richard Layard) at the launch of an 8-week community course, ‘Exploring What Matters’. I was inspired to run this course as a pilot for a group of Oxford students, which was extremely well received. Social activism has been a central part of my university life; I was Equalities Officer for the Pilch committee, and a highlight of my student drama experience was performing in ‘Medea’, Oxford’s first all BAME cast and crew production. During my first year, I co-founded and directed a student group called Common Ground, which continues to grow each year; I was on the editorial team for the movement’s second journal in 2018. I have a growing interest in climate change and recently gained a place on an interdisciplinary course with the Oxford School of Climate Change. I have loved being part of the Balliol community. I enjoyed taking part in the telethon campaign last year and I’m very excited to have been given the opportunity to spend time with Balliol alumni during my travels.