The Story Of You

The Story Of You by Aanya Zaveri

The Story of You was conceived by me in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic when I as a student in Grade 6 felt helpless in providing a solution that world could use or all of us as children together can contribute to society. When people constantly ask me what I want to be when I grow up, I get overwhelmed and sometimes don't know what I really want to be. My parents tell me that is okay. I wonder do I want to do just one thing or can we do many things? What are other children doing? The aim of The Story Of You is to connect with Young Adults across the globe and learn from each other.

  1. Nandini Rastogi: A Teen Using CRISPR for Food Security

    12/29/2025

    Nandini Rastogi: A Teen Using CRISPR for Food Security

    Nandini is 19, and she’s using cutting-edge gene editing to take on one of humanity’s greatest challenges: food security. Her work with CRISPR focuses on rice, making it more resilient to climate change, so farmers can continue to feed a growing world despite rising temperatures and unpredictable weather. She’s already been presenting her work on global stages, but what makes her stand out is her belief that science isn’t just about fancy breakthroughs. For her, it’s about something far more fundamental: feeding the future. Her journey, though, started in the most unexpected way. The very first time she set out to experiment, she walked into a mall, bought a bag of rice, and only later realised that polished rice can’t actually be grown. That small misstep was the first of many setbacks, but instead of giving up, Nandini embraced trial and error as part of her path. With limited resources and little guidance at first, she leaned on curiosity, resilience, and the courage to ask. She wrote countless cold emails- some unanswered, some opening the right doors- and slowly built her network of mentors, knowledge, and tools. Every failure became fuel, and every small success a stepping stone. What began with a simple bag of rice from a mall has now turned into pioneering work that holds the potential to help millions. Nandini’s story is proof that determination and a hunger to learn can turn even the humblest beginnings into world-changing science.

    7 min
  2. The Future is Ours: Thaaragai’s Ocean Mission!

    11/15/2025

    The Future is Ours: Thaaragai’s Ocean Mission!

    In every episode of The Story Of you my attempt is to speak to a young adult to know what they want to be, what problem they want to solve in the world today and what is the impact we as children can create in the world?  My attempt is to learn from my peers and ensure we are all growing together as compassionate & individuals who believe in collaboration Thaaragai, just 11 years old, but already a true force of nature. Fondly known as the Ocean’s Little Girl, she has pulled more than 5,000 kilos of plastic waste from the ocean floor- an extraordinary feat for someone so young. Through her swimming and her activism, she’s made the fight against marine pollution both urgent and unforgettable. What makes her stand out is the creativity with which she spreads her message: she’s played chess underwater, performed Bharatanatyam, practised yoga and meditation, and even staged symbolic clean-ups, each act designed to make us pause and pay attention to the ocean’s cries for help. Despite still learning to express herself fully in English, Thaaragai makes the effort to speak up at events and conversations, and when she does, her words carry astonishing power. She often surprises everyone with simple, profound lines that cut straight to the heart, like: “Take the chance. The future is ours, and we must change it for the better.” At the centre of her journey is the deep bond she shares with her father, who has been by her side at every dive, every performance, and every milestone. His support and belief have given her the confidence to pursue her mission fearlessly. Thaaragai’s love for the ocean is infectious, her courage undeniable. She reminds us that no one is too small to make a difference, and sometimes, it takes the purest voices of children to remind the world of its responsibilities.

    7 min

About

The Story of You was conceived by me in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic when I as a student in Grade 6 felt helpless in providing a solution that world could use or all of us as children together can contribute to society. When people constantly ask me what I want to be when I grow up, I get overwhelmed and sometimes don't know what I really want to be. My parents tell me that is okay. I wonder do I want to do just one thing or can we do many things? What are other children doing? The aim of The Story Of You is to connect with Young Adults across the globe and learn from each other.