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Meet Maryam!
Meet Maryam!
Hello! My name is Maryam Mulyono, and I am the founder and coordinator of Tea Table! I am a junior at the Nashoba Regional High School (as of 2024), born and raised in Stow, MA. I fill my free time with writing songs, watching K-dramas, and playing tennis.
How Tea Table came about:
How Tea Table came about:
A Tweenage Dream
A Tweenage Dream
Growing up, the library was my second home. In my toddler days, I visited the Wednesday arts-and-crafts events at the Randall Library (which was 3 minutes from home), and in elementary school, I spent hours reading comics on the bean bag chairs at the Acton Memorial Library. There were numerous community events that I would attend from kindergarten through early middle school, but as I got older, there were fewer opportunities available for kids my age, at least at those two libraries I frequented. At the same time, middle school and high school had been daunting times of puberty, change, and stress for me, and I'm sure others feel the same; from 7th through 10th grade, I longed to have a safe space where I could stop, take a breath, and focus on my mental health and how I could improve myself as a person.
^^ little me !
An opportunity arises and an idea hits.
An opportunity arises and an idea hits.
In my sophomore year (2023), I was given the opportunity to apply to Nashoba's chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). As a kid who thrived off of community involvement and needed to enhance their leadership skills, I applied and luckily got in. My acceptance to this organization gave me the first push of confidence I needed. Upon brainstorming my NHS project, the first thought that came to mind was: "Should I make a teen program at the Randall Library? If we don't have it yet, then why not create it myself?" While I did consider running a food drive or a book donation system, this idea burned brighter than the rest, for it had been my dream for the past three years; it would fuse two things I value into one; the library & the well-being of myself and others. So over the summer, I eagerly emailed the Randall Library with my proposal. However, the Randall Library was just about to start its renovations and would be temporarily closed for the next year (it is under renovation right now!). So I sought another space where I could possibly hold the program.
Finding a home
Finding a home
In the fall of 2023, I met with Karen Reed, the teen advisor of the Bolton Public Library - and one of the sweetest, most sincere, and most passionate people I know today - , to propose my idea for a teen program. Sharing the same goals of creating a community and youth-centered mental health focus group, she was enthused by the idea. We planned out our monthly sessions, and held our first session in late October bringing us to today! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity for a space and a designated time to hold the program. The Bolton Public Library is a humble but beautiful place to relax and meet with friends, sitting in a convenient location accessible to all three Nashoba towns. We hope that Tea Table endures for as long as possible as it inches deeper into our hearts; the people who come and share their stories keep it alive.
Thank you to Karen, Bolton Library Friends, and all participants for making Tea Table possible!
Thank you to Karen, Bolton Library Friends, and all participants for making Tea Table possible!
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