Meet The Team

"Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women." - Maya Angelou. 

Hello! I'm Simran Saluja, a junior at Rocklin High School. I grew up learning about how many women do not have access to proper resources to improve their livelihood - being stuck in cycles of domestic abuse. Nivi and I decided to embark on a journey to create a youth organization that empowers young women with career-building and medical-care resources.

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Hi my name is Disha! I love to dance, play piano, and practice KravMaga but I would say I am the most passionate about learning new things. That is ultimately why I decided to join The Optimism Project as I have learned so much about what mental health really constitutes of and the best way to help youth in bettering their mental health!

Hi, I'm Vaani Tiwari, a freshman at Granite Bay High School and a member of the Optimism Project. I'm enthusiastic about women's empowerment and gender equality, which is why I ended up joining TOP— I wanted to be a part of an organization that educates and advocates for these issues. 

Some of my hobbies include yoga, taekwondo, and creative writing. I'm a certified yoga instructor and a black belt in taekwondo, and I enjoy sharing these skills with others. I'm also working on a novel that explores the themes of identity and a strong heroine. 

Hi, my name is Hasmitha Kanugula, I am a senior at Rocklin High school. I am very passionate about healthcare and hope to make it equitable for others through working with non profit organizations, as well as having my own and taking on research and clinical work as well as using my voice such as through the podcast to speak about topics I’m passionate about from mental and physical health to self help and success. a topic I am also passionate about is bringing awareness to ASD, and finding and creating opportunities for them to engage and collaborate in the real world.  During my free time l love to dance, listen to music, workout, try new foods, travel and spend quality time with my family and friends.

Hi! My name is Aahana Singh, and I am a sophomore at Folsom High School! I started a chapter at folsom and joined TOP, because I am very passionate about women’s rights and how every woman deserves to have their basic needs met, and to feel safe in their environment. I want to go into the healthcare sector one day, and hope that I can help all women get the proper access to healthcare that they deserve! Outside of TOP and school, I love to play tennis, workout, bake, spend time with friends and family, and play guitar! My dream is to travel the world one day, with only my backpack!