Living with panic disorder and agoraphobia impacted almost every aspect of my life, from attending school and maintaining relationships to pursuing hobbies and even running basic errands. There have been times when I was homebound, confined to the four walls of my bedroom, and unable to take care of myself or manage daily responsibilities. This brought me so much shame and hopelessness, and I felt like there was no way out of this.

As I was looking for ways to heal, I realized that I was not alone. Globally, one in seven young people between the ages of 10 and 19 was struggling with a mental health issue, and suicide was one of the leading causes of death among this age group. Unfortunately, these were not just some striking statistics. They represented millions of youth battling silently every single day, often lacking access to necessary resources due to stigma, misinformation, or socioeconomic barriers. These struggles were only heightened when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit and forced us into our homes in isolation without our regular support systems.

I realized mental health was not a part of the conversation. Although I was also struggling, I found hope in envisioning change, in creating a world where no one had to struggle alone. For someone with anxiety, spearheading a movement seemed daunting, almost impossible. But my passion for this cause outweighed my fears, so I took action to make the impossible possible. I created a social media page to foster connection and community, and I called it “One Smile Effect” because “From One Smile, comes another Smile.” Interest grew rapidly, and soon, I was leading a group of enthusiastic volunteers.

We organized small-scale virtual events, like movie nights and game tournaments, to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation during the quarantine. To expand our reach, I contacted various organizations and platforms, sharing my change-making journey. The response was overwhelming, as more and more people joined our cause. I went from sharing my story on Instagram lives to pitching ideas in shark tanks with executives from tech giants like Twitter, TikTok, VSCO, and delivering a TEDx speech in front of hundreds.

Over time, we created a better structure and evolved into a formal organization. Later, we embarked on our flagship initiative: a community-based, peer-to-peer mental health education program. We developed a series of modules that cover an array of mental health topics and collaborated with psychologists and educators to ensure the accuracy and quality of our content. We recruited and trained high school ambassadors to establish this program at their schools, disseminate our modules to their peers, and create a safe space to discuss mental health.

So far, we established this program in six countries. In many of these countries, our initiative stands out as the first of its kind, as there weren’t any mental health education programs before. Overall, we impacted over 3,500 teens from 60 countries. I had never anticipated reaching such heights. My initial goal was to make a difference in the life of at least one individual. However, our collective efforts snowballed into a global movement.

This entire journey was not only about creating change – it was also a path to personal healing. Facing my fears became a daily ritual, but the fulfillment derived from working on something I was deeply passionate about made every challenge worthwhile. Sure, there were moments of embarrassment, awkwardness, and numerous instances where I felt humiliated. But through these experiences, I realized my fears were less formidable than I had imagined. I learned that being brave did not necessarily mean being fearless but moving forward despite our fears. I even found that people admired my authenticity, vulnerability, and openness. My imperfectly perfect self.

Through this messy journey, I discovered my life’s purpose. Remarkably, it was this purpose that guided me towards healing. The pain I endured was not just an obstacle. It was a transformative force that reshaped my perspective and empowered me to make a lasting impact. Without it, my life might have been easier, but it would not be as meaningful as it is now, and I would not be the relentless fighter I am today.