Being a Teen Ambassador - An Experience That Changed Me
- Aarya Vannavada, Student
- May 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 12
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve desired to make a positive change in the world and, more importantly, the people around me. Although this was the case, for the longest time, I had no idea where to begin. That was until I discovered the Ryan Bartel Foundation Teen Ambassador Program. In the duration of the program, my perspective on mental health has changed, and my insight on how to help out my struggling peers has grown.
“Before volunteering for the Ryan Bartel Foundation, I used to ignore stigmatizing jokes and stereotypes ...”
While growing up, school curricula often fail to teach you how to support those around you or how to connect them to helpful resources in times of need. I never knew how to help my community, even though I wanted to do so daily. Fortunately, after volunteering as a teen ambassador, I’ve gained a lot of resourceful information, such as how to show up for those around you in the right ways, and when and how to connect peers with trusted adults. In addition to that, the program has truly changed my perspective on mental health itself. Before volunteering for the Ryan Bartel Foundation, I used to ignore stigmatizing jokes and stereotypes, not realizing how harmful they could be. As I progressed in the program, I learned the impact they have on people every day, and now I advocate against any hurtful stereotypes, jokes, or phrases that may increase stigma around mental health.
Being a teen ambassador has really helped me understand more about myself and the people around me.
The Teen Ambassador Program has given me an opportunity to be a beacon of positive change. It has also hooked me onto learning more about careers in the mental health field. Most importantly, though, it has taught me that no matter who you are and where you’ve come from, you can make a positive change.
