Manly Selective student, Aarohi Bansal, has been named one of ten girls in the 2024 NSW Women of the Year Awards category, ‘The Ones to Watch’.
The category recognises “girls and young women aged seven to 15, who demonstrate a single act or ongoing acts of courage, strength, determination and/or kindness to help and support those around them”.
“Aarohi feels very blessed to be given this recognition and is proud to represent the Northern Beaches,” Aarohi’s mum, Sheetal, tells Manly Observer.
Aarohi’s community service activities and achievements read more like someone in their late adult years, rather than a teenager managing the expectations and demand of the HSC.
In 2023 alone, she amassed a whopping 160 volunteer hours with organisations like Special Olympics Australia, Foodbank and Kids’ Cancer Project.
She has been published in the UN Youth NSW’s The Global Advocate magazine, participated in the Harvard Model United Nations, painted portraits for orphaned children in Afghanistan for global non-profit The Memory Project and co-founded a War on Waste organisation at her school.
No, we aren’t done. We just needed a breath.
Her leadership roles include being a member of the Northern Beaches Youth Advisory Council, a shortlisted member of the Skills and Pathways Youth Advisory Council NSW, a member of her school’s Student Representative Council and House Captain.
She also gives back through Anzac Day services after completing the Lance Corporal course and in 2019, she was awarded the prestigious William Langston Epping Memorial Scholarship, recognising her service towards her school community.
This is not to mention her extracurricular activities which include dance, track, tennis, debating, netball, football (she’s starting that one this year), flute, vocal ensemble and being part of musical casts.
“I like being busy,” she explains.
For Aarohi, lending a helping hand has always been part of her nature.
“In Year 1, I would always stay back and help the teacher to tidy up the classroom,” she says.
“If I’m passionate about something, or I’m good at something, I see it as an opportunity to give back.”
We asked her what’s the one thing that she’s learnt from all the activities.
“A few things,” she tells us.
“I have learnt that nothing is too small to contribute.
“But also, during my work experience at Royal North Shore Hospital in the Physio department, where I saw patients in ICU and rehabilitation, I realised that a lot of the time, a lot of people really take their lifestyles for granted.
“Volunteering also makes me realise that I need to be grateful for the things I have and that I have the opportunity to give back.”
And with a list like Aarohi’s, it would definitely be hard to pick a favourite experience.
“Can I choose two?” she asks. Absolutely.
“First one would be writing the article for the UN Youth NSW’s The Global Advocate. The article (which you can read here on page 19) was on unhealthy beauty standards and the over simplification of diet culture.
“It was a great way to have a voice and to write about issues that are relevant, but also to convey my ideas to a wide audience of young people.”
And the second?
“Volunteering for the Northern Beaches Special Olympics.
“I coach their track team, but I’ll probably be coaching their dance or tennis team soon.
“I love it because it’s different to anything I’ve done. I’m learning so much from coaching but also it’s been incredible getting to know the athletes and understanding what their lives are like.”
Once she gets through the HSC, Aarohi plans to go to ACU (Australian Catholic University) to one day work as a physio in a hospital setting.
For young people wanting to get involved in the community and not knowing where to start, Aarohi recommends looking into something that they’re passionate about or have a strength in.
“And just go out and do it, don’t over think it.”
Aarohi is definitely One to Watch and we are proud to have her represent the Northern Beaches at the upcoming Women of the Year Awards 2024 which will be held on Thursday 7 March in Sydney.
