Hey everyone!
My name is Srilekha. I’m a student, writer, and an aspiring change maker. I founded Plannr Consulting, a nonprofit organization, and am an avid mental health advocate.
Ok, so I could go on about my work, or… I could share a story!
So, it all started a couple weekends ago when my cousin and I were talking through FaceTime. A little backstory about my cousins– I lived in Michigan for the majority of my life with them. We lived in a joint family with my aunt and uncle as well as my mother, father, and sister. They’re my closest friends along with two family friends. The six of us– well, we’re unbreakable.
Before we started facetiming that day, I was already going through a lot. My mental health hasn’t been in the best of places recently, but as I usually do, I put on my fake face, and went in to talk with them.
I was talking to one of my little cousins, and she’s actually going into high school next year, so I guess I can’t call her little anymore. She was talking about her band group chat, and I had the oh-so-brilliant idea to switch group chats. I added her to my group chat with three of my close friends, and she added me to her band group chat with 15 or so people. You can guess who’s more popular.
Anyways, we ended up naming each other Bob in both the group chats and talking for a while with each other’s friends. At one point, I even got the Instagram and Snapchat of one of her friends and we connected. I sent my walrus gifs and everyone got confused for quite a while. We got into roast battles in one of the chats, and my cousin sent a seal Tik Tok, which I wish I could share through this email, but Substack can’t upload videos.
You might be wondering where I’m going with all of this. I honestly don’t know where I’m going either. I mean what lesson can texting with my cousin’s friends possibly teach.
In fact, I don’t really know where I’m going with anything. Quarantine and COVID-19 gave me so much time to think about this, but in the end, I don’t even know where I am right now. And this makes me feel so lost, as it would for anyone. I hate not knowing what I’ll be doing next or where I’ll be.
One of the only things I do know right now is that my family, the people I love, are going to be there for me, and I am going to be there for them. So even if I question:
Do I want to write for the rest of my life or go into business? Do I want to go into UPenn or UT Austin or University of Toronto? Will I even get in? Am I good enough? Do I want to spend my life dreaming of something better or living in the present? Do I want to eat ice cream or frozen yogurt?
These uncertainties do not take away from what I do know.
I do know that I love and I yearn to be loved. I do know that right now in this moment, I just want to write. I do know that I dream of changing the world some day. I do know that even when quarantine has got me in the lowest of moments, I have people, just like my cousins, who are willing to exchange group chats and stir up some fun. Family will be there for me in the end, even in the darkest of times.
This newsletter was not started only to share silly stories that ultimately lead to no meaningful end. I want my stories to mean something to people. I want my stories to show who I am and to share lessons I’ve learned and my flaws and my mistakes. I want my stories to show the whole me, the bad and the good.
I’m starting this newsletter to share who I was, who I am, and who I desire to be.
Welcome to Simply Srilekha.
Wow, that was pretty cheesy… anyways until next time!
Much love,
Srilekha
Here’s my latest articles!
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I'M IN LOVE WITH HOARDING, AND I'M NEVER GOING TO STOP
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e: srilekha@urbanasian.com
phone number & personal email available upon request