Neha Yalamanchi

Maryam Tunkara is a 16 year old junior from West Chester, Ohio. She attends the Butler Tech Bioscience Center. Maryam is passionate about community education. She is part of a green engineering initiative at her local mosque, aimed at changing the community’s attitude towards waste. She is also junior class representative for her school’s student government. She believes the public should have awareness of government policies and should participate in collaborative change. In her free time, she enjoys lacrosse, portrait painting, and rollerblading. Besides politics, she is also passionate about healthcare, especially in the teenaged population. In the future, she hopes to go into public health.

Watch Neha’s Winning PSA Below:

Our Interview With Neha

Was this the first time you entered the contest?
Yes, this was the first time I entered the contest.

How did you hear about the contest?
I was searching for scholarships about the Constitution and the government we are a part of.

What inspired your work?
My work was inspired by my classmates and the younger generation. As we are all getting older, we should know the importance of the constitution and how it is affecting the country we live in.

What did you learn while creating your entry?
While creating my entry, I learned that it is important to actively listen to others, create
meaningful discussions in order to build a more inclusive society.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
I plan to use social media to create comprehensive posts explaining the relevance of the constitution as well as creating presentations to discuss the importance.

How do your friends respond to history or talking about the Constitution?
My friends respond with genuine interest when discussing history or the Constitution. They enjoy learning about the past and how it shapes our present.

What do you love about U.S History and the forming of our government?
What I love about the U.S History is that it reflects the hard journey of a diverse nation struggling to gain freedom and equality. The formation of our government amazes me because it represents a system that is designed to protect our individual rights.

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
One U.S historical site I would love to visit is Independence Hall located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania because it is where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution was debated and adopted. Visiting the site would give a firsthand deeper understanding of the struggles faced by our forefathers.

Which American historical figure is most influential/inspirational to you?
One American historical figure that I believe is the most inspirational is Jane Addams. She dedicated her life to improve the lives of immigrants, the poor, and the working-class communities as well as advocating for social and economic justice, women’s rights, and peace.

Who is your greatest role model?
My greatest role model is my mom because her support, guidance, and sacrifices inspires me to become a better person each day.

What in your life are you most passionate about?
In my life, I am passionate about making a positive impact in people’s lives. I am happy when I
contribute to the progress of many communities.

How do you spend your free time?
In my free time, I read and volunteer at a neuroscience lab.

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to become a physician so I can continue my commitment to community health.

If you could do one super impactful thing to help people, what would it be?
If I could do one super impactful thing to help people, it would be to ensure quality access to education for everyone, regardless of their background. Education is super important because it empowers people, opens doors to opportunities, and improves the lives of communities.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The constitution is relevant today because it provided us the structure of our government,
ensuring a balance of power.

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