FEATURES
Aishwarya Sharma ’19:
EDUCATING OTHERS As early as age six, Aishwarya “Aish” Sharma couldn’t find a high school club in the fondly remembers taking part in Bollywood Carolinas that was already doing this, dance and helping to sell tickets for her Aish decided to create her own: the “Say shows in an effort to raise money for eNOugh” Club. victims directly affected by sex trafficking Upper School Dean of Students Natalie in India. These days, Aish still enjoys Hutchinson explained what steps to take Bollywood dance, and she still feels a to start a club and how to write a consticalling to draw attention to the pervasive tution, while Assistant Dean of Students human rights violations that she sees Steve Wall explained how he could help happening against women and men. line up guest speakers for assemblies. “As I got older, I realized that I wanted The Say eNOugh Club now boasts about 100 to bring even more attention to this issue active members (60% female and 40% domestically, and I feel that the best male) and provides support to victims of way to combat it is through education,” domestic violence as well as education Aish explains. As a to the Country Day sophomore, Aish community about explored starting a the warning signs AISHWARYA’S TOP club at Country Day to associated with bring awareness about u Varsity Lacrosse domestic violence. u Varsity Golf, captain domestic violence to “We’ve partnered u Bollywood Dance (12 years) her teenage peers, our efforts with the u Say eNOugh Club both male and female. NC Coalition Against u Country Day Ambassador However, when she Domestic Violence and the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage. Together we have helped raise more than $500,000 for those in
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need,” says Aish proudly. Fundraising for Say eNOugh has come from a wide variety of sources: Sweet 16 parties, Ugly Sweater parties, fashion shows, as well as several luncheon events. Aish says, “When it comes to educating others, I’ve found that so many teenagers think, ‘It can’t happen to me,’ so the Say eNOugh Club has made education a big focus at Country Day to dispel this misconception.” Say eNOugh Club members have passed out warning cards to Upper School students to explain what to look for in an unhealthy relationship. “We hope to cultivate a new generation that is well-seasoned enough to protect their peers and save themselves as well when it comes to fighting domestic violence. Intimate partner violence is an incredibly large gray area, and by raising awareness about the cause, we are essentially preventing domestic violence before it begins.” Club members also encourage friends to act as “active bystanders” if they suspect that their friends are in an unhealthy relationship so that they can get help. Aish likes how founding the Say eNOugh Club has helped her come out of her shell at school even more. “I like how people at Country Day see me as an approachable person who is empathetic and cares about them. I want the Say eNOugh Club to be inspirational so that everyone knows that they can have faith in themselves, and that we are all looking out for each other.”
We hope to cultivate a new generation that is well-seasoned enough to protect their peers and save themselves as well when it comes to fighting domestic violence.”
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PERSPECTIVES