Today we’d like to introduce you to Mili Divatia
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born in Frisco to immigrant parents, I am a first-generation American. I lived a childhood full of love and laughter, traveling with my family to various parts of the world which enhanced my love for culture. Growing up, I was exposed to and learned 4 different languages. I explored my creative side by learning Indian dance and music for over 10 years. Through my schooling experience, I have worked to explore my interests–political sciences, international relations, and business–further through involvement in numerous activities. Eventually, I hope to take the skills I’ve learned from these experiences and continue to make an impact on my community in the future. My end goal is to continue my studies in college and become a corporate attorney one day.
Globally, I aspired to make a difference in society. In 2021, I co-founded my school’s extension of the non-profit organization Far Away Friends. Far Away Friends advocates for the needs of women and children and we work to break the generational cycle of poverty in Uganda. In my role as co-founder and Vice President, I oversee and manage club activities like fundraising, awareness activities, and running social media platforms.
To make an impact locally, in 2023, I was in the Frisco Mayor’s Youth Council. I applied and was chosen by Mayor Jeff Cheney and his respected council members to be a part of the roughly 40 kids representing the area’s youth. Throughout the year, I worked and learned about economic growth, policies, public safety, and other areas that are the reasons the city functions the way it does. With my fellow youth members, I collaborated on a plan to build an ambassador’s program to increase youth engagement at city events in Frisco and presented it at Council Chambers in Frisco City Hall.
I continue to look for opportunities to give back to my community and society in general. I am constantly still working and learning. In my free time, particularly over the summer, I stay abreast of the happenings around me, especially in the legal world, and educate myself to keep making an impact. Over the past 2 summers, I’ve participated in Just The Beginning: A Pipeline Organization’s program which allowed me to meet various lawyers and judges all over the country as well as learn more about the business and legal field altogether. Along with that, this past February, I applied and was accepted into Civics Innovators 8-Week Fellowship where I participated in a combination of training sessions, workshops, and hands-on projects to further my education on my passions of civic engagement and innovation.
Ultimately, the vision I have for myself is to be a positive contributor to society and the world.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Though I have been blessed in many ways, I have had my share of bumps in the road. As I made my transition from middle to high school, especially through COVID-19, I struggled with balancing both my academics and extracurriculars. Being a captain on the varsity swim team, head of multiple school clubs, and a part of the arts (dancing, singing, & acting), along with taking multiple Advanced Placement classes was a tough load to take on. However, persistence has always been a friend of mine. My challenges provided me with valuable lessons in resilience and adaptability. Whether in school or extracurriculars, I’ve kept my opportunities for growth open and these adjustments and skills I learned have contributed significantly to my personal and professional development.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Centennial High School, along with my other team members, I pioneered the launch of the branch of Far Away Friends in 2021. Our mission is to build a more connected world and bring empowerment to communities in Uganda through several means such as education, infrastructure development, and cross-cultural exchange. The organization as a whole has the vision of a world where children have access to quality education and have the resources they need to meet their full potential.
75% of children living in rural areas of Uganda are lacking access to quality education. 25% of girls will drop out of school in Uganda due to the lack of menstrual products. There is a lack of well-equipped schools or teachers which limits the extent of education they can get, contributing to the cycle of generational poverty I discussed earlier. The chances of death are very possible with the efflux of access to food, schooling, housing, and other crucial attributes to live a healthy life.
Over the past 3 years, I have worked to build a name for Far Away Friends at my school. We’ve worked with education initiatives, community empowerment, and infrastructure projects to spread our message across our community. To start, we have participated in the schools-for-schools partnership. Specifically, Centennial is partnered with a school in the Amolatar district of Uganda named Arwot Primary School. We exchange letters with students in our schools throughout the school year to discuss their state of living as well as recreational topics. We have also held fundraisers and donation drives. These help provide textbooks, technology, menstrual hygiene products, life skill lessons, and even help raise money to go towards building schools. As a result, I’ve raised over 600 dollars, and the club as a whole has raised roughly 4,000 dollars and bought multiple boxes of pads to go towards the matter. I work continuously to create a spark in students to help underprivileged communities.
Being a co-founder of Far Away Friends at my high school, I will continue to work to educate others about real problems going on, even though they aren’t near us. Impacts can and will be made through our club and whether we are buying meals or building classrooms, we are changing lives. I have had an integral role in terms of our development. My role is not done, but it has been and will continue to be fulfilling and I am excited to keep working.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Two key lessons I have learned that have helped me to get where I am and overcome adversity, such as the COVID-19 crisis, are empathy and grit.
Empathy brings me an improved set of skills when it comes to communication. Whether with my friends or in the workplace, communication is a skill necessary to lead a successful life. Empathy allows me to have more effective discussions and interactions and has increased my productivity with others. Individually, empathy also leads me to enhance my creativity and innovation. Empathy has brought me to foster diverse ideas which is the foundation of my emotional intelligence and helps me to continue to overcome challenges in professional and personal environments.
On the other hand, grit is another key factor in achieving goals for me. Grit gives me the ability to have resilience in the face of adversity. It enables me to commit to my goals and stay focused, even if/when obstacles arise. Overcoming challenges while having grit also becomes less heavy-loaded because it gives me the ability to bounce back, learn, and move forward. Most importantly, grit has prevented me from having a fixed mindset. It has taught me that my intelligence and skills can continuously be developed. Grit has led me to navigate difficult challenges and strive towards my goals, no matter how big or small.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @milidivatia
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milidivatia
