Youth MP Aanya Shukla gets tired, but she never gets tired of it!

By Arshita Bhardwaj, Youth Press Gallery, Youth Parliament 2025

Photo Caption: Aanya Shukla, Youth MP

Aanya Shukla is actively reshaping how we talk about Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. But first and foremost who is she?

From school debating podiums to youth policy spaces, Shukla has always found herself at the heart of important conversations. She’s turned her natural passion for connection and communication into a powerful platform for change.

Her entry into youth advocacy came naturally: “I didn’t mean to get into it; I just kept joining things I cared about.” That curiosity led her to spaces where she now helps shape conversations around wellbeing, health education, and youth empowerment.

“So much harm happens because of a lack of education,” she says, and she’s determined to change that. One of her key initiatives involved creating a student-led resource booklet to help teachers facilitate discussions around consent. What started as a project for Rape Awareness Week quickly evolved into a practical guide now being picked up by schools. “Teachers are people too,” she notes, and so they need support to lead these conversations safely and with care.

Whether she’s co-hosting the Real Talk podcast for Raise Up a youth-led space for honest discussions on mental health, attachment, and more – or representing young people at Youth Parliament, uplifting, informing, and connecting remains central to her efforts.

“I follow what excites me. I do one thing, then it leads to another.” That’s exactly how her voice has reached so many and how her work continues to expand.

Her hope? That someone, somewhere, feels seen, validated, or inspired by something she’s said or done. “If I’ve made just one person feel like they matter, that’s enough for me.”

From ripples to waves, her impact is only gaining momentum.