December Member of the Month

By: Kyle Chen

We are proud to recognize Aditya Ambarisha as the HSDA AANHPI Caucus Member of the Month for December, 2024.

Aditya Ambarisha, a sophomore at Novi High School and a proud Indian Michigander, has proven his unyielding enthusiasm for creating a change and making a difference.

Aditya has shown continuous engagement and involvement in the AANHPICaucus. In the PoliticASIAN publication he has provided nothing but excellence as a Staff Writer, primarily writing on the state of AANHPI prejudice in the United States. In his first PoliticASIAN article, “America needs to talk about Anti-Asian Racism,” he dives into the history of AANHPIstruggle in our country and how those components were influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. In his second publication, “Mazie Horino’s Bill for AAPI History is EXACTLY what America needs,” he explores a current proposal in the national legislature and explains how that bill provides a possibility to unwind some of the long-standing AANHPI hate in our country. When Aditya writes, it is done in an elegant and passionate manner. Through his standing in a civic environment, he has learned to use his writing capability as a catalyst for expressing his ideals and opinions, and then fleshing them out using cohesive research and presentation for the reader. His drive to see change, especially concerning AANHPI justice, is clearly evident.

Back in Michigan, he engages civically in every way he can, whether that be practicing his advocacy skills through extracurricular activities such as Model UN, or organizing fellow young people at the local level to encourage policy changes. Aditya attributes his love for civic engagement to his parents. As first-generation immigrants, his parents understood how important personal advocacy was, and they  knew that such a notion should be taught to their son as well. In lieu, they often took Aditya to city council meetings or rallies, teaching him the effects of action and initiative.

Aditya continues to be involved through his positions as a member of the fundraising committee, PoliticASIAN staff writer and the Micigian State Liason. He has shown over and over that he is committed to uplifting the members of the AANHPI Caucus in every way that he can. 

When asked about his reason for involvement, he says the following: 

“The caucus has done a lot for me honestly, I’ve met cool people, and have gotten to do a bunch of cool stuff. Honestly, it’s empowering, and I think that every member of the caucus deserves to have that empowerment.”

The AANHPI Caucus is honored to have such a passionate and enthusiastic mind to help guide the future of the caucus. It is still our mission to uplift AANHPI students across the country. With great pride, we honor Aditya Ambarisha as our December Member of the Month.