The charcoal sultry 3 a.m. track of Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” dances against the patter of rain as Vidya Jeyendran (12) sits at her desk. 

When Vidya found herself in the confines of her home due to the pandemic, music became her escape. She would put her headphones on, entranced by the smoky satin lyrics of Lorde or SZA. She listens to almost every genre, except EDM and country. Whether it be “folklore,” “Ctrl” or “Melodrama” playing in the background, music washes away whatever salt rusting her life, until it is just Vidya, her bedroom and her music. 

“I like listening to music because it helps me make sense of something. Especially if the lyrics or overall vibe of the music relates to what I’m feeling in life, it helps me make sense of things and it gives me a way to express things that I can’t say in words or I can’t find the words for,” Vidya said.

Vidya will unapologetically speak her mind—an antifragile fighter with carefulness, thought and an ammunition of rap. Part sarcastic comedian, part fierce feminist and part reflective psychologist rolled into one, she is a feisty force to be reckoned with. With a messy bun and funky fluorescent socks, Vidya exudes a bold, carefree vibrance, yet she leads with a relaxed, considered attitude, creating a subversive anomaly. Yet, Vidya used to be a quiet person. 

“Oftentimes, people are afraid to express their opinions, and Vidya had some trouble with that at the beginning of high school,” close friend Fonda Hu (12) said.  

Even before owning her loud voice, Vidya has always had a loud mind. As she started to grow out of her shell, a TV series captivated her and helped her realize where her true interests lay.

Vidya’s observance stems from an unlikely source: the popular TV show Criminal Minds. While others may binge the show for its thrilling plots or Matthew Gray Gubler, Vidya loves Criminal Minds because of her captivation with the psychological question of “Why do we make the choices we do?”

“[Criminal Minds] got me really interested in human behavior. I’ve always been observant of what other people are feeling, and I’ve always wanted to help people. Experiencing my own struggles made me really understand what it feels like. I just want to make sure no one feels alone, no one should feel that way,” she said. 

Her initial interest in how people behave and make decisions blossomed within Vidya’s mind at an early age. Although Vidya’s own battles with mental health challenged her, they also strengthened her.  

“[My personal experience with it] made me a lot more empathetic. I want to spend my life helping people like me who’ve struggled with mental health either by being a therapist or psychiatrist,” Vidya said. 

Vidya speaks in a thoughtful and easygoing voice that gives the impression that she is somebody whose wisdom stretches beyond her 17 years of age. This empathy ultimately became her megaphone. In junior year, Vidya grew more bold yet contemplative. Already an activist, she started to fully harness and use the power of her voice on social media that year. 

“When someone was being treated unfairly, she would try to step about in defense of that person. She always tries to see the good in everyone,” Fonda said.

Vidya continues to make efforts to raise awareness in her community, whether it be on Instagram or in discussions at school.

“I wish people would get more involved in caring about things around them and realize that we don’t live in our own little bubble, and there are things in the world that everyone needs to care about,” Vidya said.

During the turbulent times of 2020, society turned to comedy for comfort and a source of power. Vidya’s humor is oftentimes misinterpreted as her serious attitude, as the two aspects of her personality are blurred. 

“[Vidya] makes you feel less stressed about something going on, by throwing in a few jokes, allowing you to view that situation from a lighter perspective, while also reminding you that you’re going to do great,” Fonda said. 

Vidya continues to mine her witty sarcasm, packing discussions with punches of laughter. She can often be found absorbed in her own world, quietly laughing to herself. English teacher Brigid Miller, Vidya’s junior year American Literature teacher, remarked how Vidya’s humor livened up class. 

“Vidya always seemed serious. She’s joking, but you have to repeat it in your head, to realise, ‘Oh, that was Vidya being funny.’ [Her humor] was sort of sneaky,” Miller said.  

Her droll humor truly shines through when she chats with her confidants, and she has an easygoing personality that allows her to converse well with her friends and get lost in her own world of music. 

“She’s a laid-back, imaginative person—we’ll frequently catch her lost in her thoughts, zoned out, usually listening to music,” close friend Anvitha Tummala (12) said.

The next soundtrack to Vidya’s life has just started. Music has helped Vidya understand that there are other people who have experienced what she is feeling. Just like how a beloved vinyl makes one feel on a rainy day, Vidya aspires to channel her empathy to other people.