Aanya Mukherjee Buy Yourself Flowers
- Inspiring Teens Magazine
- Jun 26
- 4 min read
Aanya Mukherjee – California
Nomination & Photography by Amrita Dhar
Issue 103 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
Nomination: Aanya Mukherjee is a student entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and founder of Buy Yourself Flowers, a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to making mental health resources more accessible to teens. After experiencing severe bullying, she transformed her own challenges into action, creating Bloom Boxes, hosting school workshops, and producing a podcast featuring psychologists, educators, and community leaders. Through partnerships with schools and organizations across the world, Aanya works to ensure that young people have a voice in conversations about their well-being. Her mission is simple: create mental health support that is built by teens, for teens.
What other inspiring qualities, achievements, or experiences about you, not mentioned in your nomination, would you like readers to know about?
One thing I hope readers know is that my journey has not been linear. During high school, I experienced severe bullying that affected my confidence, mental health, and academic performance. For a long time, I felt defined by those challenges. Over time, I learned that resilience is not about never struggling; it is about continuing to show up even when things are difficult. Beyond my nonprofit work, I am passionate about understanding people and systems through business, psychology, and research. I hope to spend my career creating solutions that make communities more supportive, inclusive, and accessible for young people.
What goals, dreams, or projects are you currently working toward right now?
Right now, I am focused on growing Buy Yourself Flowers and expanding its impact beyond individual schools. My goal is to partner with more schools and community organizations to provide teen-led mental health resources, workshops, and Bloom Boxes to students who may not otherwise have access to support. I am also developing my podcast, where I interview psychologists, educators, and advocates to make mental health information more accessible to young people. In the future, I hope to combine my interests in business, psychology, and social impact to create systems that improve youth well-being on a larger scale.
What could talk about for hours, and why does it matter so much to you?
I could talk for hours about why so many young people feel disconnected from the systems designed to support them. Whether it is schools, mental health services, or social media, I am fascinated by the gap between what adults think teenagers need and what teenagers actually experience. This topic matters deeply to me because I have lived through that disconnect myself. Through my nonprofit, podcast, and research interests, I have learned that meaningful change happens when people are willing to listen to the voices they are trying to help. Understanding that gap is what drives much of the work I do today.
What is something you have learned about yourself as a leader or influencer in the past year?
Over the past year, I have learned that leadership is less about having all the answers and more about creating opportunities for others to contribute. When I first started my nonprofit, I felt responsible for doing everything myself. As the organization grew, I realized that real impact comes from trusting others, listening to feedback, and building systems that allow people to take ownership of the mission. Learning to delegate, adapt, and remain open to different perspectives has made me a stronger leader and has shown me that collaboration often achieves more than individual effort.
What is one of your favorite memories with the person who nominated you, or something about them that means a lot to you?
One of the memories that means the most to me is a conversation I had with my mom during one of the hardest periods of my life. After experiencing severe bullying, I was struggling with whether to leave the school I had attended for years. I felt like transferring meant I had failed. Sitting at our kitchen table, my mom reminded me that choosing my well-being was not weakness, but courage. That conversation changed the way I view success. It taught me that strength is not about enduring every hardship alone, but about knowing when to advocate for yourself. Many of the values that guide my work today, especially my mental health advocacy, can be traced back to that moment.
Tell us about the person who took your photo — how did you connect, and what was that experience like?
The person that took my photo was my mom! She has a bit of prior photography experience and has helped record my experiences as I've conducted workshops at different schools. She's been by my side throughout.
How did you first hear about Inspiring Teens Magazine? Why does being part of Inspiring Teens Magazine matter to you?
I first heard about Inspiring Teens Magazine because one of my friends was featured on the cover. It matters to me because I love how Inspiring Teens promotes high achievers and teenagers that use leadership to do good, and I would love to be part of a platform that does that.
How will earning a scholarship through Inspiring Teens Magazine help you?
I would use my scholarship towards college to pursue an education in the intersection between business, psychology, and advocacy.
Look for Aanya in issue 103 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
* Each interview is shared in the teen’s own words, so their authentic voice shines through.
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