Fairfax High School senior Damanika Ravi’s peace research journey began in her freshman year, when she witnessed a troubling rise in the casual use of racial slurs and stereotypes among students. While some dismissed these as jokes, Damanika saw the discomfort and harm they caused, sparking her determination to address these issues head-on.
Prompted by a friend, Damanika applied to become a student fellow at the Youth Research Council (YRC) in her sophomore year. YRC is a research collaborative and community-based experiential learning program administered by George Mason University’s Center for Social Science Research (CSSR), GMU’s Early Identification Program (EIP), and the Johns Hopkins School of Education. Launched in 2021, YRC is open to northern Virginia high school students in grades 9-12.
Upon joining YRC Damanika was drawn to the group’s mission to promote community capacity building and racial equity through ongoing research activities. She quickly became an active contributor to ongoing projects focused on biased speech and school safety, participating in surveys, data collection, analysis, and creative presentations of their findings.
As part of interpreting her findings, Damanika transformed student testimonials into art—poems, word clouds, and even a “quilt” of impactful phrases. One poem, for example, highlighted the challenges faced by girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), while another addressed stereotypes about academic achievement. These creative projects made the stories more tangible and moving, both for Damanika and her team.
The YRC’s research was extensive, gathering hundreds of survey responses from high school students across Virginia. The group’s work revealed that most microaggressions occurred between students, often unnoticed by adults. Damanika contributed to both the qualitative and quantitative analysis as well as co-authoring research reports—one of which is being considered for publication in the Urban Review.
Her advocacy extended beyond research. Inspired by what she learned, Damanika joined her school’s Equity Team in her junior year, working to promote social awareness and positive change. She also helped build a slide deck for educators and graduate students at Johns Hopkins University and co-developed a presentation to educators and local school officials at George Mason University, aiming to influence local policy and foster more inclusive school environments.
Damanika credits the supportive adults and peers in the YRC, as well as her “Lion Time” homeroom teacher, Ms. Jayashree Mangalagiri, for teaching her the importance of respectful dialogue and self-advocacy. The experience has made her more aware of her own words and actions, and has deepened her commitment to equity and justice
Looking ahead, Damanika hopes to integrate her research into biased speech and school safety into her planned medical studies in ways that promote good physical and mental health as well as safe and inclusive communities.