Know your AIQA- Saumya Mehta

Hey! I’m Saumya Mehta, 16 years old from Delhi and I’m bisexual. It still feels weird when I say that out loud, considering the fact that even after I realized I wasn’t straight, it took me 3.5 years to come to the conclusion that I was bi. Those 3.5 years was also the hardest period of time in my life. I lost my brother, my parents were always fighting and I felt completely lost. The credit of getting me out of that dark hole goes to my sisters and friends. They never let me think that I was alone and were with me every step of the way. During this time I also started researching different orientations and identities and also what so many people have to go through on a daily basis. All this research and those stories are what made me come out to my friends in 10th grade. They all were super accepting and never once let me feel that I was different somehow. I haven’t had to face any first-hand hate and I’m really grateful for that. I’m still not out to my parents and that’s probably not gonna happen until I really have to do it, but I’m still happy. I’m happy because I’ve come to terms with who I am and I no longer feel like that lost girl. Through AIQA, I wish to help each and every person who feels that they’re lost, find their way and be proud of who they are because no one deserves to live like that.