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Youth Activity Speakers
Sejal Dhruva is currently one of the Co-Chairs for YJA and has previously held the West Regional Coordinator role. She graduated from University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor degree in Behavior Psychology and Political Science. She is a certified paralegal working full time as a contracts negotiator at salesforce. com, inc. in San Francisco, CA. When not working, you can find Sejal at the gym, out with friends, doing yoga, or cheering for the San Francisco 49ers or San Jose Sharks. She believes that laughter is the best part of life and challenges you to make her laugh more than she can make you laugh!
Sheenika Shah is currently one of the Co-Chairs for YJA and has previously held the Director of Publications role. Sheenika received her B.S. in International Relations and Business Administration at the University of San Diego and graduated law school from California Western. As a non-practicing attorney, she has found her niche in legal marketing as the Business Development Website Coordinator for a national law firm combining her love of law, technology and marketing. In her free time, Sheenika loves to try new vegan restaurants, travel, and explore all apps and websites related to social media!
Surbhi Pandya has been an influential speaker in the U.S. and India on subjects like meditation, inherent soul - infinite powers, living a miracle life, Jain Siddhant Praveshika, microbiology, and Jainism's microscopic vision of food. Surbhi has also used the medium of abstract paintings to depict deep philosophical concepts in a scientific way. Genetics and Karma, science of Jain temples, multi-faceted reality of anekantvand are the topics of some of her most popular paintings. She has compiled a set of children's books (Pahala Kadam, Doosara Kadam, and Teesara Kadam) under the guidance of Munishree Kshamasagarji Maharaj, explaining the basic principles of Jainism in a modern pictorial way.
Sonali Vakharia was born in Flint, Michigan and grew up mostly on the east side of the state. She graduated from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri in 2011. She is now practicing as a pharmacist at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. This is her first year being on the Youth Activities board, and she is very excited that the convention will be held in her home state! Sonali enjoys spending time with her friends/family, going to concerts, traveling, writing poetry, playing the piano, photography, and helping out during local pathsala classes.
Jainism: The Global Impact
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