Her Story
About Riya
Riya Velhal is a high school student based in Portland, Oregon, specializing in advocacy and campaigning within the field of economics advocacy. Over the past two years, she has gained experience working with local political parties and has taken on leadership positions, including serving as president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, where she led 15 students in various campaigns and bill advocacy efforts. She also led a delegation of seven students to international conferences through her high school Model United Nations team and worked on the finance team for the Democratic Party of Washington County, Oregon, helping to raise over $20,000 for large-scale political events. Currently, Velhal is involved with Tina Kotek's campaign. Her notable achievements include winning first place in the state at the DECA competition and serving as a team candidate for the Blood Cancer United organization's Student Visionaries of the Year program. She is a member of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Democratic Party of Washington County, Oregon, and volunteers with both organizations. Velhal attributes her success to a mentor who taught her that putting her mind to something allows her to achieve it, and she values consistency and leadership in her work. She advises others to just start and take the first step, regardless of age or circumstances.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Riya
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say probably a mentor, one of my teachers, so being they allowed me to understand that if you really put your mind to something, you can always get it done. So with that, it's just knowing the fact that I can maybe change youth, or help them understand that they can also be a part of real-world success. Like, I'd say my teacher led to me kind of pushing that.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I would say it's to just start. So no matter what you're doing, no matter the age, or time, or place, just start. It doesn't have to be perfect or planned out, but yeah, just take the first step and see where you can go, and from there, you can always improve.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say it doesn't hurt to try, so being able to, again, like, just start, just take your first steps, reach out, send that email. Yeah, use your interest and go the extra mile, whatever you need to to fulfill that campaign or that advocacy wish. Is the best way to go.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say being young could be a challenge, just knowing that some people, or this kind of pertains to me as a person, rather, but I'd say for advocates, just knowing that, like, credibility can be an issue. It's kind of shown up in my work.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Yeah, I would say consistency. I would say leadership in general, so being able to take that first step for everyone, maybe lead a way, show others that things are possible, and yeah, for consistency, I just say showing up, always. I think those are values.
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