Most high school juniors spend their free time hanging out with friends, watching movies, or thinking about potential future colleges.
For Ishan Panda, however, free time is often spent building opportunities for thousands of young writers.
The Washoe County student is the founder of Young Author’s Anthology, a growing initiative that gives elementary and middle school students the chance to see their writing published in professionally designed collections. What began as a conversation with a single elementary school has expanded to 14 schools, with anthologies reaching more than 10,000 students.
For Panda, the idea grew out of his own love of storytelling.
"I like to write my own fiction stories," he says. "Movies and books give me creative fuel for things I could publish."
As he learned more about the traditional publishing process, he realized how difficult it can be for new writers to find an audience. Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, he decided to create one.
After teaching himself Adobe InDesign, Panda developed a process that allows student work to move quickly from submission to a complete, printed anthology. More than simply publishing stories, his ultimate goal is to help young writers recognize that their voices have value.
"Writing is still the backbone of any good idea," he says. "Maybe Young Author’s Anthology isn't the be-all and end-all way of inspiring passion, but maybe it's the first step."
Building the program required persistence. Early on, Panda made multiple trips to meet with an elementary school principal before getting the opportunity to present his idea. Support from dedicated educators eventually helped the initiative expand from a single school into a countywide effort, with funding from local Rotary and Optimist clubs further supporting its growth.
But Panda shares that the impact is often found in small moments. One story that stands out came from a participating student who proudly carried their anthology everywhere from home to school and even to a local baseball game.
"That's what we're all about," Panda says. "Showing that Washoe County supports some of the best writers ever."
Today, the program is supported by a team of 22 students who help with funding, media outreach, and presentations. While Panda is already planning for leadership after graduation, he hopes the foundation they're building will allow the program to continue growing through district partnerships, educational resources, and expanded community support.
This fall, Young Author's Anthology will launch another submission cycle, with selected students’ works finding their way into libraries and classrooms across Northern Nevada. For Panda, every new anthology represents another opportunity for a young writer to discover that their ideas matter and deserve to be shared.
And his advice to other young people? "If you're able to put all you've got into your idea and still not be exhausted by the work, then you know you have a winner."