Member Spotlight: Meet Bhavana Suvarna
Meet Bhavana Suvarna, a member of Not Wasting My Twenties (NWM20s) since October 2020. She joins us as this issue’s Member Spotlight from her current residence in Washington D.C. where she’s working in international development at a social enterprise. Her role focuses on proposal development and partner outreach for international aid projects! Outside of her 9-5, she finds joy in teaching French classes and cultural workshops for adult language learners through a language school in Minneapolis. She outlines how NWM20s came into the picture and laughs at the number of times she’s had to explain the web of connections the group has set off.
She begins the story at the peak of the pandemic when she was feeling directionless after losing her internship in Paris, France, and missing the vibrant community of grad school before moving back home. She remembers seeing Katie Burke’s original TikTok articulating similar feelings and instructing “If you resonate with this, join this group.” She joined the NWM20s Facebook Group and immediately noticed how the community provided a positive space for engaging threads, virtual parties, and online spaces that felt reassuring during a not-so-comforting time.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given?
My favorite gifts are the ones that reflect how well the person knows me. For my birthday two years ago, I got a copy of the book “Big Friendship” by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, from a friend of time.
I opened it up when I got home from my group birthday dinner and found that it was filled with her annotations, comments, and thoughts throughout the book. I love thinking about friendship maintenance and relationships, and a lot of the conversations she and I would have together were about friendship. It was so thoughtful. I felt like I was having a conversation with her while I was reading the book. Best gift ever.”
Bhavana finds inspiration in books and media that explores various aspects of life and topics that interest her. She mentions "Trick Mirror," a book of essays by Jia Tolentino, as a foundational text for her, touching on the pressure we feel to be constantly optimizing, as well as commentary on online communities, identity, friendship, and of course reality TV.
She calls out other notable works that have influenced her such as John Green's "The Anthropocene Reviewed,” specifically the essay "Googling Strangers,” Natasha Lunn’s "Everything I Know About Love," and Dolly Alderton’s "Conversations on Love," which delve into the themes of friendships, love, and community.
Bhavana has embraced the power of saying “no” to relationships that do not align with her true self, whether they be romantic, platonic, or professional. By embracing her authentic self and operating with kindness and curiosity, Bhavana has discovered that the right people and opportunities naturally gravitate toward her when the timing is right.
Are there any specific habits or practices you've developed that have contributed to your personal growth and happiness during your 20s?
One thing I started doing more is going to things alone. If I see an event I want to go to. I get myself a ticket and then I ask my friends if they want to come. And if not, I'll just go. It's cool because I'm challenging myself to talk to strangers and also just enjoy my own company. Last October I went to this Halloween party at a bookstore and made some fun connections there- I started by complimenting one person’s costume, and by the end of the night, she had introduced me to her friends, and I ended up chatting with a lot of friendly people.
She stresses that though some people may be scared to go to things alone if you want to do something, you shouldn’t let not having a +1 stop you! She says most recently she’s taken herself to dinner, attended a pour-over class, or just found a cozy spot for her current read — explaining how it’s a nice way to practice self-acceptance.
For people that might be interested in attending similar events in their area, she suggests following neighborhood social media pages or small businesses to hear about upcoming events.
What is something you've always wanted to do but haven't yet, and what is stopping you from doing it?
I’ve always wanted to join a writer’s workshop and write a bit more. I've been journaling, but I've always wanted to do creative writing. I need to research and find a good group to join. It’s not fear that’s holding me back, but I'd like to be disciplined with it (In true Aries Fashion, I sometimes start projects without following through, so I want to be mindful if it’s something I want to be serious about!)
In defining success for herself in her 20s, Bhavana acknowledges that her perspective has evolved. She finds true success in having the time to engage in activities she enjoys with the people she cares about. Building and maintaining meaningful relationships and being a supportive friend, sibling, and child have become significant markers of success.
Bhavana emphasizes the importance of staying curious, motivated, and open to possibilities while also recognizing the value of personal growth and evolution. It is through these principles and nurturing connections that she believes true success in her 20s can be found.
