Teenagers today are constantly reminded about how vital maintaining mental health is for their well-being — whether it be through school initiatives, social media or organizations. And, while it is an increasingly popular topic among students, many students struggle with knowing what staying healthy mentally even looks like. Seeing this struggle, senior Raina Datta was inspired to help her peers through her book, “Rooted”.
Published on October 10, 2025, “Rooted” serves as a reminder to students that they don’t have to achieve perfection and that being rooted in themselves is enough.
“I just wanted to write it to basically tell people that everything that they feel is normal and even if their healing process, or the process that I call grounding yourself, isn’t perfect, that’s okay,” Datta explained. “I just wanted people to be seen when they have their quiet struggles because obviously everyone has them.”
Datta started writing the book in her sophomore year as a small project to help her guide herself. Over time, Datta realized that to fully encapsulate the pressure high schoolers face today, her book would have to be as raw and vulnerable as possible.
“After I had the realization that I was gonna publish this, it was a little bit hard being as vulnerable as before because it’s a lot to share, “ Datta mentioned. “I kept rewriting parts over and over, but then I realized that the book isn’t supposed to sound perfect and I wanted it to sound human.”
A huge message Raina Datta tried to convey is that perfection isn’t the goal, especially in the digital age where social media can push an unhealthy narrative onto youth. And while social media can be a platform which promotes unhealthy comparisons and relationships, social media is what has helped Datta and other mental health advocates spread their message around the world.
“I think it’s a great platform that more people can start using to tell the truth instead of chasing validation,” Datta emphasized. “If we utilize the platform in a better way it can make people feel less alone, so I don’t think the answer is to reject it completely but to use it with intention.”
Social media has been a powerful tool for movements and to raise awareness on issues teenagers face today, and Datta has been using the platform heavily to promote her book and message. As youth today face problems that feel insurmountable, it’s important that teenagers keep in mind that they are not alone and can fight their battles together. Datta’s book is an inspiring example of this initiative to connect youth – to others and their inner selves.
