About the Founder

Heart-to-Heart (H2H) Circle was founded by Laya Anand, a junior at Rock Bridge High School, who believes that empathy, connection, and emotional resilience are essential life skills—especially during adolescence.

The idea for H2H emerged from Laya's observation that many high-achieving students around her were quietly struggling with stress, self-doubt, and a loss of direction, despite strong academic performance and supportive environments. She noticed how often students faced these challenges in isolation—and how intentional, structured conversations could transform that isolation into connection.

Rather than pursuing a top-down solution, Laya began experimenting with small, peer-led circles focused on reflection, storytelling, and purpose. What started as informal student conversations grew organically as participants reported meaningful change and asked to lead circles themselves.

From the beginning, Laya designed H2H to remain student-founded and student-led, with educators and clinicians serving only in advisory roles to support safety and ethical boundaries. Her leadership has focused on mentoring student facilitators, preserving the integrity of the circle-based model, and ensuring that H2H remains accessible, authentic, and grounded in peer connection.

H2H is intentionally a non-clinical, preventive wellbeing initiative, emphasizing reflection, emotional literacy, and peer dialogue while consistently reinforcing when and how to seek professional help.

These experiences continue to shape her academic interests and her long-term goal of pursuing medicine, with a focus on whole-person care, human connection, and service to others.