Shourya Vyas turned his personal experience with his mother’s cancer battle into a global-impact project by creating a bilingual website to support cancer-affected families, embodying the #GISDUnmatched spirit. At an age when most kids are focused on friends and school, Shourya Vyas faced a challenge no child should—the heartbreaking reality of his mother’s cancer diagnosis. The fear, uncertainty, and strength it took to support his family during that time profoundly shaped him. Watching his mother fight the disease became a turning point, showing Shourya how cancer doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed but the entire family. Thankfully, after a long and difficult journey, his mother’s cancer is now in remission, a source of relief and inspiration for Shourya and his family.
His mother’s battle wasn’t just a struggle—it was a call to action. Determined to support others facing the same heartache, Shourya channeled his emotions into a meaningful project through the Garland High School International Baccalaureate (IB) program. While visiting India, he recognized a gap in accessible cancer information, especially for families dealing with the illness. Inspired by his mother’s fight, Shourya created a bilingual website to offer guidance and support to families affected by cancer.
“I wanted people to benefit from our experiences,” Shourya said, explaining how personal stories from patients he interviewed became the heart of the site. “I also included stories of patients I met, hoping people could relate and find some comfort.”
The website, available in both Hindi and English, allows Shourya’s message of hope to cross borders. “I aim to spread my website further so that I can help more people navigate their experience with cancer—or, at the very least, make the journey a little easier,” he added.
Shourya’s IB Middle Years Programme supervisor, Kelli Davis, immediately recognized his unique passion. “Shourya isn’t just another student—he’s driven by a genuine desire to help others. That’s what makes him stand out,” Davis said. Shourya was the top-scoring student in the entire state last year in the Junior High Academic Octathlon, reflecting his dedication and drive. “Through his IB project, he didn’t just stop at an idea—he put his heart into creating something that can truly make a difference.”
Working on the website has allowed Shourya to process his own family’s experience and use it to heal while helping others. “It gave me a chance to channel my feelings into something positive,” Shourya shared. “It also provided a way to make meaning out of everything we had been through as a family.”
Shourya’s initiative and compassion reflect the spirit of #GISDUnmatched, where students aren’t just preparing for tests—they are preparing to make a difference. His project isn’t just a school requirement—it shows how students in Garland ISD use their experiences and education to make a global impact.
Shourya continues to spread the word about his website, hoping that it will reach more people who may benefit from the bilingual stories and information it provides. “If just one person finds comfort in the stories or learns something new that helps them through a tough time, I’ll feel like I’ve made a difference,” he said.
Shourya’s ability to turn personal hardship into something that helps others is what makes him truly unmatched.
Visit Shourya’s website, Cancer Simplified.
Information and photo provided by Garland ISD.