Two Yorba Linda High School seniors, Roshan Ambegaonkar and Skylar Snyder, have achieved the notable accomplishment of becoming published authors. Both students transformed personal experiences and passions into meaningful children’s books designed to educate, inspire, and promote understanding among young readers.
Promoting Water Safety Through Storytelling
Roshan Ambegaonkar, a former Woodsboro Elementary and Kraemer Middle School student, authored Water Safety with Bubbles the Buoy, a children’s book centered on the importance of water safety. Inspired by a personal childhood experience in which a classmate nearly drowned, Roshan sought to raise awareness about water safety through an engaging and accessible story.
“Drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages one to four,” Roshan explained. “Many of these tragedies could be prevented with better education.”
Drawing from his work as a lifeguard and water safety ambassador, Roshan created Bubbles the Buoy, a colorful and friendly character who teaches children how to enjoy water safely. The book’s illustrations, designed by his aunt in Hong Kong, brought the story to life despite the challenges of international collaboration. Roshan shared that he plans to donate all profits from the book to organizations that promote water safety education.
Inspiring Empathy Through Neurodiversity Awareness
Fellow senior Skylar Snyder, who attended Golden Elementary and Tuffree Middle School, wrote Benny the Bunny’s Big Race, a children’s story inspired by her younger brother, who has ADHD. Skylar’s goal was to foster empathy and understanding for neurodiverse individuals while empowering children with ADHD to feel seen and valued.
Her choice of a bunny as the main character symbolizes both the energy and sensitivity often associated with ADHD. Through Benny’s story, Skylar encourages readers to celebrate differences and recognize that every individual learns and grows in unique ways.
Reflecting on the process, Skylar shared that writing and publishing the book taught her perseverance and self-discipline. “This experience showed me how much effort I’m willing to put into something I care deeply about,” she said.
Both Roshan and Skylar exemplify Yorba Linda High School’s commitment to fostering creativity, compassion, and leadership among its students. Through their books, these young authors are not only sharing important messages but also demonstrating the power of storytelling to educate and inspire future generations.
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