Ajay Macherla, a senior at Downingtown STEM Academy, is the author of a new self-help book for high-schoolers. Matteo Iadonisi covered the guide, From High Schooler to High Schooler, for 6ABC.

Macherla became interested in reading self-help books when he was 14. He also began watching motivational speakers on YouTube, and that fueled his can-do attitude and inspired him to write his own book.

From High Schooler to High Schooler was published earlier this year. It focuses on four pillars of success: mindset, skillset, relationships, and health. For the book, Macherla networked online with others and conducted around 30 interviews worldwide.

“The strategies that I share in my book are very applicable to high school students,” he said. “Especially now going through virtual school, getting back into school, and kind of having to relearn some of the things that they lost over the pandemic.”

Downingtown STEM Academy faculty said Macherla is one of the school’s many exemplary students.

“It’s such a great story,” said Susan Boardman, the Internships and Partnerships Leader. “So humble. Not everybody in the school knew that he had written a book. What Ajay was really talking about, as well, was a growth mindset. And we practice that every day.”

Read more about Ajay Macherla at 6ABC.