Born in the city of Fenway Park, unforgiving winters and never knowing when someone is saying 'car keys' versus 'khakis' - otherwise known as Boston, Massachusetts - is Kaden Bryant. Currently a senior at Oviedo High School, Bryant has battled with his mental health for several years before discovering his ultimate motivation in life: writing.

The first time he discovered his passion for writing was in his sixth grade creative writing class. After writing his first paragraph, he knew that he had found his calling.

"It was like a feeling I had never felt before," said Bryant. "I knew in that moment that this was it for me - that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."

After struggling with trauma from a young age, it became difficult for Bryant to properly express his emotions. Luckily, creative writing has given him an opportunity to do so in a way that's easy for him.

"Writing allows me to display my emotions through a character," he said. "It's therapeutic in a way, being able to feel your feelings but at a comfortable distance."

Bryant's writing success has earned him a spot in the Wattpad Creators Program and the position of Editor-in-Chief at his school's newspaper. At age 17, he has written five books and won awards at functions like Camp Orlando and the Florida Scholastic Press Association for his writing.

"Sometimes I don't have people in my life that I can fall back on," Bryant said, "but I know my characters are always waiting for me back at home, and that's enough for me to keep going."

Aside from his success with writing, Bryant has moved on to regularly speak at Seminole County school board meetings about human rights issues and is a current member of the 2022 New Voices Institute. His passion has encouraged him to grow from past traumatic experiences, allowing him to blossom into an author, journalist, activist and leader.