Six years ago, Wichita State junior Saajan Bhakta made an attempt to end his life.  Last Thursday he stood before his fellow students and professors with a purpose. The Office of Multicultural affairs brought Bhakta in to talk about his journey and how he found his calling in life.

March was a big month for Bhatka. The 19-year-old published a book, Wichita mayor Carl Brewer had declared March 18 “Saajan Bhakta Day,” and he traveled the country speaking all while keeping up with classes.

Bhakta, born and raised in Wichita, always felt different than others in middle school. Because of bullying in school, Bhakta made an attempt on his life at the age of 13. Bhakta credits family and friends with helping him through the ordeal.

It was on a trip to India when Bhakta was 14 that he saw first hand the poverty the country faced everyday in the airport.

“It changed me,” Bhakta said. “I knew then that I had to do something.”

Bhakta that same year began to create PovSolve, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping resolve world poverty. It specializes in funding for life-saving surgeries that would people would otherwise go without.

“I was terrified,” Bhakta said. “But at 14, I called a lawyer to help me get everything set up.”

Povsolve was established a few years later as an official non-profit in July 2010. As of January 2014 it has impacted 29,000 lives globally and raised $80,000 for poverty.

Bhakta travels the nation as a professional speaker talking to young people about his journey and helping others.

“Be kind to one another,” Bhakta said during his speech on Thursday. “Treat others with respect because you don’t know what someone else is going through.”

Bhakta said it was about a year ago that he was approached at a speaking engagement about writing a book. He took them up on their offer and published a book “Be Your On Hero” March 15.

The book chronicles Bhakta’s journey throughout the last few years and his philosophies on life.

Bhakta said he felt honored to speak at WSU and is humbled by the experiences he had in March.

“It was scary when I was publishing the book,” Bhakta said. “Because some of the stuff in it my parents didn’t even know.”

All the proceeds from the book and Bhakta’s speaking engagements go to his charity PovSolve.

A few students who attended the event also came to see Bhakta at City hall and his book signing, Senior Brett Burbach was no exception.

“He is accomplishing a lot for as young as he is,” Burbach said. “He’s someone you don’t see everyday.”