I first discovered yoga at a very young age. I have been doing classical dance since the 4th grade and my dance teacher made it a priority to always begin class with 15-20 minutes of yoga. Although we performed Yoga for only a short amount of time, I recall truly enjoying it and always made sure I was on time for class. I honestly did not think deeply of yogic practices in fourth grade but soon that would change. In the 7th grade, I moved to a new town where I didn't know anyone. I was already very shy and the whole process of moving made me more reserved and anxious. I remember I would feel insecure about the way I looked, the way I talked, the shoes I was wearing, and everything in between. I vividly remember for the first month at my new school I would sit in the bathroom stall crying and trying to reassure myself that I was simply just “over-reacting”. I remember this greatly affecting my academic performance and made me hide deeper in my shell. MY parents and siblings definitely noticed but were unsure of what to do. In 8th grade, my school offered a day of learning yoga and mindfulness which introduced me formally to Yoga. I also asked my dance teacher for additional practices to follow daily. Although my problems did not entirely disappear, for the time that I was performing Yoga, these problems diminished and I gained a more positive outlook. As a high school senior with many additional stressors I try to do Yoga and even recommend it to my often skeptical peers. Seeing how consistently performing yoga played a part in me overcoming stress was influential. I hope that others who may have been through worse in their lifetime can also feel some relief through the practice of yoga and mindfulness. At my school, I recently restarted the Yoga Club which had lost popularity for some years. Although we met over Zoom, I received mostly positive feedback from participants. Additionally on a wider scale through being a volunteer at a Food Pantry, I noticed the anxiety and stress of clients. I also am educating myself/volunteering through a Youth Empowerment Workshop held by the organization Sakhi for South Asian Women. The organization helps survivors of domestic abuse rebuild their life. I hope that with further professional yoga training, I can help give back to individuals who may not have the additional time or money to attend structured yoga classes on a weekly basis but still deserve these experiences. I also hope that I will be able to help trauma survivors who are gradually working to be independent. Lastly, I also hope that I can share Yoga with younger children through local libraries and elementary schools especially those in nearby low-income areas. Overall I am so grateful that I have been able to practice yoga without any barriers and I hope to share that with others no matter their circumstances.

For the longest time, I can remember I have always been deemed the “shy” kid by my teachers, coaches. When I moved to a new school in the middle of 7th grade, I was constantly experiencing this sensation of feeling scared, alone, and constantly in panic. I remember I would feel insecure about the way I looked, the way I talked, the shoes I was wearing, and everything in between. I vividly remember for the first month at my new school I would sit in the bathroom stall crying and trying to reassure myself that I was simply just “over-reacting” and that my feelings were not normal as my parents had pointed out to me multiple times. Even after I had assimilated this constant feeling and anxiety never went away; it only heightened as I entered high school. This long-lasting anxiety manifested into my academic life as the work became harder and my inability to focus became more apparent in my falling grades. As someone who is grateful for the privilege of education and greatly values education this resulted in me losing my self-confidence, stressing to the extreme, and normalizing unhealthy behaviors in my day-to-day life. Although I finally mustered up the courage to tell my first-generation, South Asian parents, their lack of knowledge and awareness only made the situation worse as I felt guilty for simply existing. Even after getting diagnosed with Anxiety, Depression, and ADHD they still remained skeptical. Due to the expensive costs of therapy and medication along with the sudden instability due to the COVID 19 pandemic, it has been harder to get help. I hope that one day I can use my experiences and story to help other South Asians, People of Color, and people whose mental illnesses often go untreated or undiagnosed. I also hope that I can either work with or find services that make counseling more affordable. An additional goal of mine is to pair young adults with counselors that understand their unique cultural dilemmas, language barriers, economic barriers, and disabilities to help underrepresented people get the help that they truly deserve

Since 4th grade, I’ve dedicated much of my time towards learning Kathak, a form of Indian Classical dance. What started out as a 1-hour class every week has not only turned into a passion for this type of dance but has also given me a better understanding of my Indian culture. In my Kathak class, we are also taught about the history and origins of India. We take a yearly exam that covers Indian history, traditional movements, music, and dance. Studying for these exams has allowed me to explore my culture in multiple ways, whether it be learning how to represent a peacock with my hands, sing a devotional song, perform folk dance, or use what movements I have learned to tell and act out famous classical stories. Reviewing a year’s worth of material and dance movements and performing them for an examiner or crowd has given me confidence over the years and a sense of achievement and happiness I am inspired most by the stories and history that have been passed on to me by generations. Being able to perform in front of new audiences such as my non-Indian peers and being able to teach them about my culture and values through a dance piece has made me much more proud to be IndianLearning about the obstacles women in India faced such as the fight for equality, autonomy over their own bodies, education, and much much more has made me reflect on my own experiences and recognize my privilege. I hope to not only take inspiration from these stories but also incorporate modern issues into the dialogue as well. Being able to tell these somewhat unique and hidden stories for a diverse community is something I take great pride in. Although, using facial expressions, and even sometimes interluding with vocal storytelling has definitely been difficult the depth that it adds to a piece is unimaginable to comprehend. I hope that in college I will continue to learn how to master such techniques and learn from artists of all different mediums how to elevate my performances. With additional financial support, I eventually hope that with dedication and perseverance I will be able to create a long theatrical piece not just telling the stories that interest me but also combine stories from the South Asian diaspora and other diasporas as well.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to TV courtroom dramas by the variety of instances where people’s lives are impacted by the legal interpretation of a situation. I’ve always loved seeing the lawyers come up with creative arguments, reasoning, and evidence and confidently present it. That’s why for an 8th-grade school assignment, I chose to research careers in criminal law. The extensive research and interviews I conducted with lawyers for this project gave me further insight into the real-life law profession, and I became hooked, wanting to learn more. The next year I participated in High School Law Institute at NYU: An experience completely out of my comfort zone. The adventure began when we were assigned specific cases and roles in the mock trial. Mine was a negligence case about a teenage girl, Nicole, who was killed in a car accident. The driver, her boyfriend, Terry, who’d been in a hurry to return to school, was being charged with 3rd-degree manslaughter. Working with other members of the defense team, I researched and studied the defendant’s statement, witness testimonies, and many exhibits. Additionally, we used outside research to familiarize ourselves with relevant legal issues. My roles in this trial were to give the opening statement, play a witness for our side, and also cross-examine one of the prosecution's witnesses. Personally, I found giving the seven-minute opening statement the most intimidating part, especially because I would be speaking in front of an audience of 50+. Ultimately, I was able to create a persuasive and emotional opening statement taking inspiration from my years of television-watching. Our defense put some responsibility on Nicole as she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, encouraged Terry to speed and also distracted him by giving his cellphone back. Additionally, there was a pedestrian whose failure to abide by the proper laws led to Terry’s swerving to avoid hitting her. After giving the lengthy opening statement, I had a newfound confidence in my abilities that made the remaining trial much more fun. By the end, I was confident that we had done a good job but surprised and thrilled when we ended up winning the case. The second year I was fortunately given the opportunity to perform a moot trial which was 10 times more complicated as we had to read multiple cases, present a 10 page brief and then be asked difficult questions by a panel of judges. My ability to perform this task successfully reinforced in me my interest in law as I was able to advocate for a good cause. I still enjoy watching courtroom dramas, but now I have a better understanding of the real-life aspects of the law. My experiences at HSLI have made me more sure than ever that I want to pursue a career in law. They changed my perspective and motivated me to explore new challenges such as joining my school’s debate team and ending with a winning record in the Bergen County inter-school debate competitions.