Q. Who are the members of your family: parents, siblings and pets?

A. My family consists of my mom, Meetu; my dad, Neeraj; my older brother, Sameer and my pet bird, Jiggly.

Q. What do you most enjoy about being a senior at Emmaus High School?

A. I really enjoy being a role model for the underclassmen. I am always happy to help them through their high school journey so that they can have the most successful and memorable experience possible. Whether this help be as simple as assistance on a difficult homework problem, or to provide recommendations for interesting classes, I always enjoy helping out my younger peers.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. I have always been drawn to mathematics. I enjoy the abstract nature of calculus, especially when multiple variables are in use. However, my favorite class in all of high school has been AP Physics C. This class mixed calculus and the world of physics creating an incredible fusion of two intriguing subjects. I enjoyed studying mechanics and making connections to the motion of objects in the real world. I also enjoyed learning about electricity and magnetism because the math and theory behind it can be quite complicated. Finally, having Mr. Ohl as my teacher made the class exponentially better.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I have been on the Principal’s Honor Roll for every year of high school. Also, since freshman year, I have placed in the top three individuals in various math competitions across Pennsylvania. As a member of the school’s quiz bowl team, I helped our team become a semifinalist in PBS’s Scholastic Scrimmage two years in a row. Our team also qualified for national competitions for the past few years. I additionally participated in the History Day competition for my first three years of high school. Along with my teammates, Nathaniel Wertz and Nicholas Cannone, we performed successfully at the regional level and qualified for the state competition in our junior year. Outside of school, I have been recognized for five consecutive years of superior rating in the National Guild Piano Auditions as well as 11 consecutive years of superior rating in the National Federation of Music Clubs junior festival.

Q. What are your favorite extracurricular activities?

A. My favorite extracurricular activity is definitely quiz bowl. I have been a member of EHS’s quiz bowl team since freshman year and have loved every year of it. I enjoy learning random facts and memorizing them for trivia purposes. Quiz bowl tested my trivia knowledge to the extreme. I also enjoy captaining EHS’s math team and engineering team and being a member of the computer science team and No Place for Hate club.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. After high school, I look forward to an enjoyable and relaxing summer before beginning my study of engineering in college.

Q. What do you consider your biggest challenge to date?

A. One of my biggest challenges has been saying goodbye to some of my older high school friends as they graduated. Many of my closest friends from high school were a year or two older than me, and saying goodbye to them was always tough.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered for my willingness to help anybody in need, for my friendliness to peers and for my weak “jokes” that struggle to earn a laugh.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. There is no individual who I admire. Instead, I admire everyone who gives back to their community. Volunteers are some of the most powerful people in our community and they have the ability to make monumental changes for our generation and future generations. I truly admire those who give up their time to help the world and the less fortunate. Volunteers have inspired me to give back to the community that has raised me whenever I am able to.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Always remember: you are defined by more than just a number. GPA and standardized testing scores are important, but they do not define who you are. It is important to pursue your interests and follow your dreams. It is not important to compare grades or intelligence with other people. Learn from your mistakes to become better. Strive to focus on personal growth and mold yourself into the person you want to be.