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Indian Classical Music

  Years of preparation had led up to this moment. I was receiving my diploma in Indian classical music after ten years of music class. As I walked off the stage after singing, I reflected back to my musical journey.  I had been an excited 6-year old when I first started singing and piano class. Indian classical music was something I grew up with and it  played an important role in my life. It was through this activity that I connected with Indian culture even though I wasn’t fluent in Indian languages. From the songs and the music, I learned about different components of India: culture, music, values and religion. I had grown up with the people in my classes as well as my teacher, who I formed a strong bond with. We performed at different Indian community events and the temple, allowing me to get more involved in Indian community youth events. From helping my dad at the temple set up decorations to serving food at events, I uncovered more layers of Indian culture.  When I started atten
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My Name

 My name, Shreya, means “auspicious” and is also another name for the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi. I have always loved my name because it is fairly easy to pronounce. The only mispronunciation of my name I have ever heard was Shriya instead of Shreya, which is honestly close enough.  However, one thing I don’t like as much about my name is how common it is! I have many friends named Shreya and we always joke about how it is funny we call our own name out to each other. In fact, I have a neighbor named Shreya and our other friend refers to us as “The Shreyas”. In addition, I have been classmates with more than one person named “Shreya” which can lead to some very confusing times. My classmate Shreya and I were talking about how whenever someone calls out the name, “Shreya”, we both assume it is for the other one and just don’t respond. Another time, our teacher told us all to write our names down on a little piece of paper so that she could draw one name for an activity. Both my classmate Sh
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Tutoring

  I cleared my throat and sat up straight. In front of me was a wide-eyed, excited girl. I was embarking on a new virtual adventure of tutoring math to a 4th grade student from Detroit schools. As we smiled and introduced ourselves, I caught a glimpse of her classroom: worn-out textbooks and old monitors. I felt a pit in my stomach as I thought about the new technology and supplies in my school district. “Educational disparity”, the phrase popped into my head. I heard of the issue before but now I was witnessing it. I kept thinking- just 25 miles between this young girl, Jada and I seemed to make all the difference.  I noticed Jada was struggling to grasp the concept of division. After explaining it to her with a resonating analogy, she displayed greater confidence in her abilities and began asking me to teach her more complex math.  Amazed to see such dedication, passion and intellectual curiosity from Jada, I encouraged her to set higher goals and dream beyond the horizon. While wond
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High School

  As my high school experience draws to a close, I am excited for the future yet kind of sad to leave high school. During my years at high school, I realized that I not only learned a lot academically but discovered a lot about myself. For example, whensuring freshman year, I had little idea about what I wanted to pursue as a career. However, through the various clubs, activities, classes and experiences I have had, I have discovered my passion for medicine. I feel that my high school experience has been truly enriching and an enjoyable time. I never really realized how many different activities I could pursue (from swimming to Model UN)  and how I really enjoyed them. But when I look back and think that I probably won’t be able to do these again in college, I realize that I’m going to miss it. For instance, when I was competing at swim meets, I always used to view them as a task because I would be really tired from everything else. However, now I realize that it was a high-energy and
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Mentor Poet: Tracy K. Smith

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  In the above poem, “The Good Life”, Smith begins by commenting on the large value society places on money. She personifies money as a “mysterious lover” to show the prominence money has on the course of one’s lives. Thinking about money causes her to become nostalgic and she thinks about her past that was riddled with hardships. Her description of her personal struggles allow readers to relate to her on a personal level as they reflect on their struggles. Smith also shows the stark contrasts between days when she has money to spare and days when she does not. With money, she describes herself “like everyone else/On roast chicken and red wine”. However, when she is recalling her past experiences, she describes her meal as “coffee and bread/hungry all the time”. Smith also likens her financial struggles to “journeying for water from a village without a well” to show the intensity of her struggle and how she did not have the appropriate resources. I think she titled her poem, “The Good
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The Puzzle of Me

  Every day, brows sweating and mind pacing, I do a puzzle. I lay out all the pieces on the floor and get to work. At first, I identify corner pieces of the puzzle and configure them in their appropriate positions. Then, I start filling in the spaces between the corner pieces, noticing each puzzle piece and its differences from the others. One puzzle piece is labeled “precision to details” while another one is labeled “ambitious”. Not quite sure what the end result will be, I patiently continue to place the pieces in their position as I focus on deciphering the picture they construct. After 16 years of doing this puzzle, I have still not completed it - because the puzzle is me. The complexity of my puzzle stems from the fact that the pieces counteract each other to maintain homeostasis. Through my journey of contriving this complex puzzle, I came across characteristic pieces emulating my identity. Integral pieces include kindness and empathy that allow me to understand clinical patient
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Serendipity

 I chose the word serendipity because of the way the syllables and sounds roll off your tongue while pronouncing the word. Th first half of the word “seren” sounds really calming and peaceful while the second half of the word “dipity” sounds kind of playful. The second half of the word reminds me of “Dipppin’ Dots” and triggers memories of all the times I searched for the Dippin’ Dots stand while I was at amusement parks. Since these were pleasant and fun-filled memories, I also form positive connotations with the word serendipity.  I also really like the image that comes to mind while I think of the word, “serendipity”. I think of someone looking far beyond the horizon line at a dark night sky with many constellations. This image reminds me that life has many possibilities and paths. Another image that comes to mind when I think of the word, “serendipity”, is that of a person sitting on a cloud while experiencing peace and relaxation. The word also evokes feelings of mystery, magic, h
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