Who am I?

For over 12 years I have played professionally competitive tennis. At age 12, I was ranked 21 in the state, which was a huge accomplishment for me. My deep commitment to Tennis resulted in my decision to  homeschool for 2 years. When I was younger, I played with passion and the drive to win. Now, my competitive senses have slightly dulled, and I view the sport as a fun outlet to be involved at school and make new friends. Although I am less involved in competition, I still hate to lose, but I can accept defeat, which I believe is a huge strength I have acquired. Additionally, I have played piano since I was 4, completing a variety of Etudes and Sonatinas. My fingers flowing across the keys is a wonderful stress reliever, and my family deeply appreciates the melodies reverberating throughout the house. As part of gaining my cultural identity, I have done over 10 years of Bharatnatyam, a classical South Indian dance form. The Mudras (hand movements) require unparalleled concentration and steps are concise and need force to complete. Outside of personal talents, I make it a habit to regularly volunteer at my local animal shelter while also interning at my Uncle’s veterinarian office. I have a deep love for animals, and shelters hold a special place in my heart as one of my dogs was rescued from a kill shelter and the other from a ranch. Volunteering at the animal shelter is a way for me to help abused and fearful creatures, so they can be taken into a loving home. At the veterinary office I have learned a variety of surgical procedures on animals, resulting in my fascination with how different the medicine field is in regards to four-legged creatures. Over this past summer, as a part-time job, I worked at a technology store. I sat in the back disassembling and reassembling electronics. Through this experience, I developed a sense of admiration through working with trinkets. I worked around 5 hours a day for 3 months, but the experience made me feel like I did not want to leave. These activities developed my personal strengths as they have increased my concentration levels and helped me gain knowledge in the musical, dance, technological, animal, and athletic fields. I learned many different skills and I appreciate individuals who pursue passions in these areas. These strengths prepared me to study abroad as they contribute to my open mind and my eagerness to learn more about unfamiliar subjects. I will always appreciate new information and experiences, and as a child I gained admiration for new things at only 4 years old.