Health, Basketball, + Finance

Being the co-pilot of my life since the day I was born exhausted me. I wasn’t even allowed to play sports that involved physical contact until I was 11. But I was tired of feeling excluded.

Stomach Whisperer

I could taste tangy cinnamon, a dash of extra vanilla, the raw flavor of molasses, all overlaid with the smooth creamy base of buttermilk batter.

Brother + Career

As my parents rushed my brother Rhitik to the Emergency Room, second grade me didn’t realize this would become the norm.

Overcoming Anxiety

My early childhood was unorthodox, to say the least. I can remember as early as pre-kindergarten being confided in by a fellow four year old about what I now know to be her domestic sexual abuse.

Patellar Tendininitis

The summer before junior year was pretty awful. At the beginning of summer, I was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis. Not only did I lose the experience of playing basketball, but I also lost the feeling that came with being part of a team.

Overcoming Concussions

This was my moment, what I had worked so hard to get back to. But the roar of the adoring crowd never came. Instead, I heard the sound of my skull cracking against another player’s head.

Ulcerative Colitis

“Sorry, I can’t play basketball today.” As I hung up the phone, I returned to my seat, which was stained with fresh blood. Though I hated the cramps and my constant donation of blood to the porcelain throne caused by flare-ups, I was more bothered by the fact that I had to stay home for yet another week by myself.

Laptop Stickers

My laptop is like a passport. It is plastered with stickers all over the outside, inside, and bottom. Each sticker is a stamp, representing a place I’ve been, a passion I’ve pursued, or community I’ve belonged to.