“You never leave the house empty-handed.”

That was one of the first lessons I absorbed in my Tamil household. Before visiting a neighbor, my mother would press a box of sweets into my hands. My father might hand me a couple of mangoes, still warm from the counter. It didn’t matter how small; the act of giving mattered more than the gift itself. Over time, I realized I never truly came back empty-handed either. I returned with stories, with laughter still echoing in my ears, with lessons that lingered long after the food was gone.

That rhythm, to give first and to return fuller, has stayed with me, even as the “gifts” looked different. Service before self became not just a value, but a way of moving through the world.

When I founded a nonprofit to support rural schools abroad, I thought I was the one bringing what was missing: boxes of books and laptops, new classrooms, bathrooms for girls. And yes, those made a difference. But what I didn’t expect was how much the experience would change me. I carried home resilience after projects failed. I carried home patience after months of waiting for partnerships that never worked out. And then I carried home true joy: standing in a crowded classroom, watching a child peel open the stiff cover of her very first textbook. In her wide-eyed silence, I understood what it meant to leave “full-handed”.

And when the world said “no”, too ambitious, too young, too unrealistic, I didn’t hear the end of a sentence. I heard the beginning of a longer conversation. Each “no” became another thing to carry back, a reminder that resilience is not built on easy yeses, but on the courage to keep showing up, again and again, hands open.

Now, as I begin my journey at UT Austin, I will step into new classrooms and communities with the same gifts: openness, persistence, and a belief that giving always leaves us richer. I know I will never come back empty-handed. I will carry knowledge, friendships, and experiences worth sharing. To me, the Forty Acres Scholars Program reflects that same promise: a family defined not by what it takes, but by how much it gives, and by the belief that service before self is what ultimately shapes us.

Major
Business 

Honors Program
Canfield Business Honors

Other Academic Interests
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)

Extracurricular Activities
For me, leadership has always been about building platforms for safety, and for voices too often left unheard. That vision began with Lead The Ways Foundation, the nonprofit I founded to expand educational access in rural schools worldwide. From restrooms to learning resources, we worked to make opportunity tangible for students who had been denied it. The same drive led me back home to Frisco, Texas, where I organized a nonpartisan citywide march for school safety. More than 250 people including students, city officials, even congressional candidates joined together to raise funds for Uvalde victims and to demand change. Wanting to ensure youth voices weren’t just heard at rallies but also at the ballot box, I founded Youth for Youth, a civic engagement initiative to increase voter participation among youth. Through educational panels, fundraising campaigns, and partnerships with local media, we built momentum that grew across three counties. These ideas earned me the Voter Impact Collective Award, along with resources to expand outreach even further. My advocacy also took me to Washington, DC, where I lobbied lawmakers. Alongside advocacy, I pursued leadership in the world of business. As chapter president of DECA, I expanded membership, mentored younger members, and competed twice at the International Career Development Conference. Later, as a Citibank intern, I explored the intersection of finance and innovation, contributing to projects on how financial institutions can adapt to emerging technologies. Through these efforts, I have been recognized with the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Gold and Silver Awards, but more importantly, I’ve seen how building platforms for others creates lasting impact. Whether through equity in education, civic engagement, or business leadership, my work is rooted in one belief: when voices are amplified, change follows.

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
The first time I met anyone from Forty Acres, it was in a simple conversation that ended with, “We’re so glad you’re here.” That moment stayed with me. It felt like being pulled into a living room full of people who already knew you belonged.
I thought I was searching for an opportunity, but I ended up finding so much more, beginning with an unexpected source of belonging. There were people who didn’t know me yet choosing to invest in me, encourage me, and welcome me into something bigger than myself.

At the semifinalist interview and finalist weekend, that support came alive. Alumni, staff and current scholars who had no reason to spend so much time with me sat down and shared stories, advice, and a love for UT that I soon shared. 
And it didn’t stop when the weekend ended. People I had only just met checked in and proved that the Forty Acres Scholars Program isn’t just a scholarship, but also a family that stands with you before, during, and after. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be considered for something so meaningful, and even more grateful for the support and open arms I’ve been met with.

That’s what drew me. The people who showed me that I had found a home.