Every senior at Claremont High School (CHS) has left their own impact on the community. In addition to contributing to the CHS student body, Rukmini Sridharan holds a special place in many people’s hearts. Throughout her time in high school, she has been an active member of Speech & Debate, choir and was the founder of Ethics Club. Sridharan’s success has been evident in each activity, whether it be through her multiple national and state qualifications in Speech and Debate, her position as the soprano section leader in chamber singers, or preparing her club for the Ethics Bowl. Most importantly, Sridharan has managed to support anyone in need, oftentimes being referred to as the one of the best therapists one could ever ask for.
Due to her commitment to Ethics Club, as well as her care for the community and her knowledgeable character, it comes as no surprise that Sridharan will be striving for a double major of psychology and philosophy at UC Berkeley. Although she is not entirely sure about what career she wants to pursue, her current goal is to get a PhD and possibly become a therapist or researcher. Since learning about her and her friend Elisa Conolly’s acceptance at the end of fifth period one day, she has been looking forward to meeting new people at Berkeley.
“[I’m most excited about] challenging myself, because this is the first time I’m going to be living away from home, getting out of my comfort zone, getting to know new people, and doing other activities that will broaden my experience,” Sridharan said.
Similar to what many students experience in high school, Sridharan will try to still keep on “the grind” while expanding her social circle at Berkeley. To her, it is important to stay away from overworking and instead focus on trying new things while she is away from home.
Despite forming new connections at Berkeley, Sridharan says that she will miss the people that she has met at Claremont High School. She would like to shoutout her “underclassmen GOATS” (Andrew Luschei and Jiseo Park) as well as her “senior GOATS” (Kate Song, Roman Ceja and Elisa Conolly) who she has built a strong friendships with throughout her high school years. Even though she will not be able to see the next group of high schoolers graduate from Claremont High, she would advise them to work hard, but also have fun. She believes that happiness in high school is the framework for a happy life.
At graduation, tears are always inevitable, especially when students see people like Sridharan walk the stage. But regardless of the sadness, everyone who knows her can rest assured that Rukmini Sridharan will continue to be a caring, reliable, and kind person, only a few hundred miles north.
