I grew up in San Ramon, in the Bay Area, and came to Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad at fourteen. My twin brother, Ansh, joined me there junior year. The notes below are in my own words, taken from things I've written.
I love coffee. Every morning I make a pour-over, and I'm always changing the grind size or water temperature to see how the taste changes. Every Friday morning, I have coffee with our school chef, Albert. We talk about the school, and he's taught me a lot about coffee in general. On weekends, I try different coffee shops around Carlsbad. My favorite is Steady State Roasters because of the pride they take in their coffee and their menu of different beans.
I got into backpacking through Scouts, and the trips I remember most are the ones where we planned our own route and figured it out together. The Haute Route Pyrénées goes from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, and a lot of it isn't even marked, so you have to read the map yourself. Before I leave for college, I want a few weeks on the trail with just the two of us, with nowhere else to be.
We are twins and yet he's the cheese pizza and I'm the pepperoni guy, he likes cakes and I like takis.
Most cadets aren't happy to be up that early, but once the test started, everyone was cheering each other on. It reminded me of my freshman year, when someone introduced me to the gym and taught me how to train. Now I'm the one helping others.
The Academy's highest honor, given to one of four seniors.
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Recognized by the U.S. Congress, the California Legislature, and San Diego County.
In Sandusky, Ohio. Plus Tournament Champion, Skills Champion, and the Innovate Award at the Army JROTC San Diego Regional.
Military Order of the World Wars, for patriotic leadership.
Top junior cadet in the JROTC unit, awarded once a year per class.
Selected through a test and an interview.
What the job involves: Battalion Commander.
Boarding school. GPA 3.89 unweighted, 4.38 weighted. 8 APs, 4 honors, 4 dual-enrollment courses. AP U.S. History 4, AP Environmental Science 4.
Dual enrollment: C++ programming.
Dual enrollment.
Represented the county council in a mock state government and worked on an unemployment-prevention ordinance.
District Court.
Wrote and tested quantitative trading strategies in Python.
One of nine members. Heard academic integrity cases and recommended outcomes to the administration.
Weekly meetings with the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. Assembled school supply kits for kids in underprivileged areas.
School-wide events and the Red Cross blood drive.
Videos and talks for the student body, from mess hall etiquette to anti-drug policy.
Football (JV and varsity), basketball (JV), varsity lacrosse, and varsity volleyball, where I played middle and we reached the school's first CIF Division V semifinal.
60+ volunteer hours, 2020 to 2025: trail cleanups, wildlife restoration, Eagle projects.