Sona Hanumali, Abington Heights High School
Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
A: Last fall, at the end of my senior season, I finally completed a goal of mine that has been seven years in the making: Singles districts champion. I have dedicated hours and entire summer days to tennis, and since I first began preparing for high school tennis I knew I wanted to win singles districts. The moment I did is one I will never forget, and remains the moment I achieved one of my dearest accomplishments.
The day after I turned 15, I performed Bharatanatyam dance for 2½ hours in front of 200 people consisting of friends, family and teachers with a live orchestra. This performance was my Arangetram, or dance graduation: the culmination of 10 years of schooling. In 10 years, that performance was the cleanest I have ever given, with the sharpest hand movements and most emotional facial expressions. Being able to share my dedication to dance and ability to perform a form of dance so closely tied to my South Indian heritage made me feel pride in both my skill and my culture, and for that my Arangetram was an especially empowering accomplishment.
Q: Whom do you most admire and why?
A: I have the type of older sister who has done everything: excellent academic records, impressive athletic achievements, officer positions in several clubs, early graduation from a good university, and an ambitious future career in medicine. Her name, Rina, even means queen, and as far as I can tell, she has managed to rule every aspect of her life. She may seem intimidating, and sometimes she is, but mostly she is incredibly inspiring. It is because we are close that I see her many achievements as inspiring, rather than intimidating. I know her accomplishments, but more importantly I see the effort they took to earn. I have watched her put in the hours studying for an exam, and then learn the next day that she got a perfect score. Being able to see both the behind-the-scenes hard work and the hard work paying off has made my own dreams seem more attainable.
Q: What were your most rewarding school or community activities? Why?
A: I have been on the Science Olympiad team since sixth grade, which is exactly why becoming captain of that team is so important to me. The Science Olympiad team has been where I indulged my science-related interests, from wave physics to epidemiology to heredity. With the Science Olympiad team, I found a group of people who enjoyed teaching themselves new, complicated concepts by reading research and watching TED-Ed videos. The community I found, based on our shared interest in science and competition, makes the Science Olympiad team one of the most rewarding that I have been a part of.
Beyond my school community, one of the communities near and dear to my heart is VSPE: the Veerashaiva Samaja of Pennsylvania East. This Hindu religious organization is one of my strongest stateside ties to my culture. VSPE functions have been my primary performance stage, giving me the chance to dance to Hindi pop songs or perform Bharatanatyam in front of an audience who understands the cultural importance of both. I can also watch other performances and feel closer to my culture. Perhaps most importantly, the majority of the function happens in Kannada, making VSPE one of the only times I can speak my mother tongue with someone who is not my immediate family. It is impossible to overstate the importance of language as a connection to a culture.
Q: Do you have any hobbies? What do you do in your spare time?
A: I enjoy reading novels. I have always found them to be an escape and the most captivating form of entertainment.
Q: What are your plans after high school graduation? Why did you choose this path?
A: After high school, I plan to attend a university with a major in cybersecurity. Every year, I read “Code of Honor” by Alan Gratz, which has all my favorite book components: relevant commentary, an action-filled plot, and of course, a tech genius. This book introduced me to the term “white-hat hacking,” which became ethical hacking, and finally my area of study: cybersecurity. The field demands creative solutions with practical applications, which I look forward to pursuing further.
Q: What is your advice to younger students?
A: Pursue your passions. Never be afraid to try something new, because you never know when you may discover a novel interest, but always remember to make time for that which you love. Whether that be art, or a particular club, or reading, or a sport, or music: You must make time to dedicate yourself to that passion, before you find yourself wasting hours on things you do not care about.
Q: Finish this sentence: The most interesting thing about me is …
A: I can speak four languages, and I hope to speak eight.
A little about Sona Hanumali
Sona Hanumali of Abington Heights High School scored victories on the tennis court and at academic competitions. Her school says she has a strong work ethic and genuine passion for learning.
The South Abington Twp. resident is the daughter of Prathibha and Chandrashekar Hanumali.
She had leadership roles in the Science Olympiad and the Future Business Leaders of America.
On a trip to Peru, Sona spent time helping to construct a women’s weaving center to help women develop a way to earn income.
She is a dancer who is also involved in the Mock Trial team, the National Honor Society, Interact club, the Red Cross club and the Peer Tutoring Association.
Her resume includes the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.
Sona Hanumali (COURTESY OF SONA HANUMALI)