Reflections of a Young Heart

Written by Prisha Mohapatra, Grade 8

‍

Illustration by Olivia Page

‍

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

‍

These famous words of wisdom that make up one of Maya Angelou’s mantras have influenced me profoundly and make me who I am. I am gregarious and thrive on relationships and the words above speak to me like the “Holy Grail”. Caring for my friends is the key motto of my life and this characteristic defines me, as a Human. My empathy and care for others stems from my diverse background and from my travel experiences.

I was born and raised amongst the loud, bustling streets of London to Indian immigrant parents. At the age of 9, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, the hub of innovation and technology. Four years ago, when I was told my family was moving to America from London, I felt many contradictory feelings. From being overjoyed that I was about to live the “American Dream”, to a state of desolation caused by my realization that I would be leaving behind all my friends and memories I treasured. However I am grateful for this change which taught me how to be resilient and adaptive to new things.

I have been fortunate to have been exposed to people of many backgrounds throughout my lifetime. My friends, frenemies, and family have shaped me into being a conscious, sensitive and caring individual. Because of the group of people I have met and spent time with, I know how to read people. I am empathetic towards their needs and happiness. Although I have no siblings, my tremendously large extended family makes up for that. My dozens of cousins, aunts

and uncles are very different from each other. They, along with my parents and grandparents have given me a wonderful upbringing and exposure. Whether in person or from afar, they teach me how to be a better person every day.

My family loves traveling and I have been lucky to have visited over 30 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas. I have learned a lot from my traveling experiences which I find fascinating. I enjoy exploring different cultures and understanding different perspectives. I feel my quest for trying to understand people and different cultures around the world makes me, me.