By Megha Lakha
People are starting to fall back into their typical school groove and adjust to their old routines, but things are different for Prisha Kandhadia, a new senior student.
Prisha moved to the US three weeks ago from India. “I’m from a small town called Valsad, where everyone knew each other and was very close,” Prisha said. “I feel like there’s a bigger sense of community there than here just because there are so many people here.”
The big move was triggered by the fact that Prisha wanted to go to college in the US and already had family in Atlanta. “I thought moving here my senior year would help, and my whole family moved.” They did, however, leave behind a precious member of their family: their dog, Simba. “I miss my friends, grandparents, and mostly my dog,” Prisha said.
Prisha mentioned that she had a few nerves before coming to Lovett. (I mean, I still get nerves, and I’ve been at Lovett since Lower School.) Fortunately, Prisha said she “never felt left out because I feel like the worry goes away after a few days.” She said everyone has been “very welcoming.”
I asked Prisha if she ever felt stressed or overwhelmed due to all the senior traditions and events. “It’s definitely different here, but a friend invited me over to decorate backpacks, so that was nice,” she said.
There are quite a few differences from her old school. “All of the students would stay in one classroom and the teachers would rotate out, but here it’s the opposite, and students move around,” she said. Another culture shock was the way math is taught. “The math feels harder in India, but it’s hard to adjust here because the techniques are different,” Prisha said.
Outside of school, in India, you cannot drive until you’re 18, so Prisha hasn’t acquired a license just yet. She plans “to wait a little bit,” so for now she can avoid the grueling Friday deck traffic.
Prisha can lean on her freshman sister, who is also adjusting to some big changes. “My sister has already made a few friends, which is great,” she said.
I asked Prisha about her favorite classes. She is particularly interested in AP Physics C: Mechanics, a notoriously difficult class, which Prisha described as “very fun.” She is also enjoying her AP Literature class.
As far as her hopes and dreams for this year, Prisha has her eyes on the prize. “I just want to have a good set of options when it comes to colleges to choose from and make some meaningful connections,” she said. I suggested she go out for some fun sports this year, and she laughed, “Who knows? Maybe in the spring!”
