You can learn a lot about a person by asking them to describe themself—not just the words they say, but if they’re humble, confident, or if they’ve never thought about the question before. Senior Vihaan Kerekatte, however, had an unexpected answer. He thinks of himself as a catalyst, saying, “I like to see change in stuff. If there’s a problem in something, I want to try to figure it out.” So who is Vihaan, and how has he changed Enloe?
A lot of Vihaan’s time at Enloe has revolved around marching band, first just marching on the field and then working his way up to the senior drum major position he held this year. If you saw the marching band perform this season, you likely saw Vihaan standing tall on his platform, leading the entire band down below. “In your hands, you have so much power,” he states. His duties as drum major extended far beyond his conductor role, though. As the center of the leadership team, he had a lot of logistical responsibility, like managing the ambassador group and physically moving the roughly 100-person band from place to place.
Besides contributing to the marching band’s acclaimed performance, Vihaan impacted the people in the organization. As the junior drum major, Bryan Sanchez spent a lot of time working with and learning from Vihaan. “He was a very good role model,” Bryan says. Unlike many other band members, Vihaan joined as a sophomore instead of a freshman, but this didn’t stop him from seeking out opportunities to move up within the band. Despite his inexperience, when it came time to audition for the drum major position, Vihaan thought, “I might as well just go for it and see if I get it.” He explains, “… a lot of people who think that they can’t get a role or think that they can’t do something because they’re not as experienced, or they don’t know as much, I think it’s still possible. I hope I’ve inspired them.” His positive influence was recognized at the end of the season with the Excellence in Leadership Award.
In addition to providing a platform to inspire others, being drum major was a reflection of Vihaan’s own character. Friend and fellow bandmate Nico Orazi explains, “Drum major is a very demanding position, because not only do you need a high level of competency, because the whole band is essentially relying on you for time, but you are the figurehead of the band. So you do really need that type of outgoing personality. Just seeing [Vihaan]… rise to the occasion, I’m really proud of him.”
Vihaan’s passion for music extends past Enloe’s marching band. He also plays the alto saxophone, and he started a saxophone ensemble group within Enloe. Outside of school, he’s played the tabla, a traditional Indian drum, for many years. “[The tabla is] a really big part of my life. I’ve performed in many places,” he says. Additionally, Vihaan collaborated with others to start a community organization called the North Carolina Hindustani Music Foundation, which aims to have monthly or bi-monthly performances showcasing upcoming musicians.
The foundation isn’t the only entity that Vihaan has helped establish. He notes, “I’m also part of this start-up that is aimed at tracking availability of tennis courts. I work on the back end of stuff, making sure the app itself is working.” This project aligns with Vihaan’s interest in computer science, which he intends to major in during college.
Vihaan’s time at Enloe may be fleeting, but his characteristics are here to stay. His humility and intentionality are easy to observe, but those who know him better have more to say. “He’s really nice. He’s fun to be around, and he has good vibes. He’s just a person that you’d want to be like,” friend Anunth Venuturupalle describes. Bryan agrees, adding, “He always makes our conversations fun.” Nico remarks that Vihaan has always been “a very kind and thoughtful person” and reminisces on the insightful conversations that the two shared on the rides home from band practices.
As Vihaan’s time at Enloe draws to a close, he reflects on the school’s competitive aspect, commenting, “I’ve met a lot of people who have pushed me to do better… ultimately, it made me a better person.” No matter if Vihaan marches to the beat of his own drum or conducts an entire group to follow suit, The Eagle’s Eye is sure that he will soar to great heights in college and beyond.
