Whether you have known her your whole life or just spoke to her once, Avni Mehta’s leadership, dedication, and generosity is incredibly notable. Through student activism, teaching, and never-ending compassion, Avni has certainly left a lasting impact on the Enloe community in her four years of high school.
“She’s genuinely one of the kindest souls I’ve ever met,” says friend of Avni’s, Aditya Parekh. “She’s super passionate about what she does and she’s there for you whenever you need; she’s really good at comforting people.”
Beyond her outstanding character, Avni is active within the Enloe community academically, the Medical Bio-Science Academy (MBSA) being one of the most prominent. “It’s allowed me to get exposure to the medical world and the healthcare world. There’s so much there beyond being a doctor,” says Avni. “I knew there were a lot of opportunities, but I didn’t realize how many there were and how integral they were to health care in general, until I was in MBSA.” Through MBSA, Avni has learned from, spoken with, and even shadowed health care professionals in a work environment.
Over the summer, Avni interned at a workforce development program where she worked in OB/GYN, cardiology, healthcare management and general surgery specialties. She worked with doctors, assisted patients, and witnessed major operations. “There was just so much exposure that I was able to get from that experience, so that was definitely up there as of internships,” she says.
Avni has been involved with public health throughout high school through Amnesty International and Red Cross Club, finding most satisfaction in playing out solutions to real world problems on a small scale at Enloe. “I love to know that there are issues that a lot of people can unite on, and then that they actually want to express how they feel, and they made an effort to come see us and write what they thought,” she comments.
“Every time we have a class together and we have a test, we’ll meet the day before and really lock in. I’m able to work with her both socially and academically because she has the same goals as me,” says Avni’s best friend, Sahasra Palagudu. “A couple days before the Bio AP exam, we went to the library at nine in the morning and we rented out a huge whiteboard, and we were locked in for like, nine hours. That’s probably the most diligently I have ever studied, and I don’t think I would have been able to do it if I didn’t have her to hold me accountable. Everytime I got tired she would remind me, ‘No, just keep going! We’re almost done!’”
A commonality in all of Avni’s interests is her love of education and teaching. Founded by Enloe students Parisa Majumdar and Sahasra Palagudu, Verbal Express is a program that guides elementary school students through public speaking. As a coach for third through fifth graders with Verbal Express for 4 years, Avni asserts,“It’s the most fun thing to watch and see how they come to be themselves. It’s so amazing to know that I got to be a part of their journey.”
Niharika Nagendran, one of Avni’s best friends describes her as “insightful, compassionate, and occasionally hilarious,” adding, “my favorite thing about Avni is her reliability and how good of a friend she is. I know that if I ever needed Avni, she would be there.”
“She is always present,” says Mrs. Ogren who teaches Avni in IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science this year. “She’s always engaged in what we’re doing, and so I think that’s a skill that she’ll take with her whatever she wants to do.”
This fall, Avni plans to major in something in the neighborhood of neuroscience. We know she will succeed in all that she strives to do and will continue to be a bright spot in the lives of those around her!
