Lover of coffee, chocolate, and classical music, Ishani Oldham’s elegance and charm will leave a permanent impression on her community and Enloe as a whole.
As the Creative Writing and Copy Editor of The Eagle’s Eye, Ishani’s broad vocabulary and poise show outside of her writing, too. Sree Tokdar, a friend since freshman year, affirmed her voice as one of her best qualities. “She’s a very eloquent, good speaker. Not just her words, but also the way she talks, is very catching. It’s like she’s always giving [you] a motivational speech.”
With all her responsibilities, Ishani still takes the time to be present in the lives of others. “She’s stubborn about what she wants but not necessarily about others. She can give me room and listen to me while not backing down in her own life,” Sree remarked. Ishani’s younger sister Savita, added, “She’s like everything you want in a sister. She is the most caring, kind person ever; she listens to you, she’ll keep stuff secret … She’s just really amazing.”
Ishani’s hard work and commitment go into everything she does, including her classwork. Ms. Williamson, Ishani’s 10th grade C&C English teacher, described Ishani as incredibly dedicated, thoughtful, and creative. “Ishani would regularly have very insightful comments to make about the books we read in class. She never completed surface-level reading, she always dug deeper and had wonderful connections to make.” With C&C being a group-work-heavy class, Williamson recognized Ishani’s ability to be kind and generous toward her classmates, always leading with compassion. Her contributions to class would lead other students to new understandings about the text.
Williamson believes that the quality of her hard work and character drives others to improve as well. As a member of The Eagle’s Eye, it is no surprise that Williamson described Ishani as tenacious and a skilled writer who is always trying to improve her skills. She continued, saying, “The way she responds to setbacks and constructive criticism reflects her maturity and character, both of which are of a high caliber.”
Outside of her classroom, Ms. Williamson also had the pleasure of working with Ishani as a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) leadership board. As the Vice President, Ishani is organized, holds others to a high standard, and works to provide other students with the resources they need to succeed in the club. Sree noted that Ishani is “everywhere”. She pours so much time and effort into everything she does, from NHS, French Honors Society, and her dedication to The Eagle’s Eye. On top of her love for leadership and writing, Ishani has been a ballet dancer for 16 years and has continued her love for the art at Enloe, participating in Honors Modern III and IV.
Ishani’s supportive nature is shown outside of the classroom, too. Elika Harsh, a friend since 4th grade, described Ishani as supportive toward everyone at their dance studio. She continued, “She’s just a really fun person to be around, and she makes every situation so much more enjoyable.” Elika has seen tremendous growth in her throughout high school, explaining that “she’s become a lot more open to new ideas and meeting new people.” Sree also noted Ishani’s development in high school. She believes that Ishani has “become a lot more confident in what she wants but also started to be able to take chances … she takes time for herself when she needs it.” Savita, seconds this, saying, “I think that high school really encouraged her to branch out and try a lot of new things like newspaper.” Nothing shows her daring nature more than her commitment to Duke Kunshan University to major in Linguistics. Sree believes that decisions like this one make her special, noting that “it takes guts to decide to move to China.”
We at the Eagle’s Eye can’t wait to see what Ishani does in her travels and studies. તમારા નસીબ તમને સાથ આપે and go Trailblazers/Blue Devils!
From: Ms. Williamson
“Ishani, I am so incredibly proud of you! You have accomplished so much and made such an impact on so many peers and teachers, including myself. I know you are going to use your intelligent mind and caring heart to do amazing things! Your tenacity, generosity, and diligence will take you far! I am so proud of you!”
From: Savita
“Don’t forget me! But also, seriously, just know that you’ll succeed and you can do hard things no matter where you are, and even though it’s a really new environment, you’re gonna do great in getting the education that you deserve.”
From: Elika
“Continue putting yourself out there. Even if you don’t know that many people, just be yourself because people will like your genuine personality.”
From: Sree
“Brush up on your Mandarin!! And think of me when you eat good food. Not a lot of people get to say they went to China for college from the USA, so make it a fun experience, not just one for the diploma.”
