Hobbies and interests
Anatomy
Basketball
Track and Field
Student Council or Student Government
Biochemistry
Exercise And Fitness
Ethnic Studies
History
Reading
Historical
Adult Fiction
Romance
I read books multiple times per month
Manroop Turna
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FinalistManroop Turna
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FinalistBio
I am an aspiring student that is hopeful to become a doctor in Obstetrics and Gynecology. My biggest motivator is to give back to my community and the "greater good." As of March 15th, 2023, I have completed over 670 hours of community service. I hope to achieve 1,000 hours by my high school graduation. I am passionate about being involved, as I am a part of many on-campus clubs and off-campus organizations.
Education
Woodlake High
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Majors of interest:
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Chemistry
- Genetics
Career
Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Doctor in Obstetrics and Genecology
Cashier, Stocker, Bookkeeper
Stop-N-Go2014 – 20239 yearsVolunteer/Intern
Kaweah Health2021 – Present3 yearsChef, Cook, Cashier
Chicago's Pizza with a Twist2022 – Present2 years
Sports
Basketball
Junior Varsity2019 – 20201 year
Awards
- MVP
- Captain
- Best Offensive Player Award
- Most Points Scored in 2019-2020 Season
Track & Field
Varsity2020 – 20233 years
Basketball
Varsity2021 – 20232 years
Awards
- 2023 Sportsmanship Award
- Captain
Cross-Country Running
Varsity2019 – 20234 years
Public services
Volunteering
Kaweah Health — Volunteer/Intern2021 – PresentPublic Service (Politics)
Woodlake Unified School District — Student Representative2021 – PresentPublic Service (Politics)
City of Woodlake — Student Representative2021 – Present
Future Interests
Volunteering
Entrepreneurship
Mark Caldwell Memorial STEM/STEAM Scholarship
While growing up, I felt very isolated in my small town - Woodlake. I grew up in a predominately Mexican and White neighborhood. I was the brown, Indian girl who spoke a language no one ever heard of - Punjabi. If I was asked the simple question, "What language do you speak?" I knew that my answer would raise eyebrows. Over time, I began to feel a sense of shame and sadness when no one knew about my cultural identity. Aside from feeling outcasted, I was bullied at a young age for my "difference." As a result, I struggled with my personal confidence when I was around other students. I felt like a puzzle piece that had made its way into the wrong box and couldn't fit into the puzzle. And for the early years of my childhood, there was an empty pit of loneliness in me - one where I couldn't find the representation that I desperately needed. While I struggled with my "different" identity as a child, I was still prideful of my background at home. My mother spoke our language with such pride and joy that made me admire our mother tongue.
As I grew older, I began to learn to write and read in Punjabi. I went to Punjabi school every Sunday at our place of worship in Selma. My mother made the effort to connect us to our roots and people. And after the longest time in my life, I felt at home. I made friends who looked like me, spoke the same language as me, and shared some of the same experiences as me. As I learned Punjabi, I knew that it would be a lifelong skill of mine.
As time passed, it became my escape tool. I poured my feelings in Punjabi with no fear that anyone would understand these scripts. From writing small notes to stories and poems, I became fully emersed in my mother tongue. Amongst my peers, I felt as if I had a secret language. To this day, if I find myself alone, I will pull out a fresh sheet of paper. As I etch those lines of my ancestral language, I find peace within my mind and heart. I know that in the translation of these very sentences, every word will lose its meaning. There is nothing more beautiful than using your mother tongue.
When I see my Punjabi peers who lack my skill, I want nothing more than to sit down and teach them the importance of our "maa boli" - our mother tongue. I could sit there for hours and teach them the language and its art.
The tremendous hardship of my life was struggling to find my identity, and embracing it. Without a sense of who I was, I limited myself. As a result, the greatest thing I achieved was the skill of my language. It is a tool of communication. In the same way that poets leave impacts on writing for decades, I have made a commitment that will impact future generations. I almost lost my identity, but finding and treasuring it allowed me to shape myself today. By securing this knowledge, I know that our "maa boli" will not end with me.