Hobbies and interests
Reading
Writing
Photography and Photo Editing
Hiking And Backpacking
Music
Art
Swimming
Dance
Guitar
Knitting
Biking And Cycling
Yoga
Crafting
Camping
Acting And Theater
Poetry
Alpine Skiing
Travel And Tourism
Education
Ukulele
Kayaking
Rock Climbing
Songwriting
Meditation and Mindfulness
Music Production
Videography
Exercise And Fitness
Gymnastics
Student Council or Student Government
Board Games And Puzzles
Theater
Sustainability
Board Games and Puzzles
Farming
Ballet
Communications
Canoeing
Screenwriting
Rafting
Aerial Silks
Reading
Fantasy
Adventure
Biography
I read books multiple times per week
Shanti Das
5,195
Bold Points3x
Nominee1x
FinalistShanti Das
5,195
Bold Points3x
Nominee1x
FinalistBio
My name is Shanti which means "Peace" in Sanskrit. I am an artist, musician, songwriter, creative writer, actor, dancer, gymnast, aerial artist, photographer, gardener, backpacker, paddler, rock climber, and outdoor educator. I play the guitar, ukulele, harmonium, and djembe drum and am the founder of Shining Suns Productions. I produce music and have been leading interfaith and environmental justice music programs since I was 11.
I began college one year early at age 17 and am double majoring in Outdoor Leadership and Music. I work part-time at my college on the Outdoor Programs Crew and love leading my peers in outdoor activities. I recently completed a challenge course certification and am excited to take a Wilderness First Responder certification program this June.
My dad took his life when I was 10 because of his declining mental and physical health challenges. He was not able to be a presence in my life, but one of the few times I did visit with him, he told me that we are always connected by a string. It reminds me of what naturalist, John Muir, once said. "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."
This idea reminds me of how our choices, thoughts, and words impact our own well-being and also of those around us. Jane Godall says that “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Education
Warren Wilson College
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Music Performance, General
- Outdoor Education
Minors:
- Environmental Studies
American Academy
High SchoolInterlochen Arts Academy
High SchoolFlorida Virtual School Flex 9-12
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Outdoor Education
- Music
Career
Dream career field:
Outdoor Education
Dream career goals:
Non-profit Leader
Founder of Shining Suns Productions
Shining Suns Productions2011 – Present13 yearsVolunteer for Meal Preparation/Clean-Up (volunteer experience)
Satchidananda2011 – 20209 yearsCo-Leader of Creative Arts, Cooperative Games, and Improvisational Theater Activities (volunteer experience)
Omega Institute and Independent2011 – Present13 yearsLead Vocalist and Musician for public and livestreamed events (volunteer experience)
Satchidananda2015 – 20216 yearsOutdoor Programs Crew Member
Warren Wilson College2020 – Present4 years
Sports
Wilderness Expeditions and Survival Skills
Club2013 – Present11 years
AcroYoga
Club2013 – 20152 years
Backpacking and Camping
Club2006 – Present18 years
Yoga
Club2007 – Present17 years
Hiking
Club2016 – Present8 years
Challenge Course / Ropes Course
Club2021 – 2021
Awards
- Challenge Course Management Certification
Flying Trapeze
Club2010 – 20155 years
Aerial Silks
Club2010 – Present14 years
Whitewater Kayaking
Club2019 – Present5 years
Canoeing
Club2018 – Present6 years
Rock Climbing
Club2008 – Present16 years
Figure Skating
Club2011 – 20165 years
Awards
- 1st place medal
Canoeing
Club2017 – Present7 years
Gymnastics
Club2006 – Present18 years
Arts
Interlochen Arts Academy, The Dance Studio, Private coaching, and Independent
Dance: Lyrical, Ballet, ModernSolo, Duet, and Group Performances, Interlochen Arts Academy Comparative Arts Showcase: Original Choreography to The Call, Long Time Sun Duet, Guru Om Duet, Warren Wilson College Prism Film: Original Choreography to The Village, Interlochen Arts Academy Comparative Arts Showcase: Ensemble performances to Use Somebody, The Dance Studio Ensamble Performances in Contemporary, Jazz, and Lyrical2007 – PresentInterlochen Arts Academy, Omega Institute, and Independent
Improvisational Theater2008 – 2019Independent assignement for Germaine Gray
Audio Book ProductionThe Boy Yogi2018 – 2018Warren Wilson College, Interlochen Arts Academy, and Independent
VoiceOn My Own from Les Miserables, More than 100 lead vocal performances2020 – PresentKirtan Collaborative
Interfaith Music PerformanceNumerous concerts and performances2014 – 2020ReTribe
Adventure Game TheaterAdventure Game Theater2019 – PresentWarren Wilson College, Interlochen Arts Academy, Florida Virtual School, Private Coaching, Independent
Guitar, Ukulele, Harmonium, Djembe drum, PianoMore than a hundred programs leading musical events2007 – PresentFlorida Virtual School and Independent
PhotographyOriginal photography and greeting cards2012 – PresentInterlochen Arts Academy, Integral Yoga School, The Outdoor Academy, The Omega Institute
Visual Arts, Crafting, Knitting, PaintingNumerous original artistic creations2005 – PresentSatchidananda and Independent
Music Production/Mixing2020 – 2021Interlochen Arts Academy and Independent
Interdisciplinary Arts, Studies, and Performance2018 – 2019Interlochen Arts Academy and Independent
Creative Writing, Screenplay Writing, and PoetryOriginal creative writing, Interlochen Arts Academy Comparative Arts Showcase: Original Poetry Reading2012 – PresentWarren Wilson College, Interlochen Arts Academy, Omega's Rock Band Camp, and Independent
SongwritingInterlochen Arts Academy Comparative Arts Showcase: A Million Lies To Hide original lyrics and composition, Author of lyrics and composition for 10 original songs2013 – PresentRadiant Power of Girls at the Omega Institute
ActingThe Rough-Faced Girl2015 – 2015Hawthorne Valley School
ActingThe Ramayana2014 – 2014Integral Yoga School
ActingHow The Chipmunk Got It's Stripes2012 – 2012Buckingham High School
ActingAlice In Wonderland: Through The Looking Glass2018 – 2018Acting Manitou
ActingTuck Everlasting musical2018 – 2018Youth Music Theatre in United Kingdom
ActingFandom: Original Musical2016 – 2016Sylvia Young Theater School in London, England
ActingFootloose musical2016 – 2016Community Enrichment Center
ActingMidsummer Night's Dream, The Princess Bride, and Robinhood2016 – 2018Live Arts
ActingMake American Weird Again: original screenplay co-written by actors2017 – 2017Interlochen Arts Academy
ActingMaking of a Musical2019 – 2019Warren Wilson College
ActingPrism film2021 – 2021Independent
Music PerformanceLead vocals and musician (guitar, harmonium, djembe drum, ukulele) for more than a hundred smaller and larger programs, Interfaith and environmental programs2007 – Present
Public services
Volunteering
Omega Institute — Volunteer at Campus Support, Cafe, Lifeguard and Lake, Center for Sustainable Living, Guest Services, Dining Hall, and other areas2009 – 2015Volunteering
Satchidananda — Volunteer at Farm, Kitchen, Housekeeping, Audio Visual Department, Evening Programming, Environmental Stewardship, Christmas in Buckingham, and other programs2010 – 2018Volunteering
Interlochen Arts Academy — Community Service Volunteer for the Interlochen Greenhouse2018 – 2019Volunteering
The Outdoor Academy — Community Service Volunteer2019 – 2020Volunteering
Community Enrichment Program — Volunteer Assistant2017 – 2018Volunteering
Satchidananda — Lead and Supporting Vocalist and Musician2014 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Brynn Elliott "Tell Me I’m Pretty" Scholarship
My mother is the most inspiring woman I know. She is my best friend and the loving and central presence of my life. My father was not mentally nor physically healthy enough to be available and took his life when I was ten. Similarly, my mom’s dad died when she was two, and we both were raised by single parents with multiple generations of substance misuse and mental illness on both sides of our families. My mom has supported me in every way to follow my dreams. She devoted 18 years of her life to me, and for that I am forever grateful. While I know it was not easy, she ensured I had the best opportunities and training to explore my passions and interests. She is the strongest, most compassionate, loving, supportive, and selfless person I know, and she is the woman I admire the most in the world.
My mother had a difficult and traumatic early life with the deaths of her dad at age 2 and primary babysitter at age 3. My mom was the youngest of four siblings. Her dad, brother, and nephew all died from substance misuse related causes. My mom was a high achiever and worked since she was 13 from high school to through graduate school to cover most of her education.
When my mom reached 5th grade she began experiencing severe depression and suicidal thoughts which continued through most of her young and adult life. Eventually, her conditions became complicated by anxiety, PTSD, severe allergies, chemical sensitivities, autoimmune illness, additional head injuries, and mold exposure which led to severe psychiatric conditions that left her feeling embarrassed, defeated, demoralized, and confused. While she knew that mold exposure could cause serious and dangerous health conditions, it was not until more than a decade later when she began to unravel her past and learned from current research that psychiatric conditions are common following multiple head injuries which affect brain health. Her life basically fell apart in her mid-30s which led her on a new course for the next two decades working and volunteering in holistic retreat centers.
What I find most inspiring about my mom is her passion for helping people. She is the most selfless woman I know. Whenever she sees someone in need she always tries to help them in some way whether that is offering a room in our home, giving or loaning money, or volunteering to help. She has been in communication for the past ten years with her distant cousin, Bret, who has been in prison most of his adult life, encouraging him to pursue his passion for writing which led him to author two novels, connecting him with his four children and 11 grandchildren, and talking with him through his struggle and isolation.
Last fall when I left for college, my mom decided to pursue a Health Coaching Certification program. This made so much sense to me as I had watched her freely share her care, compassion, and healing journey with others my whole life. I would often find her chatting with an elder needing help in the produce section of the health food store or offering comfort to someone struggling with anxiety. Out of her own difficult life and genuine struggle, I have watched her selflessly help others, and it is her acts of selfless giving that I aspire to by example in my own life.
My mother’s other passion was her career working with children and families in many roles including as a School Counselor, Foster Care Counselor, and Children’s Program Director. She also worked with students with disabilities in an Outward Bound Expeditionary Learning School. During her time as a teacher, she integrated mindfulness, nature immersion, and creative arts into all her roles including that as my mother. My mom’s stories of working with youth and her impact is one of the aspects that has inspired me to devote my career to being an outdoor educator working with youth as well.
My mother has shaped every aspect of who I am today. Every mentor and friend who positively impacted me was because she connected us together. Every powerful experience that I had is because she coordinated and set up these experiences or pursued the financial aid and scholarship opportunities to make these experiences possible. It has been a wild and crazy journey with ups and downs and lefts and rights, and I am so proud to call her my mother.
Make Me Laugh Meme Scholarship
Everyone has had that experience of seeing a meme about something they always do or did as a child and instantly think, “I’m not the only one!” That is how I felt when I saw this meme for the first time and then spent the next two minutes laughing at myself and the meme. I think often memes are created out of tv shows, movies, news, or other viral content on the internet. I like this meme in particular because it has to do with something that can be relatable without having seen specific content. I find it funny that the picture being used is an old oil painting of some historical figure because it shows how we can find some humor in history.
Nikhil Desai "Favorite Film" Scholarship
My favorite film is Mamma Mia, which I first saw when I was six and continued to watch throughout my life as I matured which led me to develop a deep connection with this film. I was raised by a single mother and grew up without a father as did the main character, Sophie, with whom I identified. I also have a very strong bond with my mom as Sophie shares with her mom.
The final scene is centered around the song, “Slipping Through My Fingers” sung by Maryl Streep who plays the mother whose daughter, Sophie, is about to get married, so the whole song is about the passage of time and letting go. Nearly every time I found myself at this scene in the film, I would tear up because I knew that someday, like Sophie, that would be me leaving my mom for college. It feels odd now to realize I have moved past what I had previously always anticipated. I literally just finished my first two semesters of college today, and have lived apart from my mom these past two semesters. All the years of my life, this scene brought up ideas of something I was expecting in the future and now I see that now it reminds me of a memory I am looking back upon from my past.
Mamma Mia reminds me of how precious time is. Previously I focused on the story the mother told about the mother-daughter relationship, and now I feel myself focusing more on the subtext in the song about the mother’s emotions and experience and how she has to deal with letting go of her daughter. Also, who doesn’t love listening to “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia.” The soundtrack gives me a blast of pure serotonin and joy.
AMPLIFY Mental Health Scholarship
The world seemed so simple when I was young. As a child, I remember feeling confident and comfortable with my body and myself. I was fearless and engaged with everyone. I laughed and found awe and beauty in everything around me.
During fifth grade, the year I changed schools and my dad took his life, these feelings of freedom and joy shifted. Insecurity and doubt crept in as I grew more quiet and distant. I withdrew into my own self-critical inner world and became sad, worried, and preoccupied. I struggled to form friendships and felt anxious about asking classmates to play during recess, so I turned to nature for comfort and solace.
A little creek ran through my school with bushes and trees on either side. One day, I found a secret nook under a small curved tree bending over a rock that my little ten-year-old self could comfortably sit on. I soon found myself going to this secret nook nearly every recess to sit quietly and watch the stream flow. As the seasons changed, so did the stream. I remember feeling fascinated, peaceful, and safe, finding joy in observing nature’s transitions.
I discovered during that time that nature is restorative and healing which eventually led me to turning points during two three-week canoeing and whitewater kayaking wilderness trips with the Chewonki Foundation in 2018 and 2019 and my experience attending The Outdoor Academy (OA) semester school in 2019. These wilderness-based experiences were life-changing as I came to understand the transformational power of outdoor education which helped me grow deeply in ways I never anticipated.
Immersed in nature among my peers, I found that shy and withdrawn little girl rediscover her brave, eager, and bold younger self. I bonded with lifelong friends and experienced a powerful sense of self-love, acceptance, and ease with my peers. Within everything we did, we considered our impact on one another. We laughed, we cried, we sang, we struggled, and we discovered. I again felt whole, happy, and free--- that familiar feeling I remembered. These experiences clearly defined my deepening commitment to a future career in outdoor education.
That next winter at age 16, I received a 4-year tuition scholarship to Warren Wilson College where I just finished my freshman year double majoring in Outdoor Leadership and Music. This education is helping me fulfill my life mission to find that little girl sitting by the stream and reconnect her with the hope she had lost and the inspiration she found during those quiet moments observing nature. It is from my own struggle that I hope to help my students feel acknowledged, encouraged, and connected with one another and their unique contributions, strengths, and shared humanity.
Mental health challenges have impacted just about everyone I know to some extent including family, friends, and myself. Many of my peers struggle with depression and anxiety, and multiple generations of substance use addiction is present in my family. Both my parents experienced mental health challenges also. My father died by suicide when I was 10 as did my mother’s dad when she was 2.
My father was not able to be a presence in my life, but one of the few times I did visit with him, he told me that we are always connected by a string. It reminds me of what naturalist, John Muir, once said. "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." I think this concept is essential in understanding mental health vulnerabilities. Humans are social beings and we heal through connection, bonding, love, acceptance, compassion, and presence.
Mary Oliver asks, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” My own journey has guided me to a career in outdoor education where hope is restored through nature immersion, creative arts, music, yoga, mindfulness, and group experiences. My vision is that these elements will someday be as integrated into education as the trees, the sky, the sun, the streams, and the sea are in nature. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world,” Anne Frank once wrote in her diary.
Mechanism Fitness Matters Scholarship
My name is Shanti which means "Peace" in Sanskrit. I am an artist, musician, songwriter, creative writer, actor, dancer, gymnast, aerial artist, photographer, gardener, backpacker, paddler, rock climber, and outdoor educator. I play the guitar, ukulele, harmonium, and djembe drum and am the founder of Shining Suns Productions. I produce music and have been leading interfaith and environmental justice music programs since I was 11. I began college one year early at age 17 and am double majoring in Outdoor Leadership and Music. I work part-time at my college on the Outdoor Programs Crew and love leading my peers on outdoor programs. I recently completed a challenge course certification, and am excited to take a Wilderness First Responder certification program this June.
My dad took his life when I was 10 because of his declining mental and physical health challenges. He was not able to be a presence in my life, but one of the few times I did spend time with him, he told me that we are always connected by a string. It reminds me of what naturalist, John Muir, once said. "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."
This quote also reminds me of the human body and how one effort we make around our fitness directly benefits all other areas of our well-being. When I go outside and walk 10,000 steps in the sunlight and fresh air, I find myself feeling happier, more peaceful, friendlier, energetic, and helpful. Exercise impacts all the biochemical processes in the body and directly improves every area of our well-being.
I have been exposed to all kinds of ways to stay fit since I was very young. My mom and I sometimes do interval training for 4-minutes that I find very energizing but sometimes am a bit sore the next day. I have been practicing yoga regularly since I was seven when I attended an elementary school where we had yoga class with deep relaxation three days a week as a part of our schedule. I also love to hike and walk especially through forests and along rivers and streams. I love the art of dance and I train in aerial silks which I find exciting and challenging and is one of my favorite ways to stay fit as it is like I am dancing on strings. I recently created original dance and aerial silks choreography which was included in our college film called Prism which I also was a lead actor in as well. I learned my entire life from my mom how important it is to eat organic whole foods, drink lots of filtered water every day, find ways to relax, spend time outside in nature, and figure out how to enjoy fitness activities that are fun. In the warmer months, I love to swim, bike, canoe, kayak, and camp too. I am hoping to hike the Appalachian Trail at some point in my near future.
Bold Moments No-Essay Scholarship
There was a moment in my life when I realized my purpose and vision for life on earth. It was a hot spring day in Arizona, and a small, lively, and determined ten-year-old had just completed walking eight miles a day for a week along highways with thirty other adults all marching across the country for the Great March for Climate Action. I had just experienced the loss of my father by suicide, but in this moment, I realized that no matter how insignificant I felt, my actions could have a powerful ripple effect on the rest of the world.
Kap Slap "Find Your Sound" Music Grant
If I could, I would pack a backpack, pick up my guitar, and set out to travel the world while learning the music and practices of different cultures around the globe. I would draw inspiration for my music from social justice issues occurring especially in third world countries and Indigenous communities. One of my passions is interfaith music so through my journeys I would study different religions and integrate what I learn into my music. After my travels, I would love to create an accessible and inclusive educational community center where adults and youth from all backgrounds together could explore all these interests as well as travel to different countries and states exploring and learning about other regions and cultures.
My mom always described me as the kind of child who would just always say yes when presented with an opportunity to explore a new interest. It was not until I was old that I started to realize that my enthusiasm for various artistic and outdoor interests was broader than others. I am so privileged and grateful that I have had the opportunity to explore such a diverse range of experiences. I love art, photography, knitting, dance, acting, aerial arts, paddling, rock climbing, outdoor adventuring, and especially music. I love singing and songwriting, and I play the guitar, ukulele, and harmonium. Without the worry of time and money, I would invest myself in deepening these many interests especially music and outdoor adventure. I would record an album or three or ten and through-hike the Pacific Crest Trail, the Te Araroa, and the Camino de Santiago.
I grew up amidst the arts, nature, and community life, and I really believe these are some of the most important elements of being happy, healthy, and whole. Collaborating with others and feeling excited about creating through music and other art forms while also being immersed in nature is what I believe students need most. After my travels, I would want to transform schools and educational centers into spaces that focus primarily on integrating the interdisciplinary arts, outdoor education, mindfulness, music, environmental studies, earth stewardship, and interpersonal connection. I have learned from my own life experiences that there are so many ways to grow, learn, and develop through creativity, nature immersion, bonding, and mindfulness, and it is my hope that schools of the future make these components central to the student experience. My dream is for the youth who I would teach and mentor to feel supported, loved, acknowledged, and encouraged by their peers, mentors, and teachers for their unique contribution and strengths as well as deeply connected to our shared common humanity.
Sander Jennings Spread the Love Scholarship
The world seems so simple when you’re young. I remember feeling confident and comfortable with my body and myself as a child. I was fearless and played with everyone--- even adults. I laughed and found awe and beauty in everything.
During the beginning of fifth grade, the year I changed schools and my dad took his life, these feelings of freedom and joy shifted. Insecurity and doubt crept in as I became quiet and distant. I withdrew into my own judgemental inner world and became sad, worried, and preoccupied. I struggled to form new friendships and felt anxious about asking classmates to play during recess, so I turned to nature for comfort and solace.
There was a little creek that ran through my school with bushes and trees on either side. One day early in the school year, I found this secret nook under a small curved tree that bent down over a rock that my little ten-year-old self could comfortably sit on. I soon found myself going to this secret nook in nature nearly every recess where I would sit quietly and watch the stream flow. As the seasons changed, so did the stream which I found fascinating. I remember feeling so peaceful and safe there and finding joy in observing nature’s transitions.
I discovered during that sad time that nature was restorative and healing which eventually led me to a turning point during two three-week wilderness trips with the Chewonki Foundation in 2018 canoeing and in 2019 whitewater kayaking and also my experience during the fall of 2019 attending The Outdoor Academy (OA) semester school for high school students. These wilderness-based experiences immersed in nature were life-changing and helped me grow deeply in ways I never anticipated.
Immersed in nature, I found that shy and withdrawn little girl rediscover her younger self who was brave, eager, and bold. I bonded with lifelong friends and clarified my deepening commitment to a career as an outdoor educator. I felt a powerful sense of self-love, acceptance, and comfortable ease with my peers. Within everything we did, we considered our impact on one another. We laughed, we cried, we struggled, and we discovered. I felt whole, happy, and free, again--- that old familiar feeling I felt when I was very young.
When I was sixteen, I received a 4-year, full-tuition scholarship to Warren Wilson College where I am currently double majoring in Outdoor Leadership and Music. This education is helping me fulfill my life mission to find that little girl sitting by the stream and reconnect her with inspiration. It is from my own struggle that I hope to help my students feel supported, acknowledged, encouraged, and connected with their unique contributions and strengths, and shared humanity. During one of our few encounters, my father said, “You have an invisible string reaching from your heart to the heart of every other person on the planet.” Inspired by my own struggle, I aspire to help connect the planet’s nearly eight billion heartstrings together.