Shruthi Kumar Resurfaces Mindfulness By J1 Reporter Tyler Raikar A firm, thoughtful grip of a handshake is more than just an exchange of greetings. It’s an exchange of setting your grounds, fulfilling your assertiveness, giving your peers a first impression of yourself. Shruthi Kumar, taught this lesson as a little girl from a friend of her father, keeps this mindset with her years now as she attends Harvard University, currently a freshman. First going into this handshake, the man exclaims, “What are you doing? You can’t go into a handshake with such a light grip! You must stand your ground and give a handshake executed so well, they know you recognize your worth.” Growing up in Omaha her entire life, Kumar lived her adolescent years spending periods of leisure doing yoga, playing piano and violin, swimming, and learning a dance called Bharatanatyam, one of the oldest and most popular classical Indian dances originating in Tamil Nadu. It encompasses music, rhythm, and expression harmoniously— all ideals that Kumar embeds into her routine. Reading was another interest she loved. Both of her parents grew up in India, and after
moving to America with the Indian education system being their recognized schooling, they saw the American schooling system Kumar endured as uncanny. These two differences clashed together as she grew up learning. ”I had to choose either how my parents were taught or how I was taught.
activities she remembered being pure bliss and innocence no longer could fit in her schedule, and Kumarshe had to pick her battles between her many extra curriculars. The stage of entering high school highlighted new perspectives and goals for Kumar— her life was now a strict routine
“I know it’s a cheesy saying, but it holds so much importance. You have to fulfill what truly brings you happiness in life. That right there is the key to success.” It was confusing!” It was mind-boggling for Shruthi’s parents to adapt to the ways the American system taught their daughter. It was only fair they wanted the best for her educationally, even if that meant re-teaching her methods of algebra, composition, or just that common ground. Moving into her high school years, the same
of school, studying, violin practice, Student Board, Burn Magazine, yoga, and the list goes on. Kumar was attentive to performing her best work in committees she knew could implement a difference. Kumar also remembered valuing her parents and peers around her. Each new day, Kumar would notice little details of 78
her classmates’ personalities and take great meaning and lessons from each tangent. Her peers had taught her the importance of not caring about what others could judge you about, because at the end of the day, “you are driven by what truly makes you happy.” Another noted detail was the stressful atmosphere that appeared to be a constant every day at Marian. Kumar could not imagine when a student shared “I had to go to bed at 4 just to finish homework.” This was in no way how a student should formulate a mindful schedule. Not at all. At this moment Kumar started to brew up an idea. Summer going into sophomore year, Kumar took a spiritual trip to India for two weeks in the sublime of mountains, away from any commotion. This trip was focused on the legitimacy of yoga, an activity she now took pride in. Yoga in the Western Hemisphere has been marginalized as the physical activity white mothers attend to in the morning every now and then. Its true nature is discipline and liberation; yoga focuses on the art and science of healthy living. Being in India, Kumar went to bed at 9 and woke up at 4
