tjTODAY 2020 Senior Issue

TJTODAY vol 5 issue 8

senior issue 2020

thomas jefferson high school for science and technology 6560 braddock rd. alexandria, va 22312

yo u c a n be

who you wa nt

here’s how

DESIGN // TJ YEARBOOK

CAMPUS LEADERS SHARE TJ LESSONS RONITH RANJAN & TOMMY PARK SGA President & Vice-President

The universe is supposedly governed by chaos and physical law, but maybe it’s actually all random. We all had expectations for this year that we have been forced to readjust. This singular random virus has changed everything. But if the universe really is random, then we could not be more grateful for the luck of our draw. How lucky we are for the opportunity to attend Thomas Jefferson and the opportunity to make something of ourselves. How lucky we are for the hard-working teachers, custodians, and administrators, who uphold the pride and integrity of our school. And how lucky we are for you.

When we were blessed with happy times, you celebrated with us, soaring together to new heights. When we fell on hard times, you were there for us, mending our hearts and strengthening our spirits.

And herein lies the essence of what unites us, what makes us all Colonials. It is not our academic excellence. Nor is it our industry. It is our refusal to give up on each other.

We are a community united both by struggle and success.

We have poured our hearts out into our games, and whether our jerseys were soaked with the sweat of triumph or tears of defeat, we would put them on once more unfailingly, ready to do it again. Together, we persevere through the frustrations, the fatigue, and the lessons learned the hard way in IBET. We navigate the twists, turns, and titrations of sophomore year. We weather the storm of standardized tests and second thoughts in junior year. We will all emerge victorious from senior year too.

As a school, we have chased justice and progress in various forms, from restorative discipline to new homework policies, from walk-out protests to D.C. marches, from academic Olympiads to improving our already state-of-the-art intranet.

We have invested ourselves into Homecoming, and we have laughed at its various scandals. We have watched one beloved principal leave, and we have embraced the arrival of another.

We have seen the Weyanoke trailers fade away and our newly renovated school come to life (but what happened to the umbrellas?).

And so what do we take away from it all? After all, while it is important to look towards the past, it is most important to look to the future. We should strive to make amends and forgive our brothers and sisters, and to not get caught in the weeds of selfishness, smallness, or malice. We also should strive to be brave. We should face the world with arms open, and when faced with adversity, we should not cower in fear but rather meet it in omnia paratus. In the moments when it matters most, you must be able to speak. So stand up for what you believe in. Push the limit. Push your limit. We love you all, and we will support you always.

We joined student government to do right by you—to bring the changes you deserve.

This year, SGA has worked diligently towards a mental wellness room, a schoolwide study bank, a recycling initiative, a school mural, a larger Big Sibs program, bigger sports tournaments, and record election participation.

We couldn’t be more proud of the work our team has done.

So even if the universe is random, some things never change.

Time goes on. We’re older than we used to be, and we’re younger than we’ll ever be again. And so, as things come to a close, we would like to thank everyone who came in along the way, whether you stayed the journey or popped in for only a moment. It’s been good.

SIHUN KIM

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Varsity Football Co-Captain

Hey Colonials, The coronavirus has shaken our world.

This mysterious virus has unexpectedly popped our bubble of normalcy as high school students, cancelling classic senior events like prom and graduation, implementing abnormal virtual distance learning, and enforcing lackluster stay-at-home orders.

A time like this is unprecedented, at least in our lifetimes. But the world has faced deadly pandemics before. The world has faced devastating natural disasters, catastrophic financial crises, and traumatic world wars before. The TJ class of 2020 has faced its own share of high school struggles before, but have finally come out on top

as graduates. How will you respond to this, or any crisis? If anything, football taught me to always believe in the comeback. Our first away game of the season against a team we hadn’t beat in who knows how many years came down to the wire. It was a dramatic 0-0 tie throughout, until they scored a touchdown with four minutes left. The home team clamorously roared with euphoria as if they already won the game, and the bench high-fived and butt-slapped the elated offense. At that moment, we could have quit and let them win. But no sirrr. On the ensuing drive, I threw a 81 yard touchdown to Mark Hamilton, the defense did its job, and the rest is history. Whatever your obstacle is, whether it’s a high school football game or worldwide pandemic, do not quit at the first sign of trouble and let yourself be trampled. Yes, this pandemic sucks. It is an unseen opponent, one we can not simply tackle to defeat. Yet, the principle to overcome this challenge, or any challenge, remains unchanged. Our attitudes are our most important assets. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. Our attitudes can transform stumbling blocks into stepping stones and turn defeats into victories. One teammate always said to me, “Be Great”. You’re great because you think are, not because you think you ain’t. Thanks TJ for a wild four years and Go Colonials!

PHILIP PAN MUN Secretary-General

To My Fellow Seniors, Throughout the last four years, I’m sure we’ve all found ourselves wishing at some point for our final days of TJ to come faster. For me, it was on nights when my clock struck 1:00 AM and I still had another page to write for an essay that my yearnings intensified for the day when we would walk across the Patriot Center stage, diploma in hand, unencumbered to do as we please.

Just a couple of weeks away from when those dreams would’ve turned into reality, I’m faced with the realization that however much I disliked those moonlit nights, they are in part what imbue my diploma with meaning. The work at TJ has been difficult. At times, many of us may have found ourselves questioning whether or not all of our hard work was worth the effort. But each moment of rigor these past few years now serves as a testament to how far we’ve come.

We stand on the verge of a new chapter, prepared with the fortitude to conquer the hardest challenges that life may throw our way. We made it. As we look to the future, I urge everyone

to reflect on that which bears meaning in your life, and to hold onto those things closely.

Because before you know it, you’ll have your last worksheet completed on the bus ride to school, your last stop for coffee at the Starbucks on Braddock, and your last time stepping foot into TJ. And you’ll wish that you could do it all again just one last time.

If there’s one lesson that I’ve learned from my four years at TJ, it’s that time flies way too fast for us to spend moments today wishing for tomorrow. To all of my peers who have completed this remarkable journey at TJ alongside me, congratulations and I wish us good luck with the future ahead.

CAMPUS LEADERS SHARE TJ LESSONS KHUSHIE MATHAROO & BEYONCE ANDRADES 2020 Class Council President & Vice-President To the Class of 2020, Eventually, all things must come to an end. Naturally, we set expectations and timelines for how we want our lives to unfold.

Just when you think everything is finally falling in place, a virus will eat your hopes and dreams. You might say, as Thomas Jefferson once said, “What da hell we gon’ do... Now.” Yearbooks paint pictures of senior years filled with pages of milestone events: proms, graduations, picnics, “lasts”, etc. To put it lightly, this year left those pages blank. Here we are now, stuck at home wondering what could have been. Everyday for three and a half years we sat in those brick walls thinking about how it would all be worth it on that last day of senior year, but little did we know our last day would be a random Thursday in March. Just think of it as a story you’ll tell your children someday, when you learned life is just as unpredictable as the next tjvents post. One thing life teaches us is that nothing is planned, but everything happens for a reason.

Understand this, and major disappointments turn into opportunities for something more.

Rest assured, high school is not the only life event that you’ll celebrate. None of you deserved this ending, but “ending” only applies to this chapter in

your life. Every achievement in your future is one to celebrate, and every milestone in your life still awaits you. Your future is just beginning, and you’ll soon find it holds so much more than what our class missed out on.

We all felt entitled to the things almost every senior before us had. We worked so hard to see the culmination of our careers celebrated with bright lights and big parties, but maybe we were celebrating all along.

Every party we attended, every pep rally we cheered in, and the one time we went to the homecoming dance in freshman year were all celebrating the times we had with each other. Maybe our senior year didn’t turn out like it does in the movies, but our movie isn’t even over.

We’re all going away in a few months and starting over at a new school. You’re going to achieve great things and make those movie moments yourself. Go a little off script.

Chase after the person you know you don’t have any chance with. Skip studying and party for a night (or three).

Who really knows when the credits will roll, 2020.

Xoxo, Your prez and vp, khush and bey PS: In the first three paragraphs we gave our last piece of advice: …..because the destination is not guaranteed. We’ll see you at the reunion :)

A Principal’s Parting Words

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HOW WILL DR. BONITATIBUS REMEMBER US? 1. What was your most memorable moments with the class of 2020?

Homecoming this past year was like no other! At the football game where the seniors galloped around the track to the visitors’ stands, it was a sight to behold. I appreciated the sportsmanship exhibited when TJ cheered encouragement to the other team. Also, the days spent reconnecting with each other at the senior photo op where I passed out diplomas and senior gifts were the most touching I had with the class. Few principals get the opportunity to speak individually to every senior. I loved hearing about new recipes, skateboarding, ukulele playing, and so much more.

2. When thinking of the class of 2020, what adjectives come to mind?

Resilient, perseverant, humble, kind, other-minded, flexible, third-place, roll with the punches, pioneers, cake lovers, full of heart, survivors

3. What parting words do you have for the class of 2020?

You have been the heart and soul of the school, connecting us to our past and future. You began your journey at TJ in a building torn apart, literally. As you rounded the turn to conclude your journey, COVID-19 hit us and the school was torn asunder again, jettisoned into a virtual world beyond the brick and mortar you helped finish as freshmen. Through it all, you have had an amazing and indomitable spirit. No other TJ graduating class has endured the obstacles you have. You set a new bar for all who come after you. You have lived a lifetime in four years and the coping skills you’ve acquired along the way will carry with you forever. Wear your TJ COVID masks with pride!

And remember how we have been your GPS so you can always find your way in life. You have given more to us over the years than we have to you. I will miss you more than you know. Good luck and congratulations Class of 2020!

Superlatives DESIGN // Aumena Choudhry

BEST DANCER

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BEST DRESSED

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BEST FRIENDS

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BEST LAUGH

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BEST EYES

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

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1. Prateek Gunman and Emily Wang. 2. Keegan Lanzillotta and Yash Rao. 3. Keegan Lanzillotta and Luke Ostyn. 4. Jessica Chen and Jessica Chen. Ben Altermatt, Mercille Nguyen, Rio Young. 5. Rhoshini Raghumaran and Suruchi Sen. 6. Antonio Martin.

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BEST SMILE

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LOGS THE MOST NEXTFLIX HOURS

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BEST TO BRING HOME TO PARENTS

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MASTER CHEF

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MOST ADVENTURIOUS

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MOST ATHLETIC

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7. Kathy Li. 8. Addison NewRingeisen and Jessica Chen. 9. Michael Kyrychenko and Saketh Gabbita (not pictured). 10. Joshua Ngyugen and Kavin Ilanchezhian (not pictured). 11. Jessica Chen and Thomas Ryan (not pictured). 12. Alex Yu and Zoe Van Winckel.

MOST PHOTOGENIC

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MOST LIKELY TO BE ON SNL

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MOST LIKELY TO WIN A PULITZER

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MOST LIKELY TO DOMINATE WALL STREET

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SASSMASTERS

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MOST CHANGED SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR

19 MOST SPIRITED

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13. Yash Rao and Ella Nguyen. 14. Sid Ram and Austin Huang. 15. Miko Miwa and Michael Kyrychenko. 16. Jae Cannetti and Kenneth Johnson (not pictured). 17.

Howard Malc and Robert Crotts 18. Kirill Usubayan and Phillip Pan. 19. Faaiz Menon and David Chen.

NEXT PICASSO

23 MOST LIKELY TO HAVE HERMIONE’S TIME TURNER

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MOST LIKELY TO BE A PRO GAMER

24 SOCIAL MEDIA MAVEN

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MOST LIKELY TO CURE CANCER

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SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY

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MOST LIKELY TO BECOME A MOVIE STAR

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20. Victoria Graf and Mia Yang. 21. Sophia Kianni and Ella Nguyen. 22. Mercille Nguyen and Khushie Matharoo. 23. Param Damle and Kathy Li. 24. Suruchi Sen and Roger Zeng. 25. Neeyanth Kopparapu and Adele Peng. 26. Evan Howard and Josh Mutterperl

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tjMEDIA SENIOR STAFF SAYS GOODBYE JUSTIN CHANG, AUMENA CHOUDHRY, IRINA LEE, GRACE MAK, ANUSHKA MOLUGU, SID RAM tjTODAY Seniors Dear Colonials, Earlier this year, when we stepped into the school building for our last first day of high school, we had high hopes for the “snrszn” that was to come - prom, graduation, senior trips. Even as they faded into the background of a tumultuous time, it’s important to remember what we did get to experience during the roller coaster that we call high school. We were the last class who had to hike to the Weyanoke trailers for math class.

The class who beat the sophomores during our first Homecoming at Jefferson. The class who tagged along with the juniors’ Kings Dominion trip as sophomores. The class who graduated during a time of turmoil, confusion, and change. While our second semester of senior year may not have been exactly what we envisioned, it’s a rather fitting end for a class whose high school years have been nothing but memorable.

As members of tjTODAY, we’ve spent the past few years documenting the highs and lows of our time at Jefferson, from Homecoming pep rallies and sports victories to student-led protests and COVID-19. We’ve had the honor of exploring

your stories and bringing light to the issues affecting our student body from all perspectives. There is no class that would have made us prouder to walk alongside. You walked out in protest of gun violence, championed the cause of mental health awareness, and covered the walls with your paintings. It is you, the class of 2020, that have been the change makers and activists, the artists and the leaders - we have merely amplified the strength of voices that were already there. We hope that you will continue to make the same impact, wherever you go.

As we’ve spent the past four years walking the halls with you, what we have learned is that everybody is in the midst of living their own story. We each write, re-write, and even erase the words of our story as we try to find out who we want to be and where we want to go. Whether the pages of those stories are riddled with cross-outs or are utterly pristine, don’t doubt that each and every one of you has something uniquely yours to contribute to our narrative. Even if the words to your story are read with a judgemental eye, write them true to yourself and never stop filling those pages with who you are. As we write the closing statements on this chapter, we know that this isn’t the end but the opening lines to lives we have only just begun to imagine. So let’s get writing, 2020.

LASTING FOOTPRINTS Cover art from tjMEDIA's 2020 publications. From left to right: tjTODAY, Teknos (cover art by Isabelle Deng), Threshold (cover art by Kathy Li), and Techniques.

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MIRIAM MORSE Threshold Senior

It has been a privilege to work on the Threshold Literary Magazine for the last four years. Although there are no other seniors, Threshold has always felt like a family to me; the staff members in the classes of 2018, 2019, and 2021 especially have been very inclusive over the last few years, and it is a wonderful environment.

Although I will cherish my memories as part of this club

and the larger TJ community, it is devastating to have the last chapter of high school end in the middle of a word, and my heart goes out to all my fellow seniors.

Like the other TJ Media clubs, our staff had to adapt to the abrupt end of school due to COVID-19. On the last day of school, our staff was (like everyone else) shocked to discover that we wouldn’t be able to go back the next day. Nonetheless our staff has worked tirelessly with limited resources to finish the magazine.

Our theme this year was verdant, which is about enjoying the peace of nature. This theme is well suited to our situation, as the coronavirus has forced us to slow down and appreciate the little things in life and the world around us. The accompanying Shadwell theme is daybreak. Although the world around us seems dark, our strength as a community will allow us to persevere until it is light once more.

AUSTIN HUANG & STEVEN LE Techniques Seniors

Austin Huang: I’ll never forget my first interview as a staffer. I was so nervous that I needed someone else to come help me. I would’ve never realized that three years later, here I’d be.

Through my yearbook journey, even though I got frustrated, I lost sleep, and spent most of my senior year working on the yearbook, the friends I made, the laughs I had, and the food (especially) made it all worth it. We are all champions.

Steven Le: I wonder where I would be if my friend Austin didn’t convince me to switch from tjToday to yearbook in my sophomore year. I never would’ve imagined that decision would help me build countless connections and relationships, each of which I will cherish forever.

If it weren’t for those countless hours of working on the yearbook, I would never have developed the little things that make me who I am today, like my taste for kpop or my unhealthy addiction to chips and salsa.

Lastly, I want to mention that So thank you to everybody on the our year was cut short. For seniors yearbook staff who both guided me as a especially, it seems like we were beginner and kept me on track as an editor. robbed of almost everything. While Bonding at a bowling alley, the Techniques seniors (left And thank you to all the seniors who have to right), Maria Abramova, Steven Le, Austin Huang, our staff worked hard each and evmade my four years at TJ and TJMedia as Hannah Lee, Cynthia Song, Anvita Anumolu, smile for ery day, we worked especially hard the camera. Not pictured: Manu Bulusu, Esther Kim. memorable as they are.

They can take away during break to finish the book. At Photo taken by Erinn Harris the rest of our time together, but they can’t least, this is something that will not take away everything that we’ve been through together.

I hope be cancelled. Different from other more normal years, I hope that our yearbook can properly send you off as we move away that our yearbook not only can help us remember old friends from TJ into the next steps of our lives. and memories, but also inspire us by highlighting the many new things we did.

freshmen: The year it all started 1

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6 1. Photo by Ankit Agrawal 2. Photo by Jessica Chen 3. Photo by Jessica Chen 4. Photo by Jessica Chen 5. Photo by Jessica Chen 6. Photo by Jessica Chen

dfeafsad

a 2020 Original

SOPHOMORE SZN 100% Spirit

2017-2018

Season 2

1. photo by Jason Pak 2. photo by Jason Pak 3. photo by Hana Wong 4. photo by Jason Pack 5. photo by Antonio Martin 6. photo by Grace Mak 7. photo by Jason Pak 8. photo by Hana Wong 9. photo by Hana Wong

Watch It Again

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Feel-good Favorites

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15 15

1 4

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JUN

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1. “My favorite part about hoco week would definitely be MEX. It’s so been involved in organizing since freshman year and seeing it all come after months of work is always the best feeling,” senior Tvisha Subhasi PHOTO//Jason Pak 2. Seniors Monica Saraf, Ronith Ranjan, Sid Ram, Ayush Jonnala, an Karandikar pose in traditional Indian kurtas and suits for Diwali Day. “I think that with this group of friends we were able to start the first annu at TJ! I will miss the memories made with friends and family celebratin at school and becoming closer in the process,” Ranjan said.PHOTO//

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2020

Verem. Dactuit ingulicivis. Edo, co vis cre et, cae, morteris.

4. Their junior year homecoming, dressed in white shirts and colored suspend mix of songs for MEX. “My favorite part of junior year MEX was contributing to th boy song to the dance,” senior Ted Zhou said.PHOTO//Jason Pak

UNIORS

3. Emceeing the annual talent show, seniors Megan Dass and Sid Ram stride across the stage. “Emceeing the talent show remains one of my favorite memories at TJ. Megan and 17 I finished writing the script less than an hour before show time, but things still turned out really well,” Ram said. PHOTO// Beyonce Andrades 7. A shot from junior year MEX, the girls dance to Beyonce. “If it weren’t for MEX, I wouldn’t have gotten to know the amazingly talented dancers and choreographers of our class… It was so fun to take part in those months of preparation and late nights, because they made the end product that much more worth it” senior Jessica Chen said.PHOTO// Jason Pak

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e MEX. It’s something I’ve ng it all come together isha Subhasish said.

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5. “Dress your best” spirit day winner senior Monica Saraf stands surrounded by seniors Caitlin Sughrue, Kotryna Vismante, Eva DeCesare, and Grace Chong.“My favorite spirit day was ‘dress your best’ because it gave me a chance to really go all out and didn’t really require much of a costume,” Saraf said.PHOTO//Jason Pak 6. “Color guard has introduced me to so many wonderful people and is special to me because it’s so different from other activities,” senior Vicky Yang said. Using their color guard skills, Yang and senior Zhejia Yang wave their blue flags adding to the junior class’ spirit as a whole during pep rallies.PHOTO//Jason Pak

sh Jonnala, and Sanika Diwali Day. “It is amazing to the first annual diwali event ily celebrating our culture id.PHOTO//Jason Pak

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ored suspenders the senior boys dance to a tributing to the choreo and adding a soulja k

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SENIORS we are the

(mighty mighty seniors)

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1. Hands raised with pride, the Class of 2020 MEX performers close out their final performance.

Photo by Jason Pak. 2. Kicking her legs high into the air, senior Laney Moy moves in sync with the rest of the dance team during their Homecoming performance. Photo by Jason Pak. 3. Beaming at her cheering classmates, senior Tvisha Subhasish joins her friends for Group Day during Homecoming Week. Photo by Jason Pak. 4. Leading the traditional football cheer, senior Sihun Kim hypes up the student body during the final Homecoming pep rally. Photo by Jason Pak.

Massachusetts

Amherst College [1] Jeffrey Gerber

Harvard University [7] Arnav Bansal Justin Han Evan Howard Eli Kirtley Neeyanth Kopparapu Catherine Liang

Carol Zhang

William Xu

Massachusetts Institute of Technology [8] Sabrina Cai David Chen Saketh Gabbita Michael Huang Danny Mittal Jerry Li Derrick Liang

Northeastern University [3] Keegan Lanzillotta Anne Shen Sophia Wang Wellesley College [1] Abby Kim Worcester Polytechnic Institute [1] Jacob Wilusz

Georgia Emory University [1] Jessica Yoon

Georgia Institute of Technology [7] Josh Boisvert Megan Dass Kevin Fu Arvind Ravipati Suchet Sapre Nathan Wong Ryan Zhou

New York Columbia University [3] Divjot Bedi Alex Chung Sarah Gu Cornell University [10] Omkar Bhalerao Shubham Goda Bryan Lu Junyan Peng Crystal Shi Ethan Stanley Tucker Stanley Timothy Vu Emily Wang Jack Williamson

Eastman School of Music [1] Owen Wetterhan New York University [3] Anvita Guda Medha Gupta Rhoshini Raghuraman Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [1] Wyatt Marvil St. Bonaventure University [1] Sanika Karandikar University of Rochester [1] Svetlana Pack

Illinois University of Chicago [8] Praveen Balakrishnan Esther Kim Irina Lee Daniel Li Addison NewRingeisen Rohan Venkat Rohan Voddhi William Wang University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign [9] Rachel Fernandes Kevin Gu Gaurav Mantri Laney Moy Prithvi Nathan Neil Rayala Praneeth Reddygari Sreya Yadlapalli Max Zhang Northwestern University [2] Malva de Boor Angeli Mittal

Pennsylvania

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Carnegie Mellon University [10] Amita Goyal Yeonwoo Kim Ethan Kwack Yoseph Mak Sanjana Meduri Shreya Raghuram Jon Recta Hikma Redi Matthew Saenz Richard Zhan Pennsylvania State University [3] Ella Nguyen Sujay Kandwal Sonvi Kharbanda University of Pennsylvania [4] Aneesh Boreda Sarah Luthra Philip Pan Mia Yang

University of Pittsburgh [15] Anvita Anumolu Ethan Aristanto Anagha Bandaru Grace Cullen Nehal Chakraborty Stephanie Hachem Vishnu Maddipatla Howard Malc Joshua Nguyen Trishya Pagadala Nikita Reddy Rayna Schoenberger Hugo Stevenson Aarushi Tripathy Roger Zeng

University of Oxford [1] Oliver Hayman

Temple University [1] Kirvani Buddhiraju Dickinson College [1] George Carson

North Carolina Duke University [3] Michelle Du Havish Malladi Kenneth Wang

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [1] Ankitha Shenoy Wake Forest University [1] Jae Canetti

California California Institute of Technology [2] Asha Rollins Daniel Wen

California Polytechnic State University [2] Lucas Bronstein Parthiv Chigurupati Harvey Mudd College [1] Zoe Gomez-So Stanford University [3] Brandon Kim Janice Li Shannon Xiao

Maryland Johns Hopkins University [1] Sheila Iyer

University of Maryland, College Park [8] Raksha Bellary Amey Gupta Kavin Ilanchezhian Tony Liang Rishabh Misra Krupa Natarajan Hari Shanmugaraja Brian Wang

University of California, Berkeley [6] Ritvik Jayakumar Ajit Kadaveru Kirthi Kumar Antonio Martin Sohom Paul Sonika Vuyyuru University of California, Los Angeles [3] Anoushka Chintada Daniel Hong Andra Velea University of California, Davis [1] Eric Bach University of Southern California [3] Sabrina Atkin Rohan Kalra Joshua Ryu

Indiana Purdue University [10] Ayush Jonnala Mikail Khan Sihun Kim Nathan Ma Faaiz Memon Suruchi Sen Oscar Su Evan Williams Grace Weisman-Fleischer Hana Wong

Michigan University of Michigan [8] Ian Burke Anika Kololgi Denaly Min Jack Moeser Tiffany Parise Kunal Sharma Michelle Song David Sun

Utah Brigham Young University [1] Alexa Bailey

Ohio

Case Western Reserve University [2] Manu Bulusu Cameron Cummins-Smith

Missouri

Washington University in St. Louis [2] Shreya Kuchipudi Malavika Pillai

Ohio State University [1] Ted Zhou

Rhode Island

Oberlin College [1] Andrew Stelts

Brown University [2] Emily Ye Grace Chong

St. Louis University [1] Sindhu Raghunathan

Florida

Florida Atlantic University [1] Pranav Somesula

New Hampshire

Dartmouth College [2] Jason Pak Manu Onteeru

Virginia College of William and Mary [19] Joseph Amsbary Justin Chang Jessica Chen Julia Drennan Steven Jia

Joseph Lee Grace Mak Aashni Manroa Miko Miwa David Montenegro Joshua Mutterperl Justin Park Sahan Raghavan Jungmin Shin Caitlin Sughrue Aravind Sreeram Sean Sweeney Quyen Tran Kirill Usubyan

George Mason University [3] Likhitha Addagatla Kushal Kanodia Rithvik Malladi Northern Virginia Community College [1] Benjamin Altermatt James Madison University [1] Sophie Uy University of Virginia [40] Ray Bai

V M D K S P K P K N M P R C G A S P J H M M A A S N K M R A j C

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Arizona University of Arizona [1] Zachariah Shuster

Connecticut Yale University [3] Sherrie Feng Sarah Wang Andrew Yoon

District of Columbia American University [1] Sid Ram

University of Connecticut [1] Anushka Molugu

Colorado

Wisconsin

University of Colorado, Boulder [1] Jay Misener

Lawrence University [1] Rukmini Raman

New Jersey Vinay Bhaip Medha Boddu Daniel Carr Khushi Chawla Sophia Cheng Preethi Chidambaram Kevin Chung Param Damle Kevin Du Nitin Elavarasu Manas Elaprolu Prateek Gunnam Rahul Gundamraj Cherry Guo Gabrielle Heller Austin Huang Sneha Iyer Pawan Jayakumar John Jones Ho Yeon Jeong Madelyn Khoury Miranda Khoury Aditya Kumar Ann Li Sara Liu Nitin Maddi Khushie Matharoo Miriam Morse Ronith Ranjan Anvitha Shri Ramanujam Cynthia Song

Princeton University (5) Jeremy Dapaah Victoria Graf Kathy Li Adele Peng Aidan Witeck

Sylvia Tan Dennis Tian Zoe Van Winckel Iris Wu Adam Yao Alex Yu Lilian Zhang Patrick Zhang Virginia Commonwealth University [5] Shambhavi Bhati Robert Crotts Tanya Kurnootala Michael Kyrychenko Prerak Thakkar Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University [16] Victoria Agrinya Amy Appler Beyonce Andrades John Beutner Julia Chen Michael Chiou Nitish Gorentala Mark Hamilton Sarah Huang Joseph Mecherikennel Aastha Mistry Vishakh Subramanian Sydney Szabos

Anhtuan Vuong Tran Pranav Wadhwa Rio Young

University of Delaware [1] Daniel Pasquerella

Delaware

Likhitha Addagatla George Mason University

Victoria Agrinya Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University “The Office Season 3 Episode 13, 00:18” Benjamin Altermatt Northern Virginia Community College “The elites don’t want you to know this but the ducks at the park are free you can take them home I have 458 ducks.”

Joseph Amsbary The College of William and Mary “Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit” -Vergil Beyonce Andrades Virginia Tech “The goods sure were odd”

Eric Bach University of California, Davis “I did it my way” Frank Sinatra Ray Bai University Of Virginia “Is it rated?”

Alexa Bailey Brigham Young University “Have courage and be kind.” -Cinderella Praveen Balakrishnan University of Chicago Anagha Bandaru University of Pittsburgh “Every song ends, but is that any reason to not enjoy the lyrics.”

Arnav Bansal Harvard University “To all my teachers...The Office: season 5, episode 27, 11:45”

Anvita Anumolu Divjot Bedi University of Pittsburgh Columbia University “If you can’t blow “Look left, look right, them away with your I’m the Sikhest one in brilliance, baffle them sight” with your bs.”

Raksha Bellary Amy Appler University of Maryland Virginia Tech “It’s only awkward if “per aspera ad astra” you make it awkward.

And I make it awkward.”

Ethan Aristanto University of Pittsburgh John Beutner “I am not a clown, I am Virginia Polytechnic the entire circus.”

Institute and State University Sabrina Atkin “Just one more line University of Southern of code and it’ll be California finished...”

“I have an albedo of 1.”

Vinay Bhaip University of Virginia “Words are never ‘only words’; they matter because they define the contours of what we can do.” - Slavoj Žižek

Ian Burke Jessica Chen University of Michigan William and Mary “great success” “You won’t burn in hell.

But be nice anyway.”

Sabrina Cai Massachusetts Institute David Chen of Technology Massachusetts Institute

of Technology Omkar Bhalerao Jae Canetti “The future will be Cornell University Wake Forest University better tomorrow.”

“Thirteen years of “I’ma spend this holiday public schooling ended locked in” -jack harlow Julia Chen like this.”

Virginia Polytechnic Daniel Carr Institute and State Shambhavi Bhati University of Virginia University Virginia Commonwealth “stay wholesome” “i’m hip” University “We are living in history George Carson Sophia Cheng right now. We will make Dickinson College University of Virginia history in the future.

“C’s get degrees, but “If things start Gooooo Colonials!” everyone knows I have happening, don’t worry, bees.” don’t stew, just go right Medha Boddu along and you’ll start University of Virginia Nehal Chakraborty happnening too.” - Dr. “It may get worse before University of Pittsburgh Seuss it gets better, but it will “We can go anywhere get better.” you want, anytime you Preethi Chidambaram want. One condition: it University of Virginia Josh Boisvert has to be AMAZING.” - “There should have Georgia Institute of Doctor Who been a better farewell.

Technology But in the end, there “I never give up. I just Justin Chang never is.” -Richard K. don’t fin-” College of William Morgan and Mary Aneesh Boreda “Their spotlight is Parthiv Chigurupati University of dimming, my future’s California Polytechnic Pennsylvania so bright that it glows.

State University-San Luis ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ You want the blueprint Obispo for impossible, I’ll let it “Jogging is the worst.

Lucas Bronstein show. Remember when I know it keeps you California Polytechnic Pac said, the concrete healthy, but God, at State University grows a rose” - Rich what cost?” – Ann “Awareness.”

Brian Perkins Kirvani Buddhiraju Temple University “Oh screw beautiful! I’m brilliant! If you want to appease me, compliment my brain.”

Khushi Chawla University of Virginia “Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.”

Manu Bulusu Case Western Reserve University “I wake up on a daily basis”

Jessica Chen Harvard University What if climate change is a hoax and we create a better world for nothing?

Anoushka Chintada University of California, Los Angeles “We’ll be friends forever, won’t we, Pooh?” Piglet asked. “Even longer,” Pooh answered.

Michael Chiou Virginia Tech If you stop at general math, you’re only going to make general math money. – Snoop Dogg Grace Chong Brown University “Remember the times we had”

Jeremy Dapaah Princeton University “If you have to have finite answers to infinite questions, you’re not gonna move.”

-Madeleine L’Engle Megan Dass Georgia Institute of Technology “We have persevered, and we will continue to persevere!”

Sherrie Feng Yale University “You could make this place beautiful.”

Rachel Fernandes University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “And when your fantasies become your legacy, promise me a place in your house of memories” -P!ATD

Amita Goyal Carnegie Mellon University “The road to success is always under construction.” - Lily Tomlin

APHORISMS 25 Medha Gupta New York University “Follow your dreams, your heart...and my socials @medgoopz ;)” Stephanie Hachem University of Pittsburgh “Most Likely to be Crying”

Victoria Graf Princeton University “The End! Or should I say the beginning? Of Mark Hamilton Aumena Choudhry your future.” - Spaceship Virginia Polytechnic “Always remember the Earth Institute and State bigger picture.”

Marvin Fu University Malva de Boor “Don’t just have an Kevin Gu

Kevin Chung Northwestern University idea—have all of them.” University of Illinois at Justin Han University of Virginia Julia Drennan —Niv-Mizzet Urbana - Champaign Harvard University “Remember not to lose College of William & “(760)-706-7425” yourself in trying to find Mary Kevin Fu Oliver Hayman yourself in college.”

“Originality is really Georgia Institute of Sarah Gu University of Oxford important.” -- Jim Technology Columbia University “They call it the Xbox Alex Chung Carrey -- Socrates -“Hope there aren’t as “College is just high 360 because whenever Columbia University in Abraham Lincoln -- Julia many asian Kevins at school but with more someone sees one they the City of New York Drennan Tech!” expensive books” turn 360 degrees and “Happiness is not a goal; - Serena Van Der walk away” - My friend it is a by-product.”

Michelle Du Saketh Gabbita Woodsen Steppan, who recently Duke University Massachusetts Institute won the Virginia Tech Robert Crotts “Just DU it” of Technology Anvita Guda Regional Math Contest Virginia Commonwealth “Do today what others New York University as a freshman and University Kevin Du won’t so you can do “Goodnight gamers!” published a math paper “So um uh have University of Virginia tomorrow what others to arxiv you ever heard of “The inner machinations can’t.”

Rahul Gundamraj jpegmafia?” of my mind are an University of Virginia Gabrielle Heller enigma.”

Jeffrey Gerber “If two wrongs don’t University of Virginia Grace Cullen Amherst College make a right, try three.” “Sorry I say sorry too University of Pittsburgh Alexis Echano “My universe will never much” “Nobody’s best friend “I envy you. I’ve never be the same, I’m glad Prateek Gunnam but everyone’s best bro.” been able to meet me.” you came” University of Virginia Daniel Hong -Titus Andromedon “Wakanda Forever” University of California, Cameron CumminsShubham Goda Los Angeles Smith Manas Elaprolu Cornell University Cherry Guo “The LORD is my Case Western Reserve University of University of Virginia light and my salvation-University Virginia Zoë Gomez-So “You will do foolish whom shall I fear? The “If we’re gonna miss Harvey Mudd College things, but do them with LORD is the stronghold heaven why do it by Nitin Elavarasu “You guys are the best enthusiasm.” - Colette of my life-- of whom two inches” -Childish University of Virginia thing that ever happened shall I be afraid?” -Psalm Gambino “No man can win every to me.” - The 1975 Amey Gupta 27:1 battle, but no man University of Maryland Param Damle should fall without a Nitish Gorentala College Park Evan Howard University of Virginia struggle.” - Peter Parker Virginia Tech “The only thing we’re Harvard University “We didn’t realize we “This is fine” -a very allowed to believe is “So if you’re lonely...” were making memories, wise dog that we won’t regret the Fluorescent Adolescent we just knew we were choice we made” having fun.”

Sarah Huang Virginia Tech “It’s the friends you can call up at 8 a.m. that matter.”

Austin Huang University of Virginia “My plight has given me a strange kind of wealth, the most important kind.

I value each moment that is not spent in pain, desperation, hunger, thirst, or loneliness.” Steve Callahan, Adrift

Steven Jia The College of William and Mary in Virginia https://www. youtube.com/ watch?v=ZZ5LpwOAn4

Sonvi Kharbanda Pennsylvania State University “Be courageous in the pursuit of what makes your heart pound and what makes you come alive with purpose, our happiness is our own responsibility”- Camila Cabello

John Jones University of Virginia “You only get one life.

Don’t let anyone tell you Madelyn Khoury how to live it.”

University of Virginia “Our belief is often Ayush Jonnala strongest when it should Purdue University be weakest. That is Michael Huang “Wow. 0:33 - Post the nature of hope.” Massachusetts Institute Malone” Brandon Sanderson, The of Technology Final Empire “That’s rough, buddy.” Ajit Kadaveru - Zuko UC Berkeley Miranda Khoury “I graduated in June.

University of Virginia Kavin Ilanchezhian I just didn’t have the “I should infinitely University of Maryland, cameras on.” prefer a book.” - Jane College Park Austen “Thankful for my hero Rohan Kalra and savior, Chegg.com” University of Southern Sihun Kim California Purdue University Sheila Iyer “hokay.”

“Be sharp” Johns Hopkins University Sujay Kandwal Esther Kim “Just find your dream Pennsylvania State University of Chicago and teach it how to fly.” University “Jesus loves you!”

“When life gives Sneha Iyer you lemons, make Abby Kim University of Virginia lemonade.”

Wellesley College “It always seems “Dana Martin, Jazzaline impossible until it’s Kushal Kanodia Ware, Ashanti Carmon, done” George Mason Claire Legato, Muhlaysia University Booker, Chynal Lindsey, Pawan Jayakumar “Due tomorrow? Do Chanel Scurlock, Zoe University of Virginia tomorrow.”

Spears, Brooklyn “Haven’t done my taxes Lindsey, Tracy Single, cuz I’m too turnt up” Sanika Karandikar Bubba Walker, Kiki St. Bonaventure Fantroy, Bailey Reeves, Ritvik Jayakumar University Itali Marlowe” University of California, “It’s pronounced ‘sonicBerkeley ah’” Brandon Kim Stanford University Ho Yeon Jeong Mikail Khan “When life gives you University of Virginia Purdue University lemons, make orange “time to be a minority “I’m Mikail” juice.” again”

Yeonwoo Kim Carnegie Mellon University “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” -Dr. Seuss

Ethan Kwack Carnegie Mellon University “On an important decision one rarely has 100% of the information needed Eli Kirtley for a good decision no Gap year matter how much one Harvard University spends or how long “Get busy living, or one waits. And, if one get busy dying” - Andy waits too long, he has a Dufresne different problem and has to start all over. This Anika Kololgi is the terrible dilemma University of Michigan of the hesitant decision “Sometimes the hardest maker.” climbs lead to the ― Robert K. Greenleaf greatest views.”

Michael Kyrychenko Neeyanth Kopparapu Virginia Commonwealth Harvard University University “If you want to fly, “Let everyone be you have to give up subject to the governing everything that weighs authorities, for there you down.” is no authority except that which God has Shreya Kuchipudi established. The Washington University authorities that exist in St Louis have been established

by God. Consequently, Aditya Kumar whoever rebels against University of Virginia the authority is rebelling “Often bumpy roads against what God lead to beautiful places” has instituted, and - Davey Martinez those who do so will bring judgment on Kirthi Kumar themselves.” - Romans University of California, 13:1-2 Berkeley “I’m glad we had the Keegan Lanzillotta times together just to Northeastern University laugh and sing a song, “Senior? I hardly even seems like we just got know her” started and then before you know it, the times Irina Lee we had together were The University of gone.” - Dr. Seuss Chicago “I like living. I have Tanya Kurnootala sometimes been wildly, Virginia Commonwealth despairingly, acutely University miserable, racked with “May we meet again.” sorrow; but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.” Agatha Christie

Joseph Lee College of William and Mary “I’m feeling the flow!” Yuma Tsukumo

Derrick Liang Massachusetts Institute of Technology “’I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh. But I Kathy Li never knew that looking Princeton University back on the laughs “You’re braver than you would make me cry.’ believe, stronger than -Unknown” -Plop you seem and smarter than you think.”— Sara Liu Christopher Robin University of Virginia

Ann Li Bryan Lu University of Virginia Cornell University “Time you enjoy wasting “In the same way that is not wasted time.” your heart feels and ~Bertrand Russell your mind thinks, you mortal beings are the Daniel Li instrument through University of Chicago which the universe “Slept more in class than cares.” - Brennan Lee at home.”

Mulligan Janice Li Stanford University

Jerry Li Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Catherine Liang Harvard University “We all change, when you think about it. We are all different people all through our lives.

And that’s okay, that’s good, you gotta keep moving so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.” Doctor Who Tony Liang University of Maryland College Park “In the kitchen wrist twist it like a stir fry”

Sarah Luthra University of Pennsylvania “It is possible to drown oceans.”

Nathan Ma Purdue University “Quotes are for dumb people who can’t think of anything smart to say on their own” - Bo Burnham

Howard Malc University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering “To truly live in the present we must not push aside our pasts, but learn to coexist with them.”

Rithvik Malladi George Mason University “1096 and counting” Havish Malladi Duke University “Life is full of ups and downs but it is how you react and what you do next that matters the most.”

Aashni Manroa College of William and Mary “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ~ Alan Alexander Milne Gaurav Mantri University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “Not all those who wander are lost.” -J.R.R Tolkien

Joseph Mecherikunnel Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University “My classmates, they went on to be chartered accountants. Or work with their parents But thinkin’ back on how they treated me. My high school reunion might be worth an appearance.

Make everybody have to go through security clearance” - Aubrey Graham Sanjana Meduri Carnegie Mellon University “One time someone said I had a self-deprecating sense of humor. I wasn’t joking.”

Faaiz Memon Purdue University “That’s why you’re just Alright Nick and I’m the Great Gatsby” - the Great Gatsby

APHORISMS 27 Angeli Mittal Northwestern University “Even if it’s a dumb story, telling it changes other people just the slightest little bit, just as living the story changes me. An infinitesimal change. And that infinitesimal change ripples outward—ever smaller but everlasting.

I will get forgotten, but the stories will last. And so we all matter—maybe less than a lot, but always more than none.” ~John Green Danny Mittal Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Pie is pieish.”

Miko Miwa William & Mary “I want a dry erase board so I can write down my thoughts and then erase them immediately” - Tina Belcher

Denaly Min University of Michigan Jack Moeser “cim, cis, cit...”

University of Michigan Jay Misener University of Colorado Anushka Molugu Boulder University of Nitin Maddi Antonio Martin “Be loyal to your own Connecticut University of Virginia University of California, piece of mind” -Abel “Give it a whirl, girl!” “My favorite thrift store Berkeley Tesfaye Captain Raymond Holt is the lost and found.”

“OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA” Rishabh Misra David Montenegro Grace Mak University of Maryland, College of William & College of William and Wyatt Marvil College Park Mary Mary Rensselaer Polytechnic “Sometimes you have to “I’m so good at sleeping “Second star to the Institute go against the current to I can do it with my eyes right and straight on ‘til “Cold is a state of create the next wave” open” morning.” mind.”

Aastha Mistry Yoseph Mak Khushie Matharoo Virginia Tech Carnegie Mellon University of Virginia “All I know is fine University “treat people with dining and breathing.” “All good things must kindness” Spongebob come to an end. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be good, would they?”

Miriam Morse University of Virginia “I think I’ll just go down and have some pudding and wait for it all to turn up. . . . It always does in the end.”

- Luna Lovegood Laney Moy University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Joshua Mutterperl The College of William & Mary “Never wrong, often in doubt. Wait...”

Krupa Natarajan University of Maryland “finally got a 69% on a test :)” Prithvi Nathan University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign “Maybe the 1600+ hours spent of commuting between Manassas and Alexandria taught me some valuable lesson?”

Addison NewRingeisen The University of Chicago Joshua Nguyen University of Pittsburgh “Don’t be bitter. Be better.”

Ella Nguyen Penn State University “No Regrets” Mercille Nguyen “I eat plastic straws so that the turtles don’t have to. #yourewelcometurtles #imkindofahero #omgslay”

Manu Onteeru Dartmouth College “And I say hey! What a wonderful kind of day!”

Svetlana Pack University of Rochester “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” -Soren Kierkegaard

Adele Peng Princeton University “I can’t go on. I will go on.” — Samuel Beckett

Rukmini Raman Lawrence University “Hugo, Victor. Les Misérables. 1862.

Translated by Lee Fahnestock and Norman MacAfee, Signet Classics, 1987, p. 670.”

Junyan Peng Cornell University “You cannot control your parentage, but you can choose your legacy.” Anvitha Shri Ramanujam Malavika Pillai University of Trishya Pagadala Washington University Virginia University of Pittsburgh in St. Louis “What am I even “I never look back, “Don’t insult my tripping for? darling. It distracts from intelligence, Derek” Everything’s going to the now.” - Edna Mode - John Paul Jones, work out exactly the way Bachelor in Paradise it’s supposed to.” -Tony Jason Pak season 6 Stark Dartmouth College “2020 is our father” Zach Pracher Ronith Ranjan -Class of 2019 Duke University University of Virginia “Everyone in this world “Got the degree. I am Philip Pan has something to teach free. 2020 likes three.”

University of you, but it’s up to you to Pennsylvania learn it.”

Arvind Ravipati “Time flies way too Georgia Institute of fast for you to spend Sahan Raghavan Technology moments today wishing College of William and for tomorrow.: Mary Neil Rayala “Friends Season 10 University of Illinois at Tiffany Parise Episode 2 8:17” Urbana-Champaign University of “Don’t be afraid of Michigan Shreya Raghuram change” Carnegie Mellon Justin Park University Jon Recta William and Mary The most important Carnegie Mellon “I am the real jp.” thing I learned at TJ was University how to cram 3 weeks “Are you sure?”

Daniel Pasquerella worth of work into 3 University of Delaware hours Nikita Reddy “Sometimes standing

University of Pittsburgh against evil is more Rhoshini Raghuraman “A tip to freshman: important than defeating New York University never bring ice cream to it. The greatest heroes “so...prom?” school or you could get stand because it is right suspended.” to do so, not because Sindhu Ragunathan they believe they will Saint Louis University Praneeth Reddygari walk away with their “It never hurts to keep University of Illinois at lives.”-Connor Kenway looking for sunshine” Urbana-Champaign

Sohom Paul Sid Ram Hikma Redi University of California, American University Carnegie Mellon Berkeley “We’re adults. When did University “aaaaaaaaaaaa” this happen? And how do we make it stop?” Meredith Grey

Asha Rollins California Institute of Technology

Joshua Ryu University of Southern California “Stop it” Matthew Saenz Carnegie Mellon University “Z Z zdx” - Coach Bill Rechin Suchet Sapre Georgia Institute of Technology

Rayna Schoenberger University of Pittsburgh “Either I will find a way or I will make one.”

Suruchi Sen Purdue University “I’m responsible for my own happiness? I can’t even be responsible for my own breakfast!” BoJack Horseman Hari Shanmugaraja University of Maryland “The most efficient way of doing something is to not do it at all” - Dr. Shane Torbert Kunal Sharma University of Michigan “Money CAN buy happiness.”

Anne Shen Northeastern University “Anne is the best driver” -everyone Ankitha Shenoy University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill “follow my dog obi wan kenobi marshamallow shenoy @obi1kenobi2”

Crystal Shi Cornell University “If I seem to wander, if I seem to stray, remember that true stories seldom take the straightest way.” ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

Sydney Szabos Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Andrew Stelts “...totally defying all Oberlin College laws of space physics, “I may not have gone but she’s She-Ra so where I intended to go, she’s allowed.” - Noelle but I think I have ended Stevenson up where I needed to Jungmin Shin be.” -Douglas Adams Rishi Tadepalli The College of William “Despite making up and Mary Hugo Stevenson only”

University of Pittsburgh Zachariah Shuster “And that’s the way the Sylvia Tan University of Arizona cookie crumbles.”

University of Virginia “I cant die yet - God “Miracles stay doesnt want me, and the Oscar Su happening” devil isnt finished.”

Purdue University “it izzz what it izzz” Prerak Thakkar Pranav Somesula Virginia Commonwealth Florida Atlantic Tvisha Subhasish University University University of Pittsburgh “You could not live with “There comes a day “If it doesn’t challenge your own failure. And when you’re gonna you, it doesn’t change where did that bring look around and realize you.” you? Straight to college” happiness is where you are.” — Chief Tui, Vishakh Subramanian Dennis Tian Moana Virginia Polytechnic University of Virginia Institute and State “Time you enjoy wasting Charles Son University is not wasted time.” “The Office Season 2

Bertrand Russell Episode 22 13:55” Caitlin Sughrue College of William and Quyen Tran Michelle Song Mary College of William and University of Michigan - “What’s next?”

Mary Ann Arbor “Udon know how “I’ll miss you guys a David Sun thankful I am for all waffle lot” (Whole University of Michigan of you” (Whole Foods Foods Card, 2019) “Keep an open mind” card, 2019) - a brain surgeon, Cynthia Song probably Aarushi Tripathy University of Virginia University of Pittsburgh “Never get used to the Sean Sweeney “Welcome to the real good things in life” The College of William world! It sucks. You’re & Mary gonna love it!” -Monica Aravind Sreeram “I wish there was a way from Friends College of William and to know you’re in the Mary good old days before Kirill Usubyan “TJ is like a box of you’ve actually left William & Mary chocolates: seemingly them.” -Andy Bernard “Kirill just stole my girl diverse, but really just a again.” -Everyone lot of brown.”

Ethan Stanley Cornell University “I was planned.”

Tucker Stanley Cornell University “I was not.”

Sophie Uy James Madison University ”life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.” (uncle iroh)

APHORISMS 29 Pranav Wadhwa Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University “I stopped caring a long time ago” - Creed Bratton

Zoe Van Winckel University of Virginia “sorry i was sleeping”

William Wang University of Chicago “Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story Andra Velea which was a dialogue University of California, between two pieces Los Angeles of yeast. They were “you have all of senior discussing the possible year to make something purposes of life as they that will last a lifetime.” ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement.

Rohan Venkat Because of their limited University of Chicago intelligence, they never “To confine our came close to guessing attention to terrestrial that they were making matters would be to champagne.” limit the human spirit” Brian Wang Maddipatla Vishnu University of Maryland University of “- Kurt Vonnegut, Pittsburgh Breakfast of “People say nothing is Champions” impossible, but I do nothing every day.”

Kenneth Wang Duke University Rohan Voddhi “High school is about The University of the friends we made Chicago along the way”

Timothy Vu Emily Wang Cornell University Cornell University “no body of water is “dut dut–” safe without a lifeguard” Sophia Wang Anhtuan Vuong Tran Northeastern University Virginia Polytechnic “Was it worth it? I don’t Institute and State know. Would I do it University again? Always, every “5’6 Kings” time, yes.”

Sonika Vuyyuru University of California, Berkeley “Cool. Cool cool cool.”

Sarah Wang Yale University

Shea Weingold Gap year “When you mess up, laugh, and then do something differently.”

Grace WeismanFleischer Purdue University "You're a woman with a brain and reasonable ability. Stop whining and find something to do." ~Lady Violet Crawley, Downton Abbey Daniel Wen California Institute of Technology "Daniel, Wen's graduation?"

Owen Wetterhan Eastman School of Music "You got the music in you" Evan Williams Purdue University "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

Hana Wong Purdue University "everyone is a Luma at heart, because we all have a little bit of star dust in us (Literally, we're made out of star dust)."

Iris Wu University of Virginia “some days you feel like the bomb beef brisket in a bowl of pho. other days you feel like the bean sprouts that no one finishes. but remember, friends, that you are ALWAYS THE BROTH, THE CENTER, IN YOUR OWN LIFE.” - Kimmy Yam, Asian American icon Shannon Xiao Stanford University

William Xu Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Claire Williams "The roof is not my son but I will raise it."

Sreya Yadlapalli University of Illinois at Jack Williamson Urbana-Champaign Cornell University “It is not in the stars "It's a fool's race to run to hold our destiny but if all is lost if it be won." in ourselves.” -William Shakespeare Jacob Wilusz Worcester Polytechnic Mia Yang Institute University of Pennsylvania Aidan Witeck "Thank you very mochi Princeton University for the past 4 years!"

"Valar Morghulis" (Whole Foods card, 2019) Nathan Wong Georgia Institute of Adam Yao Technology University of Virginia "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." -Andy Bernard

Emily Ye Brown University "Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit" Vergil Andrew Yoon Yale University "There may be people that have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do." - Derek Jeter Jessica Yoon Emory University "We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun."

Rio Young Virginia Tech "Thank you to all the people who kept me going, to the great teachers, funny friends and wonderful family."

Alex Yu University of Virginia "Look at Curry man" Abeer Zaib "Full sends only."

Roger Zeng University of Pittsburgh "Uniqlo free shipping" Richard Zhan Carnegie Mellon University

Lilian Zhang University of Virginia "Money can't always buy happiness, but what happiness is there without money?"

Max Zhang University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign "You're never too old to learn to believe." Coach Auerbach Patrick Zhang University of Virginia "Go Lions" Carol Zhang Harvard University "let's be happy."

Ryan Zhou Georgia Institute of Technology "The species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself."

Ted Zhou Ohio State University "this wasn't very cash money"

APHORISMS 31

EXCERPTS FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

High school was a time when I really solidified my identity and after [trying] things out, I learned that I love working with video and I love riding horses In college, I think I want to play around with TV production. I want to branch out and explore past my comfort zone like I did in high school

I [would see] Alexa and Lynn every day with the boom mic and cameras and tripods [and it] just looked so cool. And I wanted to try it out. So I signed up for broadcast sophomore year instead of journalism. I never really looked back.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Ashley Huang REPORTING by Sid Ram

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

TJTV Executive Producer

Ashley Huang