Avishi Gupta
December 16, 2022
Sitting in between her mom and dad, senior Avishi Gupta enjoys pleasant conversation and polite banter with her teacher honoree, social studies teacher Danielle Donovan, and her classmate, senior Parv Gosai. Gupta took initiative for her own education as soon as she started high school. “She is totally independent and we don’t need to tell her what to do,” her mom, Vandana Gupta said. “She knows what’s best for her and she is aware of what her goals are.”
Through the endless AP courses, Avishi Gupta maintained diversity in her achievements. She managed the girls lacrosse team and volunteered as a tutor for over 200 hours for the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Nest4US, and the library. She was also Vice President of an organization known as Grief Buddies and Head of Marketing for an organization known as Girls Code It.
Gupta plans to study software engineering in college and pursue a masters degree in business administration or science.
She is totally independent and we don’t need to tell her what to do. She knows what’s best for her and she is aware of what her goals are.
— Vandana Gupta
The preparations leading up to her big college plans were hectic but fulfilling. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, contrary to what most students experienced, Gupta’s learning skills were enhanced during the year of online learning. Gupta got experience many things leading up to graduation, making the five to six hours of studying every day after school worth it. “I got to do what I wanted to do, and be who I wanted to be,” Gupta said. “It was overall such a great experience.”
Her teacher honoree, social studies teacher Danielle Donovan, impacted and improved Gupta’s high school experience significantly. She chose Donovan because since Gupta’s junior year, Donovan proved to be a pillar of strength in her life. “I can go to her whenever I want to talk about something and she supports me and helps me both with school and my personal life,” Gupta said. “She is a safe person for me.”
Donovan also had many great things to say about one of her favorite students. “I don’t normally stay after school [in general], but when Avishi asked me to be her teacher honoree, I knew I had to say yes,” Donovan said. Gupta had Donovan for U.S. and Va. history during her junior year, and immediately knew that Donovan would be a big part of her life.