Anyone who knows senior Saumya Mahajan would agree that she is determined, hardworking, and, most importantly, involved. Every day, Mahajan finds ways to utilize her passion and leadership skills to build a presence in the school, encourage academic success and make a difference in the community around her.
Mahajan balances participation in various groups at Revere High School (RHS) daily. Her accomplishments include being president of the National Honors Society (NHS) and Students Demand Action (SDA), secretary of Mu Alpha Theta, co-captain of the girl’s golf team, and a part of the Mock Trial and Academic Challenge teams. Additionally, Mahajan leads on stage as an avid member of Revere Players and Choir.
While many students are only members of one organization, Mahajan balances numerous activities, all of varying subject or style. Mahajan explained where her interest in so many organizations comes from, noting that while she began participation in some clubs in middle school, others piqued her interest after she arrived at RHS.
“There are different things that appeal to me from different groups. For Mock Trial, . . . I really like debating, so that came from [doing] Speech and Debate in middle school, and Academic Challenge is [at the] middle school. And then some things were newer passions. . . . SDA was something new for me,” Mahajan said.
Though SDA was a newfound passion for Mahajan when entering high school, the club’s goals and meaning have always stuck out to her. Mahajan explained that the club’s values resonated deeply with her since her freshman year, before she took on her leadership role.
Jeff Fry, the adviser of SDA and Academic Challenge, noted some of the characteristics that make Mahajan well-fit for her leadership positions.
“She’s very dedicated, she’s passionate [and] when she puts her mind to something, she follows through with it,” Fry said.
This will be Mahajan’s fourth year as an active member of SDA, now taking on the responsibilities of president of the club. Mahajan shared her passion for what the group stands for and how she strives to use her leadership role to help others.
“For me, social justice has always been a very, very important thing, and . . . I have a lot of ideas, and I have a really strong passion [for] getting other people involved in the community. I think that as President . . . I can accomplish my goals of involving everyone and making a real change,” Mahajan said.
Joanne Gillette, an advanced math teacher and the adviser of Mu Alpha Theta, explained how Mahajan stands out in Mu Alpha Theta and her secretarial role, noting the benefits she has brought to the club.
“Saumya takes the time to make other students feel valued and appreciated. She’s a very encouraging person, and that has helped our club to grow,” Gillette said.
Mahajan’s passion for helping others extends beyond school activities, as she spends time every week working at the Inn at Apple Ridge, a local nursing home. There, Mahajan visits with and cares for the residents. Mahajan expressed her deep passion for her job, explaining how her presence there makes an impact in the lives of the residents.
“It’s just a lot about . . . knowing who [a] resident is, being able to take the time to cater to what they need. And then the gratitude that they show is something that is so personal and so satisfying,” Mahajan said.
Beyond working at the Inn at Apple Ridge, Mahajan separately volunteers within the same nursing home’s memory care wing. Since the residents in this area of the nursing home suffer more severe health issues, having a volunteer to give them company can make a significant difference in their lives.
“I can go every week, and these people will never know my name, but it’s not about me, [it’s about] forming that connection. A lot of it is based on human hospice and just knowing that you can make a little bit of a difference at that time,” Mahajan said.
To manage all of her extracurricular activities, Mahajan follows a busy schedule every day. Fry noted the impressiveness of Mahajan’s participation in such a wide variety of groups, explaining how it makes her different from other students.
“If she just did what she did with me, she would be busy, but with Revere Players and all the other extracurriculars that she’s involved with, [balancing them] makes her special,” Fry said.
Mahajan discussed the personal thought process and preparation that goes into balancing participation in so many different groups. Since many clubs and organizations meet at the same time, clashing in her schedule is almost inevitable. Mahajan described, however, the steps she takes to maintain her busy schedule.
“There’s definitely a lot of planning ahead. It is a lot to handle, but knowing where your limits are, and making sure that you’re not just trying to sign up for everything [helps]. And yes, just a lot of planning ahead, making sure that I’m focused and my schoolwork is done, so that I can take the time to properly put in the effort and then enjoy,” Mahajan said.
Mahajan will continue her senior year as an enthusiastic and passionate student leader, hoping to make a difference in the lives of the people around her. Reflecting on her high school experience, Mahajan encourages all other students to try new things and get involved in the rich extracurricular scene offered at RHS.
