About Me

Profile

About: I was born in New Jersey, but raised in Fort Worth, TX – “Cowtown”. Growing up, my home was a mix of Indian-immigrant and American culture: I’m a vegetarian who brought rice for lunch at school and watched cricket, but I know English better than Tamil or Hindi and am a huge Dallas Mavericks fan. I’m grateful to my parents for instilling a work ethic in me, which has led me to dual-major in Chemical Engineering and Plan II Liberal Arts at UT. I plan to pursue a graduate degree in chemical engineering. My parents also gave me a strong sense of duty to serve my community, a value that has remained with me.
I enjoy hiking, playing chess, and reading. I used to play violin in the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, and while I don’t have time to play as much anymore, music continues to play a large role in my life. In my spare time at UT, I also enjoy playing tennis. I’m a big cricket (the sport) fan!

Why I Ride

Since Fall 2011, I’ve worked on a research project aimed at engineering gold nanoparticles for targeted cancer imaging and therapy. In the lab, handling the decidedly impersonal gold acids and block copolymers, it’s easy to lose sight of the larger picture: those nanoparticles must eventually be robust enough to save a life, a career, a family, and a dream. I’ve been on the research side of the fight, what about the – as important, and more personal – battle to raise emotional support for those with cancer?

I ride for my grandfather, Gouri Thata, who – according to the doctor, “miraculously” – survived bladder cancer, but was left considerably weakened. Before he passed away from a heart attack, he was one of my biggest role models. My grandfather inspired a sense of community service, dignity, and integrity in me, and I hope he’s proud of my character today.

I ride for my grandmother Hyderabad Rajipati, whose fun-loving, garrulous nature was depleted by the extensive chemotherapy she had to undergo. Every time we visited she would shower magical, home-cooked food and ask me incessantly about my school and life in Texas. Her courage and eternal optimism still inspires me: I ride for her continual well-being.

I’m thankful that my grandparents did not succumb to cancer, and I ride for those less fortunate as well.