Author: Rovija Khapre

Part 228 – How to Successfully Fail at Wastrelmaxxing

Rovija Khapre 0 Comment General Topics, My Stories, School Life, Social Responsibilities
Part 228 – How to Successfully Fail at Wastrelmaxxing

I’d like to think this whole ordeal started by teaching my parents what a ‘lazy bum’ was. 

The term grew on them so much that it’s been my unofficial nickname for the summer–jokingly, of course. This led to a discussion of a blog and how one such lazy bum, and many in my similar situation, spend this particular summer. Like any writer, I spent a lot of time brainstorming the serious unseriousness of a catchy title to gain motivation and a general outline. This led to the idea of ‘wastrel summer’ and from there ‘How to Successfully Wastrelmaxx’. 

As I began typing up my first draft, I had a dilemma; everything I talked about was the opposite of being a wastrel!

You see, the best time of your life will not be in your twenties, being young, wild, and free, or as a kid with childhood innocence, but rather the summer before you head off to college. A solid three-ish months of having very few demands before the harsh reality of corporate demands and adulthood hits you as you take on college. 

With this, you’ll take it upon yourself to do everything but stay home and do nothing. The only wastrel part of this is spending money and gas on going places and doing things with your friends, especially if you’re like me and have no job. (Ultimate bum behavior I know.) 

This is the summer of bittersweet memories and ultimate freedom as you try to cram in dozens of hangouts with your friends every day and hour. After 9 months of counting down the days towards graduation, you’ve got nothing to do. Absolutely nothing. There’s no annoying inner voice in your ear nudging you to wake up and prepare for an APUSH LEQ or finish the Biomed research paper haunting your computer.

There’s an unlimited number of opportunities awaiting. Grad party hopping bleeds into summer party hopping; late-evening poolside hangouts complete with pasta bowl runs; karaoke sprees at the Asian Plaza while grabbing KBBQ; binging the latest movie releases post-Six Flags; the agenda is packed. With no fear of a surprise test on Monday or even an early curfew–and as we are now big kids with licenses and jobs–the hours can stretch from late afternoon to early night. 

The only time you’re pulled from this stupor is when you have orientation; notably, it is the most serious thing you truly need to prepare for or even be nervous about all summer. For weeks before your visit, your inbox is absolutely swamped with emails and a multitude of links about registration and campus resources. And if you’re an unlucky STEM major like myself, you’ll have the pleasure of facing the dreaded math or science assessment. 

Apart from the great hell that is registration, as everyone battles for choosing courses in no more than five minutes or so, you find yourself coming home with burnt orange coursing through your veins (if you’re a Longhorn!), very pleased with your future four years and possibly slightly peeved at your academic advisor. 

After that, you truly have no other worries, as you can continue dilly-dallying for the rest of the summer as before!

Okay, I lied. 

There is a singular, looming threat to our ‘wastrel’ summer that you can’t ignore forever. With the prospect of spending most of your time–and gas money–on outings, you actually need a job. If still unemployed, at least you’re still productive in searching for local and even future on- and near-campus jobs. 

So truly, how can it be a wastrel summer when you spend it doing everything but being idle and unachieving? 

After twelve tedious years of working tirelessly, what harm is there in basking in the sweet success of labor we have finally achieved? Yes, to your parents it can be a ‘wastrel’ summer of doing nothing productive as opposed to the previous years, but this is the summer of pure relaxation, regeneration, and reconnaissance! 

And that is exactly why I had to scrap my original title. This isn’t a guide on how to be a lazy bum; it’s a testament– this is ‘How to Successfully Fail at Wastrelmaxxing.” 

Part 227 – The College Essay Saga: All Good Things Come Back to The West Wing

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Part 227 – The College Essay Saga: All Good Things Come Back to The West Wing

I dedicate this post to all the essays that were inspired by my favorite show, The West Wing. There are really only two different essays written based on The West Wing, but one of them was rewritten and adjusted many times per college, and as I spent more time in the college application process, making it slightly different for each version.

Season 1, Episode 22: What Kind of Day It Has Been

Case Western Reserve University (Accepted)

In the college application process, you are constantly prompted for a list of your achievements, awards, and accomplishments. While this information is useful to us, we are interested in hearing more about you. Describe an event, achievement, or experience of which you are particularly proud but that will not show up on a resume, may not garner any recognition, and does not appear anywhere else on your admission application. This essay should not exceed 750 words in length.*

I did not become the President of my school’s National Honor Society. In fact, when I decided to run, I knew it was a long shot. My opponent was popular—more well-known than I.  My friends who were running for other positions wondered why I did, and I simply told them this: I wanted to give the people a choice. 

In the TV series The West Wing, President Bartlet tells a group of college students, “Decisions are made by those who show up.” That idea resonated with me profoundly. Participation is essential to be heard. One cannot complain about an action if they had not attempted to let their voice be heard in the first place. But what if people show up, and there is no way given to them to express their voice at all?  What if they had no way to choose what or even who they wanted? 

It didn’t sit right with me that the other candidate was running unopposed. Especially for the position of President. There wouldn’t be an option to choose from, but rather a definitive decision that they would become President regardless of what the other students wanted. I didn’t like that, so I stepped up, deciding I wanted to give them the choice. I quickly submitted the election form, and a few hours later, I saw my own name listed under the candidates for President. It was all a blur from there: developing my goals for expanding the NHS, planning and filming my campaign video, creating posters to promote myself, and gathering support. My campaign plans revolved around the idea of choice. My posters varied from a law theme, a medical theme, and even a cute Mars theme to showcase variety. I wanted to show them different sides of myself as a candidate so they could connect to me better and think about what kind of president they wanted. Doing so guaranteed that my opponent would also have to work harder for their campaign, as well as made it an actual election process.

Days later, when the results were announced, my opponent’s name stood against the president title. I lost. Except, I didn’t feel disappointed. I never truly cared about what the result was or how many votes I had lost by. Going in, I had only one objective in mind: to make them think. In the end, I was ultimately satisfied knowing that my goal had been achieved. 

This was more than just a school election, but a reminder of American democracy and the values upon which it stands. Voting is a fundamental right; a way for the people to have power. While we had people show up to vote, what if no other competitor showed up? It becomes an illusion of our freedom—of our right and ability to choose. History has shown that systems without competing voices can drift into tyranny, where citizens really have no power and leaders face no accountability. While a simple school NHS election wouldn’t likely descend into such a situation, it served as a smaller-scale model for real-world issues and events we see today. Running for NHS President became my own reflection of that: leadership must be earned through choice, and not assumed by default. 

While my run for the NHS Presidency may never show up on a resume as a “win”, it is one of the most meaningful steps I’ve ever taken. Simply offering people a choice can be leadership itself, and you don’t need to win a title or grand achievements to do that. More than that, the decision gave me something more valuable: the confidence to take a step forward, even if success isn’t guaranteed. The ability to take that step forward in itself is often more powerful than the outcome. 

There will be countless times when I may succeed in something, and just as many times when I don’t. But regardless, I will always show up and make the first step in whatever I do. Because just as The West Wing reminds us, decisions are made by those who show up —and when we don’t, we leave room for someone else to decide for us. (694 version)

Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cornell, Johns Hopkins (Rejected) – This is just one of the short essay versions I wrote

Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a student body with a diversity of perspectives and experiences. How will the life experiences that shaped who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?* (150) 

Decisions are made by those who show up. Though I didn’t become my school’s National Honor Society President, I ran to give people a choice. The other candidate was running unopposed, which didn’t sit right with me. Without competition, leadership can become assumed rather than earned. My actions prompted others to consider their ideal president, while making my opponent step up to prove they were also worthy. Running for president gave me the confidence to take the first step forward, even when success isn’t guaranteed. This confidence has helped forge better connections with peers, take a firm stand on my ideas and beliefs, and branch out of my comfort zone in anything and everything I do. Because just as The West Wing tells us, decisions are made by those who show up —and when we don’t, we leave room for someone else to decide for us. (146 words)

NYU

Tell us about a time you encountered a perspective different from your own. What did you learn—about yourself, the other person, or the world?

I didn’t become my school’s National Honor Society President, but I ran to ensure a choice. From the TV series The West Wing, I learned that “Decisions are made by those who show up.” However, during this election, I faced a different reality: indifference.

The collective apathy towards an unopposed candidate bothered me. For me, this was more than just a school election, but a reflection of democracy. Without a challenger, elections can be reduced to a mere coronation–a formality. Without competition, leadership can become assumed rather than earned, becoming systems without accountability. It didn’t sit right with me that a position with so much influence was being handed over without debate. Refusing to let that happen, I decided to run. My campaign’s focus on values dictated the debate agenda, compelling the electorate to re-evaluate the standards required of a president. Furthermore, my opponent now had to step up to prove they were also worthy of the position. 

Though I didn’t “win”, running was one of the most meaningful steps I’ve ever taken. I discovered the confidence to take the first step forward, even when success isn’t guaranteed. I will never let life happen on autopilot– I will always show up to challenge the norm. Because just as The West Wing reminds us, decisions are made by those who show up —and without a voice at the table, we surrender our right to decide.

Season 4, Episode 1: 20 Hours in America

NEF Scholarship (Earned $2000)

In 250 to 500 words, explain why you should be selected for this scholarship, including what sets you apart as a candidate, how you plan to use the funds, and what you hope to accomplish through your continued education.

My goal is to become a biomedical lawyer. In a world where we’ve blurred the boundaries between reality and imagination, going as far as implanting a chip in someone’s head—Neuralink— to control and be controlled by a computer, we’ve been able to make our wildest dreams of Legilimency come true. Modern innovations are so advanced that we need a strong foundation to guide these developments, and yet, laws cannot keep up with the rate at which they progress. For this reason, we need future policy makers or even experts who are well-versed in the grounding thinking behind these innovations, as well as the law itself, to bridge the two together. My goal is to develop regulations that protect the privacy and rights guaranteed by our Constitution, while encouraging progress and innovation. The path for this goal, however, is incredibly rigorous. 

My parents have always supported me. They say that as long as you work hard and you do your best, then you have nothing to worry about. That’s how I’ve lived my life for some time now. 

I’ve never been the smartest person in my class. There’s always been someone better than me–several, actually. For that reason, I’d always have to go the extra mile just to get ahead. From late evenings to early mornings, hours of school crammed between extracurriculars, I still piled on more. With the path I’ve carved for myself–to take on two different fields and merge them, just so I could pursue both of my interests at once–I know that it’s going to be hard. But if it means achieving my own dreams, then I’m willing and ready to take it on. It should be hard, actually–in fact, I like that it’s hard. But it could be simpler–just a little easier–because that small difference goes a long way. I believe that a scholarship is more than just a financial investment; it’s also an acknowledgement that someone is going in the right direction and encouragement that makes it just a little easier to keep doing so. So that’s all I really ask for—just a little encouragement. 

Bonus (No specific episode)

Yale (Again because I love this essay)

Reflect on how your interests, values, and/or experiences have drawn you to Yale (125 words or fewer)*

Simply put, it’s where I see myself. My parents always said, “If you can see it, you can be it”. For a while, there were several great colleges I would’ve loved to go to, but none were my heart’s desire. Surely enough, my heart started lingering at Yale. Was it because Meryl Streep, an actress I love, or even Joshua Lyman from The West Wing, a character I deeply respect, were both Yale alumni? Or possibly because of Yale’s high esteem, I found myself gravitating to its venerability. I may never know, but at this moment, I know this: Yale has now become my heart’s desire, and if I close my eyes, I see myself rushing to a class across Cross Campus.

Part 226 – The College Essay Saga: Ivy Favorites

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Part 226 – The College Essay Saga: Ivy Favorites

Ivy applications were brutal, but I thought some of my essays were pretty fire -or I just really liked the questions and answering them- so here are some of my favorite takes.

Columbia

List a selection of texts, resources, and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums, and other content that you enjoy. (100 words or fewer)*

Garbhsanskar, The West Wing, @infobeautiful, Peg + Cat, The Backyardigans, The Devil Wears Prada, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence That Caring Makes A Difference, Circadian Regulation of Mtor Signaling via bmal1 Dependent Mechanism, SIMPLE and IMA by SEVENTEEN, Alice in Borderland, Mahabharata, Inside Out 2, Chaava, National Museum of American History, Attorney General Public Information Handbook, Harry Potter, 21 Notes, Sudoku puzzles, Dallas Morning News Crossword, Age of Empires, Great Big Story, Insider, Architectural Digest, The Girl Who Smiled Beads, Song of the Cell, Radio Lab, This Podcast Will Kill You, and Purple Hibiscus. 

Yale

1. What inspires you?* (200 Characters)

The stillness of a dark house early in the morning. Fleeting moments spent by myself, kept to myself, as I am enveloped in my own thoughts, working with the prospect of a brand new day.  

2. If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?* (200 Characters)

Publishing my blog post trilogy, “Anatomy of a 32-Hour Day”; a reflection on my struggles and ambitions, depicted through science, imagination, and a desire to stay awake as I navigate high school. 

Reflect on how your interests, values, and/or experiences have drawn you to Yale (125 words or fewer)*

Simply put, it’s where I see myself. My parents always said, “If you can see it, you can be it”. For a while, there were several great colleges I would’ve loved to go to, but none were my heart’s desire. Surely enough, my heart started lingering at Yale. Was it because Meryl Streep, an actress I love, or even Joshua Lyman from The West Wing, a character I deeply respect, were both Yale alumni? Or possibly because of Yale’s high esteem, I found myself gravitating to its venerability. I may never know, but at this moment, I know this: Yale has now become my heart’s desire, and if I close my eyes, I see myself rushing to a class across Cross Campus.

Cornell

What brings you joy?* (100)

Simple birthday wishes in Korean from family friends because they know I like K-pop, late evening dinners and frozen yogurt runs with friends, special home-made cupcakes from a friend on their birthday, perfect scores after hours of tiring hard work, rewatching old favorites like The West Wing and How I Met Your Mother, reading history textbooks and old documents, listening to new music from my favorite artists, redying my hair and watching the brown turn into dark red again, weekend lunches and shopping with my mother, evening discussions and debates with my father, writing, and forever, connecting with my culture. 

Stanford

Short Questions (50 words)

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?*

Loneliness. It fuels addiction, burnout, desolation, and everything else, really. It’s human nature to seek companionship. Today, we can’t live without being connected to the world. My generation, ironically, struggles to get off our phones simply because we’re afraid to be disconnected–to be left alone. 

How did you spend your last two summers?*

Exploring the world, across America, to South Korea, Japan, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Two summers worth of seeing the world for how it truly is–beyond pictures and videos. To experience the differences–and similarities– in cultures, wildlife, and lifestyles, while rebuilding long-lasting bonds with my family and friends. 

The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning.*

I’ve always been captivated by puzzles. From the subtle click of jigsaw puzzles fitting into place to the rhythmic logic of Sudoku, I find comfort in watching random pieces come together to reveal a larger design hidden within the disorder. 

As I grew older, this hobby transitioned from cardboard to coursework. I started to see the familiar patterns I loved in unlikely places: in cell biology with protein synthesis–a predictable sequence and flow of nucleotides and genetic material into something entirely new–and even in law, where the answer to a complicated problem could be found in the smallest subsection of a clause. The missing piece to a complicated problem. 

That desire–that itch to find those patterns and solve those problems is what drives me to pursue biomedical law. It’s the thrill of finding the missing piece between these two opposing fields that compels me. To fit the legal construct into the constantly changing premise of biomedical innovation. 

At Stanford, I’m ready to look for more than just answers, but find a way to make the pieces click. Whether it’s analyzing genetic sequences or debating bioethics, I’m always going to look for the patterns across the two fields that connect them. I want to spend my life doing something I’ve always loved to do, and that’s completing the big picture. To make a breakthrough of clarity through the complexities of human health and justice by going into it headfirst and solving the puzzle it holds. 

Part 225 – The College Essay Saga: Community Roots

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Part 225 – The College Essay Saga: Community Roots

Community (One of the general essays I wrote/used for multiple colleges)

Statistically, a total fertility rate of 2.1 children is needed for replacement level, and the global average sits at 2.3. My mother, however, is an anomaly to the trend. This is my story: of being an only–but never lonely– child.

I could never relate to a traditional nuclear family— two parents and two kids— like others. My world felt complete with books, a wild imagination coupled with toys, and my parents, but there was a subtle, hidden silence. It wasn’t until we moved to Texas that the silence got louder.

I threw myself into school and extracurriculars, forging new bonds. Early morning orchestra rehearsals echoed with hushed giggles as my stand partner and I played the wrong notes. Long bus rides to HOSA competitions weren’t just miles of cramped seating, but rather lively discussions and sing-alongs. Even calculus classes, where gossip flew across half-done worksheets, became a place of belonging for me. 

These moments taught me that family isn’t limited to bloodlines. The absence of siblings never let me be alone, but instead let me discover the beauty of chosen communities. With these people, I’ve found more than just friends, but a family that makes me feel whole. 

Rice

Community

As an only child, I could never relate to the traditional nuclear family–two parents, two kids– and opted to make up for that elsewhere. In school and extracurricular activities, I found communities built on understanding, shared passions, and trust. This philosophy makes Rice’s Residential College system so appealing. Families are built on traditions. Traditions are preserved by memories and passed on across generations as a gift. Regardless of which residential college I’ll go to, I’ll have the chance to be immersed in a new culture, take part in a new tradition, and join a new family for life. Whether it’s through participating in Jones College’s Cabinet or helping to organize long-time honored traditions like Weiss College’s Pumpkin Caroling, I aim to uphold and expand that college’s culture. This residential system and family-like network is the best opportunity to form deep, lifelong bonds that will highlight my time at Rice. 

Cornell

We all contribute to and are influenced by the communities that are meaningful to us. Share how you’ve been shaped by one of the communities you belong to. 

Remember that this essay is about you and your lived experience. Define community in the way that is most meaningful to you. Some examples of communities you might choose from are: family, school, shared interest, virtual, local, global, and cultural. * (350)

Statistically, a total fertility rate of 2.1 children is needed for replacement level, and the global average sits at 2.3. My mother, however, like many others, is an anomaly to the trend. This is my story: of being an only–but never lonely– child.

Nobody truly talks about the specific loneliness an only child feels. It’s not a sadness, but a structural void—a quiet difference. I could never relate to the traditional nuclear family— two parents and two kids— depicted in the media like others did. It’s always just been my parents and me. The void is more obvious when the rest of my family lives on the other side of the world. As a kid, it originally didn’t matter much. My world felt complete with books, a wild imagination coupled with toys, and my parents, but there was a subtle, hidden silence. It wasn’t until we moved to Texas that the silence got louder.

Instead of simply dwelling in loneliness, I sought to find connection elsewhere. I threw myself into school and extracurriculars, forging new bonds. I pursued Orchestra to expand my passion for violin, and during early morning full-orchestra rehearsals, I found hushed giggles with my stand partner as we accidentally played the wrong notes in a piece. Long bus rides to HOSA competitions weren’t just miles of uncomfortable seating and formal clothing, but rather moments of rowdy chatter and nostalgic pop music blasting as we all sang along. Even calculus classes, where gossip spread across the class faster than answers to our worksheets, became a place of belonging for me. 

These small moments over the past 10 years of my life have taught me that family doesn’t have to be defined by bloodlines. It can be found everywhere, creating communities you’ll always cherish. The absence of siblings never let me be alone, but instead let me discover the beauty of chosen communities—ones built on understanding, laughter, and trust. With these people, I’ve found more than just friends, but a family that makes me feel whole. 

Part 224 – The College Essay Saga: Rooming with Rovija 101

Rovija Khapre 0 Comment General Topics, My Stories
Part 224 – The College Essay Saga: Rooming with Rovija 101

In honor of me currently roommate hunting, I’d like to share the roommate essays I wrote for Stanford and Harvard. (No, we didn’t get accepted, but I find that my humor is top tier and hopefully the admissions committee at least got a chuckle from it as well.)

Stanford & Harvard

Hey Roomie!

I’m super excited to get to know you, but since you’re stuck with me for some time now, I just wanted to give you a heads up about myself. Apologies in advance, you may find your beauty sleep disrupted by my annoying alarms–13 and counting to be precise. I have a habit of waking up early to study, so you may hear my ringtone go off multiple times. Another thing is that I am an only child, so I’m not used to sharing space, but I am ready and willing to change that! Lastly, I’m not a super picky eater, but whether I’m a vegetarian or not kinda depends on whether it’s a Tuesday, new moon, or full moon, and the usual Hindu holidays. Not that it’ll affect your eating habits, but on those days, beware of my jealous glances across the room at what you’re eating. 

Can’t wait to meet you, 

Rovija 

From a rough draft, I also said, “Feel free to chuck your pillow at me to turn the alarms off.”

Part 223 – The College Essay Saga: Personal Statement

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Part 223 – The College Essay Saga: Personal Statement

Now that college decisions have been made and I am no longer in the process of applying to college, I wanted to start publishing my college essays.

I first wanted to post my personal statement essay primarily because this is probably one of my favorite pieces I’ve written. I had written it as a college essay assignment back in my AP Lang class, but since I was a sophomore at the time, it really didn’t come in handy until much later, and I didn’t feel the need to work on it too much. Surprisingly, though, it became the starting point for my final personal statement, and I’ve really liked how it’s been shaped over time to reflect who I am. Here’s Writing: A Moment to Live.

The rapid click of keys starts to slow; the spark of thought flickers out. A beat of silence; a quiet exhale of relief passes by. I click the blue button and watch as the words dance across the screen, finally putting an end to the marathon of ideas in my head.

“Your post is now live.” 

The image burns into the back of my mind.  A signal that hours of writing, editing, and reflection have taken shape—and now, they belong to the world. It’s a familiar routine, yet it brings a thrill of excitement each time, reminding me that words don’t tell stories… They start them. 

Writing has always been a constant throughout my life, beginning as a simple task to keep an ecstatic child at bay. Given a new app and shown how to hit publish, seven-year-old-me was instructed to write something—anything. At first, it was just random sentences about some fascinating event or flashy new toy. Over time, those three-sentence posts evolved into paragraphs, then essays with tones of color, and eventually into lengthy pages upon pages of discovery. Slowly, what first felt like a chore—an obstacle that stood between my playtime and I— soon became a prominent aspect of my life. 

Entering middle school, serious issues— law, geopolitics, history, and so on—took hold of me like a spark catching fire, spreading faster than I could contain it. It interested me how specific actions and words could change the fate of the world for literal centuries to come. Unfortunately, many other twelve-year-olds didn’t seem to agree, often turning away when I brought it up or feigning interest in the subject to satisfy me in the moment. While others rolled their eyes at my ramblings, I sat at my desk furiously typing, keying down every thought into permanence. No interruptions. No forced smiles. Just the words on screen and thoughts in my head. Every post began a different conversation with myself. Be it the implications of European conflicts, my opinions about the up-and-coming band I was starting to enjoy, or even my perspective on the ensuing teenage drama. Writing began to give me a way to breathe—a way to freely express myself and pour out everything in my head without hesitation. Eventually, it became a decade’s worth of records of ideas and growth captured through an ordinary blogging site. Together, the brief research papers, vantages on ongoing wars, and poll-based posts, became my own personal archive of growth and beliefs.  

Writing evolved from a regular weekly activity to a lifeline. The idea of being able to take something, mull it over, and regurgitate it out into a fluid sequence of words was exhilarating. I found myself greedily consuming more news articles, research papers, discoveries, and evolutionary concepts that were spreading like wildfire to recapture the feeling. Ready to share my passion with the world,  I applied to both an op-ed column in our local newspaper and a global news network. Although unsuccessful, I kept posting, practicing different ways to share my thoughts and understanding. I took on an internship at a law firm, where simple case analysis assignments were praised and reviewed by the firm for sharing with clients—a simple task that has now given me the responsibility of writing reports providing an overview of the important legal documents needed for cases.  

Over time, writing no longer became a way to reflect, but instead to push myself forward.  It was an exploration—a dive into discovering what I believed in, who I was, and where I stood. More than that, it was a way of documenting how my voice evolved—experimental and unwavering, and yet still growing. The blue publish button has become more than just an end—it’s an invitation to countless possibilities yet to happen.

Part 222- The Unofficial Guide to Becoming Lead Attorney

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Part 222- The Unofficial Guide to Becoming Lead Attorney

I published a post a few years ago about Teen Court and talked about what it was like from an attorney’s experience. I had only been a part of the program for a year, and was still on the high of being an “attorney” and having the opportunity to be a part of this program. I was in awe of the experienced attorneys, looking up to them for tips and eagerly dreaming of being like them. Little did I know that two years later, I would become that person for other attorneys. 

On March 10th, 2026, I was officially sworn in as Lead Attorney for the Irving Municipal Teen Court. It took four years, but now I have reached the highest position a Teen Attorney can possess! Before we get into the details, let’s recap: what exactly is Teen Court? 

Teen Court is a voluntary, youth alternative justice system for teen offenders who have committed Class C misdemeanors or school-related offenses. With a 90% success rate, the program focuses on restorative justice, allowing teens to be tried by a jury of their peers and have their case dismissed through community service. These trials are conducted by teen volunteers who act as attorneys, jurors, and bailiffs with supervision from legal professionals–more often, the Judge. 

I’ve been part of the program for about four years now. I started at the Southlake jurisdiction in the summer of my freshman year and was an observer and juror for the rest of the year, while briefly serving as a juror at the North Richland Hills Teen Court. By the end of my freshman year, I had signed up to be an attorney for the Irving Teen Court and was on the attorney roster list for the Southlake Teen Court. I went through both training sessions, and I entered my sophomore year as a Teen Attorney for two different jurisdictions. While the Southalake Court only had a differentiation between lead and regular attorneys, the Irving Court has Assistants, Associate Attorneys, Senior Attorneys, and Lead Attorneys. I slowly transitioned from Assistant to Associate and then Senior Attorney between my sophomore and junior years, having gained experience, and early into my senior year, I applied to become a Lead Attorney. 

I was accepted in October, following an interview with the program director, and was officially sworn in last Tuesday. Now, as an ‘official’ Lead Attorney, I want to give my unofficial guide to being successful at the Teen Court Program and becoming a Lead Attorney. Namely, the biggest tips I would give to anyone wanting to become a Lead Attorney.

Tip # 1: Establish a Connection

A lot of volunteers, when they sign up to become attorneys, are usually prospective lawyers. I myself am one, and I started Teen Court as a way to learn and get involved in the legal field. But that was the problem. That was all the motivation I had. I was selfish. I used my moments in court for me to learn. Every second was analyzed, skills and observations I picked up filed away in my head for quick reference next time. I made mental and physical notes, penning down where I went wrong or succeeded, and plans to improve for next time. And despite it all, I was stagnant. I only progressed in gaining a few speaking skills, but I was still unconfident, faltering, and unsure. I questioned myself and my abilities on why I couldn’t give a statement properly or why I couldn’t ask the right questions, when I should have been questioning my motivation. In the desire to figure out what kind of lawyer I would be, I ended up losing something that made me a person: Connection–I lost my sense of connection. 

Teen Court wasn’t for me. I was just a volunteer. This program was for those who deserved a second chance. 

Teenagers who have lives and dreams and ambitions just as I did. Being on a different side of the witness box did not make me different from them. We were alike, as kids who just want to live our lives and to love and dream. It was just unfortunate that they happened to make a mistake that could jeopardize that for them. 

The minute I realized that, my outlook changed. I had forgotten who I was representing; my true purpose was in Teen Court. Perhaps it was more than speaking perfectly, but rather how well you can convey the message based on how much you connected with your dependent. On defense, you have to humanize the Defendant. They are more than just their offense; they’re like us. You can’t do that without understanding them and taking the first step to see them beyond what a citation says. 

So I started things differently. I established familiarity with my Defendants. I was on their side. I want to help them. I want them to be honest with me–be open and not worry about judgment. Once that happened, you can see their shoulders relax. The muscles in their face loosen up. They’re more willing, much friendlier, and come to terms with where they are and what’s happening. Once that initial connection was made, you just go and prod deeper. Question with curiosity and not examination. 

Establishing that connection with a Defendant is incredibly vital. It shows that you care, and it is reflected in the way you speak, think, and act when a case goes on. The more you can relate to the Defendant, see them for who they are, the better you can show that to the jury. It only takes a few minutes, but they are incredibly worthwhile. 

Tip #2: Live in the Moment

Back to the connection aspect, being so incredibly stuck in a bubble of worrying about how well you do, drags you down. You’re overwhelmed by your own personal thoughts and motivation, so you’re not present in the case. Everything feels like a blur, a fast-paced haze of procedure and display of action. You think of “getting it over with” or “your part is coming up,” and become too focused on that. That’s why growth is stagnant. 

The second you start to let go of your worries and take a breath, everything starts to slow down. It’s incredibly basic, but that is the truth. In the four years I’ve been doing this, my best case was last month. I had never been or felt as successful as I did that night. Working with a new attorney, unable to sit in for questioning the whole time due to a personal matter that pulled me out of the room, I didn’t have a plan. My statement was half-written, I didn’t have information, and I was disorganized. We had to do two cases that night, and I was underprepared for both. But I decided to just roll with it, took a deep breath, and went into the case ready. I had never felt more in control than in that moment. I was able to plan out the right questions, rebound when I got answers that could be harmful, and objected exactly when needed. I winged my opening and closing statements, veering off the script I made, and came back without stuttering or losing track of what I wanted to say. 

That’s why I ended up getting the exact sentence asked for for one Defendant, and close to the minimum hours for the other. I was successful. I had gotten my defense with the minimum hours to clear off the offense. 

Focusing on the goal–to get the Defendant the best number of hours possible–is what makes your case stand out. The more you put into your defense, be it questioning, persuasion, and emphasis, the better you can sway the jury. But for that, you can’t let yourself get caught up in one thing. Be open, be willing, and just live in the moment. 

Tip #3: Don’t Make Assumptions! 

Offenses may be similar, but that doesn’t mean that every case is the same. Going in with assumptions makes you blind. You already paint a picture of what the Defendant is like in your head, and can unknowingly get caught in that picture even when you learn more about them. It changes your plan, the way you think, and the way you roll out the case. But by being open, you can actually see who the Defendant is. You learn, truly learn, about their story and what they did. (Very helpful in making the connection btw!) 

Even more than making assumptions about the Defendant, don’t let the Defendant make assumptions by not telling them. The more informed your Defendant is, the better the cooperation. You’re a team. This is for them, and you have to work together if you want to succeed. As an attorney, you’ve walked through the courtroom and know the standard court procedure really well. For them, they’ve never heard of Teen Court before this experience. It’s not seen as the place to gain credit and help the community, but a palace that determines what they need to do to have their record cleared. 

Walk them through the procedure. Be specific! Tell them where they need to stand, what they will be asked, and what to answer. How to talk, how to portray themselves, and what an attorney will do while they are there. In that room, they rely on you,  and you need to show them that you are ready to help them. For me, recently, I realized that I needed to emphasize court formalities to the Defendant. I simply told them to say ‘Your Honor”, but didn’t realize I needed to specify speaking clearly and not use slang. It was my lack of preparing the Defendant on that aspect that had the Judge point it out. (And really, it’s okay to make mistakes! It happens, but just make sure to learn from them no matter what.) 

Tip #4: Take the Risk!

Not every strategy you develop or plan you make will succeed. Sometimes, Defendants will change their story. Sometimes they’ll say something unexpected. Regardless, you have to just keep going. Don’t be afraid to continue asking questions–regardless of defense or prosecution. Sometimes you’ll ask a question on defense that gives you an unexpected answer. It may end up harming the Defendant, but you need to just keep going and prod further. Quickly figure out if there is a way you can redeem that, or what points you can bring up to mellow it out. At the end of the day, what the Defendant does or says is beyond your control. You can only do your best to alleviate it and work it to your advantage. 

For prosecution, you don’t know the Defendant. You aren’t given the 30 minutes of interview prep that the Defendant has, so you’re going off the offense and police statement. Use it to your advantage. In the manner of not knowing, don’t be afraid to ask questions that will make it clear for you.

To grow, you need to be ready to take on any challenge. Whether it’s doing a case solo, doing a part you’ve never done before, or being on a side you aren’t too comfortable with, don’t hesitate to take it on and do your best regardless. If you back out or let yourself be swallowed in fear of coming off lacking, you’ll only hold yourself back. Everyone makes mistakes. I still make mistakes despite doing this for four years. There are times I walk off the floor and cringe because my opening or closing statement was super awkward. It happens. What matters is getting your points through the jury. Making them understand. At the end of the day, it’s the jury who makes the decision. What matters most to them is understanding what happened and making the best verdict accordingly. 

Being willing to take on the challenge makes you stand out. It shows determination, a desire to do well, and trust that you will work to give the Defendant the best verdict. 

Tip #5: Be Comfortable in What You Do

This isn’t like a major tip, but I feel like it greatly contributed to my progression as an attorney. Out of all the courts I’ve been to, I really like the Irving Municipal Court the best. 

Primarily because it feels more organized and more lenient. For me, I need flexibility to grow. I prefer having the ability to experiment and try different things. I’m the person who analyzes and overanalyzes each mistake and flaw and thing I felt I could do better in, and I tend to try different things each time in an attempt to succeed. I felt that with the Irving Court.

Being at the Southlake Court for the first few years of being an attorney was helpful, as it gave me a proper format to follow. Everyone could choose which side and position they wanted, allowing them to try different things whenever there was a court night. Even more, the positions were fixed, so everyone had one specific role and could work together accordingly. We even got back feedback, which helped with small things like projection. Once I got more comfortable, I felt a bit restricted. I was happy with becoming a better speaker, but I wanted to be able to do more. Irving Court allowed me that opportunity, so I grew to lean more towards the Irving Court.

Again, this is all based on my preference and experience. Not only that, I felt that the exposure to the cases I got was different; they were starkly different. This has to do with demographics. 

Southlake is a more affluent city than Irving, so the cases were predominantly traffic and drug paraphernalia cases. These were a great way to start as a beginner, as they let you start with something mellow, like speeding, and build up your skills. While not every traffic offense or drug paraphernalia case is the same, it helps you build up different ways to present a case or make your statements and work on your skills. With Irving, however, you see a greater exposure of cases, with assault, theft, trespassing, and occasionally drug paraphernalia. A lot of these generally can be harder to take on, since they can end up revealing more than stated, or need more flexibility than new attorneys can take on by themselves. Not that they would, but generally, I’ve been put in a few situations where some of these cases can become really drawn out or appalling; it catches attorneys, even experienced attorneys, off guard when rolling them out. 

Now, I’m not trying to discourage new attorneys from going to court with these cases, but to brief them on what they should expect to see. If anything, they want to jump right in and try everything, go for it! It’s really a matter of preference, but all I can say is that you shouldn’t be afraid to try new things or feel restricted in one way when there are so many other ways of doing things. 

If you get comfortable with one jurisdiction, try applying at another. Find where you’re most comfortable. Try different cases and discover what you like to do and what you excel at. It’s okay if you’ve only just started Teen Court or have done a few cases. Some experience is good enough to get ahead during attorney training in another jurisdiction. Even more, that jurisdiction may have different tips and strategies than you were taught previously. You can only do as much good as you put in the effort and enthusiasm. For me, dreading a case night only worsened my performance. Even if I had been doing it for years and was fairly experienced, the overall interactions made me feel like I was still a beginner. 

So don’t hold yourself back, and explore. Figure out what you want to do, how you want to help out the most, and go from there.

Even as Lead Attorney, there’s still so much I can and continue to learn every time I walk into court. While I’ve been able to navigate it and come up with this guide, I still find myself modifying and adding to it, because really, it’ll never be perfect. All you can really do is work hard and do your best for every case you are given. Rely on others. Take the risk. Live in the moment. Enjoy what you do. Remember that there is a greater purpose for you being there, and that is what you should be working for: making a difference in the community, in someone’s life. 

Teen Court Links:

Program Overview: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/municipal-court/teen-court

Southlake Court: https://www.cityofsouthlake.com/106/Metroport-Teen-Court

North Richland Hills Court: https://www.nrhtx.com/331/Teen-Court

Irving Court: https://irvingtx.gov/teen-court

Part 221- Changing the World Order: Venezuelan & Iranian Attacks

Rovija Khapre 0 Comment Politics and Geopolitics
Part 221- Changing the World Order: Venezuelan & Iranian Attacks

This blog was written during the live events of the Iran attack, and was modified as new updates on the situation were posted. As this blog is now being published, there may be some gaps in where recent events have taken place during or after writing this blog that may be different from what has been published, but regardless, the focus is to analyze the implications of these attacks in context to the current geopolitical atmosphere. 

To no one’s surprise, the United States is once again making headlines. It’s the end of February, and we’ve seen yet another attack formally made by the United States. Earlier in the year, we witnessed the Venezuelan attack and capture of former president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and now, just yesterday, a joint attack was made on Iran by Israel and the United States. As these events now start to play out, we can only wonder what is to come next on the global stage. 

Following the end of World War 2, the United States emerged as the strongest global power. Over time, with the rise of new global powers–Russia and China–the gap has started to close in. The biggest problem for America right now is China. Having relentlessly extended its influence into the global sphere and even going against American demands, America has had to take various measures to keep things at bay and prevent a potential breakout of war. 

The first would be through sanctions and tariffs.  President Trump announced his tariff list early in his term, with countries like India getting a 50% rate and China 30%. Much of this was a way to stop India from buying Russian oil and China’s unfair trading and influence. As much as he would have liked it to, the tariffs did little to stop those primarily targeted. Specifically, China. With this, far more drastic measures need to be taken: taking it out at the source. 

This was seen through the Venezuelan and Iranian attacks. For many years now, China has been the primary buyer of oil from Venezuela and Iran, surpassing U.S. sanctions on the resource. Alongside rebranding crude oil and utilizing “shadow fleets”, China would strike deals that ended up in its favor. In exchange for China building the infrastructure for Iran and Venezuela, they would be compensated in oil. This is similar in Iran, with a 25-year-long $400 billion deal to secure long-term energy at a fixed discount. 

With the United States now taking control of Venezuela, it secures America’s ability to oversee Venezuelan oil reserves, including its deal with China. By taking out Nicholas Maduro, the United States can establish a new leader who is aligned with the United States and would work with them to remove China’s influence. Similarly with Iran, all America needed to strike was a reason; surely enough, Israel gave them one. 

Iran-Israel relations became increasingly hostile and tense following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, as there was a demand for Israel’s elimination. With this, the development of Iran’s nuclear program was becoming an imminent threat to Israel, leading to the Twelve-Day War. This was an attempt to neutralize the nuclear program and dismantle ballistic missile capabilities before an attack was made. It’s only now, with the possible rebuilding of these programs, that America jumped in to fight alongside Israel. At least, that is the cover story. 

America’s main focus is on China, and while they would like to help an ally, they would be more focused on their own problems at hand. They had an opportunity to strike and took it. Through the Iranian Revolution, they had lost their previously coup-gained influence within Iran, leading to the growth of Chinese influence within the country. But now, with the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it is evident that the United States will find a new leader who is aligned with America to cut out China directly. Even though there were ongoing discussions regarding the issue of the nuclear program being rebuilt, it was a better opportunity to strike now than later, when a deal was set in place. 

This isn’t too surprising, considering the United States is rather notorious for such behavior. A more implicit removal of a country leader we saw not too long ago was actually the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. Although there was no direct American attack reported, we can infer that the United States wanted something valuable and wouldn’t give it up. That being a strategic port off a Bangladeshi island that would serve as an entry into China if needed. The current leader is more favorable to the United States, hinting that the change was definitely America’s doing. 

America is preparing for the prospect of war, and that’s through ensuring no one crosses the Atlantic or Pacific. Even now, we’re hearing about America working to ‘control’ Cuba. A rogue country, far too close to the United States, that has been aligning with China and Russia. Solidifying the U.S. influence within these countries is a crucial step to ensuring control within the global sphere and keeping China in line. 

Seeing these events play out makes Greenland’s acquisition even more important. With the recent developments, the acquisition of Greenland remains even closer than ever. Especially now that Denmark has taken to going to the polls earlier than previously expected in order to handle this issue properly if it arises.  As stated in one of my previous points, Greenland’s position is key for America to gain strategic access to the Arctic Circle, a current blind spot we already have. As of now, the acquisition of Greenland for any upcoming events is even more crucial, as is the plan for a Golden Dome to encompass America. 

What’s more clear is that if the United States has already started to take charge, something big is inevitably coming soon. The United States likes to be prepared. While the measures taken can be defined as extreme, we have to understand that, just as any country would, they would do anything and everything in their capacity to protect their people. Whether it’s through the capture of a former president, the development of older airstrips in secluded islands, or even something else we haven’t seen yet, the United States will always be ready, five steps ahead, to protect its people. 

Part 220 – An Ode to Writing: 2026 Goals and Stories Galore

Rovija Khapre 0 Comment General Topics, My Stories
Part 220 – An Ode to Writing: 2026 Goals and Stories Galore

I said a few months and then proceeded to return with the New Year. Surprise! I wanted to start this off a little differently and discuss a goal I have for myself in terms of writing for this upcoming year. Except, I wrote this at like 12:30 in the morning a few days ago, and wrote it in a hurry in my journal app because I was overwhelmed with the idea at the moment. I’ve only edited a few things for basic grammar and context, but here are my 2026 writing goals, presented in the form of an ode to writing. Except it’s not technically an ode because I did not spew out a poem, but rather a long and winding story about my heart and desire to write that slightly goes off track. Please bear with me, it’ll all make sense at the end.

Happy New Year, I say on January 2nd, 2026, at 12:26 AM. I don’t stay up this late, but I’ve been overcome with a newfound energy. This idea was sparked after reading 31k words about a road trip. Don’t ask how or why I got to that point, but I ended up posting an Instagram note saying ‘who tf writes 31k about a road trip’, and my friend said I would. It sounded ridiculous, but the more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t help but be amused. This person really liked to write. Or, more so, they enjoyed telling the story so much that they drew it out to 31k words of a stupid road trip AU that I still haven’t finished reading because it was so long. In retrospect, I’ve only ever written 14-16k of something, and even then, I ended up cutting it down to 7k. But it was inspiring; even more so when my friend herself wholly believed I would write something like that. And so there’s that itch again, that desire to write.

I’m actually really emotional as I write this. (How embarrassing) I’m rawdogging this like everything else I do in the heat of the moment, but I think I’d like to pronounce it to the world again. I like writing. Moreover, I love it. It’s a part of me. My heart and soul, all merged into one: an indescribable bond and attachment to it. I love the way words can pour out, how I can say everything in my head at once. It’s sooo cliche, I know, but it’s just so perfect for me. I found myself itching to write during my winter break. I have a terrible attention span, unfortunately, and I’m such a try-hard that I needed to do something so I could feel good about not doing anything. So while I binged Stranger Things and cycled between that and watching Hermitcraft and doomscrolling on X, I wrote. What I wrote is a secret- a personal thing for myself to keep myself happy- but I wrote. And by god did I love it. In that, I didn’t write pieces as I do now, but stories as I did as a kid. When I was still a child, and I still had the time and the enthusiasm for books that I wanted to write my own. It was delightful–truly. But in that, I realized that I couldn’t write it as fluidly as I wrote pieces. I always claim that writing is easier and flows naturally, but I was stuck. The issue was dialogue: I couldn’t frame it right. On X, I engage with and follow other artists and writers. (Of fanned fiction and general writing, amongst many other things.) Each person is so wholly different and true to themselves in how they write and create, it’s remarkable. One of the writers, when asked about her favorite part of the writing process, said she loved dialogue and “fleshing the characters out.” I felt the opposite. Me myself I came to hate it. Why, I asked myself, and I figured it’s because I do little talking in real life. I’m not a quiet kid. I was an introvert when younger, but as time passed and experiences and interactions occurred, I grew into an extrovert. I can converse far more easily than before, and I am louder, but I’m still quiet. I don’t usually talk unless it’s needed, or I don’t generally feel the need to. While I generally prefer to observe rather than converse, it was more for reasons of uncertainty and self-consciousness, but also in a desire not to mess up. I somehow grew into a person who didn’t talk as much simply because I feared saying the wrong thing. And yet I don’t hesitate to say what I think when I write. Was it different because this was for myself? I’m not sure. Maybe it was that feeling that transversed into my writing, that I grew less comfortable with dialogue. But continuing, I found myself more drawn to explanations. I can feel it in my pieces as well. I love to explain–I overexplain, really. I love details. Even as a kid, I’d spend hours detailing every small thing in my story. The patterns on the dragon, the medicine techniques, the storage system; everything. I loved creating that world, building things from words alone. I couldn’t create people well, but I could structure the story and the world around them. I just love to describe, and that’s why pieces have become easier than stories for me now. Simply because I can describe. My heart and soul are in words and sentences better than I could if I talked. It’s just a hunch, though. I’m still not sure. But one thing I can guarantee is this.

This is no ordinary post. I do realize that now my posts will be observed by universities and colleges alike since I’ve submitted this as part of my application. I’m proud of what I have, of what is reflected here: ten years of hard work and growth through writing. But now I want to take the next step forward, and that’s this. For 2026 and onwards, I want to become a more sincere writer. I talked so much about ideas and events around me before I went on hiatus for college apps, but now, I want to talk about myself more. Going back to the story of talking less, I want to be more comfortable about talking about myself. No longer being vague and trying to deflect things, but rather being more open with myself and in my writing. I don’t want to be held back by a fear of coming off wrong or by my own limitations to a point where I end up not fully saying what I want to. Especially when I find writing the most comfortable way to converse and fully express myself. I want to become more sincere in what I say, and I’d like to try and be more of myself as I write. Really showcase how much I love to write by putting more of myself in my words. I want to show off, to overexplain, and talk about myself to a point where you’d have to tell me to shut up, and I want to do it sincerely.

This is a big year for me. I graduate- something I’ve been looking forward to since my sophomore year. I’m going to college. I’m going to turn eighteen. I’m going to travel. (I already do that one, but I like traveling, so this year holds the prospect of new adventures.) There’s so much this year has to offer, and I want to make the most of it. I want to document it all. Like those vloggers and influencers online, I want to do the same, through my words, and I guess through my own stories. So that’s what I’d like to do for 2026. Consider that my New Year’s resolution. So, as a start to my return to writing, this is me, signing off for the first time in 2026. I’ll see you in the next post.