Today we’d like to introduce you to Harshita Ganga.
Hi Harshita, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Harshita. I’m a 13-year-old and a freshman in high school. I am a tennis player and competitively swim. I also play violin and piano. Some of my hobbies include reading and painting.
When I was little, I loved math. During summers, I used to go through entire math textbooks and solve them for fun. I started going to math competitions. This started with North South Foundation (NSF) and Math Kangaroo. Both of these competitions helped me improve my math skills and increase my interest in math. Later, in 6th through 8th grade, I participated in Mathcounts. It was an amazing experience. I loved the feeling of working in a team with other students and I learned so much from them. I was also able to go to nationals for Mathcounts. Currently, I am continuing my math journey by studying Multivariable Calculus in school.
Since I loved math so much, I hated reading with a burning passion when I was little. However, in second grade, something totally turned around for me. My teachers and my parents teamed up to convince me to read a little. After a few months of charting reading time for grades, my interest in reading grew. I lost myself in stories of fictional characters. Recently, I decided to use my passion for reading to help other people have it as well. I wrote a book, inspired by my cousin Bhoomika, who has Rett’s syndrome. My book is a mystery-based novel about a girl who doesn’t tell her friends that her brother has autism, but suddenly her secret is revealed to the entire school.
My book “Hidden Secrets” is now available on Amazon. All proceeds for the book go towards Leukemia and Lymphoma society’s pediatric cancer research. Be sure to go check it out!
Now that I have talked about my interests as a child, I would like to go into my current interests. When I grow up, I would like to be a neurosurgeon. NSF also began my interest in science. It also led me towards other competitions such as Science Olympiad and Science Bowl. These competitions have helped me research areas that I’m interested in and have fun at the same time. I am also doing HOSA (Pathophysiology is my event) and I went to Internationals. I am currently taking AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and HBS (Human Body Systems) to continue to increase my knowledge. On top of this, I have written a scientific review paper (about the genetic and environmental factors associated with autism) that has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication by IJHSR (International Journal of Highschool Science Research).
In conclusion, my interests include neuroscience, math, and reading. All of them impacted my life as I grew and shaped me into the person I am today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I know that I’ve talked a lot about my successes, but I also want to talk about some of my struggles. I skipped a grade when I was in third grade. This transition was pretty rough for me. I don’t make friends that easily. In fourth and fifth grade, I was subjected to some bullying. I was called a teacher’s pet and some other mean nicknames. My teachers, family, and some friends helped me through this. Eventually, I learned from these experiences.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I mentioned earlier, I have a passion for science. I love neuroscience. Currently, I am studying neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism. I hope to find a better and more accurate diagnostic test for autism. I’m really proud of my review paper about the genetic and environmental causes of autism and I want to continue researching by finding out why autistic children are attracted to water.
Additionally, I have a passion to give back to the community.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising about me is that I’m an all-rounder. When I meet someone, they usually are surprised that I do so many other things because I like to go very in-depth into things I love to do. Many people are also surprised that I can manage time so well.
Contact Info:
- Email: harshitacg@gmail.com
