Whether it be expanding women’s mental health awareness through her non-profit, winning HOSA Internationals, or volunteering with Carter Blood Care, Gayathri Vanka’s passion for public health and engineering was fueled by her interest in aiding others. She looks forward to taking her passions even further at Duke University after being accepted for Early Decision.
Vanka explains how she first cultivated her love for public health and sciences.
“Growing up, I was always building something or the other, which translated into my love for engineering as I got older,” Vanka said. “I was also always fascinated by animals, and that love grew into a passion for biology, anatomy, and public health.”
Her experiences sparked her interest in joining HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and taking up rigorous courses such as AP Physics C and AP Biology. However, she isn’t just a STEM student, but also a die-hard theater kid.
“For me, theater isn’t just a creative outlet but also a community,” Vanka said. “Having rehearsals to look forward to at the end of the day helped me balance academics with something that challenged me to utilize a different part of my brain.”
For Vanka, theater wasn’t only a creative outlet but also helped her find her identity.
“I’d say I struggled with finding my voice for a lot of high school, both socially and academically, as a lot of us do,” Vanka said. “I think authentically exploring and engaging with the things and the people that sparked a fire in me definitely helped me connect with myself on a much deeper level. This not only helped me find my voice but also use it when it came to the things I cared about.”
Alongside theater, Vanka attributes her parents and teachers to be her biggest supporters.
“From early morning tutorials, to much-needed interventions, to late drives home from rehearsal, my parents have been a constant guiding light through it all,” Vanka said. “I think that having solid role models makes all the difference, and I am blessed to have so many that mean the world.”
As Vanka gears up for her next four years at Duke, she plans to combine her passions for both public health and theater by majoring in Biomedical Engineering along with a minor in Cinematic Arts. With her academic accomplishments and service-oriented mindset, we’re sure to see Vanka’s future success.
