Group 3

Community Conversations
GROUP 3

Praveena and her 4rth Child This a picture of Praveena on July 4
(Aishwarya) On Diwali Ca2p0t2io1.n

The Warrior
A Conversation with Praveena!
By Aishwarya Krishnakumar

As when giving birth. It is hard for a woman, but after giving birth through so
many struggles Praveena Krishnakumar has won the war. She has lost three
children and still had hope on the 4rth child. Her story is a true inspiration.

When Praveena was little she had an adventurous childhood. “My childhood
was interesting, and innovative. I take part in many extracurricular activities.
I participated in many competitions and won prizes” recalled Praveena.
Praveena got married in 2003. “I have a mixed-kind of relationship with my
husband. He adjusts to me a lot.” says Praveena.
She decided she wanted children in 2004. “I wanted children to be complete
women,” Recalled Praveena.

The Birt …

Praveena and her 4rth Child When Praveena got pregnant for the first time
(Aishwarya) In Disney World in 2005 she had a miscarrige. A miscarage
means when a female is going to have a baby
Praveena on Diwali 2021 the baby dies in her stomach. Though before
she had a miscarrige she knew the gender of
the child. IT WAS A BOY! It was sad that her
baby boy could not live. Fortunately she had
gotten over her first child’s death.
When Praveena had gotten pregnant for the
second time in 2006 the baby was luckily born,
but sadly it had the worst level of Down
Syndrome (Pink level). It was also a boy, but 5
days after it was born the baby died. Though
Praveena was Happy her child landed in
Heaven. She did not want it to suffer on earth
as she was afraid that people would Mock her
child and Bully it. That was a strong step that
Praveena made that would be hard for any
mother to do. She is a really great Mother.
When Praveena was gonna have her third baby
the doctors did some X-rays and saw that the
child had a problem. Praveena could not stand
another child having a Problem so she chose to
Abortion it. An Abortion is when you choose for
your child to die inside the stomach. Some have
good Intentions like Praveena and some have
bad intentions. She chose that because she did
not want her child to get bullied or Mocked by
just the way she thought for her second child.
Though throughout this whole thing Praveena
was scared “The toughest thing is that it was a
bad phase that I had to go through in my life.”
Praveena said.

Insert image here Insert image here

Praveena’s 4rth child Aishwarya as Praveena and her Family
Caabpatbioyn!

Her Life Now!

In 2010, Praveena gave birth to her Fourth Child safely. (The fourth child is
Me!)
“I thanked God for giving me a Healthy Child,” Praveena says even though
all this Praveena had not lost hope even once. “My trust is with God ''
Praveena Says. Now Praveena is Successful and works to support her
husband. Praveena is also Loyal to her work. When she has to finish
something at Night she stays up and does it. Sometimes she has to go to
sleep at 2:00 AM! She is also an early bird. She wakes up pretty early. She
usually wakes up at 4:00 AM! What an early bird!

Overall Praveena has gone through a lot and had hope through tough times.
But she has one piece of advice to women who are going through similar
situations: “Think good, Speak good, and be calm. And have a positive note
that you will deliver a healthy baby”

By Anjani Chintala A Present day
Picasso, just

better

A conversation with Shruti Shah

Starting as a kid, Shruti Shah can capture the minds of every
human being with her astonishing artwork, creativity, and her
composition of color,

But, Now an Adult, Her artwork is now more mind-capturing

and astonishing. With a palette knife and brush strokes to blend
colors, no painting can give off the look Shah gives off with her
paintings. Shah has been interested in art ever since her childhood,
looking at magazines for inspiration, she started to decorate her
room, “ this felt like the beginning” Shah said.

Some of A Present day Picasso
Shah’s
artwork Just better-A

conversation with
shruti shah

Shruti Shah lives in a family of 3 in
Stagecoach Heights, has a profession of
architecture, and art has always been a
influential part of her life, who knows how
long she has been doing it for!

And even though Shah makes it look
like she has been taking classes to make
painting this good, she did not have
professional training, but she has learned
by looking at examples or sometimes
online videos. When Shah was in school,
Shah got an opportunity to work with her
art teacher and participated in many
competitions, I bet no one could beat her
in a competition!

But to get astonishing artwork like
Shah, it is not easy as you think, it takes
months of practice and concentration,
and mastering the techniques, “One of
the obstacles I faced was the techniques”
Shah said, “ But what I felt is practice
and learning from others made a big
difference.”

Some of A Present day Picasso
Shah’s
artwork Just better- a

conversation with
Shruti Shah.

Some of the techniques that Shah
likes to use are composition, color,
texture, and form, Once you get the
hang of it, It will be a breeze

Abstract art has always been a
composition of brush strokes, texture,
and colors, but Shah makes it look more
then that, “It's about creativity” she says,
“I feel like it’s everywhere,” Shah
suggests that you shouldn't immediately
go for the cool stuff, and first try different
arts and medians to see which one you
will like first

“Art has taught me how things can
be so different than sometimes it
appears.” Shah said “Also, that has given
me a lot of joy and sense of
accomplishment.” Try out some art and
see if you like it, it’s fun, good for
timepass, and exercises your creativity!

June 16 2022

A Life of
Travel

A conversation
with Dan

By, Annabelle E. F indlen Dan Lanigan is my uncle. He has been
in my life forever, even if I don’t see him
“ The world's best pizza is made in Naples, Italy. often, since he lives on the other side of the
There’s no denying it. I used to think the best kind world in London, England. Every time he
of pizza was from New York, but I was wrong.” came through the door on Christmas, he
would take me and my siblings in his arms
Caption and pull us up into the air. He would give us
Dan Lanigan has traveled all over the piggy back rides, and play with us as much
world. He has seen amazing sights, and eaten as he could. He did eat all the cookies,
amazing food, including pizza. That’s not all though. Almost never left some for us. It’s a
he’s done, though. He’s seen the ultra-modern fight for the cookies. If you ever have the
architecture in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, chance to be there… ‘May the odds be ever
explored Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy, cooked in your favor.’ (-Suzanne Collins)
over an open fire in the middle of a vineyard
in Mendoza, Argentina, and so much more. He
has seen new and old places, he’s eaten
different foods, met new people, made new
friends, and gained so many new perspectives
and insights from friends, family, and other
people with different cultures and pasts.
Traveling and seeing new sights has become
an incredibly important part of his life.

Young Start

Lots of people travel, and Lanigan is one of them. Lanigan has loved to travel since
he was a child, including educational field trips to Washington D.C., or summer trips to a
lake.

“Back then it was primarily domestic,” he said. Lanigan’s first trip outside of the
United States was in his sophomore year of high school.

He won the New Hampshire Newspaper Carrier of the Year contest. For all of his
hard work, he was rewarded with a ten day trip, with all expenses paid, along with other
kids from all over the U.S. On the trip, he went to Switzerland. He had gone on trips to
Arizona before to visit family, but had never been out of the country. Lanigan says that
that trip really opened his eyes to the beauty of travel. It made him want to see as much
of the world as possible. By the time Lanigan got to college, he wanted to travel as much
as he could. He certainly succeeded in this aspect of life, of course, as traveling is now
something that Lanigan does frequently. He visits so many places, for business, to take in
the sights of beautiful regions, and to visit family for Christmas, and sometimes just to
surprise them.

Growing into
Adulthood

In 1991, Lanigan moved to An image of Tokyo, Japan where Dan
Washington D.C. to go to Georgetown studied in his junior year of college.
University to study International
Business and Finance. He spent junior In June of 2000, Lanigan moved to a new
year studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan. company, and gained his first professional
After he graduated in 1995 with a experience abroad. Lanigan moved to Dublin,
Bachelor of Science Degree in Ireland to work for AOL, and he loved it. His job
International Business and a Bachelor of took him all around Ireland, France, Germany, and
Science Degree in Finance, Lanigan went the United Kingdom. In December of 2001, he
on to become a management consultant moved to London, England, and has been there
for KPMG. He worked for clients across ever since. He has worked for AOL, Avis, TopGolf,
the U.S., helping businesses solve large and now he works at Regents University, all of
problems that affect their efficiency, and which offer lots of potential for international travel.
productivity.

“The highlight of it would
probably be the nine months I spent in
Honolulu, Hawaii.” he said, which is
understandable.

Lanigan travels all over the world for Everywhere he
business, but he has some favorite locations wants to be
for pleasure travel too. Some places are in a
repetitive cycle he and his wife, Suzy Lanigan, While on their trip in Argentina, Lanigan
have. Some places he wants to get back to, and his wife explored the area, and
and some he hasn’t explored yet at all, enjoyed the views.
though he wants to. He often visits Italy,
including the Amalfi Coast, with his wife. He
loves it there, including the food, people, and
scenery.

“It’s amazing!” Lanigan exclaims.
He also makes trips to some of his
favorite places in Argentina and South Africa.
He loves to go back to the U.S. to see family
and friends as well. In the times before
Covid-19, he went on a trip through Nevada,
Arizona, Utah, and California.
This June, Lanigan and his wife are
going to Portugal. They had a vacation there
last summer, and are excited to go back.

Although he has been all around the world, there are places he hasn’t been too.
There are so many different things in the world, and no one has seen all of them, but
Lanigan has seen many.

“It’s a big world. There is always more to see.” he remarked. There are some places
he wants to visit, such as Australia and New Zealand. He has been to Australia before for
work, in Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but he wants to spend time in Sydney
and Tasmania to see the beauty of such amazing places. He wants to combine that with a
trip to New Zealand. He has lots of friends and former colleagues in both places, and he
wants a chance to be able to explore their regions.

While Lanigan goes on trips to new, Business or
different places, or even old, familiar pleasure?
places, he often goes far beyond the
resorts and hotels to meet new, exciting Lanigan lives by a saying of his own
people. He loves to meet the “locals” of creation, which he wrote to me in a book my
that area, because they have cool stories mother made for me when I turned ten. “You
and new views on life and the world can be whatever you want to be. You can be
around us. He says that meeting new whoever you want to be. You can be wherever
people “stimulates the mind and soul, and you want to be.” Lanigan certainly
it's all exciting. You sometimes end up accomplished that. He has worked many
outside your comfort zone, and that leads interesting jobs, has lived in so many places,
to reflection, contemplation, and a more and has had so many friends that changed his
balanced perspective. It teaches you to perspective. Lots of people can have great
respect other people for their effects on you. Especially people who you are
personalities, backgrounds, and cultures.” close to.

Because of his exploration of the Lanigan has had many people make
world and its people, he has many diverse impacts on his life, but when asked directly, his
friends with different personalities and answer was quick to come to the surface.
cultures, built up by where he's traveled,
studied, worked, and lived, creating a “My wife Suzy, who I met in London back
huge variety of people he can call his in 2006. She’s taught me so much, has become
friends. There are people of different my best friend, and her belief in me has helped
races, cultures, and religions that Lanigan me continue to grow and thrive as a person.”
is familiar with. He learns from them, and People can be so different from how you
brings their new ideas into his own life. expect them to be, and all you have to do is get
to know them.

Lanigan knows many people, and he
wants to know even more, so they can teach
each other new ways to live their lives.“At the
heart of it, it's driven by an interest in people
with stories to tell, and future stories to
create.”

Around the world,
but always home

Though he has a long list of exotic Lanigan has been on many amazing
destinations he has traveled to, one trip of trips, all over the world, but his favorite is
his stands out so vividly in my memory. It nostalgic, and sentimental.
was Father’s Day in 2018. My Grandpa,
James Lanigan, Dan Lanigan’s father, was “I’m going to say my July 2009 trip to
sick. He had bile duct cancer, which is also Ravello, Italy. It’s my favorite because that
called cholangiocarcinoma. He sadly died was for my wedding.” Lanigan had gone to
nine months later, on March 4th in 2019. Ravello a year before, only a week after he
2018 was his last Father’s Day, and we all and Suzy Lanigan got engaged. They had
knew it. Lanigan took days off from work, loved it there, and thought that for the
and he organized a trip to Massachusetts to venue, Hotel Caruso, would be perfect.
visit my house, where Grandpa had come to “It gave us an opportunity to share this
visit. He hadn’t told any of us, even my special place with the people we cared about
mom, so when he waltzed into our most. We were able to bring together friends
backyard so casually, with a simple, “Hi,” as and family from around the world in early
if he hadn’t flown across the ocean without July 2009 and introduce them to a place that
telling us, we were all completely surprised we absolutely adored.” When Lanigan looks
and elated. The trip was expensive, and back on the memory fondly, he recalls that
hard to make happen. To see his father, and everything was perfect.
family, though, he made it. Lanigan has “We have such positive memories from that
deep loyalty to all humans, and is truly week, and we get back to Ravello as often as
dedicated to his family. we can.” Ravello holds a special place in their
hearts, and they love the people and the
In loving memory of setting.
James Lanigan “The people who work at the hotel have
become like family, and it’s great to see them
year after year.”

People.

A now Mr and Mrs Lanigan after Lanigan has met so many different
their wedding kinds of people and seen countless
different things in the world. The groups
of people he has encountered have
taught him incredible things.

“We all come from different
places and have our own perspectives.
Being aware of this can lead to
re-examining your own positions, and
sometimes that changes your mind and
other times it reinforces your original
belief.” People can show you so many
new ways to see, and think of the world.
Diversity is a gift, showing us different
ways that we can be better.
“You realize that we have so much in
common, and the differences are to be
cherished rather than feared. At the end
of the day, we’re all human.”

Lanigan and his wife hike on the
Perito Moreno Glacier.

And so the life of
Dan Lanigan continues…

Insert image here Keeping up with Kendall

A conversation with Kendall
Robinson.

By: Brook Brown

Insert image here

This is robinson after she got a metal for her season of Kendall Robinson was ready for the ball to come at her.
volleyball.

Kendall Robinson is an 8th grade student, Robinson wants to make a career out of
and she plays volleyball. Robinson started volleyball. She wants to play in highschool
playing because of her sister Callie and possibly get scouted at one of her
Robinson, according to Callie “my sister future games. Robinson thinks her future
was jealous of my amazing skills so she career could very well be in volleyball. She
started playing.” But on the other hand said, “Me and my friends have the same
Robinson says she just liked the game. idea in career and we all hope to stay
together.” Robinson is excited to see what
Robinson has had many ups and downs her future career will bring her.
such as when she fell in a game and hurt
her foot, she couldn’t play for the rest of Kendall Robinson is my best friend and a
the game, “I was devastated,” stated volleyball player, but what I love about her
Robinson. She is going to have many is that she is loud just like me. Once at an
setbacks to come but luckily she knows ice cream shop she and I ordered, then
that. our favorite song came on, so we
obviously started dancing and singing
Her teammates didn't like her because she together. We were pretty much screaming
wasn't good, this put pressure on the lyrics when the best part of the song
Robinson to get better so she could was on. When the song was over our ice
support her team and make friends. But cream was ready. We were both out of
eventually she made many friends and is breath so the ice cream was very
now very close with some of them. refreshing. I think life would be a lot less
fun without kendall.

(Kaiser in track) Fun With

Faken

Kaiser wearing his Track and Field
shirt.

My brother, a tall curly black haired boy Kaiser started track by thinking that his
who plays way too many video games, friends are doing it, so he would be fine.
happens to also do track. Nervous but excited, Faken started
track with his friends.
Track is like cross country, but faster.
There are more things to do other than “When the race starts, you're nervous
run, and run. In Track and Field, you do and when it finally finishes,” Faken said,
a field event, then stand for 30 minutes, “My legs are practically dead”
which to Kaiser Faken is not tiring, then
run some more, and then it's over. To Faken even said that it's not very
Faken, track is something to do with his stressful when there is only one set of
friends, but it’s not a big deal. beachers, and about 50 people
watching him and his team run.

Stress Factor But what Faken thinks is the most
important thing, other than his friends
When Faken ran the first time, he of course, is finishing in a good place. As
admitted it was tiring and that he had he described it, “doing well.”
his friends there to do it with him. After
some time, in the present, he still is Motivation
exhausted after running.
‘What do you think our dad thinks of
you?’ I asked him.

A conversation with Kaiser’s slightly worn running
Kaiser Faken shoes. This photo was taken after

“Proud, probably,” Faken answered, one school year of use.
munching on his sandwich.
Faken learned how to do his sport with
the help of his parents and coaches.
Though, it is his friends that motivates
Faken, and the fact that he gets to sit
down after the race.
He likes running with his friends so he
could talk with them, though his friends
run faster than him. Faken supposes
he could run beside them in the future.

Athlete?

I interviewed my brother while he was
eating. I asked if his family and friends
would think of him as ‘a runner’. Faken
guessed, munching on his sandwich,
“I suppose so.”
Faken doesn't know what to think of
himself. “An athlete?” he shrugged.
He also doesn't know if he is built to run.
Or doesn't care. Long legs? He supposes
so.
Faken likes to run because his friends are
there. If his friends weren't there, he
would not like to run. Faken admitted it
never actually sounded like the most
exciting thing.

Kaiser’s school photo

To try and get something else more Profile By
interesting, I asked about what Chelsea Faken
Faken drinks. This is the most
exciting response I got: said he will most likely be continuing
“Water, cuz it’s water.” doing track and cross country. He even
hinted at it in college. Despite not
Hurdles thinking it's the best in the world,
Faken might continue running
Faken was born early, and the throughout his life.
doctors said he would never be To people thinking about joining track,
able to walk. Now, Faken isn't only or cross country, this is what Faken
walking but running in a track said:
team. “Do it with friends, cuz it's fun, and
Faken can overcome challenges like…” He played with his tissue box,
like the habit to walk on his toes, “Also it's like, an hour long so if you only
and is learning to be a great have half an hour after school, don't do
runner. it!”
Faken has learned from his When you're cold, Faken advised that
coaches and parents. He has you wear a sweater and don't take it
learned how to use the blocks, and off, even when you run.
what starting positions are. That is what Kaiser says. Practical
Another learning experience is one advice from a practical kid
Faken has mixed feelings about.
“One time, my friend told me the (Shot put?)
proper way to start in shot put.
You're supposed to crouch down,
but every time I started like that, I
fell over.”

Later in Life

When moving from seventh grade,
to eighth, to high school, Faken

Shot put is played by moving a
heavy ball across a field.

A Life-Changing Moment

A Conversation with Trevor Blinn

By Connor Blinn Blinn’s basketball carer

“I was running away from my
friend who was chasing me with a
splat ball gun. I climbed a railing to get
away but he shot me in the back of my
leg. As my body is going over, my foot
slips and right then and there I broke
my femur.” Trevor Blinn, my brother
is a 14 year old boy whose life just
changed drastically.

Blinn is an insanely athletic kid
who is always playing sports in
Hopkinton. He plays football,
basketball, and lacrosse. Blinn’s
favorite sport is basketball. Blinn
played on the middle school football,
and basketball teams and played for
multiple town and club teams as well.

Blinn’s first time home from the
hospital

Blinn’s basketball photo “Before the injury I had
Blinn’s football team sports every day, now I have
nothing” Blinn gets around with a
wheelchair and sometimes
crutches.” Blinn had surgery on
March 20th. “For the first week I
was out of school then the second
couple of weeks I was leaving
early. Now I just don't go to RA’s.”
Eight weeks later and Blinn is out
of his wheelchair and able to start
working on getting his strength
back.

As he was recovering Blinn’s
friends came over and they would
sit down outside and play chair
basketball. Blinn and his family
would play horse while sitting
down and around the world. They
also had to train their puppy to not
jump or get excited when seeing
the crutches. Blinn’s family also
had to adapt to the new way of
life.

I used to think that I’m going
to lose, as I was squaring up
against my brother. He has shown
“One thing in life is for sure it’s
not how hard you hit the ground
it’s how fast you get back up.”

Insert image here Live Long and
Prosper

This is Kessler college graduation A conversation
picture with Glenn Kessler

From getting drafted to Vietnam at 21 to being a When Kessler was in high school he had a great
great psychologist, Glenn Kessler my grandpa truly time. He had a lot of friends and was on the soccer
embraced the quote, “Live long and prosper.” and track team and had a lot of freedom. After high
Kessler was Born on June 7,1949 in OceanSide NY. school was college and Kessler wanted to go to
school in DC so he got into American University.
Even just a normal day with my grandpa can be After college something that changed his life
special just like the night when we grilled hot dogs happened, Kessler got drafted for Vietnam.
and burgers in Marco Island, we went swimming in
the pool and watched the Celtics play the nets on In 1971 Kessler got drafted for Vietnam. Kessler was
Christmas and even though they lost it was still just very much against Vietnam going to many protests
a fun night with him. for it, But when he got drafted he went to a draft
counselor. A draft counselor helped people not go
Kessler grew up in OceanSide NY and had two to the war that they got drafted to, for instance
brothers, one older and one younger. Kessler was Vietnam. Kessler already had allergies but before
just an ordinary middle school student or junior his physical to go to the draft he smoked 2
high as they called it back then as he was on the cigarettes, and after they said he couldn’t go.
middle school soccer team. He lived in a
neighborhood where there were around 10 boys all Kessler moved to Massachusetts to start a family. In
around his age. He always would play games with 1977 Kessler’s life changed with the birth of his first
the kids in his neighborhood. A place where he son Andy. Kessler says that “it was the most
spent a lot of time at was Nathan's hot dog shop. wonderful thing in the world.”

A few years later in 1980 his second son David was Insert image here
born. Kessler was very involved in his kids' lives
when they were young, like coaching their soccer
teams . Even with all the responsibilities of being a
parent he still loved it. Something Kessler told his
kids was, “You can’t always get what you want, but
if you try you can get what you need.”

Insert image here This is where Kessler grew up,
Oceanside NY.

A parenting technique that Kessler shared with me was
an invisible box. The box starts off small but as they get
older the sides on the box grow and grow and grow until
there is no more box and this happens when they leave
for college.

In high school though, Kessler's relationship with his son
Andy got complicated. He got mad at Andy a couple times
and took his car away for lying, but they still ended up
having a good relationship. When Kessler’s kids went to
college Kessler was excited for them, but also was sad
that they left and that they were growing up. Even though
he didn’t take care of them anymore he still would help
them and offer advice when they needed it.

This is a picture of Kessler when “We Worry about many
he was a kid. things that never come to
pass,” A quote from Glenn Kessler

Insert image here In 1983 Kessler started his career as a psychologist. A
psychologist is a doctor of human behavior and can work
in many different places and will sit and listen to you to
help you with whatever you need help with. Kessler worked
with many people including some athletes and did
performance enhancement.

One athlete he worked with was Kirk Hanefeld a
professional golfer and he wrote the intro to his book. He
also worked with a high school basketball player. The
player got mad when he missed which is a normal thing
but he didn’t realize that you won’t make every shot, so
Kessler told him to look at NBA stats specifically the shot
percentage and when he came back he realized no one has
ever made every shot.

This is Kessler with his grandkids Kessler also met with a 10 year kid who worried about
everything. The next day after meeting with him he was
Kessler also shared a piece of advice from going on a plane and Kessler and the kid talked about what
the writer Mark Twain, “ I've had a lot of
could go wrong. The kid said that the tv wouldn’t work,
enemies in my life, most of whom I've someone annoying sat next to him or the plane would
never met.” This shows that throughout
his career Kessler always knew what to say. crash. When they met next after the flight Kessler told him
that none of those things happen. What he told him after

When Kessler got the news that he was was “ We worry about many things that never come to
going to be a grandfather, he was pass.”

extremely happy. Kessler loves being

grandfather and a father but the roles are

different. Being a father requires more

responsibility from Kessler than being a

grandfather does, but he still loves both.

Some of Kessler's favorite activities to do

with his grandkids are playing in the pool

with them or shooting hoops with me or This is the book that Kessler wrote.

just hanging out with them and one thing's

for certain that Kessler will always be a A quote from Mark Twain

loving,caring parent.

“I’ve had a lot of

enemies in my life,

most of whom I’ve

never met”

Insert image here Focused in the
Face of
Adversity

A conversation with
Anurag Mathur

By Evan Mathur

Flag of Italy

For my profile, I wanted to highlight my father, Anurag Mathur.
Due to his hard work and strength, he was able to leave his home
country of India and fulfill the American dream in the United
States. However, it was not an easy path, his first stop was in
Italy, before finally making it to the US.

At 16 years old and 10 months, Mathur arrived in Perugia, Italy.
He was there by himself and was ready to study there amongst
only six other students. Mathur had won a scholarship from the
Italian government to study at the University of Perugia for
Foreigners. Mathur was nervous as it was his first time going on a
trip internationally to a place where he did not even know the
language.

Getting to
Italy

Mathur says, “I wanted to leave India,
I was studying at the University of
Delhi,” Mathur emphasized that it
was amazing to be able to have such a
great opportunity in Italy to study at
the university of Perugia for
Foreigners

My Dad, Anurag Mathur (Left), Me,
Evan Mathur (Right)

Insert image here When acclimating to the culture of
Italy, Mathur says that he was able to
speak the language fluently because
of his Italian friends who consistently
allowed him to practice with them.
Mathur says that he made friends
from Rwanda, Germany, Denmark,
and even Mexico. Most of them could
speak their native languages.

University of Perugia for foreigners logo pg,2

First days in
Italy

Map of Italy Mathur says that he was with 6
other students, who also had a
Mathur also says that he and his friends scholarship. They were all
confused and decided to ask a cab
would often go to parties and visit different driver to drive them to any hotel
in the area. After arriving at the
old cities. Mathur says that on his first day hotel Mathur says that the group
had to get some papers signed at
in Italy there was a lot of chaos, the Italian government building.
Mathur remembers going into the
“There weren’t cell phones or Google at the building and the Italians saying
that he didn't have the
time, therefore navigating around a scholarship. From the Italian
government building, he headed
completely new and different city was a to the local Indian embassy where
he was able to find his
hard task.” Flag of Pisa, (Tuscany, Italy) scholarship. Mathur says that
despite his best efforts to find a
place to stay, he experienced
hardship and was going to head
back to India. However, it was
then that a kind family from Pisa
offered to take him in.

pg.3

Coming to
America

“My host family in Pisa was very helpful to Flag of the USA
me,” Mathur says. He would end up
transferring to the University of Pisa. After Mathur studied Linguistics and
1.5 years in Italy, Mathur would end up Economics at the University of
leaving for America. Perugia for Foreigners. He used
“Italy had a bad system of education at the that degree when he came to the
time, for that reason I decided to leave USA. Mathur would ultimately get
Italy.” Mathur would end up leaving Italy his MBA at Clark University and
and coming to Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Bentley University in Boston, MA.
USA. Mathur says ”coming to America was a
lot easier than Italy.” I think it is very inspiring to see
First of all, he knew the culture, and the how hard Mathur worked to be
language was not as new to him. Also, able to get from India to Italy and
immigrating to America was easier because then to the USA. He is a great
Mathur had family in the USA. Mathur says inspiration and role model for
that he preferred the system of education in people going through any sort of
America. immigration process.

In conclusion, Mathur shared a story of the
immigration that many people have to go
through. He had to be alone, learn a new
language, and go through an already
stressful process at a very young age. This
was all worth it for he would make a better
life for himself and his family. When asked
what his piece of advice would be for other
students facing hardship, Mathur says,
“Always remain focused in the face of
adversity.”

A conversation with
Lisa Calderazzo: Her

fascinating school life

After almost four years of working for Wayside Youth

& Family Support, Lisa Calderazzo, my mom, was

gifted a small glass frame displaying an awesome A photo of the small glass frame
description of how hardworking she is. Although she

is a mom now, there are some things you should “When I was around your age, I was in Cathloic
know about her life back then and now. I sat with my school. And I had to use the bathroom, so I asked
mom to ask her some questions about her school life if I could use the bathroom. But the priest said no.
and a little bit about her job. When I asked about her I had to go badly so I sat under my desk…and
school experience, she was excited to talk about it. “It peed.” Calderazzo finished with a laugh. While
was fun, I made it fun!” she said with a laugh. She finishing the Cathloic school topic, I continued
then added, “We had more respect for the teachers, it with the questions. What did you study for? And
was calmer. There wasn't as much ‘pressure’ and it

was easier back then. But it wasn't that easy in does it relate to what you currently work for now?.

cathloic school.” I wondered if she had any stories She looked up and thought for a second, then
about Catholic school, and she did.
replied “I didn’t really study anything, but I used to

work for skin care. I still do it but it's not my ‘main’

job now.” Calderazzo finished.

“I’m now involved in social servicing, also known

as Wayside. I help families with personal

problems.'' I wanted to ask a few more questions,

because I was curious. How did people dress?

We’re there uniforms? And what items did you

carry to class?She sat there, silently, thinking of an

answer. When she started talking again.

“Well, grades 1-8 I went to Cathloic school, and we

had to wear uniforms. When I was in high school,

there were no uniforms because it’s a public

school. And we had our own desks so we wouldn’t

really carry anything with us. We just carried a

couple of books here and there.”

Although it seems as it was hard back then, it was

actually really unique. It has made her a nice,

hardworking human today. “If it seems hard, don’t

A photo of my mom, rush through. Just take your time and believe you
Lisa. can do it.”

Insert image here Adventure
back in
time

Rona Cooper (left) with friend (right) A conversation

with Rona

Cooper

By:Jack Cooper

I had two interesting phone calls with there was not much bullying and
my great aunt, Rona Cooper, school attacks. Cooper and everyone
explained all about her epic else got along together. The area
childhood. When she was growing she lived in brought a lot of good and
up she was the oldest out of her easier things. All the places were
brother and sister.That brought close to her house making it easier
challenges. Today she lives to get to. Something Cooper didn’t
by herself on cape cod. She used to like was that in the winter there was
have a husband. no school bus. Her family had one
Talking about kids growing up, car which her father would use to get
Cooper grew up in a good area with to work so she had to walk to school
her mom, dad, younger brother and in the cold, winter.
younger sister. She went to High
park high school, and that was in a
good area. Back then school was
neater and kinder. During that time

She also started working when

she was just 13. She would babysit for

all the doctors and others who worked

late at night. When she was 16 she

started working at a place called

Zayres which was kinda like a Target

or Walmart. She worked a few other

little jobs until she went to business

school.

Growing up back then Cooper

would be able to see her grandparents

about once a week. A story about

Cooper's grandparents is that her

grandpa was a smoker. When he

would finish cigars, he would give her Rona Cooper (right) celebrating July
the ring sitting on top of the cigar. It 4th with her brother(middle) and sister
was used as “a way to connect to her
(left)

grandpa” she says.

. Cooper also stated that most of

her family and friend time was on

Sunday because that was the day

when not many parents worked. She

also talked about the amusement park

that came to her town because it was

her favorite thing to do as a kid.

Growing up she would usually

fight with her sister because they

shared a lot. She would not fight with

her brother since most of his things

were just his. Cooper says he was

spoiled due to the fact he was the only

Cigar rings boy.

Happy
Choices

Cooper (right) hanging out with Both her parents also made her
friend (left) do a lot. The mother would usually
stay home while her father would go to
HEART work. She would see her parents once
they got home due to the fact that she
and her sibling never really did sports.

By the time she was 20, she was
engaged until she decided she “hasn’t
done much in life”. So she decided to
ditch the first man. After a little while,
she decided to marry Marshall. Until
she found out he was cheating with
other girls. Cooper decided she didn't
want to get hurt from heartbreak again
and never remarried.

Today, Cooper spends time
visiting her friends and enjoying life on
the Cape. She’s pleased with the
choices she’s made because she’s
lived a happy life. My family calls or
visits often to check in because she’s
an important part of our family.

Cooper has had an interesting
past and has lived a bold life. I’m
proud that she’s a part of my family.

Insert image here Good Things Come
to

Those Who Wait
A conversation with

Gregory Sanchez
By: Jack O’Brien

Insert image here

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of My Abuelo holding baby me
the U.S. meaning

When I was a little kid, my abuelo would My abuelo, Gregory Sanchez, is a calm
visit my family and he liked to wait for and patient person. He’s willing to wait
us on our porch when we went out. He so that he can be there for the people
would always be sitting in the same he cares about. My mom has said that
chair looking at the road. There would “Family is the most important thing to
be nothing else there to entertain him, him.”
so he’d just be waiting. One time on My abuelo has had a very interesting
our way back from dinner it was life. Sanchez grew up in the
around 9:00 pm and it was very dark. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the
But, when we pulled into the driveway city of Rio Piedras. He was born into a
my grandpa was sitting there on the large family and was the youngest of
porch with my dog waiting. I am lucky nine. Whenever he talks about his
because ever since I was born my family now he does it with a smile.
abuelo has been retired, so he has He said being the youngest “feels like
more time to visit. king,” and that he got a lot of attention.

Family

Growing up, his family didn’t have Insert image here
the most money. He was happy My abuelo working in a foundry
though, because he was rich in
family. Family remains important to
him today. He has three children,
Rebecca my aunt, Gregory my uncle,
and Elizabeth my mom.

Insert image here Sanchez started working young. He got
his first job when he was 15, working at
A picture with my brothers, an ice cream shop. When he was older
grandparents, and little cousin he got a job as a truck driver. In that job
he drove all over the small island of
Puerto Rico.
When Sanchez was 24 years old, he first
came to America October 2, 1971, to visit
family in Brooklyn, New York. He stayed
there for two weeks, then went down to
Danbury, Connecticut to visit friends.
Sanchez was originally visiting the U.S.
for a vacation, but this is where he met
my grandma. He ended up staying in
Danbury for 50 years.

Work and Home

Insert image here In Connecticut, Sanchez
made a career of working
A picture of my abuelo with most of in a foundry. He melted
his grandkids metal to make electrical
connectors. He said it was
Gregory “hard work,” but he liked it.
Sanchez as He’s still a hard worker
today. He has driven from
a kid Florida to Connecticut many
times.
Today, Sanchez speaks of
his youth in Puerto Rico
fondly. When my mom was
growing up her family went
to Puerto Rico every July
for two weeks. Sanchez
describes the island as
“very beautiful.” I’d like to go
to Puerto Rico one day, so
that I can see what it is
like there and experience
the island for myself.

By Insert image here
Matthew
Benson

DziaDzia on the right standing

The Army Boythere.

A Conversation with Peter Lapuc

My grandfather Peter, or DizaDzia as we call him, was forced
into the army because any male his age had to go into the war in
Vietnam. He entered when he was 26.

In his platoon, nobody died which was very improbable. There
was also this thing called R and R. Peter “went to Hawaii to
recharge [his] battery.” There was also something called the
officers club that Peter liked; he did cards and darts. Then he
had to go home because my uncle Matt was born.

I asked Peter what kind of training he had to do for the
army. He described his basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey.
He also had Ocs for 6 months in Georgia.

Insert image here Trouble

DziaDzia with a gun I also asked Peter if anything
Insert image here unusual happened during his training. He
described how over the weekend, he
wasn’t supposed to go further than 20
miles from his post in Missouri. One
weekend, he flew to Connecticut to pick
up Grammie, his wife, and drove back to
Missouri 1,200 miles in 18 hours. When I
heard this story, I wondered if Peter got
in trouble for breaking the rules. He
replied that no one knew, so he was okay.

DziaDzia sitting down I was curious if anything else happened
during his training. Peter explained that
on his “last night of training, I wasn't
supposed to leave the barracks. I spent
the night with Grammie off the post.”

During the night he had a surprise inspection and he wasn’t there and got
in trouble. The next day he was given a sledgehammer and broke up a
concrete wall for six hours as punishment. This was only a temporary
setback, however. In the end, they let him graduate from training.

I didn’t know a lot about the army, or DizaDzia’s experience in it. It was
interesting to learn more!

Written by: Olivia Smith.

The start of an
amazing journey

A conversation with
Heather Smith

Insert photo

Hopkinton Community Member, Heather Smith, my mom,
shares with us her routine of being an H.R leader and a
multi-tasking mom of my sister and I. I asked her some thrilling
questions to learn more about her job and to get to know her daily
routine that relates to her job. Any job is hard, especially when it
comes to giving out money. Some people might not have enough
money to give out, or even to pay for their job. Heather technically
has two jobs though, her first job is helping clients get to jobs that
they want and helping them pass to their ideal job. She gets on
calls every single day and talks to people from all around the
world. That’s usually only on weekdays though. On weekends,
she spends her time making orders for people and organizing
upcoming events in my town or in other towns that need help.

THE
BEGINNING

How does it feel to be a Walk me through the process of what
town committee member? you do every day related to being a
community member…
It feels rewarding, it's always
nice to be involved in various I’m always listening to what other needs are in
aspects of the community. I’ve town, so no matter who I'm interacting with,
learned a lot, I've met a lot of I'm always listening to understand if there's a
people and I've given back to need with my nonprofit or with other
the schools and the organizations that I am on the board of. Once
community. It's a rewarding I know there's a need, I then begin to
feeling brainstorm how to fundraise and help
whoever is in need. I work a lot with high
school students that want to also help and
give back. Then I plan the whole fundraiser
and organize it. Myself, my family and my
friends are always involved in helping to raise
money and being a part of the fundraising.
The best part is showing up to give the
person or organization in need the check
from the fundraising.

We can tell that Heather Smith likes to help out other citizens and that she
is very committed to her job. I decided to ask some more ‘academic’
questions, Questions that have strong answers to them…

Insert photo IS
IT
The number of homeless in the US is estimated at FUN?
552,830. And that’s only in the US. On the bright
side, there’s over 327.2 Million people in the US, so Why does this matter to you?
What do you enjoy about it?
that’s a pretty small number compared overall.
It matters to me the most because I
Insert photo always feel like every one of us is
always one day away from needing
help one day at a time, everyone is in
need of help and nobody likes to ask
for it. Which is why I always ask for it
when I'm meeting new people.

I wanted to know the takeaways of
having this amazing job, surely there
weren’t too many things, right? Well,
surprise! There were quite a few.

What’s something that you don’t
enjoy about being a part of the
committee team?

Knowing that there are people in
organizations in town that don't get
involved when you know that every
dollar helps. So it doesn't matter who
you are as to why people don't get
involved. And also, when you listen to
people complaining or getting upset
about something, they don't do
anything to help with the big problem.
That bothers me.

I was a little surprised if I’m being
honest. I never thought that such a
nice job would have any negatives. I’d
enjoy it. But I will say, some people
don’t take part in their job
whatsoever.

THE ORIGINAL BEGINNING

When you were younger, have you always wanted to play a big part in
something like how you do now?

When I was younger, I always wanted to help people. Even as a child I remember
always wanting to get involved, I never really had a vision for me later in life as an adult
to start my nonprofit but it's something in life that I never forget that I never did. I
would love to be an event planner and own my own event planning company.

Did your parents influence you to do this in any way?

I think my parents influenced me to always be kind and to think about others first and
growing up my parents were very active in the community. I think it clicked for me
that I went to college for psychology and I ended up being the head of H.R and it
made me realize that that was my calling, to help people and problem solve.

She said she works over 8 hours a day daily and hopes to leave work with a
happy face. She explained how she found a job like this, and she didn’t go to college
for what she currently does either.

What led you to your career now?

Truthfully, I fell into it. I feel like I ended up meeting the right people at the right time
and I just worked very hard and success came for me.

Heather claims that when someone goes to her, she’s able to step back and listen
and figure out how to fix the problem and eventually solve the problem for the person
and know that they’ve finally stopped stressing over something.

THE What’s something that surprised you about
END. your work?

Knowing that my mom helps so much Knowing that people could be adults in a
people daily makes me proud do be her professional environment where they can end up
daughter. She has not only allowed me losing their jobs and that it affects their families.
to help people in need by volunteering
in her fundraisers, but she has also What does “being successful” look like in
helped me with my social skills. Before your eyes?
she started her fundraiser, I had social
anxiety. I still do, but she is friends with Being successful is waking up every day and
a lot of parents with kids my age which enjoying going to work or doing your job and
allowed me to have more friends. coming home equally as happy. And knowing that
you’ve impacted at your job or because of your job.

Is there something that you’ve always
wanted to do but you haven’t done yet?

Two things, I've always wanted to own my own
event planning business or I would love to make my
nonprofit bigger and expand it outside of
Hopkinton. My biggest accomplishment is
graduating from college, moving to Boston with no
job, no apartment, and eventually finding myself as
the head of H.R at a Fortune 500 company. But
most of all, becoming the mother of two girls.

What are you most proud of accomplishing
in your life?

My biggest accomplishment is graduating from
college, moving to boston with nbk jon, no
apartment, and eventually finding myself as the
head of H.R at a fortune 500 company. But most of
all, becoming the mother of two girls.

Insert photo Advice given to you, from Heather

Don't worry about what you want to do and
become later in life, let the success happen but
follow what makes you happy. Don't just do
something because of the money or the glamor of
it, do it because it makes you happy. Find your
passion. When I started my non-profit, I realized
that my gift and my calling is to help others. I truly
enjoy that and it makes me happy. I’ve learned that
people define success as having money, houses,
and cars but I've learned over the years that none
of that matters if you're not truly happy. Find what
makes you happy and pursue that.

The mexico
Chess

champion

By Sebastian
Hernandez

This is a picture of my dad and I at
Cancun

“You can’t be stuck over one game He had 2 siblings and was the youngest of
especially if you lose.” them all. His father was able to finish a
bachelor’s degree to become a teacher. At
This is the story of Rafael Hernandez. Not the same time, he tried to get a bachelor’s
my grandfather he’s Rafael Hernandez degree in college. He worked very, very
Hernandez, oh, and not me I’m Rafael hard and did as much as he could, but the
Sebastian Hernandez. It is my father Rafael opportunities weren’t very great. He was
Camacho Hernandez. He was one of also sort of distant from them and wasn’t
Mexico city's greatest chess players but to there for him and his siblings most of the
understand how he became very good at time. He tried his hardest to get a good
chess we have to go to his childhood. career but he wasn’t able to support them
well.

Insert image here His mom was very supportive of them
and took care of them. His sister was a
This is a board similar to my sort of role model for him because she
dad’s finished a bachelor’s degree and became
a lawyer with a successful career. His
brother was always distant and he got
married at a sort of young age. They
didn’t have a good relationship. A big
problem with his family was the issue of
money. The economy was pretty bad and
they barely had any money. They were
living in a small apartment that could
barely house them. The situation was
never truly fixed but it got a lot better
once his sister and he started working
because they were starting to make a
good amount of money. You might be
thinking, When are you going to get to
the part where he learns to play chess?
Well, here we are.

Year: 1980. My grandfather was They loved the game, especially my
walking down the street and noticed a dad. They were playing it all the time
little shop. Nothing fancy or flashy, just and my dad became so good that he
a normal shop. He decided to go inside beat his father all the time. After several
and just look around. Now he had months he became so good that his
always been searching for different parents signed him up for his first
games for his family. When he went chess tournament at the age of 6. It
inside he saw something new, it was a was a national championship that was
chessboard. It was made of wood, sort very intense for him, especially since
of like a box and you could bend it and he was 6. It was intense. He was
put pieces in it. It was a sort of sweating very hard but he won the first
professional set. He didn’t know a few games. Then tragedy struck, during
single thing about chess but he was the middle of the game, he got very
intrigued and he asked the person sick. He had to get a doctor to help him
working in the store how to play the right there in the game. The doctor
game. He learned how to play the gave him pills that made him very, very
game and he bought a chessboard. He sleepy. The doctor also said he had to
brought it home and showed my dad quit.
and his siblings how to play it.

Insert image here My dad knew he couldn't quit, he was
already too deep to back out. He
played the final games, and soon
enough he was at the final 1v1. He
had powered through the games and
at that point, he was sleepy and sick.
There was no backing out now, he
played the final 1v1. He had powered

through the games and at that point,

he was sleepy and sick. There was
no backing out now, he played the
final. “And the winner is Rafael
Camacho Hernandez”.

This is a poster that is similar to
the one in the world cup

He went to Argentina 2 times. He He went to his house, called the Pink
represented Mexico 3 times in the world House. He shook his hand. He also went to
cup. The trip on the airplane took around the national museum of Argentina. He went
14 hours. It was very exciting to discover a to farmland that had HUMONGOUS cows.
new place. He was also sad because none Then he found a chocolate bar that had air
of my family was able to come. He and the holes in it and I loved it so much that I
other chess players stayed in a hotel in brought some home.I remember a small
Buenos Aires. They played somewhere story from a few years ago where he
pretty far. They had a chaperone that would saved someone's life, literally. One day
help them with language and other we went down to a hibachi place that
necessities. During the bus rides, there were we liked. Everything was normal but
3 cops on motorcycles that would stop then we heard a sound that was out of
other cars and would let the bus go faster to the ordinary. What happened was that
its destination. They even closed one of the someone next to us was choking.
biggest parks and let just them go in. He
even met the president of Argentina.

Her husband yelled, “Help, help
somebody help.”

We all turned around and we saw that
she was choking. My dad immediately
went to action. He grabbed a chair, then
brought it to the lady. He put her back on
the chair. Then he carefully put his elbow
onto her stomach. She had been choking
on a piece of rice and it came out. My
dad was a hero and she and her husband
thanked him a lot. I was very surprised
and very impressed. It showed that he is
a kind and helpful person.

This is simultanea chess

In Mexico, they used to have some Sometimes he and his friends would also
different tournaments. Every year, near play speed tournaments. During the world
Christmas they had the turkey tournament. cup, some kids wanted my dad’s autograph.
The prize was a turkey, and the higher He would also play against different
placement, the bigger the turkey. He would counties in Mexico. He would also play
win turkeys A LOT. They would eat turkeys against adults, they would talk to his
during Christmas. He didn’t like eating the parents and say they didn’t want to beat
turkeys because his parents would put aged him so bad but he would usually beat them.
wine and other things that made them dry One thing that he hated was that some
and bland. He played a tournament called adults would smoke in front of him, in a
simultania. The boards would be put in closed room. He would also play team
squares and the chess players would walk chess. Where 5 people would be in a team
around, play a move, then go to the next and it would be 1v1s.
and repeat. He also played club
tournaments that were speed chess. My dad’s chess career has helped him and
made him a better person.

“Life is not about the destination, it is
about the ride”

A Lesson

on Success

A Conversation
with Brian
Thompson

Brian thompson By: Riley Colleran

Brian Thompson is a former bank Thompson said. “My mentor was a
president, father, and grandfather. He big help in making me get better at
has worked in the banking industry for banking.” Thompson said with a smile.
50 years and for 30 of those years, he
worked as the president and chief of his After 20 years he was given the offer
bank. to be the president of the bank. He was
full of excitement and was so happy.
“Success comes from a lot of
different ways. To be in the industry you “I wouldn't change a thing about
have to be involved with your my life/job,” Thompson said
customers, employees, community, and confidently. “To be successful you
also have to make money.” Thompson have to be liked and admired before
said. you gain followers,” Thompson stated.

“5 days after I graduated from As a kid, Thompson understood
college I started my job at the bank,” not everyone was as lucky as he and
Thompson said. He never knew he his family. Everyone had problems and
would be banking for 50 years. He was stress. Many people in life are in a very
given opportunities by his boss. positive direction not driven by money
“Went from department to department but driven by happiness and family.
trying new things, and trying to get
promotions.”

Behind
the
scenes…

“Most important job he had
was being a dad to three kids,”
said Ms. Thompson, Mr.
Thompson's wife. He worked hard
to make sure he was always there
for all his kids, and made it to
every single of their sports games.
He was a great father to his kids
and would always put them before
work.

Thompson is always there for his
kids and grandkids. “He would never
miss a sports game for his kids,”
Ms.Thompson said. He comes to his
grandkids soccer games and will alway
cheer them on.
`

Thompsons banking career changed
his and his kids' lives. “Having to build
trust with people, and being honest
helped me become a better banker, and a
better person.” He said with a smile.

Haridoss as a police officer Haridoss campus while he was working as a police
officer

A police officer with passion

“ Evil is powerless if the good is unafraid!” Conversation with Haridoss Sharma

“My job reminds me of a god because I am protecting people,” my grandfather,
Haridoss Sharma said of his career as a police officer.He stayed in the field
For 37 years because, as he said, “It was my passion.”

At a very young age, Haridoss started dreaming of becoming a police officer. “I
Would always watch them out the window and see police officers standing there,
“I would run outside and stand with them.”At the age of 24 he started to achieve
This dream .

Haridoss went on so many exciting adventures but there was one that stood out
In Memory the most .

“A long time ago, There was a smuggler, I was in the police team to catch him,” he
said. “When we almost went to catch him, he ran inside the forest. We [didn’t] know
where he [would] come [from] and attack us because the smuggler [knew] the forest
very well. Lot of my colleagues died in this operation.”

He did a lot of jobs. Haridoss worked in city departments, law and order.crime
And observation.

By: Sreenidhi Rajesh

The life By: Sreenidhi Rajesh

Haridoss at his award ceremony Haridoss started his first training in 1970, His first job
for his retirement! Was a constable , the starting rank in the police.
“This job we need to we need to secure politicians,
Haridoss described a stressful
situation from his career: “There people and write the crime scenes paperwork,
was a mob attacking the village “I still remember that initial days were very
where we have a police station Exciting as a police officer.” Haridoss, when he was
that has a very small number of A police officer, tended to believe people easily.
people.” Haridoss was part of the “My weakness is believing people, sometimes victims
police team. The police team Will take advantages of that”,
handled the situation. They
remained calm and convinced “Whenever I had to go to officer, I spent time there
the mob to not attack the village. too. I treat both if them with care.”Most of Haridoss
He reminisced, “We succeeded Fiends were police officers for the money but
in the operation and got Haridoss was working because he wanted to.!
appreciation from higher
officials.” “ A police officer is a very difficult job who can serve
round the clock without rest,” he described. “Many
difficult situations need to be handled patiently…
These crimes need to be faced without fear

Remaining calm is a hard thing for many police
Officers to do mosty of the time police officers
are in stressful Situations. Haridoss says “A police
Officers need to be mindful”. He used ‘breathing
Patterns” to calm him down in stressful situations

Haridoss says being calm is very important because
It can help you physically and mentally in both ways.
“I started to be calm and handle the situation, that
Helped and i got appreciation from higher officials.”

His former police officer putting a When reflecting on his career, Haridoss said, “as a
ring on his hands for his retirement. police officer, I learned, ‘Nothing is Impossible.’
When there is a will there's a way.” He concluded,
“Most of the time we don’t know how to deal with

Things when we are in a scene. But when we look
At things very closely with confidence we will find
A way.”

Basketball Boy

A Conversation with Jackson Canales

I interviewed a 15-year-old freshman boy named Jackson
Canales, he told me about his most significant passion in life,
basketball. He told me everything I needed to know about his
reflections on basketball and gave me plenty of advice.

Canales has always been a basketball enthusiast, growing up
observing the Celtics and playing NBA 2K. Of course, Jackson has
not always been the best at the sport. But he has put years and
years into improving. Not only has Jackson played on the high
school basketball team, ASA, and others, but he has also coached
6th-grade basketball. “Jackson Canales was a great coach, he
assisted us to learn more about basketball” - Eli Kessler (one of his
former players). Canales shared some quotes on some of the things
he would say to his team. For example, “There are a lot of things you
cannot control like height, natural physical abilities, but what you
can manage is how hard you work, how much you care”.