Sophomore Riya Kapoor knows what it means to be a Longhorn through her outstanding involvement and strong school spirit. Her commitment to clubs and being a varsity swimmer reflects how well-rounded she is. Looking ahead, Kapoor will serve as a HOSA (Future Health Professionals) officer next year as a Reporter, where she will further her expertise in leadership skills. She also has notable involvement in DECA with a recent first place finish at State Career Development Conference (SCDC), continuing to prove that she can excel, even when competition is tough.
As an involved member in DECA, Kapoor has improved her critical-thinking and communication skills. DECA is a club at Lambert, more specifically a Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO), that prepares students for business-like careers. Kapoor and her teammates, Grunth Bhavsar and Aiyana Verma, competed in the Sports and Entertainment BOR (Business Operations Research) at SCDC in February. Within this event, they designed a written manual, detailing their corporate social responsibility strategy for Swim Atlanta, inspired by their shared passion for swimming. Despite their manual taking months to complete, their hard work paid off as they earned first place and secured a spot at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC).
“When I found out we got first place, it felt like a dream, and I was honestly stunned,” Kapoor exclaimed.
Beyond her hard work in clubs, Kapoor is also a talented athlete. Her sophomore year on the Lambert Varsity Swim team was full of excitement. Though she took a year long break from Swim, she exceeded this season by achieving her personal record in nearly every event she competed in. Kapoor’s swim season stood out not just because succeeded in her competitions, but also because of the great friendships she gained and the support she received from her coaches.
“This season I made so many new friends,” Kapoor said. “I always look forward to practice because I know they are going to be there.”
Juggling school work and extracurricular activities requires a positive mindset. Balancing athletics, academics and competitive clubs is not an easy task, but she handles it well. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with her workload, Kapoor sees her busy schedule as motivation to push through. Her ability to manage all she does with a positive attitude, shows how dedicated and hard-working she is.
“I try to view everything I do as something I’m enjoying rather than seeing every class and club as a burden,” Kapoor explained.
Even with a busy schedule, Kapoor stays positive. Whether she is competing in clubs or swimming, she continues to persevere. Kapoor’s involvement within Lambert truly represents her Longhorn pride and spirit.
