Date: Fri 31-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Ashwini-Srikantiah-HOBY

Full Text:

Ashwini Srikantiah Can Blow Her Own Horn

Ready for band practice, Ashwini Srikantiah shows off her clarinet, which she

calls a "marching horn." -Bee Photo, Evans

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

Newtown sophomore Ashwini Srikantiah is only 15, but she already has a pretty

good idea about what it takes to be a leader.

"It means that you not only take charge when meeting new people, but you are

willing to accept responsibility" she said, by working toward a particular

goal, whether it be a personal goal or a group effort.

Leadership isn't just about taking up a burden, though. It is also about

achieving goals and gaining satisfaction from the process, Ashwini said.

She has learned these things over a period of years, as the youngest child and

third daughter of Sheila and K.V. Srikantiah of Sandy Hook. Theirs is a

close-knit family that holds academic achievement in the highest regard.

"My parents came to this country from India with very little. They struggled

to make sure everything was stable for us," she said.

By "us" she meant the next generation, consisting of Ashwini and her two older

sisters, ages 23 and 30, who are now "gone from the house" and on their own,

she added.

"They hadn't anything to give us but our education. So a lot of emphasis" was

always placed upon working hard on studies, Ashwini said.

"I know that's what I need to do," she added, with a clear-eyed confidence and

sureness of purpose that is beyond her years.

Now, she'll get a chance to see how far her leadership skills can take her, at

an upcoming Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation (HOBY) leadership seminar in Vernon,

Conn., scheduled Thursday, March 13 through Sunday, March 16.

As Newtown's 1997 HOBY representative, Ashwini will take her place alongside

200 other Connecticut high school sophomores who have also been selected to

participate.

Successful applicants must not only demonstrate academic responsibility, but

also show they are working to help improve their school communities.

Ashwini is a member of Newtown High's "Campus Improvement Teams," made up of

teachers, administrators, students and parents who consider many issues common

to the school population, and "pick apart potential problems," she said.

She is also the vice president of Interact, a student group of Rotary, and is

an enthusiastic member of the Newtown band, where she plays clarinet, and the

school choral group, where she sings soprano.

Ashwini was recently selected as one of 23 students to participate in the

Western Region Music Festival at Danbury High School as a choral performer.

This was an exciting experience, she recalls, and she anticipates the upcoming

HOBY conference will also be "a lot of fun."

The stated HOBY goal is to "provide the students with a stimulating forum for

learning about the American incentive system and the democratic process,"

through a series of guest speakers and interactive activities.

Staying Active

"If she gets one tenth of what I got out of it, she'll come back with even

more confidence in herself and in what she can achieve," said Newtown High's

1995 HOBY representative, senior Laura Marusa.

Ashwini said Laura has continued to further the HOBY leadership goals she

learned at a similar conference two years ago.

Subsequently, Laura was an organizer of a local HOBY leadership day held at

Edmond Town Hall in Newtown last October, which Ashwini attended.

"The kids will learn about possible careers and what's going on out there,"

Laura said, pointing out that when actor Hugh O'Brian conceived of the award,

he purposely chose sophomores to be the recipients.

"It's a valuable age. They can still use what they've learned. Freshmen are

too new in high school, and juniors and seniors are already established,"

Laura said.

Practicing Independence

Mr O'Brian established the HOBY foundation after a visit to Dr Albert

Schweitzer in Africa, where he was inspired to believe in youth and the value

of learning to think for yourself.

"From that inspiration, and with the support of others who believe in youth

and the American dream, I started HOBY to seek out, recognize, and develop

outstanding leadership potential among our nation's youth," Mr O'Brian wrote.

Ashwini said she thought one time she was able to act independently was this

past summer, when she traveled to India alone to visit family members.

"In India, children are not as independent as here. I kept track of all the

details myself, and I think they learned something, seeing it wasn't a big

deal. That I was comfortable traveling alone and not worried.

"They don't often have the opportunity to prove themselves that way. It's how

they're raised," Ashwini explained.