February Senior of the Month Sia Chokshi prepares to embark on the next phase of her life with this thought in mind: “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” Chokshi believes that Madeleine Albright, one of her role models, embodies her spirit and potential future. Her experiences as a female immigrant invigorate Chokshi every day as she aspires to mirror Albright’s career path and work ethic. 

Having played the piano for nearly ten years, Chokshi dedicated a large portion of her time to growing her skills as a musician. In fact, she pursued certification through the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) exams, a series of piano examinations from the Royal Schools of Music in London. Having initially pursued it as a hobby, she’s proud of how far she has come with her piano expertise. Another one of her hobbies is longboarding. Despite having sprained not one, but both of her ankles, she perseveres in search of excitement.

One of the most powerful impacts in her life is her devotion to writing. Helping run The Eagle’s Eye and writing additional articles such as “Teacher by Day…”, Chokshi earned her position as editor-in-chief of the sports and news sections. But the writing doesn’t stop there, spilling over into her free time and Creative Writing class. For her, writing allows for discourse, dialogue, and debate, encouraging her to create healthy relationships with her surroundings.

“To write is to create and I don’t believe I could ever stop,” she said.

A source of Chokshi’s strength comes from the community of her culture and friends. Every Sunday, she has educated younger kids about her Hindu culture at the local temple. At EHS, she is a part of the Peacock Society, involved in the annual Fusion play every spring. She has also contributed to the Theatre Department crew for three fall productions and one musical, which took up a large chunk of her time.

Her underlying love for Washington DC, its history, its views, and its atmosphere made her college decision quite clear: American University. However, even as she leaves for a bigger city full of opportunity, she noted that Edison would always remain her home.Chokshi hopes to apply her experiences in a diverse community as she leaves the Eagles’ nest this June.