I’m Arnav, Nice to Meet You! by Arnav Dhingra

What’s up everyone! I’m Arnav Dhingra and I am a current junior at the Downingtown STEM Academy. I was born in Paoli, Pennsylvania, moved to Princeton, New Jersey for about five years, and then moved back to Pennsylvania. I currently live in Downingtown with my Mom, Dad, and identical twin brother. Although I only see our TRIP family once a week, I’m so grateful to be able to meet new students and mentors in-person at WTHS, especially because I don’t attend in-person school right now. During quarantine, I developed new hobbies such as skateboarding and snowboarding (when I can). My skateboarding journey started with RipStiking (which isn’t as complicated as it looks!), and I’ve recently mastered longboarding around my neighborhood as well as nearby roads. Just a few days ago, I got my first “traditional” skateboard, and I can’t wait to visit the nearby skatepark once the snow clears up! Another hobby that I have a heavy interest in is print graphic design. I love making print items such as logos, business cards, brochures, posters, etc. and I enjoy learning new software such as Adobe Illustrator!

Although COVID-19 has undoubtedly taken a lot from our normal lives, I’ve come to realize that this time is unique and has its own advantages. Apart from being able to wake up late, I have strengthened bonds with my family and close friends, spent more time outside, and further developed my interests inside and outside of the classroom. Even though this year has been a year unlike any other with virtual learning, I have become comfortable with communicating over Zoom through the activities that I participate in outside of school, such as the Technology Student Association (TSA). Serving as Pennsylvania TSA State Treasurer, I have met so many other TSA members across the country and led my state’s ~20,000 members through the TSA season with numerous fundraising initiatives and conference planning sessions. I also intern at a nearby manufacturing company, Nth Solutions, LLC, and play for my school’s varsity tennis team. In school, I serve as an FBLA officer and am a member of the Spanish Honors Society and National Honors Society.

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My past experiences with asthma, eczema, and allergies have motivated me to learn more about inflammation, changes in diet, and stress.

As you can probably tell, my interests are varied throughout many different fields. I joined TRIP to further my knowledge in science, learn lab procedures, and understand the world in a different way by doing my own independent research. My past experiences with asthma, eczema, and allergies have motivated me to learn more about inflammation, changes in diet, and stress. Through TRIP, I have already begun to make connections with other students, and I have learned to cherish the collaborative environment. I’m currently researching the effect of valerian and high temperature on fly anxiety. Already, we’ve learned so much about fly development, using pipettes, making grape plates, following assays, giving research presentations, and sorting flies. Every week is a challenging but rewarding experience for me to explore science in a lab setting. I am so grateful for this amazing program!