bh: Advika Anand and Quinn Hathaway

Graphics Editor and Media Editor

Avid chess player and part-time lifeguard, sophomore Ritvik Raghupathula balances an advanced course load, competes in both water polo and swimming, and pursues a multitude of extracurricular activities. This year, Raghupathula aspires to maintain his 4.0 GPA while improving his water polo aptitude.

Raghupathula has swum since he was 13 years old and has played water polo for the past two years. As a child, he always enjoyed the ocean and being in the water, prompting him to try swimming. However, Raghupathula did not enjoy the solitude of swimming, so he decided to try water polo, as it incorporates more teamwork. Raghupathula plays wing, a position which has taught him perseverance, as he notes, “because as one of the smallest players in the pool, I have to overcome bigger people tackling in water.” Along with playing for the school water polo team, Raghupathula participates in the Los Gatos Club and San Jose Express during the offseason. As for swimming, Raghupathula continues to compete for LGHS in both the 100m and 200m IM, 50m and 100m Freestyle, and 100m Breaststroke. 

Raghupathula’s academic load for this school year consists of Pre-Calculus Honors, English 10 Honors, AP European History, Chemistry, Orchestra, and Spanish 3. He explains that he manages these courses through Canvas, organizing and utilizing his Google Calendar to display events. Pre-Calculus Honors challenges Raghupathula, but he finds that completing an abundance of practice problems helps to ensure his comprehension of the topics.

Since middle school, Raghupathula has played the violin and participated in the school orchestra. He especially enjoys performing classical pieces, with his favorite pieces being Vivaldi’s fast-paced works. Music is also a team, Raghupathula explains, saying, “To make music, you have to work [together], so everyone has to play their part.”

In addition to his other extracurriculars, Raghupathula enjoys volunteering. His favorite organization to volunteer for is Sacred Heart, as he explains, “I like to hand out the food to the people because it makes me feel more connected to my community. I also get to see the impact I have [on the recipients] face to face.” A separate volunteering opportunity for Raghupathula is in the wildlife realm where he spends time caring for animals at Animal Assisted Happiness. In total, Raghupathula has volunteered over 100 hours this year alone and continues his search for new ways to help his community.

Raghupathula may seem at ease, but it is all due to his time management skills. His rigorous academic load, coupled with his many athletic and philanthropic commitments, make for a packed schedule, but he says that he enjoys the constant activity. Ultimately, Raghupathula’s ability to balance both ambition and passion shows his drive for doing the things he loves.