Always positive and hardworking, she lives through life cherishing the people she is surrounded by, especially her family. She has the determination to get through whatever she puts her mind to, and succeeds her goals when they are most important to her. Krisha Kapoor is thirteen years old and a freshman at Iowa City West High, class of ‘23. 

From day one, Krisha and her family have been close. She and her sister, Khushi Kapoor ’18, were raised living next to their family friends Angel, Alejandra (Ale), and their parents. As kids, they would do anything together, whether that was from swimming or making videos. From time to time, when Krisha is stressed or upset, she’ll go back and watch them. They remind her of the memories, and help her to feel a little less overwhelmed “My heart. Every time I like to watch home videos of us… Those.. such good times,” Krisha said. 

Kapoor tends to be influenced by her family as well, “She, (her great-grandma), was always telling me about how she just… if I have an option to do something or not to do it, just do it… because you’re going to regret it if you don’t, just keep studying and have fun, you’ll be fine, just let go… I love that, love it a lot,” Krisha said.  Krisha tends to live by this, and keeps this as a reminder. It’s something she holds close to her, words for Krisha go a long way.

Most of Krisha’s relatives live in India, which can be difficult. When they are there, Krisha and her family, stay with her dad’s parents or her grandparents in their small town, called Tilonia. The town is small, so they often don’t have many things to do. 

A couple of years ago when Krisha and her family were there, they decided to go out to a market. In this market, a cashier heard their American accents, asked if they wanted to see something neat, and if they spoke any other languages. They said yes to both, because Krisha’s sister Khushi speaks Spanish, and they didn’t have much to do there. After walking a half-mile following the cashier, they ended up at a small village. There, in a building, was a room full of women from all around the world. All of them spoke different languages and came from different countries. “It was really cool,” said Kapoor. 

Krisha explained that every six months, the group would go to third world countries, and bring back two to three women from each of them. They taught them how to use satellites and make lights. This could allow them to sell it for money, or bring it back to provide their villages with electricity. 

There, Krisha’s sister was able to communicate with some of the women that also spoke Spanish. They explained that for the six months, they had not been able to talk to a majority of the other women, until Krisha’s sister talked to them. So they communicated to the other women using sign language. “One of the coolest places I’ve experienced,” Kapoor said. To her, this experience was the most wonderful thing. Kapoor also said, “It’s just really hot and labor conditions are bad. They’re just like me, so happy, makes it worth it”.

Krisha is a goal-oriented individual. As Kapoor’s close friend Maya Chu ’23 said, “Krisha works hard to achieve her goals because she knows that doing so will help her in the future. She just knows what needs to get done and does it”. 

A few years ago, Kapoor figured out that if she has enough determination, she can achieve anything. Through elementary school and junior high, to now being at West High School, Krisha has been through situations that lead her to realize this. At one point, she had to stop herself and say, “Krisha, if you really want to do something you have to put your mind to it”. 

Krisha still has that same mindset now, only stronger. Kapoor reaches for her goals when knows she wants to achieve them. Right now, her current goal is to get better at basketball. She’s played for years on the team Thunder, and with some of her very close friends. Krisha’s childhood friend Meena Tate ’23 said, “As a part of a team, Krisha is someone that everyone is friends with. Her effort has gotten her far in sports and academics”. 

Right now, Kapoor is working towards being able to make an AAU team next summer, and playing basketball at West during this school year. “I truly want to improve, and be able to make a difference for a team, and West as a basketball program,” Krisha said.

In the future, Krisha hopes to attend college and find her forever passion. Currently, she would like to do something with pre-med. Her main hope for the future though, is to stay connected to her family and have the best high school to college experience she can. For Kapoor, family, goals, and her future are all things to take into consideration. To stay connected with memories, and those she’s surrounded by.

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