Hey there! This is Saee Patwardhan dropping in to tell you a little bit about myself. I am extremely excited to be going into my last year of high school. While I eagerly look forward to entering my senior year at Gatton, I will give you some insight on my past. My family and I immigrated to the US from India when I was only 3 years old. As a little kid growing up in a brand new country, everything grabbed my attention and fascinated me. When I was in middle school, I attended SCATS, a summer camp at WKU. This is where I first heard about The Gatton Academy. I remember talking my mom’s ears off in the car on the way home– telling her about this amazing high school and how it was right up my alley. When my sophomore year finally rolled around, I filled out the application and, fortunately, my dream became a reality when I was accepted.

Before coming to Gatton, I attended North Oldham High School in Oldham County. While Oldham County is known for its excellent school systems, I just didn’t find the content to be challenging or stimulating enough for me. Luckily, the courses at Gatton provided me with the perfect amount of difficulty to allow me to grow and push myself. Taking computer science courses, like CS and CPS, during my first year definitely broadened my horizons of the STEM field. While I didn’t conduct research this past year, I plan to begin a biology-based research project during my senior year.

My junior year exceeded my expectations, and one of my favorite moments was my study abroad trip to Greece. This was a 10-day trip during winter break where 6 other girls and I toured Greece together, looking at its unique history and architecture. The country was absolutely beautiful and I would love to revisit it one day. During my senior year I would like to participate in another study abroad trip, such as Costa Rica or Italy.

Outside of academics, I really enjoy cooking and playing music. On the days when I’m home, you can catch me baking and cooking up different dishes. While I’m just an amateur, I can play my guitar for hours on end. On top of guitar, I have always loved the arts. During middle school and high school, I was in the NOHS Color Guard where we spun flags, rifles, and danced for the duration of an entire marching band show. One of my favorite activities is singing—my roommate can definitely attest to my constant humming and whisper-singing 24/7.

I cannot wait to make more memories as a senior. It feels like just yesterday that I was a little freshman walking into my high school, feeling intimidated by all the upperclassmen. Time flies by so fast, and I plan to make the most of it starting in August. I’m beyond excited to finally be a senior and look forward to being a Gatton Avatar.

Saee