You may not want your elementary schooler watching "Law & Order" and "America's Most Wanted." For Dhruva Jandhyala, those shows were crucial.
Jandhyala won the AJC Cup, an award given to exceptional high schoolers. The honor represented another step on a journey that took him through two countries, two extracurriculars and several debate championships.
[Read more: 5 award-winning Atlanta students going to Ivy League schools]
Jandhyala went from being a 6-year-old in Gaborone, Botswana (a nation of 2 million directly north of South Africa) to a living as a young student in Fayetteville. His father was an entrepreneur who managed to get the family through the immigration process. They moved to the United States in 2004.
Jandhyala said he was excited to settle into his new home country. He said America's reputation for being a land of opportunity held a powerful appeal for his family.
"We looked to America," he said. "I couldn't tell you the name of the president of Botswana, but I could tell you the name of George Bush."
Jandhyala had grown up in a household that spoke a mixture of languages including English and Hindi. In America, though, he improved his English by learning more complicated words through subtitled television. Crime shows, specifically.
"I would throw myself into as many shows as possible," he said.
The family settled in Fayetteville because his dad hoped to open a granite shop and they liked the local schools.
School was where Jandhyala could experience more of one of his great passions, music. He joined the band in fifth grade to help satisfy his fascination with it. His grandmother was a musician, and music always meant a great deal to him.
"When there was nothing else, (music) was the thing I could turn to," Jandhyala said.
By 11th grade, Jandhyala wanted a new extracurricular. He fell sideways into the debate team and became a successful extemporaneous speaker. Unlike other debate events, extemporaneous speakers get only 30 minutes to prepare for a question they receive at the event.
Jandhyala said he loved this event in particular because he enjoyed the pressure and being forced to think on his feet.
His debate coach, Sean Hickey, the senior said, helped inspire him with his positive attitude.
Jandhyala also cited his English teacher Debbie Smelley as someone whose tough class helped him progress academically.
"When you get out of (her class), you'll be a better writer," he said. "I also love her as a person."
This year, the faculty at Starr's Mill High School surprised him with the AJC Cup. Jandhyala said he plans to study management information systems at the University of Georgia, though he's keeping his career options open.
"What I want out of a career is something that can leave a positive impact on the world," he said.
Read more AJC Cup coverage at our hub. You can also find out what 7 useful qualities helped the AJC Cup winners grow and succeed.
