“My [favorite] hobby is running. I have been [a member of the] the cross country and [the] track and field team. [I also enjoy] tinkering [and constructing] random things. Everybody on our team knows about [the complications I had because of my] back. I had [a snag from my regular hobbies after going] through a surgery back in 2022; it took a lot out of me. I couldn’t run for four months, and I was really out of shape [when] getting back into cross country. It was really hard for me. I would say a lot of [my inspiration has come from] my dad to be honest. He’s the one who has pushed me to improve every day [in] every single [aspect]. He’s the one who taught me how to be responsible, manage my time well [and] be consistent. [It’s the] same with running; I’m consistent and I try to work my hardest in order to get better every day. A lot of [my growth] has been tied to running because I have been so involved, but I feel like I’ve become a lot more social with people. I’ve become more dedicated to the things I like. [During practice], I’m starting to [run] with faster groups now. [I’m] able to keep pace with [people] who [I] didn’t used to before. I [am] definitely most proud of my recovery [after] my surgery. It did take me four months to be able to run again, but after that, I really bounced back. I have improved a ton and I’m really proud of that.” – Ragsy Muralidharan, 12