Laughing with his friends on a couch in Shah Hall, Jaimin Bhagat (12) presents his “standard” demeanor: a playful, lazy smile on his face, his sparkling eyes carefree as he describes the moment he drove all the way to Santa Cruz to pick up his new dog.  In this way, Jaimin makes a full effort to live life in the moment, savoring the happy times he spends with the people close to him while managing his many responsibilities as a high schooler. 

“I’ll always treasure my best friends. High school is crazy and you need people there for you all the time – and [my friends] have always been there for me. I’ve always been able to talk to them about anything and it’s really great. We’ve gone through high school together,” Jaimin said.

Although Jaimin acts extremely easygoing, funny and untroubled, his advisor, Anu Datar, has noticed that Jaimin cares deeply about the people around him and tries to help everyone have a good time. No matter how carefree Jaimin acts, he makes an effort to watch the people around him and help them in any way that he is able to.  

“He’s actually very open, very outspoken, and he has this attitude of not caring too much, but it’s just a cover. He is actually a really, really sensitive and a very, very sweet person … he has a carefree nature, and he doesn’t hesitate to crack jokes and help everyone relax to have a good time. But underneath, he’s also a very caring person who cares about the people in advisory,” Datar said. 

Jaimin did not always embrace his carefree personality. Instead, his experiences with hardship allowed him to transition into the playful person he is today. Two years ago, one of Jaimin’s close friends passed away, a heartbreaking incident that altered his perspective on life. 

“One of my really good friends that I played golf with died two years ago. We were supposed to play together that weekend, and then he passed away in a car crash. This was something that changed my life and made me take a step back and look at everything in perspective,” Jaimin said, eyes distant as he reflected on the memories. 

After pushing through tough times, Jaimin learned to remember and appreciate the past, while enjoying and making the most out of the present. He learned to stop focusing on difficulties and instead, increasingly made an effort to live in the moment, appreciating the happiness life has in store for him.  

“Tragic things can happen so it’s important to enjoy the time you have here, now, and bond with the people you are close with, to live a good life while you can,” Jaimin said. 

Jaimin fondly remembers special moments he has spent with his friends and cherishes those times when he is feeling down, stressed or just needs a break from schoolwork. 

“I’ll always remember the dinners my friends and I had after homework during school nights … it’s really relaxing since we have been thinking of school all day. I will always treasure those moments,” Jaimin said. 

Mohan Awasthi (12), who has known Jaimin since first grade, greatly values his friendship with Jaimin. Over the years, Mohan and Jaimin have always remained inseparable. Mohan appreciates Jaimin’s ability to be there for him in any situation, whether for an emotional conversation or for fun, and Mohan recognizes that Jaimin plays a large role in his life. 

“He is amazing company. He’s been one of my best friends since middle school. He’s always been there for me both emotionally and when I want to have fun … so he’s my ride or die,” Mohan said. 

In addition to Jaimin’s invaluable friendship, Mohan appreciates Jaimin’s character and the dynamic that the two have formed through their bond. 

“He’s very charismatic, funny, and lovable. I help him be more social, and he helps me with my emotions and keeping my priorities straight. We keep each other grounded,” Mohan said. 

In addition to having fun with his friends, Jaimin exhibits a more serious side of him through golf. As captain of Harker’s golf team, Jaimin has learned skills that take him through life; in particular, Jaimin has learned the importance of hard work. 

“I’ve been playing since age six, so it’s been a big part of my life and something I can go to when I feel stressed out about school. Golf has taught me … the pressures of competition, the amount of practice hours you have to put in to be good, as well as patience,” Jaimin said. 

Through golf, Jaimin has learned to balance his various responsibilities and time spent with his friends. 

“[I believe in the motto] work hard, play hard. It’s important to distinguish work time and having fun with friends,” Jaimin said. 

Ronit Gagneja (12) appreciates Jaimin’s easy-going yet bold personality and admires his ability to manage his responsibilities while making time to have fun with friends. 

“Jaimin is easygoing, funny, and motivated … No matter what’s going on, I can count on Jaimin to lighten up the mood, make me happy and make me laugh. He’s extroverted and is never afraid to reach out to people, he is very sociable and can make friends easily. He has been passionate about golf for a long time, and I admire how he always makes time for the important things in his life,” Ronit said. 

Jaimin strives to embody the character traits he values in a friend, specifically trustworthiness and loyalty. Through the struggles Jaimin has faced, he has learned to embody these qualities and appreciate them in his friends, who continue to help him and bring him up when times get tough. In the end, Jaimin wants to be remembered as someone with a fun personality, who enjoys prioritizing and uplifting the people around him. 

“I value someone I can trust and someone who will be there for me even if I mess up. My friends mean a lot [to me]. They have always been there for me. I am always looking to have a good time … and help out as many other people as I can to be a good asset to the community, ” he said.