Escapism: avoiding reality by engaging in entertainment and fantasy. In other words, a psychological escape that plucks readers from reality and leaves them immersed within a mystical world.

Imagine a fourth grade girl tucked into a chair as she flips through the pages of a book: eyes flickering back and forth, she traces the lines of the story, completely unaware of the class discussion happening behind her. This distinct memory from Amrita Pasupathy’s (‘23) elementary school English class serves as just one of many moments in which a book transported her into a new world.

When Amrita opens up a new book, she steps into another reality. Embarking on such adventures into fantasy, Amrita discovers the creativity in new cultures and perspectives.

“I’m the type of person who can read anything and think it’s good,” Amrita said. “You get to explore a bunch of other realities, and I think that’s nice.”

Books, especially historical ones, offer windows into the minds of people from the past. Amrita jumps on the chance to peer in: after engaging in lectures on the Renaissance in AP European History in her sophomore year, Amrita delved into Niccolò Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” an instruction guide for royals, intrigued by discussions on the work.

“I don’t read too much historical writing, [but] Ms. Gilbert had a copy in her room, so I thought, ‘Is it true that he is actually that cruel?’” Amrita said. “I read it, and it turns out he’s actually very reasonable for the time period. We have different standards now, so lots of things couldn’t be applied to the modern day and still be called fair practice.”

Through delving into works exploring the humanities, Amrita started to engage more in analytical discussions about these literary texts that translated to a newfound appreciation for art. In her AP Art History, she took an interest in studying various styles of art and examining the origins of each.

“I like doing the analysis and learning what really goes behind each piece because it’s not just them creating something out of nothing,” Amrita said. “There’s a lot of historical context, and a lot of visual elements come from styles that have already been developed.”

With this curiosity and attention to detail, Amrita listens empathetically to her friends. Close friend Aneesha Asthana (‘23) values Amrita’s critical thinking that adds depth to their daily conversations.

“She really knows what she’s doing, and she knows what she wants,”  Aneesha said. “The way we analyze our lives is very similar, and we like bringing all of that analysis to when we meet up. One of my favorite parts of my relationship with her is how honest and analytical she is and how she brings [out] the more philosophical side of me.”

Amrita brings her meticulousness to her work in computer science, a field whose breadth of applications fascinate her. Upper school computer science teacher Susan King, who taught Amrita in her freshman year, noticed Amrita’s detail-oriented nature and willingness to take the time to ensure the accuracy of code.

“One of the characteristics of Amrita is that she is very detail oriented, so she will prove or read tests and really do a great job of checking for correctness, [which] requires a lot of paying attention to details,” King said. “And she’s willing to sacrifice some of her own time. Last year, she would actually grade after school, not during a free period.”

Amrita’s care for details also appears when planning activities with friends, channeling her creativity into creating a completely new experience. Close friend Ananya Bammi (‘23) observed this particular trait after hosting a joint birthday party during the summer.

“It was a really fun idea, but we were struggling on what to do,” Ananya said. “But she came up with this idea of doing a scavenger hunt. So she stayed up with me the night before, working on making fun clues for everyone. It shows her personality: she is very invested in her friendships, she cares a lot about them and she’s willing to put in the work.”

Identifying her personal strengths and growth through focusing time not only on her friends but also herself is a large part of Amrita’s understanding of herself and taking more risks. By analyzing moments when she feels anxious or happy, she found a way to develop a healthier mindset.

“I like to analyze myself psychologically and things in general by trying to notice details,” Amrita said. “It’s helped me know myself better. I understand why I’m doing certain things, even if they aren’t the best thing, so I can work towards becoming a better person.”