Senior Rishi Lalwani trudges his way through an overgrown hiking trail, surrounded by twisted vines and tangled roots. Amidst the gentle bubbling of a creek and the soft buzz of insects, a bird breaks into song far off in the distance. Rishi pauses and takes in his surroundings, the sights and the sounds of the Santa Cruz foothills. Then, as he closes his eyes, he feels at ease, as if his worries and all the stresses of everyday life disappear. Alone in nature and away from society, there’s nothing in his mind except peace and quiet.

Rishi began hiking trails near his home in Saratoga during the COVID-19 pandemic as virtual classes allowed him more opportunities to do so with his mother and sister. He also visited scenic locations near his home, using his hikes as opportunities to self-reflect and gather his thoughts.

“When I was younger, if my parents asked me to go on a hike, I would say no,” Rishi said. “I hated any form of exercise whatsoever, and also felt very self conscious. But then once I broke out of my bubble in COVID, I began to really appreciate hiking. One of my most memorable experiences was going up on a trail called Villa Montalvo, and I just sat on a bench at the vista point for one hour thinking.”

At school, Rishi prides himself on co-founding the Indian Student Association and being a part of DECA and the track team. But in his ninth grade and sophomore years, he struggled with academic anxiety, which often interfered with other parts of his life. Afterwards, he began hiking more often, which helped Rishi to understand and accept that he could tackle his problems at school one at a time.

“When you go in nature, it feels as though you’re isolated,” Rishi said. “You can really think about what’s going on in your life. You can process all that’s happening, and then you can appreciate everything around you. And every problem that you face feels so minimal and minor compared to everything.”

As a senior, he now hikes together with his friends weekly at trails and parks across the Bay Area, including Sausalito in the North Bay and Almaden in South San Jose. Rishi’s hiking adventures have served as valuable bonding experiences for him and his friends, whether it be for spending time in nature away from academics and technology or working together to overcome natural obstacles.

“When you go on a hike, you can whip out a phone, but it just doesn’t happen,” Rishi said. “You’re distracted by everything else. So much of interaction nowadays is reliant on technology, so it’s nice getting that forced person-to-person contact. And you feel you’re exiting your comfort zone a little bit, since you might trip or fall or make a mistake.”

Rishi credits hiking with transforming him into a happier and more easy-going person, as his self-reflective experiences in nature have helped him remove the pressures of school from his everyday life. Close friend senior Bahar Sodeifi, who has known Rishi since ninth grade, has seen how Rishi has evolved to become an open and understanding friend who always looks out for others.

“I definitely see him as a thoughtful friend,” Bahar said. “He’s probably one of the most observant people I know. If you’re feeling a certain way, he notices, and he notices details that most people don’t notice. That’s something I really appreciate about him.”

Biology teacher Eric Johnson who taught Rishi in his junior year observed how his compassion for others extended to the classroom. Johnson highlighted that Rishi’s openness, combined with an enthusiasm for learning, allowed him to develop confidence as a leader among his peers.

“Rishi is someone who gets along with everybody,” Johnson said. “I would have no issues putting him in a lab group with anybody. He’s kind and compassionate, and builds on that as a confident student. In class, he reflects on his answers, shares his perspective, holds space for other people, and then still will always be willing to contribute.”

Rishi’s work ethic has also inspired close friend senior Rayan Arya, with whom he has known since middle school. Together, they occasionally go on hikes and work out at a local gym two to three times a week. Rayan recognizes how Rishi’s maturity and dedication has allowed the both of them to improve in their fitness journey.

“His gym and fitness journey has definitely motivated me,” Rayan said. “At the end of the day, we’re friends and competitors at the same time. Seeing him grow in the gym leads me to push myself more. His dedication and commitment helps me stay locked in.”

To Rishi, hiking has transformed not just from an activity he dreaded to another method of exercise. Over the course of his high school years, walking along trails and taking in nature has provided him with an escape from the anxieties of everyday life — a chance for quietude and peace of mind.

“As a Harker student and a kid in the Bay Area, everything seems to go pretty fast,” Rishi said. “And there’s this hidden pressure to perform a certain way. But once you’re in nature, once you sit down on that bench, and once you take a deep breath and internalize everything — it slows everything down. It makes life seem easier.”