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mathematics program in the U.S., “I plan to focus on expanding
the oldest engineering program in basic health care services and K-12
the Ivy League, and the third-oldest education to immigrant communi-
medical program in New England. ties,” says Patel. She goes on to say
When Patel does earn her Brown that her concentration impacts soci-
degree, she’ll be in fine company: As ety in a variety of ways, from the de-
of March 2022, the university boasts velopment of vaccines and health
an impressive roster of 27 Pulitzer education campaigns to feeding chil-
Prize winners, twenty-one billion- dren healthy, nutritious meals at
aires, and 11 Nobel Prize winners school.
have been affiliated with Brown as A career in immigration law or
alumni, faculty, or researchers. global health may also appeal to
All of this is not lost on Patel. Patel, too.
“When you’re at Brown, you’re “I’ve always been keen on going
surrounded by the top one percent, back to India and helping girls and
people who have immense wealth women in India–because that’s an
and privilege,” she says. “And not identity that always resonated with
coming from that background has me, as I am Indian American,” says
given me [so much]. It’s been difficult Patel.
to navigate, but I think it’s been a Living Life
wonderful experience–the duality of
our worlds.” to the Fullest
Khushi Patel, along with her older brother, Shivan, 23, a Duke University graduate. In the meantime, Patel remains
A Future grounded by maintaining a work-life
Patel, Continued from page 3 school in India. We’re both first gen- balance that includes exercising reg-
eration. We just didn’t know all the Healthcare Champion ularly—“My brother taught me how
very teachers who would grant me different career paths that existed Piece by piece, Patel’s future is to weight lift last winter break,” she
an extension in high school because outside of the typical ones like medi- coming into view. says, reading a lot of memoirs, binge-
I had two hours of sleep the night be- cine, engineering, etc.” And it looks mighty bright. watching Netflix series, and hanging
fore, dealing with a customer. Those Patel, who applied early decision In November, Patel will travel to out with friends.
teachers understood my back- to Brown University, says choosing Chicago, IL, where, as a 2023 Voy- When asked where she sees her-
ground—and never shamed me for the university was simple. ager Scholarship recipient, she will self in 10 years, Patel points to two
it, but rather made me proud of who “It ended up being my top choice,” join 99 other recipients at the schol- individuals who paved the way to
I am.” says Patel. “I did a summer program arship’s annual summit. Created by where she is today: Her parents.
“My brother and I didn’t really when I was a sophomore in high former President of the United “Every accomplishment, every
grow up around various careers— school through The Joyce Ivy Foun- States Barack Obama and Airbnb dream that I get, I want them to be
my mom only finished eighth grade dation, and they gave me a full schol- CEO Brian Chesky, the Voyager right there alongside me. I think
in India, and my dad finished high arship to spend three weeks at Scholarship is a two-year program coming from a first-generation back-
Brown taking a course…and it was intended to support and prepare col- ground it’s so important because
We just didn’t know all the transforming. I had never been to lege juniors for careers in public they didn’t get the experiences—and

different career paths that Rhode Island, I had never really trav- service. It provides up to $50,000 in they grinded; they worked so hard to
financial aid, a $10,000 summer voy-
come to America and pave that path
eled to the east coast before, and I
existed outside of the typical learned what an elite university has age stipend to use anywhere in the for me and my brother,” says Patel,
world on a public service project,
to offer—and what I have to offer
who is slated to graduate in 2025.
ones like medicine, them.” and a network of leaders in public “When I get that Ivy League de-
Founded in 1764, Brown is the service. gree, it’s to my mom and dad. I just
engineering, etc.” seventh-oldest institution of higher More than halfway through her want to make my parents proud.”
By all accounts, Patel has already
Khushi Patel education in the United States. It’s undergraduate studies, Patel is succeeded.
preparing to forge her career path.
also home to the oldest applied

4 · November 2023 · The Wayne Dispatch