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Home > Archive > Jan 17, 2008

Ahead of the Game
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
Aditya Kaddu is ahead of the game when it comes to many things.
“I guess most kids don't say that their 16th is their last birthday in high school, but that was it for me,” he said.
A 4.0 student, Aditya skipped seventh grade. He started high school ahead of his peers as a result, and he has been diligently enrolled in A.P. classes ever since. He has also taken several classes through Dixie State College, which will put him in graduation lines at both schools in May.
With his associate degree from DSC, Aditya will be heading into the world of higher academia next fall, at age16.
“We are very proud of him,” said Aditya’s mom, Arthi Kaddu.
Though he doesn't regret getting ahead of the game educationally, there have been some associated challenges with being the youngest in his high school class.
“It was kind of nice to finally be able to drive this year,” Aditya said. “That's something I had to deal with all of (my) junior year and sophomore year. Everyone else can drive. I had to bum rides off of friends and get around like that. It's nice to be able to take myself places now.”
Aditya will be taking himself to places far beyond the streets of St. George after this year. He has applied to 12 colleges, including Ivy League institutions Colombia and Princeton and technology schools MIT and Caltech. He plans to study engineering in college, though he says that ambition could change as he progresses through school.
It's bittersweet for Aditya as he traverses the downward slope of his last high school year and faces leaving friends, family and home behind.
“I guess at points in life, you always have to move on,” he said. I guess graduation brings a lot of mixed feelings, you know – excited to move on to the next stage, but sad to leave everything behind. Change is always hard, and especially at a young age, you're taught to grow up a lot faster.”
Aditya is no stranger to hard work and maturity, though. When it comes to his studies, he believes in disciplining himself, putting forth diligent effort and achieving the highest marks he can, and he plans to take that ethic with him into college.
“I guess my parents kind of expect that out of me, and I just drive myself,” he said. “If you're capable of doing it, there's no reason not to.”
Aditya's parents are both medical school graduates. They moved to the United States from India to complete their medical residencies when Aditya was just a baby, and they moved to St. George in 1999 for his dad's job.
Though Aditya doesn't intend to follow in their footsteps and pursue a medical degree, he said his mindset could alter over time.
“We'll see. Maybe he'll change his mind in college,” Arthi Kaddu said.
Though college decisions are looming for Aditya, he's doing his utmost to enjoy his last year at Dixie High School and spend time in extracurricular activities as well as studies.
“I'm just trying to enjoy that social aspect,” he said. “It's my last time to be with these people.”
Among his non-scholastic pursuits, Aditya is president of the Ping-Pong club at Dixie, a member of the R.A.S.K. service club, “councilman at large” for the National Honor Society and a member of the high school tennis team. He's also a co-captain on the Science Olympiad team – comprised of Dixie and Pine View High School students – and is very active in that group. He additionally plays clarinet in the school band and plays guitar in the jazz band.
Aditya is involved in music outside of school, as well, and he and his garage band, “After the Fact,” play gigs around town. They also participated in November's High School Battle of the Bands competition.
Having music as an outlet helps Aditya alleviate stress as he pursues academic excellence, he said.
“It gives me a break from all the schoolwork and class work, just to go out there and play music and do something that I really enjoy,” he said. “It just gives me that break and let's my mind unwind for a little bit.”
While striving to maintain a balance between having fun and being studious, Aditya doesn't slack a bit when it comes to his studies. He was Dixie High School's General Sterling Scholar winner this year, and he is also a National Merit Scholar semifinalist.
“He's amazing, one-of-a-kind,” said Terri Howell, a teacher at Dixie High School. “I have the highest, utmost respect for him. He definitely is a leader that other students can model themselves after.”
One of Aditya's ambitions, which he hopes to accomplish as an engineer, is to collaborate professionally with others and make a significant impact on the world.
“I think it would be cool to invent something that created a real global change, like a cell that makes solar power so cheap that it's used, and we don't have to depend on coal or fossil fuels,” he said. “I think pursuing (engineering) will give me that opportunity and help me meet the people that can help me accomplish that. I'm not expecting to do this on my own. There are so many talented people out there.”
And Aditya is one of those talented people, in the opinion of those who know him best.
“We know he is going to do something really good, and we just don't know what,” Arthi Kaddu said. “We know he has the talent to make a difference, and I hope that he will.”

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