From Student Produced Innovative Theater to mock trial, there is no limit to the activities Sudarshan Kasturirangan ’26 is willing to try. While some might get overwhelmed after a day of Walk It Out rehearsals, practicing bassoon and memorizing lines, Kasturirangan continues to devote hours each day to every passion. Although his interests stretch far and wide, Kasturirangan always puts one of his extracurriculars at the forefront: tennis.

“I love being a part of tennis. I love working hard with my team. It’s a great experience contributing to that brotherhood and tradition that’s been going on for years,” Kasturirangan said. “I’ve been playing my whole life, but I started taking it seriously around sixth or seventh grade because my older brother was really good, and he inspired me.”

Having grown up with some of his teammates, Kasturirangan now shares his excitement for tennis with people who feel like family.

“Going out there [and] cheering [my team] on, even working together when playing doubles, is a great experience,” Kasturirangan said. “Being able to take that to different schools and show them what we can do is probably my favorite part.”

By putting in hard work while training for tennis, Kasturirangan developed an unwavering dedication that he carries with him throughout his other extracurriculars.

“I’ve learned discipline, [and] I’ve developed a good work ethic [through tennis]; I’m able to carry that and apply it to all my other activities,” Kasturirangan said. “During tennis practice, there’s this importance of pushing yourself and giving 100%, and you develop a mentality. I can take that mentality and apply it to mock trial [by practicing] my lines and going through the witness statements for 30 minutes. If I really apply myself for a couple of hours, I see myself improve a lot.”

Waleed Ibrahim ’26, a teammate on Kasturirangan’s mock trial team, admires how Kasturirangan always puts full effort into his passions. Although Kasturirangan didn’t place as an attorney this year, he stayed dedicated to doing his best in the position he was given.

“[Sudarshan] was an understudy, but he was still working a lot on mock trial even though he didn’t really have to do anything. He would look over our stuff just to get that extra knowledge,” Ibrahim said. “He puts the work in, [which] not everyone sees. In tennis too — he’s injured so he can’t play tennis [right now], but he still goes to the practices. He’s very hardworking.”

Kasturirangan continues to put in the work while rehearsing for Walk It Out, West’s annual multicultural fashion show. During the show, Kasturirangan will walk the runway and participate in a cultural dance with several of his classmates.

“I come from an Indian background, and we’re a minority [at West]. It’s super important to stay connected with all my other South Asian peers,” Kasturirangan said. “I hold a lot of them dear to my heart; they’re like family to me. To be able to express my culture through my identity and be a part of Walk It Out [has] been an incredible opportunity, and I’ve had a lot of fun with it.”

Balancing school and extracurricular activities is a challenge that Kasturirangan works to overcome. To stay on top of homework while also regularly practicing tennis and attending club meetings, Kasturirangan delegates 30 minutes every day to each subject.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard. But when you’re deeply involved, you develop your own schedule in your mind. It helps [that] the music programs take place during a class period, so I don’t have to schedule time outside of school,” Kasturirangan said. 

Managing time for social activities with a heavy workload can be difficult, but Kasturirangan tries to maintain friendships outside of school as much as possible. Ibrahim, a friend of Kasturirangan for several years, reflects on the qualities that drew him close to Kasturirangan.

“Whenever I see [Sudarshan] in the hall I smile; he’s a positive person. I just love him so much. He’s a great guy — he’s very charismatic [and] he has a nice personality,” Ibrahim said. “He’s always trying to bring me up and wishes the best for me, and that alone makes me want to be the best.”

On top of encouraging his friends, Kasturirangan also acts as a positive influence in his community by volunteering at the Coralville Food Pantry. Recently, he worked with a nonprofit group called Sewa Diwali to collect donations for the pantry.

“Personally, I’m lucky that I’ve grown up in a family who has the financial stability to provide me with a home, food [and] clothing. I think it’s super important to help those in need,” Kasturirangan said. “We’re all one community, and it’s important to raise each other up. What goes around, comes around.”

Aside from reserving time for his homework, volunteering and hanging out with his friends, Kasturirangan also keeps up with his hobbies. Drawing, reading and stargazing all help to relieve Kasturirangan’s stress.

“I like stargazing; I think it’s super relaxing. Space has always interested me — how we’re so small and there’s just so much out there,” Kasturirangan said. “I’ll find a nice spot, maybe my backyard, or I’ll even drive out to a field and just watch.”

Stargazing has deepened Kasturirangan’s fascination with space. In the future, he aims to become an aerospace engineer to combine his interest in astronomy with his mathematical skills.

“It’s super cool what’s going on within the aerospace field right now [and] all the developments they’re making with SpaceX and NASA,” Kasturirangan said. “It’s amazing what humans can accomplish [and] what we could accomplish in the next 100 years. I want to contribute to that.”

To prepare himself for a future career in engineering, Kasturirangan selects challenging courses that provide him with a strong foundation of physics, math and computer skills. Although tackling a schedule of honors and AP classes is not an easy task, Kasturirangan never ceases to push himself harder. He strives to honor his parents who have made sacrifices so their family can have a better life.

“My parents are first-generation immigrants to the U.S., and I always think about how they left behind their lives to give me and my siblings that opportunity. I try to honor that by taking advantage of it and working my hardest,” Kasturirangan said.

With high expectations comes the stress of continuously meeting them. Instead of letting the pressure weigh him down, Kasturirangan motivates himself by focusing on his goals rather than what others want for him.

“People think things come to me pretty much effortlessly,” Kasturirangan said. “Being held to a high standard is one thing, but those expectations get to you from time to time, and it can be hard to deal with. You accept some of them, but also drown out the rest. I accept criticism and advice, but at the end of the day, I do what I can for myself and not for anyone else.”