While Suhani may be the one who comes to mind when someone says “model student,” it has become clear that her character extends far beyond that. She puts hard work and care into her various classes and extracurricular activities while still managing to assist those around her and form real, lasting connections. It is clear that Suhani is something special; the impact she has made on Metuchen High School, as well as the achievements she’s made outside of school, are accomplishments that she should be immensely proud of. Suhani Modha is one of the best MHS has to offer: an intelligent and ambitious senior whose kindness and compassion shine through above all else.
“No single word could be enough to describe who Suhani is—she goes far beyond “great” or “successful.” Suhani has been there for me through every moment in high school, always knowing exactly what to say and teaching me something new each time. She’s incredibly driven, but what’s even more impressive is how she balances her hard work with laughter and fun. Watching her chase her dreams and reach her goals is truly inspiring—she is a testament to the fact that success comes from the heart and effort you put in. No one is more hardworking, dedicated, or deserving than Suhani. I’m so grateful to watch her now, and I can’t wait to proudly say “I know her!” as she accomplishes even more in the future.” - Emma Biba.
Suhani has already accomplished so much within her first few years at MHS. Despite her taking some of the most advanced classes the school has to offer, she has still found time for involvement with various extracurriculars, including the Tennis Team, Asian Heritage Club, and Math National Honors Society. She even founded her own organization within the district, SWENext (Society for Women Engineers), a program where students from Metuchen High School, including Suhani, go to Campbell Elementary School every other week to teach young girls about S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). They do various STEM-related activities, including projects such as building Marshmallow & Spaghetti Towers, providing these girls with basic foundations in the field. Setting up this program was not easy for Suhani and her friends, as they had to coordinate between two schools, but it was evident that SWENext was worth the trouble. The organization is especially important to Suhani because of the clear gender disparity within STEM fields, a field that she herself will soon be entering. Suhani believes that introducing girls to STEM from a young age is important to providing a strong foundation in the field and can go a long way in helping bridge the gender gap.
“Suhani's poise, maturity, and competence shine through consistently in the classroom. One can always trust that her work is completed diligently and with integrity. Seeing Suhani's communicative skills grow through the years has been a pleasure. She is a natural learner with a kind, docile manner whose talents for world language impress as they continue to improve.” - Profe Flores.
While Suhani’s current and future interests lie within the STEM field, she is also very involved in other extracurriculars at MHS, one of which is the Asian Heritage Club. With the AHC, Suhani served as vice president during her junior and senior years. She has been an active member throughout her time at MHS, attending meetings and planning special events such as the Cultural Gala. This club is significant to her, as Suhani believes it provides a strong representation of the diverse Asian cultures within the MHS community. Suhani is also on the MHS Girls Tennis Team, which she has played for throughout the past four years. She was part of the JV team during her freshman year, but soon jumped up to the varsity level during her next three years. Her strong display of skill and leadership qualities made her a perfect choice for Captain during her senior year. This team has been very important to Suhani, as it allowed her to make friendships and connections with people she might have never interacted with otherwise. After last season, the Girls Tennis team moved up a division, leading to more challenging competitions for Suhani and her teammates. However, Suhani described the entire 2024 season as a highlight of her tennis career. She specifically enjoyed GMCs, where she and her teammates had fun creating motivational posters, and Suhani has been genuinely enjoying her final season with the team.
“I've known Suhani since elementary school, and she’s always impressed me with her kindness, dedication, and drive to make a positive impact at our school. Over the years, she’s been more than just a “good student”, she’s also become a true friend to everyone here at Metuchen High School. Suhani is the kind of person who’s always there when you need her- whether it’s for a listening ear, a good laugh, or advice. She’s always gone above and beyond, volunteering for extracurricular activities and helping those who are struggling in certain classes. Her ability to balance academics with being involved in school life is something that truly inspires everyone around her. From leading clubs to supporting her peers, or just showing up with a smile, Suhani’s contributions to our school will definitely leave a lasting impact. She’s a perfect example of how one person can make a difference, and MHS has been lucky to have her as a friend and role model over the years.” - Amal Omarzai.
Outside of MHS, Suhani has been very active with various STEM programs, two major ones being the Waksman Program and Governor's School. After being recruited by Mrs. Green, Suhani first participated in MHS’s Waksman Program during her sophomore year. Through Waksman, Suhani and her classmates would research duckweed, a small flowering plant that floats on water, providing her with a strong foundation in research. She was then selected to participate in the Waksman Summer Program at Rutgers University and is currently President of the program at MHS.
“Suhani has all the qualities of a great student - she's hardworking, smart, and ambitious - but what truly sets her apart is the kind of person she is. Suhani is caring and willing to help others, making a positive impact on everyone around her and the classroom a better place for all of us.” - Mrs. Green.
The Governor’s School is one of Suhani’s most impressive accomplishments, considering how difficult it is to simply get accepted into the program. With the program’s acceptance rate only 20-25%, Governor’s School’s application process was particularly competitive as Suhani was the sole nominee from MHS and had to compare against hundreds of other top NJ students. Nonetheless, Suhani was accepted, exemplifying her determination and drive. The program itself also was extremely intensive. She stayed at the Governor’s School for four weeks, working from eight in the morning to ten at night every day and completing lots of research involving her intended major, Biomedical Engineering. The program offered many opportunities for additional research and allowed Suhani to participate in many high-level, unique classes. While challenging, Suhani described the program as extremely rewarding as it is an important stepping stone for accomplishing her goal and allowed her to form many meaningful friendships.
“I became friends with Suhani in first grade and ever since then she has always been the sweetest, most genuine, and most humble person I have ever met. Ever since we were little, my family and I have watched her in awe. She has always been outstanding academically, constantly studying and working hard. During our high school years, she has always been by my side, I ask her stupid questions about homework or other assignments, and she has not once in our lives judged me or made me feel less than. That takes a lot coming from someone who has gotten accepted in the Rutgers Engineering and Technology Governor’s School and has presented research studies at MIT. Not once has she bragged about it. Suhani truly is such a good example of what happens when you work hard and are nice to people. My friends and I always talk about wondering where she will end up in life. Nobel Prize? Curing cancer? I’m not sure but I know it will be something extraordinary.” - Paxton Sullivan.
Suhani’s time at MHS isn’t simply defined by her academic achievements. While those are surely important, Suhani recounted that her favorite memories of MHS were the school events and spending time with her friends. She highlighted the Week of Lights as one of them, describing how fun it was to both watch with her friends in the stands and support her friends on the field. She also really enjoyed Battle of the Classes, an end-of-year she always looked forward to. Out of all the organizations she was a part of, SWENext, the program she founded herself, meant the most to her. She reflected on one specific memory from the end of last year when the graduating fourth graders asked if they would still have the program at Edgar Middle School. This moment meant a lot to Suhani, as it showed that the program she created truly made an impact on these girls. Suhani formed a lot of important connections with teachers at the high school as well. She highlighted Mrs. Green, the teacher of the ninth-grade biology class where Suhani’s STEM interests were first sparked, and the advisor of the Waksman program. Mrs. Baird had an impact on Suhani as well, as she was both Suhani’s freshman-year English teacher and AP Lang teacher. Suhani also spoke about Mrs. Demott, her guidance counselor who was always there for her, supporting Suhani and helping her navigate throughout her years at MHS.
“Suhani is the type of student every teacher hopes to have in class—dedicated, thoughtful, and always willing to lend a hand to others. I've always been impressed by her quiet acts of kindness, and I think, as an upperclassman, she has this natural ability to be a role model; someone younger students can genuinely look up to and feel at ease around. Her kindness and leadership seems to come so effortlessly, and I just know that she’ll keep uplifting those around her wherever she goes next!” - Mrs. Baird
Suhani now looks towards a bright future, where she can achieve anything she hopes to. She’s currently in the midst of the college admissions process, keeping a healthy “wait and see” mindset when it comes to applications, and not stressing too much about it. She is sure that she wants to major in Biomedical Engineering where she hopes to use what she learns to improve global health care. Specifically, she aspires to promote a more equitable healthcare system which would involve creating tools to treat various diseases. As she leaves MHS, Suhani encourages underclassmen to get involved in any way that they can. Whether it be joining a club or starting your own, the years at high school go by very quickly so everyone should make the most of them, and of course, find plenty of time to spend with family and friends. Suhani is not only a bright and phenomenal student but also a kind, well-rounded person who stands out here at MHS. She will surely find success wherever she chooses to go in life, and the impact she has made on MHS and those around her will not be forgotten.
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