Punarvash Mitta

Punarvash Mitta is a current high-school senior in Phoenix, Arizona and attends BASIS Scottsdale. Punarvash is a Certified Nursing Assistant and conducts research at Arizona State University while interning and shadowing with multiple physicians. Aside from his medical interests, he is a National Taekwondo Champion and has his own non-profit organization known as KidsTae. He enjoys playing basketball for his school’s Varsity team and loves thrifting. He plans on pursuing the pre-med track as he hopes to help children with uncommon genetic conditions through clinical treatment and research.

Our Interview With Punarvash

Was this the first time you entered the contest
This was my first time.

How did you hear about the contest?
I found the contest on the online website and I thought it was a super fun idea!

What inspired your work?
Watching captivating social media posts inspired me to do the same for this social media post as well. My past experiences as a social media manager also seemed to help a little.

What did you learn while creating your entry?
I learned how easy it is to be persuasive and how easy it is to make a change in one’s community. I was able to do so with the short amount of time I had.

How do you plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution?
I plan to spread the word this year to your peers about the importance of the U.S Constitution through discourse. I think the best way for people to learn about the Constitution is by discussing some of its core values, principles, and beliefs, and I plan to do just that.

How do your friends respond to history or talking about the Constitution?
My friends love talking about the Constitution! I believe the biggest thing we talk about is how effective it really is at securing our freedoms, and how these freedoms can contribute to our individual opinions flourishing.

What do you love about U.S History and the forming of our government?
I love how overlapped our U.S. History really is. Every decision impacts the beliefs of a specific group, that specific group calls for action, and these lead to new decisions. Everything is cyclical!

Which U.S. historical site would you like to visit?
The historical site I would love to visit would be Jamestown, a living historical museum of one of the first settlements in the United States.

Which American historical figure is most influential/inspirational to you?
The American historical figure who is most influential/inspirational to you would be Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln wasn’t the most fortunate as a child, however, he managed to change the tide of American history through sheer will and determination.

Who is your greatest role model?
My greatest role model would be my martial arts instructor, John D. Nottingham. He taught me many values I pride myself with.

What in your life are you most passionate about?
I am extremely passionate about the proper medical treatment of underserved populations in the medical field.

How do you spend your free time?
I spend my free time playing basketball, practicing Taekwondo, and thrifting!

What are your plans for the future?
I plan to become a pediatric sports medicine physician in the future.

If you could do one super impactful thing to help people, what would it be?
I hope to create large mental health initiatives that incorporate physical activity to ultimately be able to serve those in need.

Why is the Constitution relevant today?
The Constitution guides our everyday actions. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the vast freedom I have gone to love and respect.

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