Though born and raised in Oklahoma, Westmoore High School senior Janki Patel is hoping to branch out to New York City by becoming a magazine editor in the fashion industry.
Patel’s mornings consists of unraveling in a cup of coffee and double-checking her latest homework assignments on her laptop — more than likely last-minute edits to her high school’s yearbook. Patel has been the editor-in-chief for two years. Along with being elected Overall Successful Yearbook Staff Member in her school, Patel has won numerous awards at Oklahoma Scholastic Media, a conference that’s dedicated to high school journalists.
But her aspiration for success in Westmoore’s newsroom goes further. Patel is looking into a journalism career in New York City, which she described as “America’s fashion capital.”
Patel said she wants her life to closely resemble “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure,” a spin-off movie to Disney’s “High School Musical” franchise. Just like Sharpay’s obsession with fame and fortune, Patel said she “wants it all.”
She is hoping to be employed with a fashion magazine as an editor; with her top choice being the globally recognized “Vogue.”
In Patel’s free time, anyone could find her in her favorite mall, Penn Square, digging through American Eagle’s racks and looking to find anything that fits her style.
“It takes my stress away, and it’s just a way to make myself feel good. It makes me feel confident,” Patel said.
Her fashion, and fashion in general, is an important slice of her life — but it’s not the only thing she holds dear.
Her parents, who moved from India to the United States, and her younger sister are a big part of her life, especially her mother Sunita.
Sunita does not have a college degree, but she works very hard to provide her family with a home that is rich in love, comfort and support.
“She gives me more than I would ever need,” Patel said.
As a stay-at-home mom, Sunita is ever-present in Patel’s life, always lending her daughters a helping hand when needed.
Along with her home life, Patel is a dedicated follower of Hinduism.
Patel has never experienced an American hamburger, and has always been wary of hotdogs for religious reasons, but her dedication to her faith goes further than the simple baselines.
A temple in her house gives her access to any spiritual guidance at any hour of the day. An elder lights a candle in the temple in the morning and again in the evening to let the gods and goddesses know the family is present. Additionally, Patel usually prays at least once a day.
In every Hindu family, a god or goddess is chosen to help guide the family through troubles. For Patel’s family, he is Krishna, a god that represent family, and who Patel believes to be the Supreme Being, or the highest deity in Hinduism.
“To me, he is the god of keeping your community together,” Patel said.
