Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week-Simi Sharma

As the seasons change and the weather begins to change, seniors can have a difficult time staying focused. Between graduation, prom, senior celebration, the list of distractions and proverbial light at the end of the tunnel has outgoing students of all schools looking into the future. Senior badminton player Simi Sharma is different in that although she is excited for what the future holds, her maturity and competitiveness help keep her grounded and focused, which is why she is this week’s Oswego East’s student athlete of the week.

Being a three year varsity returner means Simi is relied on by both teammates and coaches to lead. Head coach Marko Jurkovic understands just what Simi’s leadership means to the team, “she is a leader, but it’s through her play on the court and how she goes about practicing that makes her so valuable,” says Marko.

Simi is the number two singles player on the team, and her 13-1 record is highlighted by first place finishes at the TF North and DeKalb invites. Along with teammate Annie Carmody, Simi also competes as the number one doubles team for East. An all conference player as a junior in both doubles and singles, Simi is working tirelessly to achieve her goal of making a state finals appearance.

Badminton has provided Simi with the opportunity to grow as both a competitor and person over the past 4 years. Her mother, Rajni Sharma, has witnessed first hand the transformation Simi has made, “Simi has grown into a self-confident young lady and has learned to be a leader,” says Rajni. She goes on to add, “Simi is very persistent once she sets a goal. She is compassionate, and loves helping her fellow students as a student ambassador and freshman seminar leader.”

While badminton has helped Simi become a fierce competitor, she continues to raise the bar of excellence and expectations for student athletes for all of East. She currently ranks in the top 10% of the senior class with a 4.28 GPA, and earned an astounding 31 on the ACT exam. She has challenged herself through difficult courses such as advanced placement (AP) English Literature and Composition, AP Physics, AP Calculus AB, AP Government and Politics, and AP English Language and Composition.

Her favorite class is Medical Topics, as she plans on eventually going to medical school to become a doctor. Her Medical Topics teacher, Nancy Vesta, enjoys having someone as intelligent, driven, and mature as Simi in class, “Simi is always willing to take on a leadership role and share her thoughts on a topic and lead discussion,” says Nancy. She goes on to add, “Simi has been working hard during her hospital rotations, asking questions at every opportunity to better prepare herself for her future studies as she pursues a career in the medical field. Simi will make a great doctor, as she is always trying to learn about the latest advances in science and wants to do her best and be great at everything she does.”

As far as the future, Simi plans on attending either Knox College or the University of Illinois-Chicago, as both schools offer an extensive network of internships and research opportunities in the field of medicine. Before she leaves, Simi will continue to push hard to earn a place at the state tournament, and enjoying the camaraderie of her teammates.

While Simi’s future goals are well within striking distance, she reflects upon her time here at East, and offers this advice to those future Wolves who will be walking the halls in a few short months, “give it your all because you don’t know your true potential until you’ve given something your best effort,” says Simi. Hopefully Simi, and the rest of the Lady Wolves badminton team, can reach their full potential before high school becomes a memory in the rear view mirror.