A Global Girl

Four-year senior Sumun Khetpal’s role and impact within the Exeter community is multifaceted and broad, whether leading her dorm as proctor, serving up the courts in tennis, or advocating global human rights’ issues.As an ESSO leader of the Exeter Global Health Initiative, Khetpal exemplifies “non sibi” in her daily life. Senior Tiffany May said, “Sumun is simultaneously fierce and gentle. She is focused, yet remains keenly aware of those around her and is always ready to lend a hand.”Senior Jiyoung Jang emphasized Khetpal’s willingness to accommodate her friends’ needs. “She is very hard working. She always does her best at everything, whether it’s homework, her job as a proctor, or her job as a class treasurer. She is a very responsible student. She is also a friend who is always there for you. She will go out of her way to make her friends feel happy.”Khetpal notes that ESSO plays a key role in her time at Exeter, serving as a branch of service where she focuses on global problems. She was first introduced to these problems when traveling extensively with her parents, who are both physicians. “I’ve become interested in the problems that we face from a health standpoint around the world. There are so many issues including obesity, malnutrition and disparities in health throughout populations," Khetpal said. “In my work with ESSO Global I have focused on getting people outside the ‘bubble’ and educating them about what’s beyond this place and share my own experiences.”ESSO Community Service Coordinator Laurie Loosigan noted Sumun’s passion for global health issues. “When Sumun first came here, she was just so sure that this is what she was interested in, so as a young person, she truly found her passion and was driven to make it work here,” Loosigian said. “She worked extremely hard to figure out the system and what really works with students and how to try to set this up. She developed some good leadership skills early on and has gone to the Global Health Fair at Yale.”Khetpal spearheaded many of ESSO Global’s key events, including the Global Health Fair, in which various clubs participated and spoke to the Academy to raise awareness about specific global health issues. “I strongly believe that we have a duty to be global citizens, know about what is going on in the world and address the problems that it faces in whatever way we can,” Khetpal said.The Global Health Initiative continues to be a central part of Khetpal’s work at Exeter. The group went to a global health and innovation conference last week, where they were able to meet speakers and others who worked in non-profits and global health. Khetpal hopes that the work she has pursued at Exeter will continue to be a part of her life in the future. “I hope to be a physician in the future and work abroad doing something that directly helps people and actually accomplish something with regards to global health,” Khetpal said.Loosigian highlighted Sumun’s dedication to ESSO. “She was really the first person who had ever done something like that and she really inspired this idea of these global clubs to work together because we’ve always had global clubs here, but we’ve never had a way to have them talking and networking with each other. It’s been a great way for her to really hook into her passion.”Just as she does in ESSO, Khetpal hopes her work as a co-head of Subcontinent Society will “introduce and educate members of the Academy community to Hinduism, which is a subject that they may not be familiar with,” she said. “My goal is making people know what’s beyond this place and sharing my own experiences.” As a co-head, she is responsible bringing Holi, the spring festival of colors, to Exeter. This year’s Holi will be held in two weeks.Khetpal discussed the difficulties of bringing Holi to Exeter. “[The problems were] mainly the mess that it caused.” Khetpal worked with the school and Ms. Safford to bring the Academy’s first Holi in 2011. “There was a huge turnout and Hindu Society has become best known for Holi. It’s great because it has made it more accessible to others and it has been our priority to expand people’s horizons and allow people to learn about Hinduism in a fun, exciting way,” Khetpal said.It was no surprise to those around her who had already seen her leadership and organization in action when Khetpal recently became treasurer of her senior class. Khetpal hopes that in her position as treasurer she can help to ensure that the senior gift is successfully established. As a member of the student council, Khetpal said she wants to “represent the class of 2013 and to some degree the female population.”Khetpal is in charge of not only the class finances and gift, but also Survivor, the popular class-wide game. Ultimately, Khetpal said, “It’s an honor for me to be treasurer. My peers have voted me in and they have trusted me to help make their senior winter and spring as memorable as possible.”Khetpal’s leadership and ability to connect with people is evident in her role as proctor and Student Listener in Langdell Hall. “I try my best to be a support to my fellow peers, and be positive to help get them through whatever they are experiencing.” Khetpal embodies this spirit of “non sibi” in her interactions with dorm mates and friends. “My door is always open,” she said.Dorm mate and senior Carla Sehn remembers how Khetpal made her first feel welcome in the dorm. “Even with all the things she is involved in she still takes the time to look out for people. She really does put her heart into everything,” Sehn said.May agreed and noted that Khetpal prioritizes her friends. “Sumun is very respected amongst her peers because she's very responsible and has very intelligent ideas that she readily shares with others,” May said. “She is a supportive presence when we rise to the challenge together, feeling prepared and confident. She has a way of helping us all pull through together.”