Exonians Remember Preeya Sheth ’16
Active in politics, civil rights and sports, Preeya Sheth was a committed and passionate member of the Exeter community. Described as a young woman who “strove for excellence” in each of her commitments, Preeya, a rising upper in Bancroft Hall, passed away July 30. Several of her friends and loved ones shared their thoughts and memories.
“A fellow Croftette and one of my closest friends, Preeya was a role model to all,” upper Audrey DeGuerrera said. “She strove for excellence in all of her endeavors, whether it was academics, extracurriculars or sports. I will forever remember our time together on the tennis team as warm-up buddies, and the late nights we spent singing and dancing to Lana Del Rey, as well as many other happy times we had together. It's so hard that she's gone. Preeya did so much for our community through Fem Club, Dem Club and various projects in between.”
Sheth, active in the Exeter Democratic Club and on the varsity tennis team, was also set to take the reins of the Exeter Feminist Union this fall. Kristina Elhauge ‘14, former Fem Club co-head, wrote a message to Sheth and the Exeter community. “Preeya was a caring, selfless, determined, brilliant fireball, and she was one of those few people who lead the world into a better future,” Elhauge wrote. “I hope everyone at Exeter understands exactly whom you’ve lost. She was going to be the best leader you’d ever had.”
Elhauge described Preeya’s involvement in last year’s “PEA Needs Feminism because…” campaign as an emblem of her strength and bravery and her willingness to “wage war” on misogyny and negativity. “We went to war when we chose to speak out, to expose our experiences and our bodies in order to get our message across. We went to war when we were born women, when we chose to not be complacent with misogyny and violence, when we dared to wear lipstick while also being aggressive at the Harkness table.”
“Preeya’s light, her spirit and her power, were unmatchable, and there will never be anyone quite like her,” Elhauge said. “Goodbye, my fallen comrade, my little sister, my powerhouse protégé, our fearless warrior queen. I’ve stopped smoking like you said I should, and I started watching all the TV shows you recommended. I wish you were here to talk about them with me. I miss your laugh and your pink coat. I love you, Preeya. I’m not ready to use past tense for that word yet. I don’t think I ever will.”
Senior Helen Edwards will lead the Fem Club this year. Edwards wrote her thoughts for Preeya: “I’ve only known you for a short two years, but it feels like I have grown up with you. You have touched my life and the lives of everybody around you in unimaginable ways. I think about you and miss you everyday.”
Last spring, Sheth was selected to be a co-head of Exeter’s Dem Club and was active in the presidential campaign launch for Hillary Clinton this summer.
“Preeya was the first Asian American woman in the history of Phillips Exeter Academy to co-head the ‘DEMO Club.’ What an honor and it was well deserved. Oh wow, could Preeya write, she was such quick thinker," club adviser Jacquelyne Weatherspoon said.
Sheth was the student lead for the “Ready for Hillary” Campaign. “As a result, she had to log in to the training conference calls with the ‘Ready For Hillary.’ I would sit with her to ensure they understood this very bright and sharp young woman they were impressed with was just a high school student and a 10th grader at that,” Weatherspoon added.
The “Ready for Hillary” organization then asked Sheth to be one of their high school volunteers; she would lead Clinton’s campaign effort at Exeter if the Secretary of State decided to run.
“A week before Preeya passed away, she and her mom were in New Jersey at the book signing of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton working alongside her,” Weatherspoon said. “I was so proud, and I knew for the rest of her life she would have the honor and pleasure of working with what may be the first woman in the history of the United States to run and maybe be president. What a gift Preeya was to DEMO Club, Asian women, PEA and to me, one of the co-faculty advisors. My heart will heal in time.”