YJA Convention 2010 07 New Brunswick NJ Ninth

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

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High School / College Sessions
Peer Pressure - Good or Bad?
Growing up in today's world certainly presents many challenges. Identity. Culture. Morals. Because of these challenges, have you ever done something simply because you don't want to feel left out? Explore the ins and outs of peer pressure and how it can affect your daily lives. Can peer pressure be positive? Can it teach us life lessons? Our session mentors will take you through different scenarios that might happen to you and will discuss the best ways to approach peer pressure.
Charmi Vakharia - Charmi Vakharia is going to be a senior in high school and has been attending Pathshala and Gujarati classes since kindergarten. She actively participated in the Jain Academic Bowl at JAINA conventions and won the First Place prize for the Jain Center of New Jersey along with two other students. She also holds a teacher's certificate in Preksha Meditation that she learned from Samani Mudit Pragyaji and Samani Shukla Pragyaji. Last summer, she completed her Bharat Natyam Arangetram (dance graduation). She is a member of the Spanish Honors Society, Tri M Music Honors society and National Honors Society and plays for her school's tennis team. She also has been selected for Regions and All State Choral Programs and has performed at New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Juhi Shah - Juhi Shah is from Somerset, New Jersey and will be a senior in the fall. Juhi is very involved in school through Student Council and is going to be Vice President of the club as a senior. Juhi also has been dancing since the age of three and is also in the process of reaching her arrangetram. She has won several competitions with her dance team. She has also played the piano since the age of seven, and has won several awards. Juhi aspires to be a dentist when she goes to college.
Prescription: Extra Strength Jainism
Life transitions define those who attend this conference. School, college, work, family, kids are all just some of the pressure filled challenges that await. The youth are constantly being trained on how to excel and succeed in all these areas, but are we given a roadmap on how to handle the pressure? Jainism can help us and in this session we will talk about how.
Apurva Bhansali - Apurva found Softex in 1992 along with his father Mahendra Bhansali. After both his parents died in a car accident in 1998, Apurva became the CEO of Softex. Located in Austin, TX, Softex was named as an Inc. 500 Top 500 Fastest Growing Private Company in 2000. Softex employs approximately 35 people with offices in Austin and Mumbai. Apurva was involved in the creation of the Jain Sangh of Greater Austin and has served as President of the Sangh. Apurva is married to Nehal Bhansali and has two kids, Ayush (10) and Ashna (8) years old.
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YJA CONVENTION 2010 I New Brunswick