the road to growth

by Kaviya Raja

A book for the dreamers, the overthinkers, and the unapologetic optimistics.

official release date: September 13th, 2020

This project is one of mine that I have envisioned for a very long time. Since the beginning of high school, I kept a record of instances that defined my character and who I developed into nearly three years later. This book contains elements of all of those experiences and puts them into words. This is my first published work of any kind, so it is extremely special to me. High school was definitely a place of growth and learning. I used to not recognize it, but my violin teacher has always told me I have a keen eye for patterns. I tend to recognize them and connect with them as I see them, even subconsciously. The book depicts a pattern of a repetition, of a date, and of a number. Thirteen is an interesting number. Some consider it as unlucky, but I think otherwise. There is beauty in questioning the ordinary. Thirteen was the age I was when I entered high school and August thirteenth was the first day of school. There are thirteen experiences and moments of realization I have chosen to share; likewise, there are thirteen stories in this book. I am not a shallow person; I do not let people inside of me very easily. Consider this work of mine a piece of myself I am allowing you to read.

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THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PAGES

The Road to Growth

September 2020

It only makes sense that this book is dedicated to my big brother. Mathi has been the best brother I could have imagined and even more so, the biggest influence on the final draft of the book. I would be lying if I said he didn't play a major role in the creation of the book. Although he has not played an active part in the writing of it, he was my sole inspiration for this book. Mathi was the person I have watched grow before my eyes for the fifteen years I have lived, and to see him grow into what he is now inspires me so much. I have never looked up to anyone as much as him, and I am so, so proud to call him my older brother.

Mathi Raja

I was so fortunate to become friends with such a kind-hearted soul. Emma and I went from not talking to becoming close friends in a matter of a week — thanks to our shared music taste and the nearly four months we sat next to each other in math class. We would do math (of course), talk about music, take practice DECA tests, write debate blocks, write summer program applications, and share our passions with each other.. Not one second was wasted when we were in each other's company. Our friendship grew, and I am so thankful our counselors decided to place us in the same math class in sophomore year of high school. Emma is an extremely talented illustrator and never sets back without perfection. I am beyond grateful for the help she has given me in creating this book, because without it, these pieces of paper would be no more than black and white lines on a page. Thank you Emma, for everything you have done for me.

Emma Lin

Ananya was one of the very few people I trusted with sharing my work with initially. During the summer after fifth grade, Ananya moved across the street from me. I saw her moving in and as the neighborhood kids did, I knocked on her door and asked if if she could play hide-and-seek with me and some other kids. Since that day, Ananya has been one of the few people I would trust my life with. We are more than friends and more like sisters over these past six years. Ananya helped me edit my stories, and at the end of it, she told me that I helped her realize her love for editing. This made me smile, knowing that I was able to help someone through the creation of my book, even when it wasn't even published. Thank you for being such a big part of my life and this book.