Embracing family, from Indiana to India
Although Suprita Vavilala is technically considered “Evansville, Indiana Made”, she has spent a large portion of her life traveling to and from India, where she is able to reconnect with her family every summer. Since she was born, Suprita, along with her sister and parents, has taken the twenty-hour flight to both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where she spends over a month with both sets of her grandparents as well as her cousins, aunts, and uncles. The time Suprita gets to spend with her family is precious and she makes sure to not take it for granted.
“The nostalgia I get from visiting India every summer is unforgettable. Even though I don’t visit as often as I used to, it always reminds me of when I was younger and how excited I would be to see my grandparents!”
When asking Suprita about her values, she made it clear that she values forgiveness. As a sensitive person, Suprita understands that people make mistakes and that the best way to make up is to forgive and forget. Although Suprita and her sister, Ritika, currently have a very good relationship, there was a time when they were not as close. Supritas consistent forgiving personality allowed for her relationship with her sister to become smoother and has led to the current tight bond she and her sister now share.
“I feel as if my relationship with my sister has strengthened after she left for college. We really weren’t that close until she left for school. Now, I look forward to the seasonal breaks when my sister comes back to town,” says Vavilala. “We usually just do something casual like going out for ice cream, but I always appreciate the time I get to spend with her.”
When Ritika left for college in 2020, Suprita became a temporary “only child”. Although this change in Surpitas life altered the way things were at home, her relationship with her parents remained strong. Over the years, Suprita has developed an especially close relationship with her father.
“My dad is probably my biggest inspiration. He always has a lot going on whether it’s with his job, taking care of us, or worrying about his mother all the way back in India. He always manages to keep up with everything with a smile on his face.”