Gujarati Miss Doogie Howser aces US test

AHMEDABAD: Imagine grades so high that even a computer cannot register it. That is what happened at Plant City High School in Hillsborough County of Florida, the US, this summer when Dhara Patel accumulated the highest grade point average (GPA) ever, that of 10.3. In June, this Gujarati whizkid not only graduated from high school but also got her college diploma.
Dhara said: “I hold the highest GPA in Hillsborough County and am now looking forward to studying in the University of Florida. My ultimate dream is to bring change in the lives of the poor using science.”
“She took ‘Advance Placement’ courses which are national courses regulated by the college board, along with courses at the community college. By taking both, she added extra bonus points to her normal grade point average. In fact, she got her community college diploma before she got her high school diploma on June 4,” said Sherrie Mueller, college and career counselor at Plant City High School.
GPA is a measure of how many classes one has taken and how well one has done in a school year. “During high school, I took a lot of classes online as well as college classes, so much so that the computer couldn’t take in a double-digit number for my GPA. Every student before me has had single digit GPA (1-9),” Dhara said. While she calls Maths and Science her favourite subjects, she is also a common feature in hospitals working with special needs kids. “I also help raise money to fund research to find a cure for cancer, provide support for retired veterans, and the homeless around the Plant City.”
Spending her last school year summer at a dentist’s clinic, Dhara got ace reviews from the dentist. “Dhara had a thirst to learn all about dentistry. She was driven, focused and had a nurturing manner that allowed her to easily connect with our patients,” said Dr Trey Mueller, of Dental Associates of Florida.
A Gujarati at heart, the girl has learnt raas-garba and performed on a competitive level for five years. Her father Dipak Patel shifted to the US in 1988 from Anand and the family travels to the homeland once every summer. She now plans to be an orthodontist and help third-world country kids and adults suffering from cleft palate.