Ryan Maharaj
Modesto JC graduate

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When most other teens his age were finishing high school, Ryan, 18, was graduating from Modesto Junior College with two associate degrees.

Ryan graduated from Central Valley High when he was 15 with a 3.9 GPA. For the past two years, he has worked hard to complete his courses in communication and transfer study at MJC, where he also involved himself in speech and dance.

"It was kind of weird," Ryan said of attending college early. "On the first day, people in my classes would introduce me as 'the 15-year-old.' It was hard at first to catch the mentality of a college student — I was kind of shy.

"But probably the second semester, I grew more comfortable. I'm totally attached to MJC now. It was a great experience, because in high school, I didn't have opportunity to do much, and I wasn't interested in anything. At MJC, I was able to do a lot."

For instance, Ryan joined the MJC speech and debate team. He won individual events in tournaments around the state.

"It definitely has challenges, to be up there and be calm — especially at speech tournaments, where you have to pretty much memorize your speech," Ryan said. "It's going to help me in my career, and it's also going to help me be more confident when I speak with other people. Debate helped me think quicker on my feet."

He applied speech to another passion of his — Indian dance. Ryan took first place in the MJC Celebration of Humanities contest with a speech on Bollywood, a style of dance he first tried when he heard of a show MJC was putting on last year.

"Watching Bollywood movies, I saw the music and dancing, and I always wanted to try do dance," he said.

Ryan watched Bollywood videos to help him learn, and he received instruction from his 20-year-old cousin Bindya, a Bollywood dancer. The piece he choreographed was featured in the MJC Choreographer's Showcase.

"Bollywood dance is fun, it's part of my culture, and I like putting it together and being on stage," Ryan said. "Dancing in general is a kind of release for me, something I can do."

In addition to his activities at MJC, Ryan took part in theater with the Youth Entertainment Stage Company. Although the program is typically for students in grades 7-12, Ryan was able to participate due to his young age.

He said: "It was good, because at that time, I'd already been in college for a semester. It was nice to be around people my age, and I met of lot of great people."

Ryan will transfer to California State University, Stanislaus, in the fall to pursue a major in speech, but he plans to continue membership in the MJC speech and debate team and take MJC dance classes. In the future, Ryan hopes teach at a community college like MJC.

• • •

FAMILY: Parents, Rupen and Shobna Maharaj; sister, Samantha, 20

HOBBIES: Dance, speech, poetry, reading, filmmaking, music, swimming, tennis

BIGGEST INFLUENCE: My speech professor/coach Kim Gyuran. She has influenced me to do and be my very best not only in speeches but in life. She's a great professor, mentor and friend.

LAST BOOK I READ FOR PLEASURE: "A Bend in the Road" by Nicholas Sparks

FAVORITE MUSIC: Anything that sounds good, mostly alternative rock and Indian music.

FAVORITE TV SHOW: "One Tree Hill" and "The Suite Life on Deck"

FAVORITE MOVIE: "Slumdog Millionaire"

BIGGEST FEAR: Failure — not being the best person possible.

WHAT I'D TELL THE PRESIDENT: I haven't given up on you.

ADVICE FOR KIDS: Stay as young as you can for the longest time.

ADVICE FOR ADULTS: Even a grown man can learn from a child.

WHERE I'LL BE IN 10 YEARS: I'd be teaching at a community college and living near a beach with my wife and kids.

— ELECTRA CHONG / TEENS IN THE NEWSROOM

The Teen Hall of Fame honoree receives a $100 check from E.&J. Gallo Winery, movie tickets from Dr. Randy Winter with the Modesto Arts Medical Group, a gift card from Yogurt Mill and bowling passes from Yosemite Lanes.