Talented. That is just one of the many words Amita Dravid, mother of freshman Amil Dravid, uses to describe her son. According to Amita, Amil is pursuing  his interests in music and taekwondo. Amil is currently a member of South’s marching band drum line, and participates in jazz band. According to Amita, music has heavily influenced her son’s life since he was in grade school and has been his passion since then.

“[Amil] just loves music, ever since he was in second grade,” Amita said. “He originally started [playing] piano, then guitar, then bass. He didn’t start drums until maybe four years ago. [Amil] just loves drums, [playing the drums] is his main passion. When he plays his drums, he just forgets everything around him.”

Amita also explained how she believes her son’s success in taekwondo and music, relates to Amil’s  ability to take a challenge head on. According to Amita, when Amil was in middle school he solved his first Rubik’s Cube. He moved from the three-by-three cube to the five-by-five cube within a short amount of time. Amita noted her son’s ability to take on a challenge, and how he continued to work through the obstacles he had faced.

“Whenever he had a problem he would fix it,” Amita said. “[Amil] wants to challenge himself and that’s what he did.”

In comparison to how Amita feels about her son’s ability of being able to take a challenge head on, Spencer Peterson, sophomore drum line member, explained how he sees this same quality in Amil. According to Peterson, he see’s Amil’s drive and determination translate into Amil’s musical abilities and level, which  in turn affects the performance of South’s drum line as a whole.

“As a musician, I think that [Amil] is very advanced for his age,” Peterson said. “Last year myself as a freshman, I wasn’t at the same level as [Amil] is as a freshman. He has a certain attitude about him….He just has a certain drive [in music], he’s so determined with anything he wants to do… I wouldn’t be surprised if what he does [after school] is he goes home and does homework and then just drums, forever.”

Amil explained how at a young age he was in need of a way to relieve stress, which brought him to his discovery of taekwondo in sixth grade.  According to Amil, the role that taekwondo played in his life was initially a stress reliever, and now as an activity he is pursuing.

“I kind of needed a stress relief, because when I was younger I would stress over little things,” Amil said. “Then my mom suggested taekwondo. We looked around and found this great place, AKYI Taekwondo, and that’s how it all started.”

According to Amil, although he is only in his third year into his taekwondo program at AKYI taekwondo, he has made it to various taekwondo tournaments. Amita explained that in her eyes one of Amil’s greatest achievements in taekwondo this year was his qualification, and winning of state, despite injuries he had prior to the competition.

“[Amil] hurt his leg just  before [state], and it was really bad,” Amita said. “… He was advised [by the doctors]  against going to state.. Then [after] three or four days he was feeling better…and then he went to [state], and I totally supported him because I knew how important [competing] was to him.”

According to Amil, he channels  his hard work and dedication from taekwondo and implements this into his music. Greg Wojcik, South’s band director, explained how Amil has become one of the few freshman to be on South’s Drumline, in June of 2015. According to Wojcik, he hopes to be able to help Amil not only to improve as a drummer, but also to help him grow as a person. Wojcik noted that he  is excited for Amil’s high school band career, and looks forward to where he will go.

“At the end [of auditions], we had to pick who is on drum line and [Amil]  was chosen [for that],” Wojick said. “So it’s based on his talent and ability to audition and play. [Amil] is  learning. I hope we’re bringing something to him.”

According to Amil, he participated in his first Taekwondo competition in 2012, and received second place overall. In comparison to Wojcik’s hopes for growth and improvement in drumline, Amil explained how he applied this same idealogy into his Taekwondo following his first competition.

“I remember my first [taekwondo] competition; it was extremely nerve racking,” Amil said.“I was so scared… I just remember it being my first competition, and I had to try my best, and do well…[Since my first competition] I’ve also gotten a lot better, and learned a lot from watching other people [compete].”

Amil explained how following his first taekwondo competition, his subsequent feelings and views regarding the sport have changed.

“I don’t know why taekwondo got to me, but I just love all the kicking and focus,” Amil said. “[taekwondo] is not just how physically fit you are, there’s also some finesse to it.”

As Amil’s views on taekwondo have evolved over the past three years, so have his musical ones. Amil explained his spark in music at a young age, and how this once simple curiosity has become one of his passions in life.

“My dad would always play these oldies; 60’s, 70’s and 80’s songs,” Amil said. “I found [this music] really  cool to listen to, and my dad taught me a lot [about music] too.

Amita explained how every summer Amil takes his musical aspirations to India to raise money for an impoverished school. According to Amita, over Amil’s trip to India last summer he  held a rock concert to help raise funds for the school, which contributed to student scholarships.

“He’s so talented, and focused,” Amita said. “[Amil] is always looking for new techniques [he can use in drumming and taekwondo]…He likes to put his talent to use which surprises me because he is so young.”