Knightly News

We all have those moments – when what we need to happen happens, when we can feel an invisible guide moving us along a path, when unimaginable things simply line up in just the right order at just the right time.

Such a chill-bump-eliciting experience is just what 2013 Episcopal graduate Sharani White has been living since graduation.  White’s journey began her junior year at Episcopal.  She says she met with her college counselor, who suggested she take the Intro to Engineering class.  After all, she was good in math and science.  So with that White signed up and discovered that engineering was, in fact, her niche.  Her passion led her to Georgia Institute of Technology, an institution known for engineering, technology and research.

Sharani left for Atlanta full of excitement and confidence.  She felt ready for college and ready for the world.  You may expect that Sharani immediately excelled.  That’s not exactly what happened.

She failed two classes.

For someone with so much promise and the strong academic background she enjoyed in high school, this was a shock. A shock definitely shared by her parents, who couldn’t understand what had happened to this former Episcopal seventh and eighth grade class president.  Sharani spent that summer taking classes at LSU and she did well, which boosted her confidence once again and reinforced her drive to return to Tech.  ​After all re-taking classes should be easier right?

Wrong.  Her sophomore year began much the same as her freshman year.  She struggled in three classes and was in danger of failing. Sharani met with her college advisor who doled out some tough love. “Maybe you don’t belong here.” “Maybe you need to take a break.” “Maybe this is not the school for you.”

At this point Sharani’s story changes.  She fell back on the faith that had gotten her into Tech originally.  She began praying, asking God to send someone to help her.  This someone arrived in the form of a Tech classmate.  He had a 4.0.  He enjoyed helping others with their studies.  He was also her boyfriend.  Sharani says after David realized that she was in trouble academically the two became determined to turn the tide, both for her academic success and so that they could remain together.  Sharani remembers thinking “this is clearly the person God sent to help me.”

Sharani learned to prioritize her courses and studies.  She learned to read ahead and prepare.  She offers this advice to Episcopal students – don’t go to class to learn, but to get answers to questions you already have because you have read and looked at the material beforehand.  Ultimately, Sharani boosted her GPA.  Her peer group expanded because she was no longer struggling.  Her outlook improved and now she shares her story in an effort to help others.  “It’s ok to ask for help,” she says.  “It’s ok to not know everything.  You should ask for help and do it early."

Sharani graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in December. After a journey nearly derailed by academic struggles and overwhelming stress, she came out on top – everything fell into place. Her senior Capstone group earned top honors for their design for a four story medical office building. The semester before she graduated, the university created the Masters in Real Estate Development. For Sharani, who had not planned on going to graduate school, this was another nudge on the path of life. “They made this (program) for me,” she says.
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The good things continued.  She prayed for three job offers upon graduation so that she could choose the one that would suit her best.  She received three offers.

She accepted a position at McCarthy Building Companies as a Project Engineer for the southeast region.  (The other two companies assured her that there would be a position for her with them if she ever changed her mind.) Her plan now is to work full-time for a year and return to Georgia Tech in 2019 to begin that graduate program, in which she has already been accepted.

Sharani along with her sisters Sherri White Hernandez ’98 and CalLynn White ’09 all graduated from Episcopal School of Baton Rouge.  Her family instilled the girls with faith and trust in God’s plan.  She says Episcopal built strongly upon that foundation.  “If you’re a faith-based person Episcopal is a good school for you with chapel and services,” says Sharani.  Sharani says in retrospect she feels that once she became a yellow jacket she strayed from that daily reliance on her faith in God.  There seemed to be an unconscious feeling of I got into Tech, now I’ve got this.  Her experience and the repeated answered prayers and slight nudges along the way served as a reminder to once again put her trust in that foundation and have faith.

With such valuable life lessons and the support of those around her, Sharani is sure to continue along the path of success.

Congratulations on your hard work and commitment to faith.  The Episcopal community is proud of you!​

Are you an Episcopal graduate?  We’d love to hear your story. Contact us here.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2024-2025 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.