Unionville High School Senior Khushi Narayanan translates lessons in school board policymaking to a future in public health

In June, Unionville High School (UHS) Senior Khushi Narayanan will officially become one step closer to her future. While her career remains on the horizon, Narayanan credits her tenure as the Class of 2026’s Student Board Member for giving her a masterclass in governance. 

“I am passionate about public health, but I realized I’d never read a policy,” she admitted. “I knew I could learn so much from this position.” 

Narayanan plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in epigenetics—the study of how environmental factors, such as age, diet, environment, and lifestyle can impact gene expression. It’s a field that bridges a critical gap: while DNA is fixed, public health initiatives can shape the environments that dictate how genes are expressed. 

Stepping into the role took a shift in mindset. “It took self-confidence to accept that it was okay there were things I didn’t know yet,” she reflected. “If I waited until I knew everything, I would never do anything. So, I swallowed my pride, applied, and got ready to learn.”

Two years later, Narayanan’s greatest takeaway from participating in countless meetings and committees is the value of an open mind. “Board members observe the work, they observe each other, and they observe the community,” she said. “And while I have my own perceptions, in our people-centered culture, I learned that it was better for me to consider the perspectives of others.”

Narayanan talks to every student she knows about her fellow Board members. “Our community should know our Board,” she shared. “It’s easy to say that you don’t like a policy or how it affects you. But, at the end of the day, a School Board’s only priority is our students, our staff, and our safety. They work for us.” 

Narayanan looks forward to a bright future for her home District and for herself. “At the end of the day, college is a vessel for greater things. I am privileged to be able to take that next step,” she ended. “No matter where I go, one of my greatest hopes is to genuinely be the best person I can be, to treat everyone around me with respect and kindness, and to advocate for the things I believe in.” 

After graduation and her official Board Member duties are behind her, Narayanan will spend quality time with what she calls the “biggest and brightest part of her life” – her family. Her summer won’t be all rest, though; She plans to keep up her running pace and participate in an internship as a Lab Tech at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. 

About the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is a high-performing public school system serving approximately 4,000 students in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The District consists of four elementary schools, one middle school and Unionville High School, consistently ranked among the top public schools in Pennsylvania.