South Fayette student adds to résumé with Disney Dreamers selection

A teenager who heads to Florida in March isn’t necessarily going on spring break.

In fact, the accomplishments racked up so far by Prerna Chakkingal would seem to indicate that she rarely takes a break of any type.

The latest feather in the South Fayette High School junior’s cap is her selection as one of only 100 students nationwide for the Disney Dreamers Academy, an intensive leadership program that takes place March 23-26 in Orlando.

Add that distinction to numerous other achievements, from hosting widely viewed video talks on pertinent subjects to wowing judges with her piano-playing skills, and Prerna already has built quite the résumé, especially for someone who just recently turned 17.

“When I saw there was a program that was really emphasizing leadership and communication, I thought this was a good program for me to apply for,” she said prior to embarking for Walt Disney World, all expenses paid.

“I’ve always believed in the power of speaking, so that’s one of the things I’m looking forward to, meeting many speakers and many wonderful people who have already succeeded in their lives, and hopefully giving me the motivation to do very well in my life, too.”

‘Voices for the better’

Prerna was born in India and moved with her family to the United States when she was 6, as she relates in “Your Difference Is Your Power,” one of the presentations she has made through TEDx Talks. The platform is locally oriented outgrowth of TED Conferences — the acronym stands technology, entertainment and design — which posts online conversations under the slogan “ideas worth spreading.”

“My parents have always shown me TED Talks of people who are using their voices for the better,” she said. “I’ve always believed that I could use my voice, as well, as a power.”

Her first TEDx Talk, “Pondering Over Feminism,” starts with a question she thought of when trying to figure out whether to call a female teacher “Mrs.,” “Miss” or “Ms.”: “How come men have one consistent title throughout their lives, while women end up changing theirs after marriage?”

“I was happy that I got a second opportunity to then talk about another aspect that was bothering me about society,” Prerna said about her “Your Difference” topic. “Everything I said in my TED Talk was heartfelt, and it was all things I’ve experienced as a person of color in the U.S.”

The video, which she recorded last year, has gained nearly 3,000 likes on YouTube.

Her talks also drew the attention of SLB Radio Productions, a company that strives to amplify voices of youth and members of other communities whose stories often are marginalized. Prerna was interviewed, joined the organization as an intern and now serves as one of seven members of SLB’s Youth Council.

“Going into it, I didn’t really know what it was all about,” she said. “But once I started, I fell in love with the way you get to interview assets around Pittsburgh and really get to know what they’re doing for the community.”

Teach your children

For her own community, Prerna earned her Silver Award, the highest achievement for a Girl Scout Cadette, in part by teaming with other members of her troop to help inform local youngsters about safe practices during the covid-19 pandemic.

Their original intention was different.

“We were trying to aim to teach children about climate change,” Prerna said. “And then of course, as we all know, March of 2020 happened. So we were all stuck at home, and we didn’t know what to do.”

They decided to ask about the possibility of posting videos on the South Fayette Township Library website.

“Once they agreed to that, we thought about how we could educate kids about what’s happening right now, what’s the status quo,” Prerna explained. And because the library often posts videos related to arts and crafts, the Cadettes decided: “Why don’t we include that, as well? Why don’t we teach kids how to make a mask, which could also be considered like a fun activity for them?”

The initial phase of the pandemic also impacted Prerna and a couple of classmates as they were putting the finishing touches on preparing an entry for that year’s National History Day state contest. They had chosen to construct a tri-fold exhibit to present to judges in person, but because the competition had to be conducted virtually, the students were told simply to provide a photograph of the display.

Despite the secondhand representation, Prerna’s team took second place by addressing the contest’s theme, “Breaking Barriers,” by exploring the life and career of Black entertainer and activist Lena Horne (1917-2010).

“We talked about her achievements as a person, because she fought against the societal standards. And she defied all preconceived notions that people had about how someone is supposed to look onscreen,” Prerna said about Horne, a Brooklyn native who moved to Pittsburgh at age 18. “She wasn’t really first judged on her merits but rather by the color of her skin, which I think is nonsensical.”

‘Magic Behind Music’

Prior to the pandemic, when she was 13, Prerna attained the status of International Member — that’s the highest accolade issued by American College of Musician/National Guild of Piano Teachers — with an audition that required memorizing 15 musical pieces.

“A lot of my piano accomplishments were a while ago,” she said. “But something I have been doing recently is teaching autistic kids in my community how to play the piano.”

In fact, her latest TEDx Talk, “The Magic Behind Music,” addresses the positive impact of music on people with autism from a biological standpoint.

Her knowledge in that regard, plus other skills she is developing, should come in handy as she studies toward her goal of becoming a physician.

“I think being a doctor includes combining your intelligence with the communication you have with your patients, to give them a better treatment,” she said. “Treatment for every patient isn’t similar, and to personalize treatment, it’s really important to get to know that patient: who they truly are, listening to their stories, where they come from.”

In the meantime, she will continue on her path toward effecting positive change, something that doesn’t necessarily have to involve TED Talks, SLB Radio programs or the Disney Dreamers Academy.

“Even one person saying something kind to someone can have a lot of impact on that person’s day,” Prerna said. “And I think doing something as simple as that is positive change.”