This week sees the second in a four-part series highlighting the experiences so far of faculty and students new to NCSSM. Meet Avika Gera, a junior at NCSSM-Morganton.

More than she thought

Avika Gera ’26, from Concord, missed the NCSSM counselor’s presentation at her home school of Hickory Ridge High School when she was in 10th grade. Immediately after, her friends filled her in on all they had learned. Avika wasn’t buying it. “I feel like people tend to over-embellish that stuff,” she says.

A quick review of NCSSM’s website convinced her of the school’s merits, so she submitted an application. She was happy enough at Hickory Ridge, though, so she had no expectations.

Her acceptance letter changed things. The academic opportunities at NCSSM-Morganton now became more enticing, but the time required of a demanding curriculum became a concern. Would she be able to maintain a healthy school/life balance? 

“The classes take up even more free time than I expected, but honestly, I like it,” Avika says. “I knew that it was going to be challenging, but my expectations have shifted now, and I’m enjoying the work and embracing it. I can handle more than I thought I could, and that has been a big surprise.”

Another thing Avika has struggled with is a challenge common to NCSSM students: homesickness. “I am extremely close to my parents and friends from home so it gets hard sometimes and I miss them,” she says.

Still, she’s happy at NCSSM and credits the NCSSM community for helping her become comfortable with her new life in Morganton. “There are so many seniors who, if you ask them a question, they’ll have, like, 10 different solutions or 10 different answers, and then they go above and beyond to make sure you get what you need.”

All interviews in this series were conducted prior to Hurricane Helene and its devastating effects on Western North Carolina. Our thoughts continue to be with those who have suffered so greatly in its aftermath.