Wichita State University
Wichita State senior Gavrilla Arya earned academic All-American honors four times
as a golfer.Courtesy photo
About Paul Suellentrop
Paul Suellentrop joined Wichita State University Strategic Communications in 2017 after working for 17 years at The Wichita Eagle. He writes about applied learning and covers Wichita State athletics through his GoShockers.com blog, The Roundhouse.
Gavrilla Arya played golf and majored in biological sciences with a concentration in pre-med and a minor in chemistry. She came to Wichita State from Jakarta, Indonesia, primarily because of coach Tom McCurdy’s welcoming personality and approach to the sport.
She also made academics a priority.
Arya earned Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar honors four times as a Shocker. She played on Wichita State’s 2016 Missouri Valley Conference champions and NCAA qualifier and earned all-conference honors twice.
Gavrilla is one of more than 1,100 students eligible for fall 2019 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the senior.
What is your degree in?
I hopped majors, from business to exercise science to finally finding biology. My interest in biology stems out of curiosity. I’m very curious about science and how the body works. I’ve enjoyed anatomy and physiology classes, how they interact.
How are you feeling leading up to graduation?
Sad and excited at the same time. I’ve been here four-and-a-half years and I consider it a second home. Going back home is probably a little foreign, actually.
What has been your most helpful learning experience while a student at WSU?
Being a student-athlete is a learning experience. You are more pressurized to excel academically, as well as athletically. You’re here to represent the school. You don’t want to let your teammates down and your coach down and on top of that you’ve got to be a good student. It was a hectic four years.
What was been your biggest challenge as a student, and how did you overcome it?
I felt like I had no time. You have to be organized and disciplined, way before the semester starts. You have to plan. Know your schedule. Know your travel schedule. Know when your tests are so you can plan for the unexpected.
What are your plans now workwise?
I’m going to help my dad with his business (in Indonesia). He sells airport security machines, screeners.
What advice would you give other WSU students?
Enjoy your time as a student. But you also have to realize you’re here to get a degree, so balance is very key. Even as a freshman, you don’t want to fall of course during your first semester and let your GPA slide. Your freshman year is going to be the easiest. Being responsible for yourself is very key. Surround yourself with people you know are going to support you and not be a bad influence.
