Some people find their focus in one lane. Others, like Aadeesh Shastry, seem to run them all. From sprinting over hurdles to solving chess problems, from community service to intense academic study, his journey has been a series of challenges, each met with patience, discipline, and curiosity.
“I’ve always liked having different things to work on,” he says. “Sports taught me how to push myself. Chess taught me how to think ahead.”
Growing Up in Fremont
Aadeesh was born and raised in Fremont, California. His childhood was a mix of sports, strategy, and service. After school, you might find him on the track, practicing hurdles, or at the chessboard planning his next move.
Track and field became a big part of his identity early on. “The hurdles are about rhythm,” he explains. “You can’t just sprint, you have to time every step. That’s what I liked about it. It’s precise.”
Basketball added a different kind of challenge. The teamwork, quick decisions, and constant movement balanced the individual focus of track and chess. “Basketball forces you to read situations fast,” he says. “It’s not just about skill. It’s about how you react.”
The Eagle Scout Journey
Outside of sports, the Boy Scouts of America became a major part of his life. His years in scouting led him to the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in the program.
“Getting Eagle Scout wasn’t just about ticking off requirements,” Aadeesh says. “It was about showing you could lead and give back.”
For his Eagle project, he led a community service effort that required planning, organizing volunteers, and making sure the work had a lasting impact. That project, he says, taught him how to manage people and see a plan through from start to finish.
University of Chicago Years
In 2018, Aadeesh left California for Chicago to attend the University of Chicago. Known for its rigorous academic environment, the school was the perfect place for him to sharpen his thinking.
“Chicago was intense,” he says. “It wasn’t just about studying for exams. It was about learning how to break down problems and see them from different angles.”
His coursework pushed him to develop strong analytical skills. Group projects and discussions brought back the lessons from basketball, how to work with different personalities and still get results.
Graduate Studies at NYU
After graduating from the University of Chicago in 2022, Aadeesh moved to New York City to continue his education at New York University.
“New York was a completely different pace,” he says. “It’s fast, it’s busy, and there’s so much going on around you. But it makes you sharper.”
At NYU, he dove deeper into problem-solving methods and decision-making frameworks. He learned how to take complex ideas and break them into clear steps, skills he’d already been practicing in sports and chess.
Chess: A Lifelong Game
Chess has been a constant for Aadeesh since childhood. Even when academics and athletics took up most of his time, he found ways to keep playing.
“Chess is like a mental workout,” he says. “It forces you to slow down, think ahead, and prepare for what’s coming, even if it never actually happens.”
He often draws parallels between chess and other areas of life. In track, you plan your stride pattern before the race. In group projects, you anticipate how teammates will respond. Chess, he says, just makes those habits sharper.
Living in New York
Now based in New York, Aadeesh continues to stay active in his personal interests. He plays basketball with friends, keeps up with chess, and looks for opportunities to give back to his community.
“New York keeps you on your toes,” he says. “You can’t just coast. Every day there’s something new to learn or do.”
He credits his diverse background, sports, scouting, academics, with giving him the tools to adapt. Whether it’s the precision of hurdling, the teamwork of basketball, the foresight of chess, or the discipline of scouting, each part has contributed to how he approaches life today.
Lessons Along the Way
Looking back, Aadeesh sees his journey as a series of connected lessons. Sports taught him discipline and how to handle pressure. Scouting taught him leadership and service. Chess taught him strategy and patience.
“Every challenge is just a puzzle,” he says. “The more different kinds you solve, the better you get at solving the next one.”
What’s Next
While he’s not in a rush to define a single long-term path, Aadeesh knows he’ll keep learning, competing, and contributing.
“I don’t think you ever stop building on what you’ve learned,” he says. “You just find new places to use it.”
For Aadeesh Shastry, the future isn’t a straight track, it’s a mix of lanes, each offering its own challenge. And if his past is any indication, he’s ready to run them all.
Interview with Aadeesh Shastry
You’ve been involved in sports, chess, and scouting since you were young. Which came first, and how did it shape you?
Track and field came first, then basketball. Sports taught me discipline early on. Chess came later, and it gave me a way to think more strategically. Scouting tied it all together with leadership and service.
Hurdling seems like a very technical event. What did you take away from it?
Hurdles are about rhythm and timing. You can’t just run fast, you have to be precise with every step. That taught me how important preparation is. You plan your stride pattern before you even start the race.
What was the most challenging part of earning Eagle Scout?
Leading my Eagle Scout project. It’s one thing to plan something, it’s another to get people to buy into it and work together. That experience made me better at organizing and following through.
How different was your experience at the University of Chicago compared to NYU?
Chicago was very academic and intense, lots of deep thinking and problem-solving. NYU was fast-paced and more about applying ideas in a busy, real-world setting. Both shaped how I work through problems.
Chess has been a constant in your life. Why does it still matter to you?
Chess keeps your mind sharp. It forces you to slow down, think ahead, and adapt. I use those skills in everything I do.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your varied experiences?
Every challenge is just a puzzle. The more different kinds you solve, the better you get at solving the next one.
