In 2011, my family moved to Issaquah Highlands from Iowa. I was a young child at the time and have lived here ever since. My family consists of my mom Lavanya, my dad Prasad, and my younger brother Karthik.
We decided to move here because some family friends lived here before us, and they recommended this community. I remember when I first moved here, Grand Ridge Plaza didn’t exist and there wasn’t even a grocery store. It’s been amazing to watch Issaquah Highlands evolve over the 13 years that I’ve lived here.
For me, the best thing about living in Issaquah Highlands is accessibility. Everything you need is within walking distance, such as the local Safeway or Regal, not to mention the plentiful amount of parks where I can hang out with my friends.
I first became involved as a volunteer when I got accepted into the Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board in April of 2022. From there, I started to volunteer more within the community in events such as the Global Grub and Groove series. I really enjoy being on the HY Board because it gives me so many opportunities to be proactive within the community. It makes me feel good knowing that I am able to improve lives of residents.
In terms of general advice, I would say that you should never be afraid to share your ideas. Being a huge sports fan, I suggested the idea of hosting a Super Bowl Watch Party, where people could come hang out at Blakely Hall and watch the game. At first, I was worried because this event could have been a hit or miss—either a lot of people would attend or none at all. When the event came around, it turned out to be a success, with many people attending and everybody enjoying the game.
I feel like there are many ideas that people don’t share out of fear they might not be good enough. However, if you take that risk and share your ideas, I guarantee that at least one of them will be successful.
And finally, there are so many opportunities within Issaquah Highlands to volunteer. It might seem boring or time-consuming at first. But in the end, it’s totally worth it to feel that sense of accomplishment—especially knowing you did something more meaningful than being unproductive.
Viggy Ravilla is a Central Park resident and a member of the Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board.
Are you inspired to get involved in the Issaquah Highlands community?
Opportunities are available!
Click here to discover all the different ways you can get involved in our Issaquah Highlands community, including opportunities to join boards and committees, as well as urgent needs at local nonprofits.
Questions? Contact Cece Kennedy, Highlands Council Program Manager.
