Eagle Era

Color guard captain Acintya Shenoy (11) proves that effective leadership doesn’t need to be loud

By Sachi Ladole

“I think it gave me an identity. Being a part of color guard, I’m a part of something,” said Acintya Shenoy (11). For Shenoy, color guard isn’t just performance art but a place where she can belong. Now a color guard captain in her third year, Shenoy channels that confidence into her leadership, uplifting her team and pushing them to improve alongside her. 

Shenoy’s confidence grew out of a passion for movement, shaped by training in Bharatanatyam and classical ballet before starting color guard in her freshman year. However, as she advanced with her dance program, her time commitments grew, and long commutes to the dance studio became unsustainable. “My parents were like, ‘No way, we are not going to be able to pick you up and drop you off.’ So I had to quit,” she said. “That really broke my heart because it was a dance form I was really passionate about.” 

That early discipline—and its loss—shaped her approach to color guard. Joining the team, she was able to rebuild her connection to dance. “It was comforting, finding some of that in guard,” she said. 

By the winter season in her freshman year, Shenoy had grown to love guard. However, in order to diversify her extracurriculars for college, her parents steered her away from joining in the winter season, and she ended up turning to Speech and Debate instead. Despite this, her passion for the sport remained, and Shenoy continued to unofficially show up for winterguard practices. When a spot on the performing team opened up, she didn’t hesitate to take the chance to try to convince her parents once again. 

Shenoy practiced a rifle toss before a parade performance. “She’s very driven to succeed, and I think that’s really inspiring to see,” said Atsu Iyer (12) (Photo Credit: Taeho Um).

“One Tuesday, there was a spot open in the drill, and Jennie [a color guard instructor] asked me if I could join,” Shenoy said. “When I went home, I made an entire slideshow about the benefits of doing color guard from a college application perspective and presented it to my parents.” 

Sahana Reka (11), a friend and current co-captain, explained what happened as a result of her plan. “2 competitions in, she finally got her parents’ approval, learned everything, and she joined us for the next 3 competitions.” 

That same persistence has translated into a maturity that often surprises those around her. “People always think Acintya’s a senior, and it’s just because of the way she carries herself,” said Reka. “She’s always been ahead of the curve.” 

Through her practiced skill and raw talent, her peers see her as a leader who is able to back up her confidence with consistent execution. Charlize Cho (11), a previous winterguard and current marching band member, noted, “She carried herself as a leader since day one.” 

That motivational mindset is just as visible in the classroom. Chemistry teacher Mr. Sharma described her as someone who leads through her actions. “She’s not a massive talker—not blabbing out every 5 seconds—but she knows what she’s talking about, and she has this quiet confidence about her. She doesn’t need to be flamboyant.”

[Left to right] Suhani Thakker (11), Shenoy, and Reka, posed for a photo after a parade performance, reflecting the strong sense of unity within AHS Color Guard (Photo Credit: AHS Band Parent Organization). 

Shenoy’s strength lies in a humanity that makes her power approachable. English teacher Ms. Luong initially mistook Shenoy’s reserved personality for mere quietness but now sees it as one of her strengths. “She’s not tyrannical,” Luong said. “She’s understanding—which makes people more inclined to listen to a leader like that. Because you trust them. You feel comfortable around them.”

While Shenoy’s raw talents are evident, stepping into leadership didn’t come without uncertainty. Entering her second year in color guard as one of only 2 sophomore Marching Band leaders, she questioned whether she belonged. “I was petrified,” she said. “All of them had more experience and have done other stuff to buff themselves up.” 

That risk marked the beginning of a different kind of growth that extended beyond her performance and into leadership. In her first year as captain, Shenoy struggled to balance high expectations with the realities of her team. “I think I have matured in the way I lead, because especially in my first year, I was very much a control freak,” she said. 

Coming from a strong dance background, she often held herself and others to a high standard of perfection. Latayjah Kennedy (AHS Class of 2025) noted how this strength created challenges when it came to being a captain. “She always had talent when it came to color guard, but that’s what made it hard for her to teach others sometimes.”

Over time, her approach began to shift. Moving into her second year as a color guard Captain, Shenoy has learned to adjust her expectations and to focus on the overall success of the group. “Everyone is coming here at a different level, and as captain, it’s not my job to bring everyone up to the highest level. It’s to play into everyone’s strengths so that we can all look good together.”