Truly me

Aashrita Natesan

Sitting in a cafe in the Grove, Los Angeles, senior Aashrita Natesan sips her hot chocolate. Across from Natesan is her mother, holding a coffee of her own. “Ready?” Natesan’s mother asks, and the two of them enter the adjoining American Girl Doll store.

Natesan had been a long-time fan of American Girl Dolls, and for her eighth birthday, her mother booked a flight to LA so they could venture down and pick out a special doll for her. Natesan recounts that her mom had recently quit her high-intensity job, but instead of taking the chance to relax, she wanted to spend time with her daughter. 

“My mom is caring ― not [just] with me, but to everyone,” Natesan said. “She’ll do unique things for me, [like] taking me to cool places … and making me Nutella sandwiches whenever I [feel down]. I think it’s really sweet.”