“With each step taken on this Trek, came an even greater sense of reward,” says Rowan John, the 18-year-old trailblazing traveler and fundraiser. “This experience was absolutely incredible, but it was the cause that made it all the more meaningful.”
A May 2023 graduate of The Hun School of Princeton, Rowan began his first semester in early January of 2024, studying Applied Mathematics at Boston University. Prior to this, he aimed to take full advantage of the fleeting time before college — seeking an opportunity that was not only challenging, but fulfilling.
Following graduation, Rowan spent time in the summer of 2023 volunteering at the nonprofit Jewish Family and Children Services Mercer County, serving as a mobile food pantry for the greater Trenton area.
For Rowan, this experience solidified that whatever he did in the upcoming months, it needed to hold the same amount of significance — if not more.
After intensive research and conversations with family, Rowan decided to undertake a 5-day trek in a region of the Himalayas near the border between India and Nepal. Signing up with White Magic Adventure Travel, a mountain guiding company, he was given detailed information on all necessary preparation prior to departure.
As physically challenging as this journey was going to be, it was more rewarding to Rowan, knowing that he would be in India, the country of his ancestors.
The College of General Studies aided in his adventure, offering a curriculum that provides students with the opportunity to utilize their first semester for any and all reflective exploration outside of their traditional routine.
Contemplating on how to make the most of time, Rowan found the combination of cancer research, fundraising, and his connection with India to be essential. Providing great insight into these ideas, Kieran touches on the presence of these aspects within Rowan’s life.
“Medicine has always been a part of our family,” says Kieran. “…Most of my career has been focused on cancer — so Rowan has been aware of this cause from a young age. We volunteer in different ways with the American Cancer Society…and this was an opportunity, before college, that was almost a natural fit for him.”
The Johns have resided in Pennington Borough for the last 13 years, but their story, and thus Rowan’s story, began in Kerala, India, where Rowan’s parents, Kieran and Shobita, were born.
Although originally from this small and southern state, Kieran and Shobita pursued their own educational passions, bringing them to the U.S. for continued learning at Indiana University Bloomington. There, they both obtained their graduate degrees, Kieran earning his M.B.A. and Shobita receiving her master’s in law.
Their son, Rowan, was born shortly after, but this international family was only beginning their journey together.
From Indiana to Yardley, Pennsylvania, to Singapore: the Johns were on the move until 2010. Since then, Rowan, his 15-year-old brother, Jaihan, and their goldendoodle, Keeva, have resided in Pennington, with their parents.
Both parents work in the pharmaceutical industry. Shobita has built her career at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Kieran has founded an early-stage Biotech company called Firstlight Pharmaceuticals. Rowan’s grandfather is also a physician.
Throughout high school, Rowan often involved himself in all things that provided a deep sense of purpose. From captain of the rowing team to an extremely devoted leader of the American Red Cross Club, he remained busy with extracurriculars, but never strayed far from his passion of fundraising.
As the trek itself was finally set in stone, Rowan reached out to the American Cancer Society to learn more about how he could make a difference.
For the past three years, Rowan’s father has been on the New Jersey and Philadelphia Volunteer Leadership Team for the American Cancer Society. Due to this, Rowan was very aware of their efforts and wanted to get involved.
Following multiple conversations with the organization, Rowan’s interest in regards to the charity he wanted to support, began to narrow.
“While doing most of my research in the month of October, the American Cancer Society was doing a fundraising promotion called ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’,” says Rowan. “After hearing about this, I got in touch with different managers in the region, and they were super excited to hear about my idea. I wanted to connect my fundraising with something meaningful… and this gave me more of a purpose.”
Rowan understood the importance of raising awareness for such a cause, and was determined to be another fighter in the battle against cancer.
Acquiring a strong purpose and outline of the next several months, Rowan set out to mentally, physically, and financially brace himself for what was to come. Although slightly trepidatious, Rowan was more thrilled than anything and took every step to set himself up for success.
“Because I haven’t done this before, I wanted to be extra careful,” says Rowan. “White Magic Adventure Travel provided necessary equipment such as head lamps, but for clothing, I wanted to account for all different temperatures and weather…During the day temperatures were said to be comfortable enough for a long sleeve and trekking pants…but at night, temperatures went down to below minus-10 degrees Celsius…and that’s when you really need to layer up.”
Outside of packing to perfection, Rowan was highly aware of the physical toll this trek was going to take on his body, but he saw this as a challenge, rather than a threat.
“During high school, I was on the rowing team for all four years, and was named captain my junior and senior year,” says Rowan. “From this, I have developed good fitness levels, so I looked for a trek that was not extremely long, but still physically tough.”
Rowan was very aware that this training was going to not only look different than anything he had ever done, but also feel different. Three to four months beforehand, his preparation began.
“I went to the gym everyday,” says Rowan, “where I would spend about an hour to an hour and a half on the treadmill, changing speeds and inclinations to properly simulate what it would be like on the mountain. On top of that…I wore my hiking boots the entire time.”
Determined to save up the necessary funds for the trip itself, Rowan hosted at Alchemist & Barrister in Princeton throughout the summer, saving up just enough for a round trip to and from India.
With excitement, also came a sense of apprehension. “The thought of it all was definitely scary…nothing I have ever done compares to hiking in the Himalayas,” says Rowan. “…In this generation I have grown up in, we are so reliant on technology — almost every aspect of our lives has revolved around this in some capacity…Being completely detached from it was a scary thought, but knowing there was bigger meaning to it all…drove me to push through it and realize how much mental fortitude I really had.”
For Rowan, It was liberating and terrifying all at once . But he was ready for it. Having not been to India since 2017, Rowan was ecstatic to take some time before the trek to reconnect with his culture.
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Flying out of the John F. Kennedy International Airport on Oct. 29, 2023, Rowan arrived in India on Oct. 30 and spent more than a week with his grandparents in Kerala. There, he was able to enjoy the beauty of where his family originates from, and fully immerse himself in all the culture had to offer.
Continuing his cherished time of travel prior to the trek, Rowan flew to Delhi, the bustling capital of India, where he spent Nov. 10-14. From there, he took a quick flight to Dehradun, initially meeting the guide, along with additional travelers that would accompany him on the adventure.
Leading up to the first day of the trek, the crew drove from Dehradun through Rishikesh, the birthplace of yoga, where they were dropped off at the nearest point towards the Garhwal Himalayas, before starting on foot to the Bandarpunch mountain.
Throughout the 5-day trek, he reached heights ranging from 9,350 ft on Shephard’s Camp to the summit of 12,500 ft. In awe of his surroundings, Rowan was expecting incredible views, but nothing could have prepared him for one of his most memorable moments of the trip.
“Every single day I would step out of the van and think to myself, ‘I cannot believe I am here,’” says Rowan. “One of my most memorable moments was on the second to last day of the trek. Our guide mentioned there was one final summit…and although it would be the hardest physically, it would offer a view that we had yet to see. I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of it.”
Setting out around 5 a.m., Rowan harnessed himself to the mountain and climbed perpendicularly for one of his more challenging obstacles. Just before sunrise, the group reached a full 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Rowan sat and fully embraced the entirely surreal world in front of him.
“This was a moment I will never forget,” says Rowan, “…It was truly the most rewarding feeling.” It was there that he waved the pink shirt up in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
As each day brought exceptional heights and views, Rowan found the strongest impact to be his connections with those alongside him throughout the journey. With differing backgrounds among all the travelers, he was truly inspired by each individual and their story.
The group itself varied in so many areas of life; such as age, culture, and experiences. With travelers up to 69 years old, homelands spanning from Columbia to Delhi, there was never a dull moment around the campfire.
“No one had a similar story,” says Rowan. “Everyone was completely different… and we were all able to share these unique parts about ourselves, which ultimately brought us closer.”
Finishing up the trek itself on November 18th, Rowan traveled back to Dehradun airport, flying to Kochi, one of the major cities of Kerala. Spending his final days in India before arriving home on Dec. 9, the immense fulfillment poured over Rowan.
* * *
Although his time there had ended, he would forever hold onto all this journey had to offer. Returning to the U.S., Rowan was able to reflect on not only this, but the impact he had made within the community around him — raising over $2,100 for the American Cancer Society and earning a spotlight on their social media platforms for all to see.
“Throughout this trek, I remained very close with the marketing team for the American Cancer Society. They are amazing people and I would absolutely love to do another fundraiser with them,” says Rowan. “…I plan to do even tougher and more challenging treks in the future. It was such an incredible experience… There is no doubt in my mind I would do this again, especially tying it to such a great cause.”
The pride that Rowan felt for the difference he had made, was only amplified through the lens of his father, Kieran.
Touching on his emotions surrounding Rowan’s trip and the true purpose of it all, he says: “As parents, we were a little hesitant about him traveling on his own,” says Kieran. “But seeing how serious he took it and the diligence he put around it all, gave us immense confidence in him…We are so proud of him for deciding and committing to do this for the right cause…Just seeing how focused he has been.. has been very gratifying to see as a parent.”
Rowan continues to hold onto these values of helping others and serving the greater good, as it is one of the most meaningful parts of life itself.
“My hope,” says Kieran, “is that he learns about the importance of what he is doing for others, and the impact he can have — and carries that throughout his life.”
Pennington resident Rowan John in the Himalayan Mountains, where he spent five days last fall.,
