The quality of Rice's academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What perspective do you feel that you will contribute to life at Rice?
I discovered my outlook on life on the day of my seventh grade talent show. I stepped on the stage in front of my combined elementary and middle school in my strikingly intricate yet unusual Indian classical dance costume. I have been dancing since I was eight, but this was the first time I introduced my cultural background with my predominantly caucasian and Catholic classmates. My pre-teen self was nervous and worried about how this unorthodox presentation would be taken, but at the same time, I was proud to educate others about my heritage. To this day, I am passionate about sharing my culture with those around me. I love connecting with people and fostering mutual understanding across differences.
I grew up in a tolerant environment. I come from a Catholic family influenced by Hindu culture and with these two different religions in my heritage, I grew up with lessons of acceptance. My parents instilled in me values beyond mere passive tolerance. By connecting with both Hindu culture and Catholic beliefs, they taught me to seek out and understand different viewpoints and perspectives. With their guidance, I took every opportunity I could find to learn more about various cultures and to share my own heritage with others. Growing up in the cultural melting pot of the Bay Area further broadened my cultural horizons. As I participated in cultural festivals, workshops, and showcases, I was able to connect with different perspectives. I noticed that differences in cultures were often outweighed by their similarities.
I kept the values of diversity and acceptance in mind working at Via West, a camp for those struggling with mental and psychological disorders. At Via West, I cast aside my preconceptions and learned about how the people I worked with coped with their disorders. As I became more immersed in my job and volunteer work at this organization, what struck me was the unnecessary stigma that surrounded this group of misunderstood individuals. I then worked harder to dispel the ignorance I saw in the people around me. I promoted Via West and inspired many of my peers to volunteer there, thus helping them understand the joys of working with these wonderful people.
I maintain an open mind not only to accept and understand the perspectives of others, but to share them with others that I meet. When I visited Houston, I caught a glimpse of all the new cultures I would be exposed to if I attended college there. I particularly appreciate the way the residential college system encourages diversity by bringing together people of every background and every academic discipline. Furthermore, I hope to bring my own cultural awareness and continue to promote diversity and intercultural understanding at Rice.