Business Administration Major/
Anthropology Minor
From Cupertino, CA
I chose to participate in this program because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a holistic experience about issues which are very important to me. I never imagined that my passion for sustainability would be taken to the next level by learning from the practices of one of the most eco-friendly and beautiful countries in the world. I also can’t wait to fully immerse myself into a culture that lives a fulfilling life full of initiative, happiness, and care for the environment which they are a part of. The immeasurable amount of learning I will experience will be unforgettable, and I can’t wait to throw and apply myself to a different world that can teach me so much.
On campus, I’m involved in a variety of organizations that I enjoy spending time with. One of these is ASUCI, specifically in Student Services in the Business-Marketing commission, where I can have a positive impact upon my fellow student body by booking sponsors to provide giveaways and support for UCI events such as Homecoming, movie nights, and the annual events every Anteater loves. I am also involved in SCNO (Students Consulting for Non-Profit Organizations), for which I’m an Associate Consultant, developing tailored consulting plans for non-profits in the OC area which need help. Whichever activities I’m involved in, I like to be able to commit time and effort to help people, make a difference, and improve and better our society in any way I can.
Some of my previous cultural immersion experiences include visiting my birth country of India every few years, and most recently, spending a week in Cancun, where I became my family’s impromptu translator. My last experience was a defining one in which I felt the real joy of connecting to a culture other than my own (especially through language) and falling in love with the people wherever I went. Cultural immersion has proven to me time and time again to be a necessary experience to broaden your horizons and show you new perspectives. Take an adventure once in a while, and rethink what you’ve never questioned before.