Community
One of the key themes of my life has been connection. After the pandemic, it was challenging to return to a sense of normalcy. I sought out connection through my classes, projects, and extracurriculars. I'm beyond grateful that during my time at UW, I was able to meet some incredible people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences who have deeply shaped the way that I experience the world.
Freshman year, I made friends at Lander Hall who helped me get through some difficult times. When I questioned my sense of belonging, my friends at Lander grounded me and reminded me of the community support I had. They even planned me a surprise birthday celebration. I'm also filled with gratitude for the South Asian community that I found on campus that gave me the safe space to celebrate my identity. One of my core memories from that time is attending a South Asian event with a group of girls I had met through the Honors Program. They introduced me to their friends and we even ended up attending a concert together. The friends I've made through these experiences have seen me through the different phases of my life and have pushed me to grow and be the most authentic version of myself. The community that I've found has been my source of strength during difficult times.
As I grew more confident in myself during my time at UW, I pursued leadership roles to give back to my community. I've led a yoga session during my study abroad program in London to guide my peers into rest and relaxation amidst a challenging project. I took on the responsibility of being a Design Chair for HuskyADAPT, mentoring over 36 students on design principles and accessibility. I supported a design course in my department as a Course Assistant, guiding other students through their design process. Furthermore, as the elected President for the Human Centered Design & Engineering Association, I organized professional and social events for my cohort to create a space for students to grow professionally and find community.
My junior year, I joined the HCDE Student Association because I wanted to give back to my community by organizing events for students. Through my participation in the association, I honed my communication skills and realized my passion for community organizing. During the spring elections, I was elected President of the Student Association. Coming into this role was initially intimidating. However, I collaborated with my team to reflect on our visions as a Student Association and we set goals together for the year. Throughout these past few months, we've organized several events for students such as a mock interviews event, a personal branding workshop, a social mixer at a local bagel shop, and a visit to the Seattle Art Museum. These events have fostered a sense of community among students and helped them develop their professional skills.
As a leader, I've learned that to be an effective leader means to lean on the strengths of my community. By relying on my team and delegating tasks effectively, I've built deeper relationships with my team and also successfully organized several professional and community oriented events. This approach has also helped me cultivate a sustainable practice that doesn't lead to anyone burning out. Through this role, I've also learned that effective leadership is rooted in service. By listening to the needs of my community, I've been able to organize events that reflect student interests.
Experiential Learning: HCDE Student Association
