Hometown: Ernakulam, Cochin, India 

Year: Junior 

Major: Psychology 

Minor: Business and Pre-Nursing with Certificate in Allied Health 

Involved in: International Students Organization, Honors, Active Minds, Psych Club, Student Admissions Representative

Northern’s outstanding and innovative professors are committed to experiential learning and engaging you academically. Please share an example of this:

Northern pays close attention to getting their students involved with hands-on learning. Even though I am majoring in the soft science of psychology, we have multiple opportunities to explore our interests and find something that fascinates us. The professors always have their office doors open to help me figure out how to bring my ideas out. Having individual one-to-one meetings with professors and discussing ideas as equals, with respect, has helped me broaden my knowledge on the different topics that interest me and made me think about things I could have never thought of. This was how I developed my honors thesis and did something I wanted to explore.

Our give-it-a-go, fail-forward, entrepreneurial spirit in Aberdeen and on campus provides you with authentic opportunities to discover your gifts and develop your talents. Please share a time you felt you could relate:

Northern is a beautiful, supportive, and encouraging community. It brings with it a deep sense of support and commitment to anyone involved. There is help as long as you look for it. People, especially students, are encouraged to share their thoughts, be they good or bad. No questions asked are seen as silly but as a learning opportunity that can be made into something. I was fortunate to have many such experiences on campus. I have felt heard. I have been blessed to have people who guide me and point out things that I might have missed. I have been encouraged to think of a solution myself. By challenging my beliefs on what I could do, I was able to achieve much more than what I thought I could. Participating in the NSU Con was one such opportunity that came my way. Dr. Qiao, one of my professors, encouraged me to participate in the event even though I was skeptical about myself and doubted my work. It pushed me to talk in front of a crowd who seemed much more skilled and experienced than me. While nerve-wracking, it was an excellent opportunity that helped me push myself and try something new. There was constant support and encouragement provided for me, which left me feeling confident in myself. This is what I love about Northern. Being here encourages you to take that first step and face failure.

Students, professors, and staff build an inclusive sense of community. Please share a time when you felt as though you belonged:

Being an International student is an exciting experience. While having friends around can bring you happiness, not being around your family is hard. The first time I went home, it was hard to come back. The constant presence of my friends, the care of my professors, and the support of the staff helped me through it. They tried to make things easier and kept an eye out for me. This is something that I appreciate from the bottom of my heart. It is hard to belong when you do not have your set of people around you; however, the Northern community makes it hard not to belong. They are there, and they make sure that you know it.

Aberdeen, South Dakota is a safe and friendly community with a thriving downtown with plenty of opportunities to get involved through the arts, athletics, and outdoor recreation. Please share an example of a time you had fun in Aberdeen:

One of the best days I have had in town was my 21st birthday, which my friends had planned. The day started normal (well, as normal as a spring break could be): a lazy morning on a cool spring break. The next thing I know, my friends are picking me up, and we are heading out to have a blast. They took me out for brunch at 322, a restaurant in downtown. We had a good time exploring the menu and figuring out what to eat. The lunch was fun; the good food and fantastic company made it unique. We then headed to Colorful Creations, a fun area where you can choose and color pottery. We spent much time deciding what we wanted and selecting the design. I think that it was the most relaxed I felt in a while. It was great, and we got free stickers. The glazing process would take time, so we left in eager anticipation of how each of our works would turn out. The next thing on the list was axe-throwing, which I failed miserably. It was still a fun activity and a challenge to people with poor coordination. I loved it. By the time we finished axe throwing, it was pretty late. We stopped by at a buffet to get some food in and said our byes. The best part was that my friends never gave me a chance to feel away from home. They planned a whole day out and ensured that I had a blast. It was amazing.

Professors and staff care about you and are dedicated to helping you learn and grow as a person. Please share a story that relates and how it positively impacted you:

All the Professors here go out of their way to ensure you know more than your textbooks. They emphasize hands-on learning and, above all, teach the students to be curious. My professors have always asked me to remain interested and explore anything that fascinates me. This has helped me think past the traditional boundaries a lot. I have always been skeptical about sharing my opinion with the class. It was some of my professors who helped me understand that sharing my ideas, in fact, can help people around me. I am much more open to raising questions and coming up with solutions which is a practical skill to have.

Explore your interests with a campus community who takes the time to get to know you and connect you to new adventures. Please share an example of your experience:

I have always known that moving to a whole new country would mean that there would be a limited number of people who would enjoy the same things as I do. I now realize how wrong I was. I have made a multitude of friends by sharing cultural experiences. I had fun at my first football game because a person sitting beside me chose to help explain things that were happening. I have had opportunities to find out more about different cultures through our Culture Fest and other fun activities and events. I have been able to share my culture and the food that I enjoy with people and bond over it. It has been an exciting experience. I have come to find what I like and what others like while exploring my own culture with others.

What is your favorite thing/activity to do in Aberdeen?

I love to go to the bowling alley with friends, visit colorful creations, and paint as stress relief while taking my art home as a souvenir. I also love to hang out at Wiley Park and relax while reading or catching up on some homework.

What is your favorite place off-campus to hang out?

My favorite place to hang out off campus is Wiley Park. I feel relaxed walking around the park, passing the pond, and seeing the animals.

Favorite class you’ve taken here?

My favorite class until now would be music appreciation. It was an introduction to a whole new world for me. I have never thought of myself as a person who likes music, however, the class proved to be interesting and captivating. I learned a lot about a subject that I do not know much about. This felt like an achievement.

A favorite memory with my friends on campus:

Being an international student is hard. We leave behind a lot of things that we grew up with and come to a whole new culture. We meet with new people and learn new things about the world. Many of us leave our families and friends behind for long stretches of time. The Culture Fest, to me, is a time where we forget these differences and get together to have a fun time. It is a time when I get to celebrate who I am and appreciate my and other cultures around the world. It is a time we get to forget our differences and enjoy ourselves as a group. The Culture Fest is an annual event hosted by the ISO where students will put up posters about their culture and display their foods, games, activities, and traditions from their homes. This event is for students, faculty, and the community to show what they are passionate about. We share different cultures around the world and socialize with new people on campus.

The person I look up to is…

My mother. She is a strong woman who has faced her struggles and taught her children to do the same thing.

One of my bucket list items is…

To go Paragliding. I would love to do it at some point in my life, but am terrified of the idea itself.

A motto I live by is…

To live in the present. You can lament about the past and question the future but I feel like the present is something we should think about the most since once it passes it will become something out of our reach. So, I believe that I should live in the present with the people I love and care for.