Finding Belonging Thousands of Miles From Home
Written by New Student and Family Engagement's Graduate Assistant Shivani Kakarla.
Mar 15, 2024As I was growing up in India, I was always surrounded by people who came from a wide variety of different circumstances and walks of life. The experience of being exposed to a variety of cultures and points of view fostered in me a profound sense of empathy and the ability to adapt. These characteristics have proven to be extremely beneficial to me throughout my academic and professional career in the United States, notably in the jobs that I have held at the University of Colorado Denver to serve as a Graduate Assistant and a Peer Advisor.
Working with student organizations in India helped me develop my leadership and communication skills, and I am grateful for those experiences. In order to prepare myself for the collaborative and fast-paced atmosphere at UC Denver, I had the opportunity to lead a team of volunteers and collaborate with many stakeholders in order to organize fundraising events and manage data. Additionally, understanding the nuances of cultural differences while working with orphans, elders, and schoolchildren enhanced my cultural sensitivity and capacity to interact with people from varied backgrounds.
My accomplishments as a Graduate Assistant have been significantly aided by the abilities that I possess. I can empathize with students from a variety of cultural backgrounds and offer them individualized assistance and support as they traverse the academic path ahead of them. The way I approach my job as a Graduate Assistant has also been influenced by the experiences I had while I was in India.
Taking everything into consideration, my time spent in India has provided me with the cultural understanding, adaptability, and leadership abilities that are necessary for me to be successful in my academic and professional aspirations in the United States. I am thankful for the chances I had to make progress and acquire new knowledge while I was in India, and I am thrilled to continue putting my abilities to use in order to have a positive effect on the community of CU Denver.