I stood there in that dreaded hallway, nervously awaiting my coming fate. Although I had been in this situation before, everything was just a little extra worrisome that day. My throat was a little extra parched. My water, a little extra empty. My traditional Indian outfit, a little extra itchy. In an effort to calm myself down, I hummed through the composition I had painstakingly memorized the last two months. As I trudged my way through the composition, the door...

Growing up, I watched as my parents kept me in touch with our Indian culture. They organized community festivals, taught Bengali at a school, and took me to a guruji to learn Indian singing. I was always proud of my Indian culture, but I never tried to incorporate it into my daily life. However, as I've grown older and realized that diversity is appreciated, I embraced it myself. I began volunteering at community festivals, teaching Bengali to younger kids, and...

Ever since Brown University peeked into view as I labored up the steady incline of College Street, I knew I wanted to study here for the next four years. As I walked from the urban energy of Downtown Providence to the historic feelings of College Hill, I recognized how I would explore my life at Brown. Whether I felt like writing a research paper by the waterfront or contemplating the historical houses of College Hill, I will have the freedom...

Growing up, I have always been curious, interested in knowing about the people around me. Through my travels to India, I noticed how unsafe drinking water and poor air quality contribute to detrimental health conditions. Many people do not have adequate food, shelter, and clothing. Shadowing my aunt in India, a doctor, I learned from patients how difficult their lives are. I slowly developed a deep desire to help people improve their lives. As I went through my high school...