Year and program: Third-year, Psychology major and Journalism and Social Change minor
Where is home for you? New Delhi, India
What three adjectives best describe you?
Ambitious, empathetic, poised (but quirky)
What extracurricular activities have you been involved with (UBC related or not)?
I’ve been an Orientation Leader at UBC, and I have worked on an independent journalism feature series where I interviewed international students and student entrepreneurs on campus, it was a really cool way to hear people’s stories and highlight their work. This year, I’m also excited to be a UBtheChange Student Activator, where I’ll be helping lead projects around community building and social impact.
What is your best study strategy/tip?
Figure out what works for you and what doesn’t when it comes to studying, especially if you don’t have a set routine yet. Don’t be afraid to switch things up. Make it fun!
One of my go-to study strategies is breaking things up into 30–45 minute chunks with short 5-minute breaks in between. It keeps me focused without burning out. I also try to actively review stuff instead of just rereading, like doing quick quizzes or practice questions. It helps me actively recall and actually remember things, not just feel like I do.
If you could travel back in time to your first year at UBC, what is one thing you would do differently?
If I could go back to my first year at UBC, I think I would’ve pushed myself to reach out more — to professors, to events, to people. As an international student, I thought I was really prepared, but adjusting was harder than I expected, especially in my second term. I struggled both academically and mentally, and I kind of stayed in my bubble. Looking back, I wish I had gone to more events, joined clubs, and just let myself be a little overwhelmed in a good way, because that’s what helps you find your people and feel more at home. And honestly, profs aren’t as scary as I thought.