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    October 1st, 2024
    Asha, Political Science Student

    Meet Asha: My Most Memorable Experience as a UCalgary Student!
     

    Hello! My name is Asha, and I am currently in my fourth and final year of my undergraduate degree studying political science, with a certificate in global citizenship and pluralism at the University of Calgary.  
     

        

    I applied to university during the Covid-19 pandemic. Being an extremely indecisive person, it was not until the last day possible to accept an offer that I finalized my choice to study at UCalgary. And four years later, I’m so glad that I did!
     

    Studying in the Faculty of Arts has allowed me to take a diverse range of courses from political science to sociology to communications and media studies. This has encouraged me to think critically about current events, engage with different viewpoints, and deeply listen to other’s stories. I’ve been particularly interested in the making and implementation of policy around migration and human rights. UCalgary has allowed me to explore this area in many different ways! I was provided the opportunity to publish some of my research on the difference in international response to the Syrian versus Ukrainian refugee crisis in the Motley Undergraduate Journal. Through my global citizenship and pluralism certificate, I have helped with English Language learning at the Centre for Newcomers. I also took a unique policy and advocacy class, where my group was able to consult with experts and propose an objective index to determine the proportion of refugees Canada accepts from various humanitarian crises.  

       
        

    I’m extremely grateful to have been a recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship. It not only provided me with invaluable financial support, but also with strong connections to fellow students, university staff, and Senators. Since my second year, I have been the Co-Chair of the Ambassadors Club, which is the group of Chancellor’s Scholars dedicated to giving back to our community. In this role, I coordinate the activities of our six different committees including:  
     

    • Ambassadors Chats Podcast on Spotify - where we interview members of the UCalgary community

    • Volunteering & Socials - to connect with one another & give back to the community 

    • Scholar’s Networking Night - an event to connect all UCalgary Prestige Scholarship Recipients  

    • Wood’s Homes Holiday Party - an event we host for children at Wood’s Homes 

    • Social Media - to share all of the happenings of our club on Instagram @UofCAmbassadors   

    I’m a member of the Scholars Academy which has connected me with incredible community mentors and given me the opportunity to develop my own leadership skills through various seminars and service projects. I’ve also been a part of the @HumansOfUCalgary Instagram team throughout my degree. In an effort to build genuine and authentic connections, we interview and post stories about members of the UCalgary community.

      
      

    This past May, I had the opportunity to participate in a three-week Religious Studies Group Study program in the Central Italy region. We studied contemporary and historical dimensions of religious ideas, spanning from pre-Roman times to present day. As someone who studies macro-level political institutions, it was fascinating to open my eyes to the ways in which micro-level factors such as culture and theology have shaped and guided the lives of individuals and communities for centuries. As an Ismaili Muslim - I also observed the tangible ways in which all faiths originate from a common strand. For me, this was a reminder of our shared humanity and is something that I hope to take with me as I move through my own journey.



    Calgary has always been my home, and I am so grateful for everything that this city and UCalgary has provided me with throughout my undergraduate degree. Community has been such a large part of my university journey here at UCalgary – it’s allowed me to grow, explore my passions, and serve others. I truly hope to continue building that community throughout the rest of my undergraduate degree and beyond!  

        


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