Honors College Personal Statement

Seventeen years old – on the brink of adulthood, leaving my home, family and my country in search for the exclusive…

Having already broken the mold for the run of the mill humdrum, Purdue Honors College attracts by its eclectic diversity. Ever shy of rote, dry learning I am attracted to the emphasis on practical problems, solved by students of various faculties. Inputs of so many people from across disciplines will indubitably generate unique resolutions!

On the lookout for a big school and a wide network of people, the Honors College fits the bill. I can visualize becoming more self-assured with the Student Leadership Programs and partaking in the Honors Leadership Council.

With illustrious alumni and faculty members ever ready to interact

I envisage working towards the Fulbright Scholarship and Research Abroad programs that will give me the value added learning experiences I am looking for.

Ever an inquisitive individual, with equal passion for sports and reading, an amateur short story writer and prolific poet, the Honors College will provide me with the opportunity of interacting with students from various disciplines and getting insights on various other majors.

Additionally, coming in contact with people of diverse orientations will be a unique and symbiotic opportunity, as I am also a multifaceted person looking to grow in all directions with equal passion. I am hard working and motivated to succeed, hence my presence in the college would reflect its ideology.

I would grow with my education in Honors College and I am confident the impact of my presence would make the college grow too! (372

‘Mandavali’ was the name of the slum bordering our condominium.

My family being active members of the “Arya Samaj”, I too became a member since I was ten. Arya Samaj is a national organization whose ideology is based on ‘Karma’ – doing right, ‘Dharma’ – knowing what is right and ‘Yoga’ – commitment to physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.

An avid practitioner of Yoga, I volunteered in high school to spread the practice of yoga to the children residing in the local slum. Easier said than done, my efforts were futile as the children were more interested in loitering around than in practicing the ancient art.

I started with the enticement of sodas and samosas after every session, which increased the attendance of children. Gradually, the numbers increased and consequently, children started coming in for the love of yoga itself. The passage of time saw me forming close bonds with the children, which transcended social, cultural and religious boundaries.

I became their leader and with this increased responsibility I started conducting donation drives every month trying to meet their basic