I realised what cultural diversity is truly about?

Updated on: Wednesday, November 17, 2010

“Let your mind start a journey through a strange New World. Leave all thoughts of the World you know before. Let your soul take you where you long to be. Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar, and you will live as you‘ve never lived before”, Enrich Fromm.

If there is one saying that could summarise all my emotions prior to leaving for pursuing my Masters in United States, It has to be the above. I studied at St. Ann's Secunderabad. The years spent in my School life here are most productive. I can vouch it is responsible for embedding in me an innate sense of confidence and the abilities to communicate well. I finished my B.Tech at BRCEW, Hyderabad and I always wanted to pursue higher education from the worlds best research universities.

After going through the exciting but intimidating process of selecting, applying, waiting, hoping and I finally chose Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida. University of Florida is one of the top ranked universities in the United States of America and is home to 50,000 students and known for quality research facilities.

With butterflies in my stomach and hope in my eyes, I began my journey. I rarely went out of Hyderabad and attending for the Visa interview at the US Consulate in Madras I had to take my parents along with me.

When you choose to stay in a foreign land, there is always an apprehension about the place, and the people, and even I was a bit queasy at the outset. It is only when I landed at the university that I realised what cultural diversity is truly about. People welcomed with open arms and I began to appreciate and understand the university culture. I chose the Gainsville campus that was recently voted as the best college town by “Livability.Com” a website that rates American Cities.

The best part of American education is that it gives you the ability to choose, the ability to explore and innovate. Here you have the power to choose and veto subjects. I came to know this when I ended up taking a class ( Computer Networks) in the Computer Science Department and much to my surprise, I loved it. I had come with the intention of pursuing a different major (Circuits), but having the opportunity to mix and match subjects from different streams proved to my advantage and I can proudly say that I did find my passion. The facilities available are mind boggling. University of Florida is equipped with every possible feature one can imagine. Top class labs for research partnered with leading Engineering firms in the World, experienced faculty, Career fairs and events where you have the opportunity to speak one to one with leading technocrats around the globe, good dining facilities, convenience stores, Hospital, Police Department, International Centre, Performing Arts Centre, a fantastic stadium and so more, all scattered throughout the gigantic 2,000 acre campus.

Finally you know you have truly found your place when watching the University Foot Ball team – GATORS play wearing Orange and Blue- the official colours of the University. You can hear yourself amidst all the 50,000 voices that scream in unison, chanting GO GATORS!!

Let me conclude with a quote from the American president John F. Kennedy whose charismatic figure constantly brings to memory - “The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfold”.

I realised what cultural diversity is truly about?

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