Puja Deverakonda, ‘07
Herndon, VA

Puja Deverakonda is a double major in International Relations and German Studies who spent a year abroad at Hong Kong University.

Towards the end of my sophomore year, I had begun to question whether or not International Relations was truly my interest.  But  applying everything I had learned about global politics to an entirely different context, and viewing it from a Chinese lens as opposed to a US/Western lens, rejuvenated my interest in my major.

When:  My junior year (2005-2006).

Why did you choose to study abroad: I've known since high school that I wanted to experience the world outside the USA and my ancestral India.  My interest in studying abroad was deepened after hearing the great stories of upper-class women when I entered Mount Holyoke.  On a personal level, it was important to get to know a different part of the world beyond my home country.  On an academic level, I wanted to complement my education with practical experience.

What language did you speak: English. Prior to going to Hong Kong, I was told that 'everybody' spoke English.  Once there, I realized that while many people do indeed speak English, learning Cantonese would have greatly enhanced my experience.

What did you study:  Courses related to global politics, with a specific focus on Hong Kong and China. China was not my primary academic interest before I arrived in Hong Kong, through my access to world-class experts in various China Studies topics and the realization of  how integral Hong Kong is to China's development, I developed a strong interest in this field.

What next: This is a cruel question to ask any senior!  I am pursuing my dream deferred - I have applied for three scholarship programs to go to Germany next year and study energy security, a topic in which I became interested in Hong Kong.