Sadikshya Bhattarai ’18
Name: Sadikshya Bhattarai ’18
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Academic focus: international relations, with a focus on international political economy
Campus involvement: I came to Mount Holyoke as a potential theater major and have always enjoyed performing. As a member of the Raunak Bhangra Dance Team for the last four years, I’ve had many opportunities to perform Bhangra throughout the Pioneer Valley and also formed some of my closest friendships. It is very exciting to see how Bhangra is so widely accepted and embraced in a diverse community such as Mount Holyoke. I have also worked at various offices on campus, including the Weissman Center for Leadership and the Rooke Theater. Currently, I work at the Office of Student Programs, LITS and the Kendall Sports and Dance Complex.
Proudest accomplishments at Mount Holyoke: My proudest accomplishments, beyond performing Bhangra, are presenting at Leap Symposium and Senior Symposium, attending the Clinton Global Initiative and Forté Business to College Leadership conferences, and studying abroad in a French immersive program with native students.
However, I am most proud of the bonds I have formed with my friends, advisors, professors and staff members on campus. It’s very humbling and empowering to see people care for you and support you in your endeavors.
How a close connection with a faculty member has shaped you: Taking classes with Andy Reiter (associate professor of politics and international relations), as well as having him as my advisor, has been an invaluable experience. He has motivated me to stop waiting for something to happen and pushed me to reach my capabilities. And since my arrival, Madame Carolyn Shread (lecturer in French) has been instrumental in advancing my global competence as well as developing my passion for French. Her support influenced my decision to study abroad in an immersive program in Montpellier, France.
Best takeaway from internship or research experiences: A key takeaway from my research and internship experiences has been that “a mind once stretched can never go back to its original dimensions.”
One of my favorite classroom experiences at Mount Holyoke was Political Violence with associate professor Reiter, where I researched drug violence in Mexico. This was an extremely challenging, yet transformative, experience for me. It was also very humbling to present my work at Senior Symposium and receive compliments from professors, friends and staff who have been inspirations for me at Mount Holyoke.
Favorite Five College experience: Even though I did not end up majoring in theater, I took a really fun movement and acting course at Amherst College. I also took a class on international cinema at UMASS Amherst, and it was a fascinating experience to learn more about diaspora audiences and film festivals.
How Mount Holyoke has shaped your global outlook: My experiences of studying abroad in France and engaging in discussions in class and in my Living-Learning Community at Mount Holyoke have helped me realize a shared vision toward tackling global issues, including gender inequality and environmental degradation. I have realized how diversity — whether in classrooms, residence halls, hallways or dining halls — creates richer and more creative discussions.
Future plans: I want to gain a few years of experience at a place where ideas turn into actions, and where public service is important, after which I hope to pursue further studies in development economics. My long term goal is to return to my home country, Nepal.