“I moved a lot growing up. By the time I started college, I had already lived in India, Korea and Singapore.

For college, the University of Utah Asia Campus was the obvious choice. I knew I wanted to study psychology, and it was the only place in Korea where I could do that in English. It was also a smaller campus, which was perfect for me.

My two years at the Asia campus were amazing. One of the things I loved most about it was the many opportunities we had to explore and try out new things, including ones not related to our majors. I was a podcast producer for three semesters and I became president of the analog photography club. Classes were small. It was easy to build relationships. There were new study abroad students every semester, so I was constantly meeting people from around the world.

Then I transferred to Salt Lake City to finish my degree. The first few weeks were fine, and then the culture shock and loneliness hit. In October, I went to a Garba event. hosted by the Indian Student Association. I know ‘life-changing’ is a strong phrase, but for me, this event genuinely was. I found a community. A safe space where I could be myself, speak in my native languages and finally feel like I belonged somewhere.

At the same time, my friends from the Asia Campus who grew up in Utah showed me around their hometowns. They introduced me to experiences that made this state feel less like a foreign land and more like a community I could be part of.

My roommate took me to several Cornbelly’s events during the fall and Halloween, places she loved going to as a child. My best friend showed me around Park City and taught me how to ski on the same bunny hill where she first learned. Another friend introduced me to her family and shared her mom’s pupusas, the flavors reminding me of my own mom’s cooking back home. As I explored Utah with them, I came to love the state.

Right now, my plan is to become a social worker, a path I didn’t consider until I took a class on infant and early childhood mental health. My grandfather was a leprosy doctor for over 40 years. He offered treatments for free and helped people however he could. That was my first real exposure to what social work looks like.

My plan is to get a master’s degree and then begin my career in India. Eventually, I would like to work for an international nonprofit. I love to travel. I speak several languages. I’ve moved so many times that adapting to new cultures doesn’t scare me anymore. I just think: I’ll be fine. And I want to put that to use.

I used to be super introverted in high school. The Asia campus changed that. The Salt Lake campus changed that more. And now I can talk to anyone. For the kind of work I want to do, that is everything.”

— Varuni Ravi, Class of 2026, B.S. in Psychology & Human Development and Family Studies, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, from India