#GraduateStories – The Curious Kid who Found Answers at Ashoka University

I come from Kaliya Kadi, a small village in Madhya Pradesh. When I got the opportunity to come and study at an institution like Ashoka University, I was overwhelmed but I found a safe space to make mistakes, learn and grow from them. Since I was a child, I was never afraid to question things that were going on around me. I was curious and I wanted answers, and I think it’s safe to say that I found some answers to my questions by interacting with a diverse group of people here at Ashoka University. 

If I had to describe my Ashokan Journey in one word, it would be a rollercoaster ~ a good roller coaster ride where there were no full stops to high points. From pursuing a double major in Economics to following my passion for cycling and becoming an integral part of the Career Development Office team, I got to unravel many milestones in these four years for myself. In my very first year, I found my passion for Cycling which led to me becoming the founding President of the Ashoka Cycling Club where I have done everything in my capacity to fuel my passion. 

Throughout these years I have organized various rides and events for the Cycling Club but one of the biggest milestones which I accomplished was in December 2021. I completed my first 3000 km- solo and self supported ride, which started from Ashoka University Campus to Atal Tunnel North Portal, Himachal Pradesh to Delhi and then to my village in Madhya Pradesh, further to Ahmedabad and then back to my Village. These rides provided me with a sense of liberty and freedom ~ where I had beautiful encounters with nature and people in their rawest forms. 

During my time at Ashoka University, I liked keeping myself busy because there was so much going on around me and I wanted to experience everything that I liked. The hustle and bustle of the campus motivated me to work on myself every day. But one thing I learned at Ashoka University is to value my mental health, even though I am at a stage of my life where I am experiencing various things one at a time. Nevertheless, I have realized it’s very important to slow down and introspect my day to get a better perspective of my life. 

Back in 2016, I would have taken hours to complete one sentence,  I would barely be able to communicate without hesitating but here I am today standing as a confident individual. I am excited to unfold the next phase of my life and achieve the goals that I have set for myself. I am grateful for this experience and I am happy to take away all these happy memories with me. 

(Edited excerpts from a conversation with Samantha Samson)