Mount Holyoke College • Vista • Fall 2012, Volume 17 No. 2


Meet the Class of 2016 (continued)
Varuna Nangia


Hometown: Sharon, Massachusetts


Likely major: Psychology. I’ve always been good at reading people’s emotions and sensing if something is bothering them. However, my major is something that can easily change. Every day I find something new that I could pursue.


Reading now: Myths to Live By, by Joseph Campbell


The value of failing: Rock climbing has taught me to keep trying and working whether or not I succeed. You fail 90 percent of the time, so you keep trying, training, and getting stronger.


On being a triplet: My entire life, I have always been “one of the triplets.” That was my identity. I am really excited about heading to college on my own. Who is Varuna Nangia without her brother and sister?


Personal philosophy: Never stop wondering. The moment you stop asking questions is the moment you stop evolving.


Favorite good cause: My favorite project as president of F.O.S.A.R. (Finding Our South Asian Roots) was the Multicultural Cabaret, a fundraiser/talent show. With a multitude of acts—a dance performed to k-pop, Indian classical dances, a Russian soloist—it gives you a sense that no matter what your race, culture, heritage, or ethnicity is, you belong.


 


Lisa De Sousa Dias: 21ST CENTURY SCHOLAR


Hometown: Oeiras, Portugal


Likely major: Somewhere between my fascination for the brain—an area with so much still to be discovered—and my love for literature, I will find my major. I’m excited by the journey I’m about to begin!


Reading now: The Ground Beneath Her Feet, by Salman Rushdie


Volunteer experience: I spent my summer volunteering at a literacy center in Mozambique called Livro Aberto. I helped update their library system and traveled into rural communities to teach Portuguese to the children. The children’s eagerness to learn, their ability to help each other, and their kindness despite their hard lives was inspiring.


Model UN: I’ve been a delegate at multiple Iberian Model United Nations and at the Hague. Every time I attend a Model UN conference, I leave with an indescribable excitement for our future. It’s the feeling of optimism towards a more just world and meeting people with a similar passion that I love most.


Passion for cello: I love playing the cello. A few years ago, after a literally last- minute release of a ticket, I got the chance to see Yo-Yo Ma perform. I will always remember the sight of him swaying passionately to his encore piece, Elgar’s Salut d’Amour. (His wife, Jill Hornor ’74, is a Mount Holyoke alumna!)


Favorite quote: “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” —Winnie the Pooh


 


Kathryn “Katie” Ho


Hometown: San Diego, California


Likely major: After so many experiences, I feel like I am interested in nearly everything. I know one thing is for sure, I still have the travel bug so I will definitely be studying abroad!


Gap year: I traveled to Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, South Africa, India, China, and Cambodia with Thinking Beyond Borders. My group had some extended stays with host families and supported communities in a specific service project. It’s true that the only way to really understand what is happening somewhere else is to go there and be a friend.


Discovering robotics: My dad encouraged me to attend a meeting of an all-girls robotics team one Saturday. I was completely reluctant to even get out of the car, but I’m glad that I did. I spent five years with the team, which we named Einstein’s Daughters. We formed long- lasting friendships, and the experience opened our eyes to career possibilities, as well as gender disparities in the field.


Being a legacy: Attending Mount Holyoke wasn’t my original plan, partially because my mom had gone there. However, as I narrowed down my final choices, Mount Holyoke kept standing out. I can definitely say that I am happy about my decision.


On my iPhone: I am still jamming to some foreign tunes, but I have also been excited about a new band for me: Imagine Dragons. I’m up for any suggestions, though!


 


Najwa Aswad


Hometown: Westwood, Massachusetts


Likely major: I have been considering a critical social thought major, with a concentration on humanitarian issues in the Middle East. It may be subject to change, though!


Destination Senegal: I went on a service trip with my school to work with impoverished children known in Senegal as talibé. We helped renovate some homes, and taught math and language skills. Although that work was deeply rewarding, it was the language immersion that I most appreciated. I encourage everyone to do a language immersion trip if possible.


Making music: I began playing piano at the age of nine. I like playing in jazz ensembles because it forces you to listen and communicate with the musicians around you. It has also opened the door to music competitions which, although stressful, are rewarding in the end.


Book recommendation: One of my all-time favorites is Beautiful Boy by David Sheff, which chronicles how a father coped with his son’s drug addiction. It’s a beautiful story, and heart-wrenching as well. Then I would encourage reading the son’s memoir—Tweak by Nic Sheff.


Choosing MHC:When I arrived on campus for the accepted students program, Mount Holyoke made me feel special. Everyone I met seemed to care that I felt welcome, and there were some current MoHo students who I could thoroughly identify with.

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