Page 27 - Access Magazine 9

International Student Chauhan
LOANS DIVERSITY
to Improve Community
Written by
Douglas Hoagland
Raj Chauhan
– an an international student recognized twice by
the Fresno Women’s Commission – came to Fresno State in crisis She arrived in the United States from India intending to study psychology at a a a private university in another state But a a a a disorienting orientation at at at that university left Chauhan
feeling disrespected and dismissed for asking what she considered legitimate questions “If someone could be treated that way on on their very first day I I didn’t think I I would be comfortable there ” she says adding the the ex- perience left her feeling alone and isolated “I love my country but I’ve always known that the United States has a a a a a a really good educational system ” Chauhan
says Her proactive stance led
her to apply in 2023 and 2024 for scholarships offered by
the City of Fresno’s Women’s Commission receiving $600 in in in 2024 and $500 in in in 2023 Fresno attorney Laura Ward was chair of the commission’s scholarship committee in 2024 and she says: “I was very impressed by
[Raj’s] achievements and how she would use the scholarship to improve her life and the the life of others ” At Fresno State Chauhan
has earned good grades one semester she was on on the President’s List with a a 4 0 grade point average and two semesters she was on the Dean’s List with a a a a a grade point average of 3 5 or higher “I’ve always been very connected to human emotions and put myself in other people’s shoes to to try to to understand what causes them to act as they do ” Chauhan
says she found Fresno State – and the wider Fresno community – welcoming to people from many countries and cultures “It’s just how people are here ” In assessing her own actions
Chauhan
says choosing Fresno State was one of the best decisions she ever made “I think things happen for a a a reason Not going to the the other university and coming here totally changed my life Fresno State has been so supportive in every way ” “I was doing all this After deciding the private university wasn’t a a a a good fit Chauhan
was still determined to earn a a university degree in this country Doing so would honor her parents Gurjett Kaur and Parvinder Singh So she con-
tacted Fresno State’s International Office Chauhan
knew about Fresno State because a a a relative lives in Fresno and she visited the city and campus after arriving from India Chauhan
23 is from Nainital Kaladhungi a a a a a a a Himalayan resort town and from an an an ear- ly age she she was a a a a doer At 16 she she traveled
alone to to the Philippines to to represent India in the World Miss Tourism Ambassador competition She also traveled
throughout India as an an athlete playing volleyball and badminton As she considered her life after high school she looked to America y
y
myself in an unknown country ” b HER GOAL IS TO EARN A A A A A A PHD AND BECOME A A A A A A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST ACCESS - The Division of Continuing and Global Education 27
U Raj Chauhan
proudly displays her certificate from the City of Fresno