The author realized at camp that they were introverted and shy due to a childhood seizure and lack of sports involvement. [1] To come out of their shell, they began drawing and practicing karate to boost their confidence. [2] They further transformed after a student exchange in Germany at age 15, becoming more independent, open-minded, and willing to take risks. [3] Art remains an important outlet, and the author now performs Bollywood dances at Brandeis University.

1. My Journey
Me
Realization: Ring of Fire
Seated amidst my fifteen fellow campers, my eleven year old self had been eager
to hear about the qualities my fellow campers had observed in me. I was shocked
when I was greeted by dead silence, followed by a few charitable comments about
how I smile a lot.
I realized that having spent my school life in a class of over fifty students with
intimidating teachers, I had shied away from speaking. This introversion had
been exacerbated by a seizure at the age of six, which had mildly impaired my
motor skills. Embarrassed about looking uncoordinated, I had resisted my
parents efforts to get me involved in sports, which would have allowed me to
make friends in an intimate setting. If I wanted the world to see more of me than
my smiles, I needed to change.
Emerging with Art and Discovering Movement In a Sea of Students
I started drawing myself out of my shell by, well, drawing. I dove into letting my thoughts take form as
shapes and colors, splashing them onto media from paper to canvas. My confidence started molding
itself around the framed pictures my parents proudly displayed all over the house. I embraced
karate classes, making peace with the fact that I took longer than most kids to get it right, and instead
focused on enjoying the practice. These early experiences motivated me to participate in a student
exchange in Germany at the age of fifteen. Living with a family I at first barely knew, and discovering
the sights and sounds of a city on my own, I returned to India transformed.
Performing for the
South Asian Student
Association at Brandeis
Transformation
I’ve discovered a love for exploring, and am now independent, open-
minded and a risk taker. Art remains an important avenue of
expression, where my attention to detail comes alive. It’s a perfect
combination of control and chaos, pencils form definite lines, and
watercolors blend unpredictably.
At Brandeis, I dived into participating in choreographed Bollywood
dances in front of hundreds of people. The ring of fire has come full
circle, as my life continues to be enriched by new experiences and
opportunities.