Name: Saumya Sudhir
Age: 19
Class Year: 2017
Major: Psychology
Hometown: New Delhi
What do you love about Mount Holyoke?
I love that we have a very comfortable environment because transitioning from high school, and you know, for some of us leaving our countries and leaving our families behind, is a very difficult process. So I like the fact that we have a small campus that’s relatively comfortable. We have these beautiful common rooms and these beautiful buildings, which just really help you to feel taken care of all the time. I really like that about Mount Holyoke.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to dance! I’m part of a dance group on campus called Taal, which is a Bollywood fusion dance group. We’ve performed several times at Mount Holyoke, UMass, and Smith. Basically we do all sorts of dancing. We combine Bollywood, classical Indian dance, and all these different South Asian dances with western dancing, so we’ve done Jazz, and I think before I joined even did a Skrillex song, so it’s really just a fusion, and what we do really depends on what the choreographer in the group decides to do.
What is important to you?
Seeing the people I care about happy. My family and my friends mean a lot to me and I draw most of my energy from being with them and spending time with them. It makes me really happy to see them happy, to be doing things with my friends and family, and to be building personal relationships.
Who is the coolest person you have ever met?
The Dalai Lama, who I think is quite possibly the definition of chill. And his laughter is infectious!
Where have you lived?
I’ve lived in many different countries. I’ve lived in Egypt, Syria, India, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and Australia.
Where was you favourite place to live? Where would you still like to go?
That is impossible to answer, but I would say India, because it is home and always will be. I would love to explore Southeast Asia, especially for the food!
What is your favourite Southeast Asian dish/meal?
That’s really hard to decide! If I could have a meal with like Thai food, sushi, and Vietnamese food, and Chinese food, and Japanese food all in one dish, that would be my ideal meal.
What is your favorite song?
Grey or Blue by Jaymay, because everytime I hear it, I am taken back to a particularly wonderful point in my life. When I first heard that song I was in middle school, and I think in middle school you’re just a little more idealistic and you’re like, “Oh, yeah I used to love writing.” I think I just used to have this impression of the world that it was really just a beautiful place, and I heard this song and I was like, “Yeah, this is like the soundtrack of my life,” so in that sense I just have good memories. Even when I hear it now I’m like, “Oh I was so young and naive back then,” but in a nice and nostalgic way.
Which celeb inspires your style?
Mindy Kaling! I really like the way she works with colours and patterns, and the fact that she has confidence really makes everything she wears and everything she does so much more inspiring. Even as a person I like her because she’s very fun and hard-working, also she’s accomplished so much at such a young age. So to have that kind of a role model is already very inspiring, and then to top it off her fashion sense is also just spot-on and unique.
If you could have any superpower what would it be?
To ‘pause’ the weather during the fall and/or spring, and skip extreme temperatures altogether. I just don’t like extreme weather or temperatures, and I don’t like having to change clothes. I don’t like going out for dinner and having to think about all the thousands of layers I have to wear so that I don’t freeze to death. Also, I don’t like it when say I’m going outside and I’m sweating and not really enjoying myself. So I feel that sometimes weather is such a big factor in my enjoyment of outings. So if the weather was always just nice, I feel like it would be perfect.
If you were stranded on a desert island, and you could wish for one thing, what would it be?
On my own? Well, I don’t know. Maybe a phone so I can call for help, and get myself out of there because I don’t like being on my own. So a phone with wifi, just to call for help.
What does your dream job look like?
A job where I could work with people – lead people, inspire, and motivate them. I feel like I see these qualities in myself a lot. I like to make decisions, and I feel like my strengths lie in organizing. So I’d like to work with and help people.
What is one thing about your personality that you feel stands out?
I have a great sense of humor and I love to make people laugh. But I think sometimes when people meet me for the first time, people don’t notice that.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
One time my friend and I were running to watch a movie and we were in such a hurry that we didn’t want to walk down the steps to our seats. So we just climbed over the seats from the back down to the middle of the cinema. I really don’t know why we did that.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People distracting me when I’m working. No, actually my biggest pet peeve is actually people not smiling when they talk to me. I don’t like this because it makes me think that the person is really cold. So if I’m having a conversation with someone and I’m like “hi,” and they have a completely straight and uninterested face.
What is your ideal date?
I think my ideal date would be a really casual one, where we just get food and watch movies and not really do anything, like not have to leave especially if it’s cold. Snuggling in front of a fireplace and watching a funny movie sounds perfect. My ideal person is someone who is very chilled out, because I’m not and I would like that balance. Someone who’s really willing to grow as a person in the relationship, someone who laughs and finds my sense of humor great as well.
Who is your Celebrity crush?
Tina Fey. Also, I’m totally in love with Benedict Cumberbatch!
Who is your favourite cartoon character?
Shrek because I think he’s just so funny, and I’ve watched shrek like 50 times!
If you could be any animal what would you be and why?
I would like to be a dog because everybody loves to cuddle dogs!