Age: 19
Program: English
Hometown: Chennai, India
Relationship Status: In a relationship
Tell me about yourself and all the things you do at Western:
I’m an English major, so a lot of my time at Western revolves around books. I started reading at a very early age and kept reading huge amounts throughout my life. When I moved here, I thought the public libraries were the best thing ever. I would take out obscene numbers of books.
So I do a lot of reading, but also, I write. Constantly. Essays, short stories, and the Gazette, of course.
What is the best/your favorite thing you have done at Western?
Gotta be the Gazette. Best and worst decision I’ve made. I was determined to do an extracurricular, so I started volunteering for them in first year. I was so annoyingly persistent they just hired me. God knows it’s punched my GPA in the face, but I think it’s worth it.
Why did you pursue your major?
I had to justify spending that much of my life reading. Anyone can read Jane Eyre, but you take a few English classes and you start seeing this whole world of implication and cultural context and philosophy. Hemingway compared it to an iceberg, because you just see the tip of this massive thing. The idea that a text is this limitless thing, that a book isn’t over just because you got to the last page, is very appealing.
What’s your favorite food?
Indian food, still the best in the world for me. I grew up with it and I’ll eat it at any opportunity. Butter chicken, naan, whatever – whenever we go back to India or England I’ll just straight up pig out whenever I can.
What’s your favorite thing to do off campus?
I like going out downtown sometimes, but I also like just staying in and watching Netflix. It’s all about balance. I’ve been playing classical guitar for five years, so I’ll often practice songs and stuff like that. It’s a good way to destress after a long day. I love running at night, too. The risk of getting stabbed in my neighbourhood just kind of adds to the motivation.
Who is your role model?
I don’t know if I have one, really. I admire a lot of people, but I’m not really basing my life on theirs or even trying to emulate them. Role models are overrated. Forge your own damn path!
What is your favorite song right now?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Vampire Weekend recently, “Diane Young” is just such a good song. For workouts, though, so much Kanye. Black Skinhead is the best pumpup music ever.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’d like to write. I’d also like to be financially comfortable enough that I can travel, and then write about that. It’s kind of an unreliable career option, but we’ll see how it pans out.
Have you had any classes/ professors at Western that made an impact on you?
For sure. Prof. Bentley’s ENG Enriched English class kind of opened up this whole world of literature for me, and the man is genuinely passionate about his field and so interesting. I’m taking a Shakespeare class this year with Professor Kidnie, and holy crap. I don’t know who thinks Shakespeare is boring, it’s the most entertaining, gruesome, hilarious stuff. Titus Andronicus Is just five acts of blood, gore, dismemberment and murder.
Do have any guilty pleasures?
Can I say day drinking? Not that I feel that guilty about it. It’s just nice to have a bar near the office to take the edge off. What do they say – write drunk, edit sober?
What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Again, I love playing guitar. Calms me down, but I also get super focused on a song; there’s something really satisfying about getting a tricky song down perfectly.
Love gaming, too. Got the Witcher 3 recently and I’m playing the hell out of it. Not helping with my exams, but hey, that’s alright.