Identity Journeys: The South Asian American Student Experience

Near­ly 5.6 mil­lion South Asians live in the Unit­ed States. It is not surprising that the experiences of South Asian students in the United States are just as nuanced as the countries their families originate from. From the pressures to assimilate, to the stereotypes of being model students, this segment will aim to bring light to the true identities, dreams and aspirations of this growing population of students in the United States. The Center for Global Education in Partnership with The Culture Tree is proud to bring this Dabba Dialogue to our audience. Introductory Remarks Provided by Dr. Anthony Jackson, Vice President, Center for Global Education.

Speakers

Rahul Yates is a sophomore from Los Angeles, California. He is of South Asian and European descent, and is very interested in topics surrounding multiracial and multicultural issues and experiences. He enjoys activities like Bharata Natyam, orchestra (plays oboe and piano), debate, the BCIL (Belldegrun Center for Innovative Leadership), Student Council, affinity groups, and student ambassador programs. He is the Founder and Executive Director of HumSub GlobalTEEN, an organization that raises awareness and builds community for multiracial and multicultural teens. @humsubglobalteen!  

Sukhmani Kaur Kakar is a junior at the Holton-Arms School. She serves as the junior president for the South Asian Culture Club at her school. Sukhmani enjoys music of all kinds and participates in both Western and Indian music mediums, particularly singing and Punjabi bhangra. Sukhmani lives with her family in Potomac, Maryland.

Humza Rabbani is currently an 11th grader at The Nueva School in San Mateo, California. He is passionate about technology and also enjoys reading the news, playing squash, and debating. At school, he helps lead the Muslim Student Alliance, a group that promotes discussion around and engagement with Islam. 

Anya Singh is a sophomore at Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ. She has combined her deep passion for dance, tennis and technology with a dedication to service. She is the founding member of a non-profit organization, KonnektGlobal, which aims to connect youth globally to drive academic success across underprivileged communities. Anya has been learning dance for the past 10 years (under the tutelage of Kathak guru Parul Shah, and Bollywood guru Rujuta Vaidya) and also dances competitively for Thesourcedancelab.com.