Shubhanga Satyal

What major are you studying and why did you choose it?

I am a double major in economics and business management. I picked economics because I was curious about how the world works, to understand the financial world, and learn about Third World countries and why they exist. I picked my business major after experimenting with several other areas of study because of its wide scope and the skills that it imparts to help succeed in the professional world. 

What are some of the skills Knox imparted to you through your experiences here? 

Knox provided me with many opportunities that have helped me grow tremendously. For example, I was an international ambassador and one of my duties was organizing workshops for international students, where I had to single-handedly plan and coordinate events. This helped me improve my communication and managerial skills.

I was also in charge of recruiting students for the College while also conducting promotional activities for the school. This not only improved my marketing techniques, but also helped build my interpersonal skills. As a resident assistant, this was extremely helpful when it came to resolving conflicts between my suite members. I think it was also great preparation for human resources management, which forms a large part of running a successful organization. Moreover, I also had to ensure rules and regulations were being followed. Enforcing this made me a firmer person and gave me insight into power dynamics, which I believe is extremely important in the professional world.

Finally, as president of Aaina, which is Knox’s South Asian Club, I learned how to direct the budget—another extremely important skill in the world. At the same time, I also learned more about the different South Asian cultures and helped spread that awareness through the Knox community. 

Since you’ve had the opportunity to explore different areas of study, what is one class or professor you think everyone should take? 

I would say Katie Stewart, professor of political science and international relations. I took Russian and East European politics with her. Her classes were extremely well organized and systematic and it was easy to follow through the class. I’m not saying the class was easy, but the way she taught it made the transition into college seamless. Her classes were also discussion based, and, as an introverted person, it helped me open up and improved my diction and public speaking skills. The class also improved my general knowledge and I learned more about the different types of social structures in greater depth. The best part is that she is an amazing person and I genuinely enjoyed being in her class. 

What are some of the challenges that you faced throughout your career at Knox?

There were a lot of times that I was challenged by the smallness of the school—when I would have preferred a bigger environment and more space. But at the same time, the smallness also offered the personal attention of the professors and allowed me to make personal connections at a deeper level. 

What is a piece of advice you’d give to new students? 

Don’t take on more than you can handle because you will burn out. It is important to take part in activities outside of class, but that does not mean you have to do everything. It is important to find the right balance. It is also important to not conform to groups to ‘fit in.’ If you want to wear white slacks with a black shirt, go for it. You do you.