“I am a brother to one, a son to two, a cousin to ten, a friend to many, and a student of the world. I am from a cozy yet spirited Central Jersey suburb brimming with life—where neighborhood block parties erupted spontaneously, children turned every street into their personal football field, and uncles and aunties engaged in political battles that rivaled any town hall meeting. I am also from southwest India – with connections to the depths of life in the mountainous Western Ghats along with ties to cities in the interior buzzing with human activity. Now, I am creating a new home for myself in the bustling Bay Area, immersing myself in the layers of lore and stories that this place holds. I am an aspiring artist who loves to sketch and doodle; I am an aspiring musician who loves to hum and sing. I am a scientist who seeks to understand the world, and I am an engineer who seeks to contribute to human production. I am at times silent and radiate peace, like a gentle fawn, yet at other times I am as loud and full of chaos, like fireworks in the sky. I am a social and political subject of this world. I am desperately searching for solutions and explanations for all the suffering that surrounds me. I am happy but I am also a little sad. I am an eager learner and an enthusiastic teacher. I stumble sometimes but my fear of falling is nothing compared to my confidence in getting back up. I am who I am because of those who have inspired me - my family, my friends, my teachers, and everyone else, across time, space, species, and existence. I am stubborn and I am unsatisfied. I am afraid but I am brave. I am imperfect but I am improving. I am Poojit Hegde.”
Check out my blog post on “Who am I?” to read a deeper reflection on this question!
