DALLAS, Pa. — Mrigakshi Verma’s first time in the United States was when her plane touched down at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, just days before she started classes at Penn State Wilkes-Barre at the beginning of the fall semester.
Verma left her home in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, where she was born and raised, on a three-night journey that would take her to the next step in her education. Although she had taken the campus’ virtual tour, she had never visited in person.
Interested in space since she was a child, Verma said she was encouraged in her passion by her high school counselor and excited by what she learned online about Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
“My counselor introduced me to Penn State, which is well known for its engineering programs, and Penn State Wilkes-Barre,” she said. “I chose to major in aerospace engineering and attend Penn State Wilkes-Barre after learning about the Friedman Observatory on campus.”
Verma’s major is part of the University’s 2+2 Plan, which means she will complete her first two years of studies at Penn State Wilkes-Barre before moving on to University Park. She said she also hopes to complete a second major in computer science.
Cultural differences
Back home in India, “it’s very bustling,” Verma said, describing it as "much louder" than the United States. “I have never seen anyone quiet in India. It is also very diverse. You will experience different kinds of cultures as you move state by state in India.”
She said she appreciates the setting of Penn State Wilkes-Barre, remarking, “I have never seen this many trees before.”
Verma was also surprised by the smiles and greetings from people she didn’t know, coming from a background where that is uncommon, she said.
“Everyone here smiles and says, ‘Good morning’ or ‘How are you?’” she said. “In India, people who don’t know you don’t do that.
“Another basic difference is the food,” she said. “People in the U.S. prefer subdued food, but in India we cannot do without spice.” She brought numerous Indian spices with her and sometimes cooks for one of her roommates at Nittany Commons.
Her hometown, Ashmir, is “neither big nor small” and sees a lot of foreign tourism, with people visiting the nearby town of Pushkar for the culture. Hindi is Verma’s native language; she began learning English around age 5 and also speaks some Sindi and Marwari.
She has a younger brother and both play lawn tennis — she has played at a national level and her brother at an international level. Since the two of them traveled frequently for tennis, their mother was more comfortable with the thought of her daughter traveling so far away to attend college, Verma said.
“My family was initially worried but they wanted me to go,” Verma said. “They supported my decision to go to Penn State since they wanted me to pursue my passion and knew it would be good for my career. And since my parents knew I had done a lot of traveling for tennis, they knew I would adapt easily.”
Verma does not know when she will get back home to see her family and friends in India. She said her parents will visit her first so she doesn’t have to take time away from her studies. She also plans to take summer classes.
“Despite the distance, I'm fortunate to have a manageable time difference between India and Wilkes-Barre,” she said. “Although India is nine-and-a-half hours ahead, I can conveniently catch up with my parents every morning and evening. This routine helps me stay connected to my family and maintain a sense of closeness, even from afar.”
Transition to a new environment
Verma arrived at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport late in the evening, close to midnight. Since her mother didn’t want her to travel at night in an unfamiliar area, she said, she spent the night at the airport. The next morning, she spoke with campus staff, who arranged a cab to take her to her new home at Nittany Commons.
“My transition has been going very smoothly,” she said. “The first day I was scared and wondered how I would adjust. I’ve adjusted well because of the support system of my peers, roommates, professors and staff. Everyone is really nice and kind to me and I have made friendships with a lot of fellow students.”
Verma said the smaller size and close-knit nature of the campus have enabled her to form close relationships and enhance her experience. She has appreciated being able to interact closely with faculty and staff and was able to take part in an engineering project shortly after she started her studies.
She has taken advantage of Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s food bank, which she said “has helped me maintain my cost-cutting,” and the campus’ many clubs and organizations. She joined the Student Government Association, 4 Seasons Club and Business and Entrepreneurship Club and appreciates the connections and experience she is building there. And through Penn State Global, she has participated in group outings with other international students to Philadelphia and New York City as well as an event to celebrate the Hindu holiday Diwali.
Verma said she appreciates the encouragement and assistance she has received all across campus.
“When you get so much support from other people, it makes you want to grow and become a support system for others as well,” she said. “I will definitely support other people because of this. I now know what kind of experience it creates to receive help from other people, and I would love to give back.”
Academic inspiration and goals
Verma said she has been interested in space exploration and research programs since she was about 8 years old. She was inspired by APJ Abdul Kalam, a scientist who served as the president of India from 2002-2007 and was known as “the missile man of India” for his contributions to India’s missile and nuclear weapons program.
She said she aspires to join NASA’s Pathways Internship Program and earn a master’s degree, she said. Her ultimate goal is to be part of NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) space exploration and research projects.