Chahna Choksi '24 was told she's not Indian because she wasn't born in India; she was also told she's not American because she looks Indian. She often wondered, "Who am I?" She finally found herself, after getting very lost, at Siena.
Chahna knew she needed to be in Roger Bacon Hall, she just wasn't sure what it looked like or where to find it. She was a senior in high school, interested in biochemistry, and navigating the college search as an almost first generation college student. She decided to check out Siena, but got lost on the quad and was questioning the whole experience. Just then, something very Siena happened.
"A biology major could tell I didn't know where I was going. She came up to me and asked if I was lost. She went out of her way to make sure I got to Roger Bacon. That's my very first Siena memory. Her wanting to help me is the reason I came to Siena."
Siena seemed like the right fit, but as a freshman, Chahna never felt like she fit in. Her parents had immigrated to the United States from India. They didn't know the language, and they didn't have a high school education between them, but they provided a life of opportunity for Chahna and her sister (who would also choose Siena). Chahna felt indebted to her parents for the chance at a college education, but she was afraid of squandering it.
"COVID hit during my freshman year. It wasn't the experience I was expecting. I felt isolated and very lonely, and I didn't join any clubs. That all changed my sophomore year. I got involved at the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center and that changed everything."
She also took a course that changed her perspective. Growing up, Chahna was made to feel like an outsider by so many people around her. Born American to Indian parents, she rarely felt comfortable in her own skin. "If I'm not Indian or American, what can I be?" In Race and Identities, though, she was given the space to ask "Who am I?" and explore the very complicated question. By the end of the semester, she was finally at peace with the answer.
"I can now proudly say I'm an Asian-American woman."
Chahna began volunteering through the Damietta Center and got involved with the Asian Student Association. She's now the president of the ASA and a community assistant.
"I want to be in these leadership positions because I want to help people along their journey. I didn't know everything I needed to know as a freshman. I want to help first generation students and anyone with identity questions or concerns. I want to be able to ease their stress."
Chahna wants to work in the fields of chemistry or forensic science someday, but she's not done being a student. Her parents gave her the opportunity at an education, plus "being a student is all I've ever known," so Chahna is already exploring Ph.D. programs.
"I want to be worthy of my parents' sacrifice. They don't have an education, but they're directly responsible for mine. Also, Siena has been integral in helping me find my way."
"Race and Identities is a class that follows Intergroup Relations (IGR) pedagogy. Here at Siena this class falls under the Race and Ethnic Studies minor and is a CFJ course. Facilitators trained in this pedagogy guide students through a steady exploration of their own identities during the semester, concluding with creating meaningful goals and action steps that will benefit our community.
Chahna dove into this brave space, exploring her own identities with real insight and focus. Chahna was such an engaged student, and it was wonderful to see her develop her skill at dialogue as we tackled hard issues! We are very proud of her and are confident this knowledge is something that she will take out into the world after graduating. At Siena we have several trained facilitators in addition to me and Dr. Christa Grant, who co-facilitated Chahna’s cohort. We look forward to more IGR offerings in the future, and on a range of topics. Seeing growth like Chahna’s is a testament to the pedagogy—and to our Siena students."
Lisa Nevarez, Ph.D., professor of English