Reflections on College at Graduation: Naina Mishra

Who knows what the future might bring? For PowHERful scholar Naina Mishra, who spent her childhood in a Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal, this year brought a B.A. in Economics from the University of Connecticut. It was almost eleven years ago that Naina arrived with her family in the U.S. As she faced the daunting challenges of learning a new language and adjusting to a different culture, Naina held tight to her dream of attending college. 

“As an immigrant student,” Naina recounts, “my journey was fraught with unique obstacles. In college, I felt out of place at first, but these challenges pushed me to work harder and seek support from my professors and peers. As time went on, my identity as a refugee became a source of pride rather than a barrier. And the kindness and understanding I received from my college community were invaluable—they helped me believe in myself and my potential.”

“Initially,” Naina says, “I saw college as merely a stepping stone to a career, a place to acquire the necessary knowledge and credentials. But, in time,” she continues, “my perspective evolved significantly. College was a transformative experience that extended beyond academics, a place where I discovered my strengths, developed resilience, and built relationships that will continue far into the future.” Naina reflects on how her views changed over these formative years: “I discovered that going to college is not just about getting a degree. It’s about growing as a person and finding my place in the world.”