I had just turned 11 when my parents migrated from India to Boston. They wanted to raise their children here. I was the oldest of three and a role model for my brothers. College was the path to success and my parents made sure that was clear.
I attended an international Catholic school in India, so English was my first language. I didn’t have difficulty adjusting as far as having a language barrier, but my parents did.
I knew being involved in high school was important to getting into a good college. So I played tennis, track, cross country and basketball. I joined the diversity and science clubs. On top of all that, I had two jobs: babysitting and working at a retail store. I was so determined to go to college, but cost was a barrier. Our family didn’t have a lot of money, so not working was not an option.
When I was accepted to Bentley, it was one of the most joyous moments of my life. My parents were so proud and couldn’t hold back their tears. I had saved $17,000 and was able to pay for my first year on campus, didn’t have to ask my parents for any assistance. I lived at home for my sophomore year; my dad had left his job to care for my brother who had cancer. I was selected as a resident assistant my junior year, and because that helped cover room and board, I was able to move back on campus. Being an RA gave me tons of leadership experience.
My entire four years I knew it was a privilege to be at Bentley. Sometimes I’d be exhausted from working three jobs. But if I ever thought of missing class, I remembered that education is why my dad brought us to the U.S. The guilt and pressure would kill me if I failed.
I was offered a full-time position at KPMG after completing my internship there. My first job was in IT, even though I had never taken an IT class! I was able to adapt and excel because Bentley gave me a really strong foundation in collaboration, flexibility, prioritizing and listening to others. Now I’m considered an expert in what I do.
My parents never had white-collar jobs here, so it was difficult for them to give me feedback in the transition from college to professional life. But what they could and did give me was the courage to push myself to achieve my goals.
Sanjana was featured as a “Trailblazer of the First Degree” in the spring 2019 issue of Bentley Magazine. Read the full story.