'Let your time here inspire you'

Arushi Kende: Asian Studies

5/15/2026

Arushi Kende

Asian Studies
Wayne, Pa.

What was your favorite class and why?

My favorite and the most impactful course was RELST 3331: Opt Out, Tune In: Hermits, Pilgrims and Dharma Bums, from East Asia to Ithaca, taught by master storyteller, Professor Jane-Marie Law. As she told us on the first day, we were there to "read poetry like our life depends on it, because it does."

And thus, this was a semester of reading the poetry scratched into bark or written under the stars by spiritual seekers across the ages who chose to live on the margins of society, discovering thoughts from the peripheries of the human consciousness and exploring the purpose of being alive through a liminal, minimal and solitary lifestyle.

And not only was the poetry special, so was the way we read it. We formed small groups of four and once a week would meet up to read the poetry together, while sharing the most delectable teas from around the world. Not only did I gather precious friendships, but together we reshaped our perspectives on our own mythic imaginaries, social connection and the ability to observe and question.

What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?

My first few years at Cornell, I truly poured my heart into creating a lasting tradition of sacred appreciation for community and knowledge. I founded and led a club called Hindu YUVA, which organized many celebrations, meditations and other events designed to bring our community together through play, discussion and faith.

My absolute favorite is one day a year that's not about us: our annual teacher-appreciation ceremony, or "Guru-Vandana." "Guru," in a poetic sense, means the remover of the darkness of ignorance. "Vandana" is veneration. As such, every spring, typically during National Teacher Appreciation Week, we invite all the professors, deans and administrators we can to an evening of classical music, dance, speeches and, most importantly, venerating the sacred position they hold in our lives: giving the gift of knowledge.

We invite them up on stage, and hold a traditional Hindu ceremony of bowing to their feet, asking for their blessings and giving them tokens of our appreciation. To be able to bring this intimate tradition of appreciating our educators to Cornell, to be able to bring together my parents, my advisor, my professors and deans, and personally thank them, and to see their own eyes lined and shining with emotion – this has been the greatest honor I have held in my time here. I am grateful not only for the opportunity to initiate this, but that it has now become a tradition beyond me, and I know it will continue for many years to come.

What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of the research on "The Cultivation of Altruistic Cultures" I have been able to dedicate myself to in my time at Cornell. I had the chance to wander from Mumbai to the Himalayas conducting interviews with people who had devoted their lives to the service of others.

I spent my summers teaching ecological sustainability workshops and leading cooking programs for local families and communities. I got to read and analyze the works of the greatest thinkers and proponents of altruistic action.

And, most importantly, I was able to synthesize the miracles of altruistic action – not only the social good it accomplishes, but the internal "service-bliss" one gains by giving, and the social and religious technologies cultures have and can apply to ingrain selfless action into their way-of-life.

I am so grateful to be able to walk away from Cornell with a sense of contributing to a truly vital exploration in today's world: How do we rebuild meaningful communities? How can we adapt our perspective of autonomy to let us embrace contentment in a rapidly isolating and changing world? What is the secret of service, and exactly how can we begin to experience its magic?

Of course, this was only made possible due to the mentorship of truly incredible faculty and access to Cornell's research resources, including being a part of the Rawlings Cornell Presidential Research Scholars Program and the Humanities Scholars Program, for which I am very thankful.

If you were to offer advice to an incoming first-year student, what would you say?

The land upon which Cornell sits is very special. It is fertile with beauty, water and life. And the people, communities and passions that it sustains are just as remarkable.

At Cornell itself, you will encounter not just the brightest, but the kindest minds, all seeking to better each other and our world. Your peers will uplift and support you, as you will them. But especially keep an eye out for faculty who inspire you, and do all you can to learn from them even outside of classes. And, be sure to wander further off of campus, too.

You will find Tibetan refugees and monks, ecological communes, beekeepers, some of the best vegetarian food in the country, artists who choose to be homeless voluntarily, and waterfalls and gardens and more waterfalls.

This is a place where people choose to live with compassion, purpose, exploration and courage, in touch with nature and their own humanity. Your time in Ithaca is a blessing – make the most of it!

And, as a Cornell student, you have access to so many resources to hone your ability to make change. Scholarships, mentorships, research grants, etc. If you don't know how to find them, then find someone who does (i.e., faculty). Let your time here inspire you, and spark it into action, inquisition and passion!

Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series. Read more about the Class of 2026.