Suweksha Shrestha, a senior majoring in marketing and minoring in creative writing, was born and raised in Nepal. She migrated to India for two years of high school and then decided to pursue further education in the United States finding her way to the University of Wyoming.
Shrestha said living in Laramie has been a roller coaster ride.
“The good part is that it’s a college town and peaceful which is amazing but the cold and the wind hits you differently when the winter comes by,” Shrestha said.
Like everyone Shrestha had a hard time during the pandemic. She was regularly hiking and going out with friends but after COVID-19 all of it stopped.
“There are always ups and downs,” Shrestha said. “I did not have an excuse and went through it.”
Shrestha, going into her senior year, said she hopes everyone takes the COVID-19 vaccine so things go back to normal by her graduation.
Shrestha said because of COVID she is having a hard time finding an internship for her senior year.
“I have been applying to everything and going to interviews and nothing is working out. Because of COVID-19 everything is harder. It’s kind of frustrating but I guess I have to keep trying,” Shrestha said.
One plus from COVID though is the online classes for Shrestha.
“I don’t have to walk around in this cold and snow, but I would prefer to hang out with people during meetings at my sorority,” Shrestha said.
Shrestha’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Psi, is a business and professional development Greek house.
Currently Shrestha is working as a career peer in the college of business, a decision influenced by her family. Her dad is a business owner in Nepal and Shrestha wants to start a business of her own one day. She has a small online handicraft and jewelry business now.
Before COVID, Shrestha was involved in many activities around campus in her sophomore and junior year along with her sorority.
She was president for the International Student Association (ISA), where she was involved with different events like a Karma fundraiser, an etiquette dinner, talent shows and International Education Week.
“Coming to the U.S. as a freshman, I had no clue about the U.S. politics but right now with all the political stuff happening, UW is putting effort into getting out a diversity equity and inclusion team,” Shrestha said.
Shrestha said she feels that is a major improvement in the university.
She was also a resident assistant (RA) for White Hall. Shrestha said her goal while being an RA was to welcome the freshmen and make them feel at home. She also wanted to help keep them out of trouble.
All of this helped Shrestha to build her leadership skills.
