Hi! I’m Anamika, I also go by Ami.
I’m originally from Trivandrum, in the coastal state of Kerala in India, and I grew up entirely in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. At UWC Changshu China, I loved having the opportunity to dive deeper into my personal interests, learning about life, living, and cultures from all around the world, and meeting people who made me feel at home.
Being part of the first cohort of international students at UWC Changshu after three years was challenging, but also a great learning experience. The last two years turned out to be some of the most interesting of my life so far, and I’ve met some of the best people in my life along the way.
I chose Lewis & Clark because of its interdisciplinary environmental studies program, the beautiful campus, and the surrounding greenery. After chatting with a few current students, I was reassured by the welcoming community, which drew me in even more. The location of Portland was also really appealing. Fun fact - (because I only recently figured this out) UWC Changshu is in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in China, and Portland is one of Suzhou’s sister cities (partnerships between cities for cultural exchange)! That little coincidence definitely sealed my decision to attend Lewis & Clark (I’m a big fan of fate). I’m particularly interested in environmental policy and hope to pursue a career in ESG.
Outside of academics, I’m a doodler, reader, perfume enthusiast, and amateur Rubik’s speed cuber. I also play the ukulele from time to time, and I’m mostly the “let’s-get-ice-cream-and-take-a-long-walk” type of person. I love exploring small places and tiny stores, and collecting random trinkets along the way.
I’ve traveled mostly around the Middle East, particularly within the Arabian Peninsula. I’ve visited a few countries in Eastern Europe and some in Asia as well. The US will be my first experience in North America, and I’m excited to see what it has to offer.
At Lewis & Clark, I hope to build lifelong friendships and find a new community I can call home, similar to what I was able to do at UWC. I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and having new experiences.