LTMD: What was your first step toward taking your education into the world?
Ankit: I took Prof. Tony Brown’s PPS 144S class during spring semester of my first year. In the class, students identify opportunities for change in either the Duke or local Durham community and then act on those opportunities to become positive social change agents. During this identification process, my team partner and I noticed a significant disconnect between the Duke community and the quickly-growing Durham Latino community. Our plan to address this disconnect rapidly grew into a full-scale social enterprise—Unidos por Durham—designed to bring the Duke and Durham Latino communities into mutually beneficial partnerships to address serious problems facing the Durham Latino community, such as linguistic barriers and adjusting to life in the U.S.
LTMD: At Duke, how have you found mentors to help you pursue your interests in applying your college experience to real-world challenges?
Ankit: I learned about PPS 144S through word-of-mouth recommendations and web research. This course and my work with the Latino community led me to a network of civically engaged people, one of whom was Prof. Jennifer Ahern-Dodson. I went on take her Education 152S class, which led to further involvement.
I have often approached mentors, sponsors, and collaborators simply by sending an email explaining who I am and my purpose. In my experience, most people are friendly and willing to help because in the end, we are all working towards the same goal: positive social change to better the communities of both Duke and Durham.
LTMD: What tips do you have for other students for getting support for a civic engagement interest or project?
Ankit: Look for opportunities to become involved and take advantage of them. Recognize that several resources and organizations, ranging from the Duke-Durham Partnership to the Community Service Center, can help you become involved. Feel free to reach out to a professor or organization with interests similar to yours; chances are you’ll be able to form a mutually beneficial partnership.
LTMD: Where do you go from here in pursuing your interests?
Ankit:Having recognized a pattern in my experience of working with minority communities before and during college, I am now pursuing my civic interests academically through an independent study about racial and ethnic economic inequality. I hope this independent study can serve as a gateway to a senior honors thesis on this topic.
Additionally, I am co-teaching a house course focusing on Latinos in Durham to help other students interested in the local Latino community become more knowledgeable and engaged in the issues.
LTMD: What do you wish someone had told you about getting involved at Duke?
Ankit:How easy it is. Getting actively involved is simpler than you might think, and it is incredibly rewarding. To know that you have made a meaningful difference in your community will not only make your day, but your entire Duke experience.