Haas Scholar Photoshoot

Over the years I've seen students posing for with their grad gear at different locations on campus. 

I ended up in 2 photoshoots for my grad, one with my fellow Calbear David (separate post) and this one with my Haas Scholars cohort, complete with a photo of the champagne bottle shaken and opened and the look of surprise and amazement on all our faces. 

Psychology Commencement

Berkeley Psychology Commencement. I got the department citation and gave a speech. 

 

Berkeley Psychology Commencement

I got the Departmental Citation Award which came with the privilege of giving a commencement speech.

First 2 sentences and last sentence are in "my own voice")

Video excerpt includes intro about me by faculty (I hardly recognize myself!!), my talk and also the keynote speech by Prof Keltner where I got 2x mention. 

Clip of just my talk. 

https://youtu.be/ES3VSf_0zJg

With Prof Hinshaw and Prof Keltner

With Professor Linda Wilbrecht

 

Calbear becomes a grad - Commencement

 

Receiving Cert of Distinction from Chancellor Carol Christ

Highlights I'm at 0:31 seconds

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbVwvEqcQuk 

The four finalists

The Haas Scholars logo on the stole

my fellow Haas Scholar Johan

At the university club on top of Memorial Stadium

(incredible view of the bay)

View from where I was seated on stage. 

I'm on from 1:25-1:27 https://youtu.be/1ePTPC4AC80

https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/05/14/chancellor-christ-to-graduates-this-is-a-time-of-creative-ferment/

https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/05/14/keynote-speaker-to-grads-we-win-if-your-mind-is-stretched-but-not-filled/

My berkeley experience not complete without my best buddy David

Last Column

My LAST COLUMN for the Daily Cal

Full article:  https://www.dailycal.org/2022/05/13/a-golden-bear-song/

I realized what defined my undergrad experience was not only recognizing some of these opportunities but that it was the support and encouragement at Berkeley that gave me the confidence to pursue them.

I never felt impostor syndrome at UC Berkeley. Rather it was whether I, as a disabled student, would even be allowed access to the opportunities college offers. ....
For much of my life, my disability has meant significant gatekeeping of opportunities. Would I be allowed to thrive here?

....

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel,” said Socrates.

Most importantly, my UC Berkeley education kindled the Socratic flame, inspiring me to study what I am passionate about along with new kinds of experiences and knowledge. (Speaking of new experiences, I even got to model for the Cal Student Store. Who would have thought of “Model Hari”?)

“Life is full of change and uncertainty and that’s what makes it a great adventure,” Filippenko said at the lecture.

I am both nervous and excited about what’s ahead. As the Bhagavad Gita explains, change is the only constant in our lives, and one is better off focusing on the action (the sure) and not the results (the unsure). Inaction is not an option.

The Gita also points out that results do not solely depend on my actions. I hope the next stage of my educational journey will be one filled with kindness, compassion, patience and empathy from others and one of personal, endless curiosity and positive action so I can continue to learn and add those pebbles that widen the ripples in the pond of knowledge and change.

OMG, I get congratulated by the Chancellor

This is just too cool!! I get congratulated by the Chancellor

Autistic Burnout

What is it?

Autistic burnout is a term used to describe a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.  

Autistic burnout can affect the ability to function in daily life, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as depression, meltdowns, anxiety, and executive dysfunction.

Causes

It is a result of prolonged exposure to stressors, such as sensory overload, social demands, and other challenges. 

University Medal Finalist

Another piece of good news. I'm a university medal finalist; in the graduating class of 11,000 students across all disciplines. Berkeley has been good to me. 

https://news.berkeley.edu/2022/05/09/in-times-of-crisis-2022-university-medal-finalists-summoned-resilience-hope/

What character or experience sets the Class of 2022 apart?

“Resilience in readjusting back to a world of many new normals and new possibilities. For instance, it has been a bit harder to sit in a physical classroom now; it’s like many social skills built up over the years got lost in the void of a two-year lockdown. My motor system is in an uncertain state, at best, so there is a bit of a relearning curve involved for many like me. There are, however, many positives in our new normal, such as the possibility for remote or hybrid employment and education, which will benefit so many disabled folks like me.”

What has been a challenge you faced at Berkeley and how did you address it? “I loved that at Berkeley I was surrounded by non-judgmental peers who were open to inclusion, except they often didn’t know how to include, a major reason being they have not been exposed to many spoken communication-challenged autistics like me at the college level. My navigating Cal meant thinking of solutions from two ends — for me, personally, and strategies as to how others in that group could go about including me. An example is that I took on the introduction part in the debate team in professor David Presti’s introduction to neuroscience class instead of attempting the later rounds, which required more rapid responses. So I was part of the team, contributing, instead of just existing on the sidelines. This has obviously been easier in structured academic situations than in social settings.

You Never Gave Up on Me

Dedicated to the EXTRAORDINARY MOMS and DADS and PARENTS out there, 

on behalf of your extraordinary child.  

You Never Gave Up on Me

You held me in your arms, oh mother mine
When I was a mere wrinkled newborn babe
You gazed at me with love and joy
Just as all young mothers do.

I walked my first step and said my first word
With pride, you watched my every move
You expected me to walk the predictable path
Just as all young mothers do.

You watched me slip and slide away
Wondering why I didn't do what other kids do
I stopped making eye contact with you
And stopped the spoken words too

A well of sadness entered your eyes
The smile not always in place
Perplexed and puzzled
Do I know this child of mine at all?

But, you rolled up your sleeves
You never gave up on me

You took the other fork on the road
The one without the map
You struggled and searched for solutions
You fought endless battles for me

You put your fists up and took a stance
And you never gave up on me

Lost in the desert of sadness
You changed your perception of things
You summoned new strength and courage
From the unfathomable deep

You changed your whole life for me
And, you never gave up on me

You coaxed every small victory out of me
Pride overflowed from your eyes
Steps of this extraordinary child
Of quite the extraordinary mom

You do the job of a dozen people
And you never gave up on me

Exhausting is the journey you're on
Exhilarating only some of the time
I am not the typical child you thought you'd raise
New challenges lie in the path every day

To the extraordinary mom who holds my hand
And who never gave up on me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wrote this poem sometime during high school. But I feel it is still so relevant even today. This poem is dedicated to all those wonderful and amazing moms and dads and parents out there who did not give up on their disabled child. Thank you for your dedication and fortitude, in rolling up your sleeves and taking on the world for us, without even knowing how to go about it.


I think back to the story of the frog who climbed to the top of the well amidst discouragement from the crowd that the task was impossible; turns out the frog was deaf so had not heard the discouragement, so made it all the way to the top.


This is what parents of the children seen as having more challenging disabilities face every day. From the get go, they are nudged to tone down expectations of their children, not to expect much. Lady Liberty did not hold up her torch of the American Dream for that child.

Over the years, I have seen many of my peers disappear one by one into the void of the system (out of sight and out of mind of society), as the once eager and enthusiastic parents reach a state of burnout and exhaustion, with this constant barragement of discouragement and lack of support. Other adult peers who have aged out of the special education system are sitting at home with their aging parents as adult day programs want “easy to manage” adults (sheep!!), even as there is a dearth of support systems for the ones with “behaviors.” It is like a battle for the classroom placements and supports during the school district years, starting all over again in adulthood for many.

Thank you to all the extra-ordinary parents out there, for your support and embrace, when the world seems to abandon us at every new stage, not just when we were children but as adults and possibly even when we are middle aged. For many with more significant disabilities, our parents and siblings are likely the only family we will ever have. I wonder who will be there as this lifelong pillar, when we are senior citizens ourselves, where we are not just battling aging issues but also the nature of our disability may mean that not all of us reach a level where we are able to take care of ourselves and have to depend on the largesse of paid staff for a decent quality of life.

Parents, Yours is truly a dedication of a lifetime. Thank you.

Last Day of Undergrad classes

 

The very last class: Haas Scholars Seminar

Last Lecture

As a graduating senior I got to attend a college tradition, a very motivational, Last Lecture by Astrophysics professor, Alexei Filipenko of the exploding supernova and black holes fame. Berkeley has all these amazing faculty who are just so interesting and engaging to listen to. You are just swept away when listening to them. For instance, when Prof Filippenko explains hawking radiation in class, he comes dressed as a black hole, and scatters shiny candy around class. And of course his t-shirt says, Dark Energy is the new black.

It was a lovely last lecture that led us through his personal journey, and his work, which was quite incredible to hear as well as motivational. He really focused on how how endless curiosity led him to where he is today.

The late Carl Sagan had said there were three important characteristics we needed, kindness, kindness and kindness. Professor Filippenko added empathy and curiosity to that list.

Oh, and the picture on the bottom is a quote from Socrates which says Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel. I think back to what Swami says about character being the end of education.

Thesis Submission

My year long research, my undergrad Honors capstone research as a Haas Scholar, was finally submitted this morning. 

All 66 pages of it.....

This is what the cover page looks like.