Paroma Soni

I grew up in Mumbai, India in a close-knit family of four. My parents are sincere, hardworking and simple people that have raised my sister and me to be compassionate and respectful. We are all avid readers and film enthusiasts, united by our sense of humor and strong understanding of each other. I attended the Mahindra UWC of India, a high school dedicated to creating global peace and sustainability. With students from 90 countries, it was a truly transformative experience that introduced me to radically different perspectives and understandings of the world. I then graduated from Trinity College with honors in Human Rights and Film Studies. I wrote my thesis on identity politics and untouchability in India and made a film about similar themes. I studied abroad on a human rights program in Nepal, Jordan, Chile, and the Netherlands. In Jordan, our work focused on the Syrian and Palestinian refugee crises. We worked with resettled refugees in Amman and those still living in camps. I was frustrated and appalled by the pervasive injustice, apathy and political gridlock that prevented otherwise-straightforward change from happening. I plan on pursuing a career in social justice, and SPP is a great place to start.