你们好 / Nǐ men hǎo / Hello!
My name is Raghav Aggarwal, but my Chinese teachers love to call me 葛瑞和 (Gé ruì hé). I am 20 years old and I am from Sugar Land, Texas, in southwest Houston. Growing up in what I believe to be the most diverse city in the U.S., I loved meeting people from different cultures and eating every food imaginable! I was active in the community and political service in high school, and I had the opportunity to learn the perspectives of the many different immigrant communities that I call neighbors. I am a third-year student at The University of Texas at Austin, where I study international relations, economics, and Asian studies.
One day, I hope to become a United States Diplomat and work on foreign policy in Washington D.C., and abroad. Currently, I live right in the hustle and bustle of Taipei, attending classes at Taiwan's top school, National Taiwan University. On top of building my Chinese proficiency, I am learning about the uniqueness of East Asia's politics, economics, and culture from the most qualified professors in the region. In my free time, I am exploring everything in Taiwan and creating unforgettable memories. I am excited to share my experiences with you all...let's go!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
