The transition from high school to college can be exhilarating. But imagine if you were transitioning from high school to a college in a foreign country. That’s the reality for twins Meera and Priya Shukla, two of Illinois State’s newest Redbirds.
After spending the majority of their life in India, these twins were ready for a new adventure after graduating from high school.
With education as their number one priority, the Shukla twins began a global college search that led them to Illinois State.
“Illinois State offered the best financial aid and scholarship opportunities,” Meera Shukla said. “We just couldn’t pass this up.”
Thanks to Preview, the twins had the opportunity to visit Illinois State for the first time over the summer and ask questions about their new home away from home. Even though they weren’t able to visit campus before making their decision, they had a gut feeling that Illinois State was the best place to earn their degrees.
Although they may look identical, these twins are far from it.
Meera Shukla plans to study forensic psychology and aspires to work with criminal investigation someday. Priya Shukla has other plans for her future. Diving into the world of computer science, she is still unsure of what she wants to do in her field once she receives her degree, but graduate school is definitely something she plans to check off her list in the future.
If there’s one thing they do have in common, it’s their will to work not only in the classroom but outside of it as well. Both girls plan to find an on-campus job and with ten years of training in Indian dance, Meera plans to join a dance group on campus.
With an exciting journey ahead of them, they’re excited to see who they will become in the next four years. By attending events on campus like Festival ISU, they’re confident that they will make new friends and develop new interests throughout their time at Illinois State.
Leaving family and friends in India will not be easy, but they’re excited for this next chapter in their lives.
“Coming to America for college has always been the plan for us,” said Priya Shukla. “It gives us a chance to have more freedom and to explore America, too.”
