Urmy Shukla
Online United Nations volunteer
Urmy Shukla
Reading has always been an important part of Urmy Shukla’s life, both academically and in her spare time. Whether she reads with a goal in mind or simply for the enjoyment and escape stories provide, Urmy Shukla loves paging through book after book. She loves talking with others about their favorite books as well and has even joined the online community GoodReads so she can stay on top of critically acclaimed novels and stories suggested by friends.
Why Study Sociology?: Urmy Shukla
Sociology is a very unique subject, which directly relates to social interactions and major institutions in society. Urmy Shukla believes that it is one of the most interesting, yet underrated, subjects in modern society. If you have been considering studying Sociology, Urmy Shukla has a few supporting pieces of information that may help sway you:
Social factors are a big part of what keep people separated. Urmy Shukla believes that it is the labels society places on things that promote inequality and difference. But as a major human rights activist, Urmy Shukla is set on bringing down the labels so people are less intimidated to interact with one another. Studying Sociology is a great way to affect societal change and encourage equal rights!
Urmy Shukla believes that there are patterns in the way human beings make decisions and build relationships. If, through the study of Sociology, you are better able to make sense of these patterns and manipulate them accordingly, Urmy Shukla asks: why wouldn’t you? Knowledge is power!
Urmy Shukla loves Sociology’s ability to explain culture and embrace diversity. By taking the time to fully understand the topic, you are giving yourself the chance to get to the core of human behavior and tradition. It doesn’t just tell you about how we do the things we do... but, more importantly, why!
One of the most important reasons why individuals should study this subject is because it explains the process of change and gives a better understanding of the consequences of decisions. Urmy Shukla thinks it is important to step outside the realm of denial and become more aware of social cause and effect in order to progress our country and the world in general.
Urmy Shukla hopes these key pieces of advice will inspire others to study Sociology and, if not, perhaps allow them to appreciate its worth to society a bit more!
Importance of Academics: Urmy Shukla
Some people will argue that certain academic subjects are useless to everyday life. However, Urmy Shukla believes that we need to stop looking at all knowledge as having a specific purpose. In today’s world, everyone looks at things and immediately asks the question, “What can that do for me?” But society needs to change this in order for individuals to start learning information for the mere joy of learning and passing knowledge from one mind to the next.
Urmy Shukla believes that part of the problem with society is the lack of respect for those persons that are trying to better themselves, with academics as one of the main ways in which people do this. If studying subjects has gone on for so long, don’t you think there has to be a catch? How else will society maintain its intellect if academics fall to the wayside?
Urmy Shukla stresses that the importance of academics can really fall under a few main ideas. The first is that information improves the quality of life. How would a doctor be able to perform surgery without having first studied the books on it? And in turn, how else would the writers of said books be able to write without studying themselves? It is an endless process.
In addition, academics bring people together. Urmy Shukla believes that knowledge not only crosses time barriers but also links people together in modern society. For example, think of all the people that meet through universities and seminars based on academics! Furthermore, academics make people better citizens and keep them informed of the actions of their government and neighboring governments. Monitoring one another keeps everyone in check and promotes a more stable, intelligent community, states Urmy Shukla.
Urmy Shukla is a proud academic herself as an Ivy League alumna, an LSE graduate, and a current PhD student.
Urmy Shukla’s Tips on Blogging
Urmy Shukla loves being able to articulate her opinions on major topics and issues in her online blog. It gives her a forum to speak freely and intellectually. If you are considering starting a blog of your own or simply want to freshen up your already established blog, Urmy Shukla has a few tips for you!
Make sure you come up with appropriate titles for your blog entries. Just like headlines in a newspaper or magazine, Urmy Shukla believes that titles are going to be the deciding factor for many readers on whether or not they’re going to read the entire entry.
Use links and insert images as often as you can, but keep in mind that you need to have more words than pictures. Finding the balance between tacky images and images that enhance the information you are providing can be a delicate process, advises Urmy Shukla.
Maintain a writing style but don’t fall back on the same ideas constantly. Style and content are two different things. Urmy Shukla states style is usually something that comes naturally when you write but content is something you can decide on. So keep it interesting and change up your subject matter now and again!
Be consistent. This is a factor Urmy Shukla stresses. Maintaining your blog with entries on a regular basis is what will keep your readers coming back and creates a rapport with your audience. This makes them not only read your writing but also trust your writing.
Life as an Indian Woman According to Urmy Shukla
People have different opinions about what it takes to be a female and/or minority in society. Some stand on one side of the spectrum, saying they receive no benefits and will always have to try twice as hard as the white male does, while others take the opposite extreme and believe that minorities are treated better now to make up for lost time. Whichever part of the line you stand on, Urmy Shukla wants you to understand that things are never black and white.
For example, in her blog, Rights and Results, Urmy Shukla posted about Helen Pidd in August of 2012. Helen Pidd was one of those that said women never got a fair chance in India and that people in general were not treated well, let alone ladies. Urmy Shukla states her disagreement with Helen Pidd and argues that she has known many Indian women that have made a name for themselves, personally and professionally, without regard to what their government said they should be doing.
But don’t be mistaken; Urmy Shukla is very aware that India still has its flaws, as does everything at the end of the day. However, the point she is trying to make is that it is possible to beat the odds and if people like Helen Pidd continually talk down the role of women in India, Indian women will have no hope to strive above the preconceived plans for them.
Urmy Shukla and Online Presence
Online presence has the ability to either make or break you professionally, which is why it is important to carefully select which websites you want to have your name attached to. Urmy Shukla is a grad student at Emory University in Atlanta and she is a part of many major sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. However, as these are popular sites, Urmy Shukla didn’t want to give the idea that she wasn’t too professional, so she made sure that her online presence included her professional blog, an About.Me account, and a GoodReads account.
If you’re wondering which sites to stick with and on which to abandon ship, Urmy Shukla has some advice!
First off, when looking for a job, don’t panic and think that every last piece of personal information about yourself needs to disappear from the internet. Employers realize you have a life outside of work and, in some cases, it may even be a plus to see you are socially involved. However, Urmy Shukla does suggest making sure that any personal content related to yourself is acceptable and doesn’t house inappropriate behavior or language.
In addition, avoid putting up contact information when you can. Urmy Shukla believes that giving the exact place and time of where you can be reached is unnecessary and, frankly, dangerous.
Brown Alumni Service Committee Member: Urmy Shukla
Since 2005, when Urmy Shukla graduated from Brown University in Rhode Island, she has been a member of the Brown Alumni Service Committee (BSAC.) As a member, Urmy Shukla works as an Alumni Interviewer. This means that prospective students of Brown University meet with her and undergo an interview to see how they may fit into the school and acquaint themselves with experiences the Alumna had while a student.
Urmy Shukla advises prospective students undergoing this process to keep a few things in mind in order to impress either herself or another Alumni Interviewer:
Dress to impress. Brown University has a very prestigious reputation and appearance can give way to assumptions that you too can uphold this reputation, or you may fall short. Look your best, feel your best, and you’ll impress, advises Urmy Shukla.
Study up on the university. The Alumni Interviewer will, no doubt, ask you specifically how you feel about certain aspects of the university, so Urmy Shukla suggests being prepared for any and every thing. This is less a “dress to impress” tip and more about “talk to impress.” Know the school’s history, reputation, and course offerings. Most importantly, know why you want to go there!
Be yourself! The interviewer will be able to sense nerves and that’s okay, says Urmy Shukla. In fact, nerves can be a good thing because they show that you recognize the importance of the situation. However, don’t let memorizing responses lead you down the wrong path in which you aren’t even acting like yourself. The whole idea of the interview is to get to know you, not someone you think you should be.
Urmy Shukla believes that if you keep these tips in mind when you’re going for an Alumni Interview, you will get through it just fine. Remember, the person you’re talking to was in your shoes at one time too and now look at them!
Urmy Shukla’s Advice on Being a Good Translator
Urmy Shukla says being a good translator is a lot like being a good writer. After all, both involve the transfer of information from someone who knows what is trying to be conveyed to someone who is at the will of another individual. Don’t be mistaken, translating can be tasking, but Urmy Shukla believes it can also be extremely rewarding.
According to Urmy Shukla, is it very important to continue your study of language(s) even after you have completed your schooling. Language is always changing and the only way to stay on top of it is by practicing and studying its changes and innate qualities. In order to do this, Urmy Shukla suggests attending seminars and beginners classes, even if you have already mastered the language. This not only helps keep the language alive in your mind but also teaches you how to understand the process of learning and patience, two things that are extremely important to master when you are a translator.
Urmy Shukla also stresses that translating in not a skill developed overnight. To be a good translator, you need time and dedication. You will mess up and you may have people communicate their ideas to you badly and then blame you for the resulting miscommunication. Urmy Shukla says that this is all part of the “initiation process” of being a good translator. The better you become, the less likely people will be to point fingers at you.
American Sociological Association: Urmy Shukla
If you’re not familiar with the American Sociological Association, don’t worry because you’re not alone. However, talk to Urmy Shukla about it and you will no longer be in the dark! The association is dedicated to advancing the discipline and profession of sociology. As a graduate student at Emory University in Atlanta, GA., Urmy Shukla has been a member of the American Sociological Association since 2009.
This organization works to inform people of sociology’s contributions to society, as well as promote awareness of the major issues it addresses. Urmy Shukla says that the American Sociological Association does a fantastic job of representing the professional aspect of the field and standing by its members to encourage further research.
The organization is a non-profit but Urmy Shukla believes that it gains profit in other ways, instead of through the expected monetary gain. The association allows members of different levels of sociological knowledge, including: faculty, students, researchers, practitioners, and other individuals based in other non-profit organizations or careers. This promotes diversity in not only the types of members, but in the types of ideas that filter through ASA as well.
Urmy Shukla is also involved in other sociology organizations, including: the American Evaluation Association and the Institute for Economic Development. Urmy Shukla doesn’t feel right unless she is throwing herself whole-heartedly into extracurricular activities that hold value to her both personally and professionally. It is the combination of these benefits that, Urmy Shukla believes, have allowed her to succeed thus far in her endeavors.
In regards to her future in Sociology, Urmy Shukla hopes to maintain her membership with the American Sociological Association as well as keep up with her volunteer programs. Her schedule is busy now with academics and her career, but Urmy Shukla believes more time will be available in the future in which she can give back to her community even more than she already does.
Improving International Development with Urmy Shukla
Urmy Shukla is extremely focused on improving international development. Not sure what international development entails? That’s okay! Mainly, the most important mission of international development that you need to know about is that it is meant to improve living conditions for all human beings, no matter their status, race, or any other “defining” quality they may have about them. This coincides perfectly with Urmy Shukla’s passion for human rights and the study of Sociology.
It’s interesting to note that international development and Sociology are intertwined with many organizations and practices that people come into contact with on a daily basis. They are so much a part of these systems that they are easily overlooked. Urmy Shukla says that she has spoken with people that don’t understand either topic, even when they deal with each all the time. This is part of the reason Urmy Shukla began studying development and Sociology; she wanted to influence awareness of these subjects so that ignorance would stop encouraging bad habits.
Both international development and Sociology are younger fields in the scope of things, but Urmy Shukla states that there are many intelligent minds at work trying to better understand these subjects, especially in regards to the way they affect people and vice versa.
Urmy Shukla has never believed in the easy way out. It is said that international development is similar to disaster relief and humanitarian aid, however the latter is a “quick-fix” and doesn’t get to the deepest parts of the problems that usually lie within society. Urmy Shukla tries to use her own methods of research and development to create systems that benefit citizens without the prospect of things returning to the way they were before. Moving forward is a vital part of growth and, in fact, Urmy Shukla says that it is the only way to grow.
Urmy Shukla
Since 2010, Urmy Shukla has been a part of the American Evaluation Association. This prestigious association works to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of programs, and then decides how to better them. Considering Urmy Shukla’s love of a challenge, she thoroughly enjoys being involved with this organization and hopes to continue her participation. Urmy Shukla states that she has learned a great deal about effectiveness and application from the American Evaluation Association, she imagines she can only learn more in the time to come!
Urmy Shukla
Urmy Shukla is very passionate about the importance of being bilingual in today’s society. Not only is it an advantage in job applications and college admissions, but it also enables the mind to think more abstractly and communicate with a larger collection of people. Urmy Shukla says the ability to speak multiple languages not only promotes personal growth but helps career growth as well. As a UN volunteer, Urmy Shukla uses her various languages when she helps translate for South American human rights organizations.
Urmy Shukla
Urmy Shukla has had quite an established academic career as she has received awards and fellowships in her honor. Each one has been a major accomplishment for Urmy Shukla but she says she has never let them go to her head. If anything, Urmy Shukla has used her awards to encourage herself to try even harder and earn even better awards in the future. Some of Urmy Shukla’s awards include a 5-year Arts and Sciences Fellowship and a Global Health Institute Multidisciplinary Field Scholar Award.
Contact Urmy Shukla
Volunteering is such a rewarding experience for Urmy Shukla and she believes it is one of the most appropriate ways for individuals to spend their time. Helping others is such a fulfilling example of using the best of your talents to benefit society, states Urmy Shukla. Being bilingual has opened many doors for Urmy Shukla, including her volunteerism for the United Nations. As a UN volunteer, Urmy Shukla helps translate Spanish to English for human rights organizations in South America.
Email: urmyshukla@outlook.com
Website: http://www.linkedin.com/in/urmyshukla
Twitter: @Urmy_Shukla