Friendship, warmth, fun, and connections were the foundations that encouraged Puri Ragini (BA History and Politics, 2020) to head to Warwick and build a successful career in the social sector.

Why did you choose Warwick?
When I was applying for undergrad, my close family friend was in their final year at Warwick. At the time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to study History or Political Science. My friend told me about Warwick's History and Politics course and put me in touch with International Student Support. The thought of moving to a different continent all alone at the age of 19 was very daunting, but the Student Support Executive was kind, and significantly eased my anxiety by patiently answering all my questions. My friend also connected me with some of her classmates so I could ask questions about life beyond the classroom. The warmth shown by everyone involved with Warwick, from my friend to her classmates to the Student Support Executive, convinced me to take the plunge and move abroad for my undergrad.

What are you doing now?
I’m working as a Strategy Executive with an Indian civil society organisation.

What motivates you to do what you do? 
I grew up with a strong sense of altruism, with the belief that knowledge is one of our strongest tools as a society. In the social sector, I’m motivated to use appropriate communication skills to reduce the gatekeeping of knowledge. This will allow social welfare programmes to be aligned with cutting edge research, thus benefiting an optimum number of people.

How has your time at Warwick influenced what you do now? 
Interacting with people from different backgrounds taught me the importance of communication skills. I always thought I was a good communicator, but my belief was challenged when I faced language barriers with other international students. My time at Warwick taught me the importance of active listening and adapting my communication style to my audience. Being adept in this skill influenced my decision to join the social sector.

Favourite memory? 
My favourite memory is my graduation. Returning to campus after COVID was a nostalgic experience. I was also excited to meet my classmates and friends after three long years.  

Best thing about the Warwick community?
The best thing is our sense of humour. For a campus full of highly qualified, intelligent, and capable individuals, there is a sense of lightness in the air. Even when I meet alumni outside the campus, we always have a funny anecdote to share from our time at Warwick. Perhaps it can be credited to Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Croft because any time I have attended an event where he has addressed the audience, he always walks away with a couple of laughs!

Favourite place on campus?
The lakes behind bluebell residences