Sriram’s Postcard from U21

Sriram Gopalasubramanian is currently in the final semester of his Master of Management degree, specialising in Human Resources. He shares his experiences taking part in the U21 Global Citizens Programme, a non-credit opportunity for University of Melbourne students seeking to connect with peers across borders to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems. The program runs virtually across three weeks and includes live workshops and discussions in relation to the the United Nation Sustainability Goals (UNSDG).

Why did you apply for the U21 Global Citizens Programme?

My primary motivation behind applying for the program was to meet people from diverse backgrounds across the world and to hear their experiences and views on global issues. Another main reason I chose the program was to make connections with growth mindset leaders with whom I can work together on eradicating hunger and poverty in our respective communities by socially learning from one another.

What actions did you take to maximise the opportunities the program offered you?

I started the program by consciously making sure that I actively listened to fellow students from the program and I tried to be as aware as possible of my own self-serving and unconscious bias throughout the program. I made a consistent effort towards communicating with my peers throughout the program by reaching out to them outside of the official sessions to have even more mind-blowing insights on our common topics of interest.

What was the highlight of undertaking the program?

Well, I would definitely say that diversity was the biggest highlight of the program. I was genuinely excited the moment I saw 300+ students in a single Zoom call from different continents who had come together to create positive change on something that they believed from the bottom of their hearts. There were people from countries including the UK, Germany, Spain and Mexico. One thing that was beautiful was that every single person had switched on their video!

I was so moved by hearing a lot of wonderful experiences through breakout room discussions which in turn made me think about many things that I have gone through from a fresh perspective.

What’s the most important lesson you can take away from your experience?

One life lesson that I took away from the U21 Global Citizens Programme was to celebrate diversity. When the entire world was going through difficult times, this program was a godsend in the sense that I could see myself develop as a person with a positive attitude towards life in general. I also realised the power of expressing gratitude to people around me for having helped me become the person whom I am today. This program gave me a lot of connections whom I will forever cherish in my life.

I would also encourage students to think about whether watching Netflix is more valuable than going and exploring opportunities like the U21 Global Citizens Programme. These opportunities are only available to students and one has to make the most of them. But don’t do things just because you want the award, do it because you love it. Otherwise, you won’t experience the full value of the program.

What is next for you? Did the program have an impact on your future plans?

After the program, I had the opportunity to implement a few ideas that I had brainstormed with my peers from U21 via volunteering in the Education and Healthcare sector.

I’m involved with a lot of non-profits here in India and am working with victims of domestic abuse and orphans. I talked to five single mothers from very rural areas in India where they don’t have electricity on a daily basis. I supported them to open a bank account to take charge of their own finances. I wanted to break the stereotype that men should be the breadwinners in the household. These women now take charge of the finances in the family. I want to expand this initiative and I’m in talks with non-profits to expand this project to 200-250 women. I have plans to train local youth to scale the project.

I am certain that the U21 program has positively impacted my studies as well as my career as I am now strongly inclined to find a job opportunity that values sustainability, celebrates diversity and creates positive change in society rather than just providing me with monetary benefits.

My ultimate goal is to keep teaching – I like to train people. I want to settle in Australia, gain industry and leadership experience and do my Doctorate at the University of Melbourne.