Leaders at Wright State University demonstrate how student-driven activities promote inclusivity, wellness and cultural visibility. Sneha Kaveti shared her experience, providing depictions of the difficulties and changing support systems that characterize the experience of many foreign students.
A second-year graduate student, Kaveti is majoring in Public Health and believes that leadership is more than just a position. For her, it is dedication to fostering a sense of community, the chance to encourage wellbeing and to make sure that every student has a space where they feel heard.
Kaveti holds multiple influential positions on campus. These include the Vice President of the Graduate and Honors Students Advisory Board, or GHSAB, the Treasurer of the Indian Student Association, or ISA, and the Student Outreach Coordinator for Counseling and Wellness Services, or CWS. Each role reflects her dedication to building a stronger and more inclusive campus environment.
"When we team up, we can design activities that have significance for every student. We ensure that everyone feels noticed in such a manner," Kaveti said.
Her involvement in GHSAB enables her to stand up for students whose perspectives are often overlooked in larger university discussions.
Kaveti tries to make students feel appreciated and supported, whether she is planning professional development seminars or offering feedback to university administration.
She also has an opportunity to promote culture, peace and joy through her work with the ISA. The ISA's Diwali festival was one of the highlights of the semester for participants, attracting a large crowd and turning the Student Union into a vibrant area full of food, music, lights and rituals.
"Celebrating Diwali on campus felt like creating a small piece of home here. Cultural events are more than just celebrations for many of us, they are a source of comfort," Kaveti said.
However, her influence goes beyond her cultural prominence. She also emphasizes mental, emotional and intellectual well-being in her work at CWS.
She assists in planning outreach initiatives, awareness campaigns and wellness-focused events, such as World Mental Health Day, and activities that encourage students to think, relax and get assistance when they need it.
"These events might seem very different, but they had a strong impact. One accepts our uniqueness. The other serves as a reminder to take care of ourselves. For students, both are essential," Kaveti said.
Her work is motivated, in part, by the difficulties she has seen in both domestic and international students. These struggles include stress, homesickness and the pressure to excel.
Kaveti is inspired to develop easily accessible methods for students to connect with resources and with one another. This is important to her, since she feels that many students are hesitant to communicate how much help they require.
Through her efforts, she has become a liaison that links students to peers, their culture and health services.
She stands for an increase in the number of students and leaders who take initiative rather than growing impatient when faced with obstacles on campus.
"As students, we all come from different backgrounds and face different obstacles. But we can still build a community that supports every person," Kaveti said.
Kaveti is using these efforts to transform campus life, allowing each student to feel like they genuinely belong.
