Hello, I am Piradheep Raveendiran and I go by Ravi. I am 24-years-old and I am an international student from France, majoring in International Business at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Before attending UNR, I studied at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) and earned an associate of science degree.

“Why Reno?” you may be wondering, as I was too before coming here. I was a high school drop-out and my dad wanted to ensure I was in good hands and sent me as far from home as he could to continue my education and live under my uncle’s roof. You may think it’s a crazy idea to send a high school dropout abroad but the confidence that my father had in me made me stay in school and continue my education. 

Two years into it, Reno has become a “home away from home” to me with favorite spots like Arario and Bab Cafe, the Galaxy movie theaters for their reclining seats and Lake Tahoe. Besides school, since fall 2017, I have been working as a Peer Mentor for international students at TMCC. 

As a Peer Mentor I connect with other international students to provide them help based on my past experience. For instance, this past semester I co-presented in a workshop on cultural adjustment for new international students, and I enjoyed sharing my own cross-cultural experiences in the U.S. and as a first-generation Sri Lankan raised in the Parisian suburbs. More recently, I helped start an International Coffee Break in our Diversity and International Student Center and did a short presentation on my recent trip to Japan. 

What can I say? Growing up in France with Sri Lankan parents I had to cross cultural boundaries every day and my travels abroad and my experience studying in the U.S. have helped me reflect on my own cultural values and dissect who I really am. Because international is my past, my present, and I also chose International Business as my undergraduate major, so I know that it’ll be my future as well. Growing up in an economically-insecure home has also made me appreciate financial resources and nowadays I find myself diving into economics books to learn more about this fun topic. 

Salut tout le monde, c’est Ravi et je suis ravie de vous faire votre connaissance.

Piradheep Raveendiran is an international student studying in the USA. He earned his associate of science transfer degree at Truckee Meadows Community College and transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno where he is studying international business.