Atul Mishra,‘20 MBA

ASU has been positively influencing me the day I got admission offer. My mother had just returned that night after a serious surgery, and that day was when the result of W.P Carey's second round of MBA admits was about to be released. I was so excited that in the midnight India time, I called saying "please just tell me if I am in or out", and I was in!

From the visa interview where the visa officer saw full scholarship and gave me the visa without much questioning to me pinching myself with excitement and happiness the first night when I opted to stay at residence hall for two days before I got access to the apartment, ASU was the hub of my personal growth.

The community accepted me, I was a gay guy in closet for 30 years, and here for the first time in my life, I opened about myself and started my journey as my authentic and true self. I made friends who are with me even after 5 years of graduation, they helped me prepare for a job that landed me in a place where I met my future husband. All of this happened because I came to ASU, and it invested in me. Every time I reflect on my journey on where did I start and where I am, I feel gratitude towards ASU, and hopefully I continue to contribute and help in every way I can, so that ASU continues to change lives of so many other people.