A Time to be Grateful: Student Vishwa Parmar

Vishwa Parmar is a student from India with a major in English Literature and minors in Communications and Art and Design. She is involved in many extracurricular activities (intern at SoFare films, writer for student newspaper The Matthew, social media manager for the Women’s Leadership Initiative, secretary for the Asian Cultural Club), and is also a Resident Assistant.

Tell us more about your background. 
I was born in Ahmedabad and grew up in Vadodara, India. I am deeply attached to my culture, heritage, and family. I am very grateful to my parents because we got to travel a lot while I was growing up. It allowed me to see other parts of India and learn more about languages, cultures, and diversity. I attended an English Middle School and studied science in high school, but I have also always been passionate about movies, reading, and traveling. I have participated in extracurricular and cultural activities like acting, dancing, presenting, and debating.

What brought you to JCU?
Coming from a country as culturally diverse as India, I was excited to experience Western culture. I wanted to meet new people and learn from them. I have also always been fascinated by the rich heritage, literature, and culture of Italy. So, when I heard about an American university in the heart of Rome, I couldn’t wait to apply!

I wanted to work closely with other creatives and scholars in the fields of literature, mass media, and the arts. JCU seemed like a great fit because since it is a small community, I could easily build interpersonal relationships and collaborate with other students and faculty. I wanted to write, direct, film, and collaborate with other filmmakers and writers. JCU had a diverse range of courses I could choose from and offered me hands-on experience.

Why did you major in English Literature and minor in Communications? 
Everyone has a dream and a goal that they want to achieve; it gives them a true purpose in life. My goal in life was clear: I wanted to become a filmmaker and writer and develop the artist in me. For me, stories are a stimulus for my senses. Every form of storytelling compels me to write my own. The beauty of cultures, languages, and human emotions expressed in movies and books interests me. I find that dramas and movies give meaning to life and encourage creative ways of communicating. That’s why I decided to study English Literature with minors in Communications and Art and Design.

Why do you think it is important for students to be involved with campus life? 
I work as a screenwriting intern at SoFare Films, a film production company headed by Professor Jenn Lindsay. During Professor Lindsay’s Foundations of Digital Video Production course, she encouraged me to take screenwriting. I wrote screenplays, short stories, and poetry. In the Spring 2024 semester, I got the opportunity to work with SoFare Films on a documentary about religion.

This is also my first semester as a Resident Assistant. Working as an RA has taught me how to balance work and life. I am constantly learning how to plan, organize, and prioritize my extracurricular activities and academic responsibilities. It has helped me connect with the JCU community. I have become more confident and punctual. I have practiced public speaking and learned how to communicate and work better in a professional setting.

I love to read, I started with graphic novels and soon got into books and writing. I’ve written poetry, short stories, novels, and screenplays. I wrote my own contemporary young adult novel, which I’m trying to get published. The Matthew was a great opportunity to learn more about the publishing industry and study the logistics behind getting published. I’ve been writing for The Matthew since Spring 2023 and was appointed Layout Editor in Spring 2024. I also went to an international journalism festival in Ferrara, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and learned more about journalism and global issues. This has helped open new horizons for me in writing and publishing.

I am the social media coordinator for the Women’s Leadership Initiative and have learned how to use design programs such as Canva and Adobe InDesign. I’ve taken online courses for social media management and applied those marketing strategies to our social media accounts. Our WLI community has grown since Fall 2023, and I look forward to our future events to help women encourage each other, and create a safe environment for them to thrive. We promote equal opportunities for all, especially women.

I have learned the importance of honesty, communication, and teamwork. As an RA and in the JCU clubs, I have grown so much and learned new things about myself, my peers, professors, and students.

I strongly believe that you should explore the opportunities that JCU offers and participate in student life. It helps you discover and figure out your interests. You can practice public speaking, learn time management, and find a balance between work and life. You’ll get a taste of the working world before you leave university and be prepared for conflicts that may arise. You can make meaningful connections and lifelong friendships! University is a safe place to learn, fail, and try again. You can only do that if you venture out of your comfort zone.

What advice do you have for international students considering JCU?
I would say learn Italian or at least the basics before you come to Italy and keep learning it once you’re here because it’s beautiful and it helps a lot to know the local language.

Enjoy, just enjoy. Time will fly by, and you won’t even realize that your time here is over. Try not to live in the future and plan everything in advance but be flexible and humble. Be kind to yourself and others because they deserve it. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people, professors, or anyone in the JCU community or outside the bubble. They are very welcoming and always willing to help you.

What are your plans?
Right now, I’m going to focus on my classes and try to get more writing done. I will dedicate my time to the internship at SoFare Film and learn more about filmmaking and screenwriting. I will continue to work with student life at JCU, become a better Resident Assistant, grow personally, and practice more Italian.

In the distant future, I am thinking about studying abroad, most likely in London. Because that will help me immerse myself in the film and publishing industry. I’m really looking forward to publishing my writing and growing as a filmmaker.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I had never planned or even imagined that one day I would study abroad in Rome! It was hard to get used to in the beginning, I missed my home, my family, and my friends. But now that I think about it, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m no longer the fresh-out-of-high-school international student. I’ve grown so much since I came to Rome. At the time it seemed like a crazy decision, but now I’m grateful that I did it and that my family supported me. They have always been there for me, and I feel better now because of their support. All I can say is that it takes time to learn, adapt, fail, and try again and to realize that life really is beautiful and there is no rush.