Richter Scholar Program

Academic Interests

I am a Computer Science and Environmental Studies double major and possibly either a Communication or Religion minor.

Hometown

Polokwane, South Africa

High School

Mahindra United World College

Co-curricular

I am a member of Umoja and the United Black Association.

My Dream Job

I don't really dream of labor, but I know I want to go back to South Africa and help to address climate justice in any capacity I can.

What do you hope to learn from your Richter experience this summer?

I hope to learn more about how humans adapt. My Richter project studies Buddhism. I will be doing so in Chicago, however, which is thousands of kilometers away from the origins of the religion. I am excited to learn more about how practitioners can adapt their customs, traditions, and festivals to the spaces in which they live. Understanding how practitioners can adapt the buildings they practice in, the customs and traditions, and festivals to fit into a context outside of the traditional one fascinates me. I want to see how Buddhism has adapted to urban settings. I also hope to learn the intricacies of building a curriculum that encompasses an experiential component.

The Richter Scholar Program is an opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of various academic disciplines. I have an interest in religious studies, and being a Richter felt like the perfect opportunity for me to learn more about the academic discipline of religion and related disciplines. My work will be a challenging kickstart to the summer!