21 Under 21 Series: Serena Kaur Singh

Hometown: Fayetteville, NC

Major: Political Science, Double Minor in Entrepreneurship and Social & Economic Justice

What is your proudest accomplishment at Carolina?

Because Diversity & Inclusion is so important to me, in my time at Carolina the most meaningful initiative I helped lead has been the development of the Asian American Center on our campus. Since 1994, Asian American students have been advocating for a center that could meet their needs and help educate allies. At this past January’s BOT meeting, our proposal was approved. Watching our years of hard work materialize right in front of us left us in happy tears and excited embraces. As the Director of Campus Engagement on the team, my job was to meet with student stakeholders, familiarize them with our mission and goals, plan events to involve the Carolina Community, and more. This taught me how to inspire a shared vision. Most recently, I helped plan an open microphone night at Epilogue, where Asian American students could come speak, sing, etc. about their experiences with their identity. We had a full house, even in the snow! Although I will not get to experience having an Asian American Center while being a student here, to know that I helped lay the groundwork for its development is amazing in itself. It wasn’t until I joined the campaign team did I really start exploring what it meant to be Asian American, and I discovered my identity alongside some of the most amazing people!

I am a feminist, and I owe a lot of that to being the oldest of 4 girls. I come from a culture that prioritizes sons over daughters, one that places less value in me simply because of my gender. 

"Four girls? Your poor father! I bet he wants a son." "Is your mom trying for a son?" "Girls are such a pain to raise, I can't believe your parents have FOUR!" 

I spent my whole life hearing things like this, both people from my culture and not. I grew so tired of it, and I could never understand why people were so shocked by my "majority-female" family. In case anyone was wondering. my father is very happy and proud of all of his daughters, thank you very much.

Growing up, I was surrounded by media that did not represent me: all skinny white girls in Limited Too catalogs, Disney Channel shows, and pop songs. I found solace in Bollywood: the music that sounded unlike anything I found on iTunes charts, the dancing that I would meticulously practice on my living room floor, the elaborate garb that I would try to replicate with a few treasured clothing and jewelry pieces sent to me from India by my grandmother, and the language that I never had a chance to learn. For a long time, I wanted to discard any part of myself that made me different. I ignored who I was, where I came from, and the intersection of my identities as a South Asian, as a woman, and as a citizen of the USA. Now, I am so proud of my identity and who I am, and I make a point of making sure everyone knows who I am, where I come from, and what I care about.

Any brown woman who has broken into mainstream media and been so public facing truly inspires me. Artist Maria Qamar, writer Rupi Kaur (who hails from Punjab, India just like my family), models Simran Randhawa and Neelam Gill, politician Pramila Jayapal, activist and comedian Jameela Jamil are all powerful, inspiring women that I look to for my own self-confidence on a daily basis. Of course, however, none of who I am would be without the kind, nurturing spirit of my mother. She pushes me to be my best every single day, loves me unconditionally, and supports me in everything I do. I grew up watching her lead and take on whatever challenge came her way with grace and and intensity that I can only dream of having.