Monthly Archives: April 2024

Anika Asher

Anika Asher is a Class of 2026 student double majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP) and Math. Before coming to UT, Anika grew up in Allen, Texas, a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Currently, Anika is involved with Alpha Delta Pi, Texas Spirits, and Consult Your Community. Ever since high school, Anika has prioritized pursuing diverse opportunities that fulfilled her academic, personal, and professional interests.

Anika’s journey with Chinese began in high school. However, when Anika took an opportunity to study Chinese in Taiwan on a fully-funded government scholarship, she became way more immersed in the language and culture. She took a gap year to participate in the program, spending the first half of the year taking virtual classes and the second half in Taiwan. Besides intensive classes and 1:1 tutoring, Anika emphasizes the benefit of learning a new language through casual conversations with local students. Immersed in Taiwanese culture, Anika also got to know more than the textbook version of Chinese and saw firsthand how people use the language in real life. The highlight of her lessons in Taiwan was Anika’s final presentation, where she reenacted the reality TV show, The Bachelor, in Chinese. In her skit, Anika got to be creative, rewriting the plots so that all the dates went poorly and the protagonist ultimately proposed to the host. To retain her Chinese skills, Anika still speaks Chinese with the friends she made in Taiwan whenever they call, and she plans to revisit Taiwan during the winter break of the 2024-2025 school year.

After coming to UT, Anika initially struggled with the transition from studying one subject in-depth to having a core curriculum with a wide breadth of subjects. Additionally, she wanted to pursue another subject for the intrinsic value of learning, so she took many classes in her freshman spring to find the right fit. Choosing between everything from International Relations to Chinese, Anika ultimately decided on Mathematics. Instead of comparing herself to peers in the major, Anika focuses on the intellectual pursuit of pure math, taking courses like Abstract Linear Algebra and challenging herself to “understand how math works without the assumptions of our reality.”

During the summer after her freshman year, Anika continued venturing to other corners of the world through the Canfield BHP Copenhagen study abroad program. After the program, Anika continued her European journey by solo traveling through Hamberg, Berlin, and Prague. Traveling by train and being alone, Anika grew comfortable with spending days without conversations, learning to enjoy contemplating by herself for extended periods. Still, her trip was filled with fulfilling personal connections, from an American vintage store owner in Prague to friends at a locally owned hostel in Berlin.

For the upcoming summer, Anika will collect another traveling experience under her belt by going to work at a restaurant near Yellowstone National Park. First heard about this opportunity from her Canfield BHP friend Quinton Mendoza, Anika sought this job as a way to explore beyond her comfort zone of city life by conquering the outdoors.

As Anika expanded her worldview through traveling and academia, she followed a similar journey of discovery to solidify her professional interest in consulting. While she initially felt uncertain, attending the Out for Undergrad (O4U) business conference during her freshman spring changed her perspective. At the New York-based conference, Anika heard from and networked with LGBTQ+ peers and corporate representatives. Seeing successful LGBTQ+ individuals who felt no pressure to hide themselves and conform to a professional business stereotype, Anika realized this is what she wants her future to look like as well. O4U also further developed Anika’s interest in consulting, as she finds passion and intellectual stimulation in its blend of research and practical application. Hoping to promote this transformative opportunity to other LGBTQ+ UT students with similar doubts, Anika became an O4U campus ambassador, helping to bring 10+ people to O4U this year.

Looking into her junior year, Anika is excited to be a Canfield BHP peer mentor. She is excited to give back to this program, as its flexibility has supported her academic interest, and the program’s cohort has continuously inspired Anika to do newer, cooler things. As a peer mentor, Anika is excited to help underclassmen develop the mindset to pursue opportunities out of genuine enjoyment, not peer pressure or competition.

John Mark Grant

John Mark Grant is a Class of 2024 student majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP) and Finance, with two minors Management Information Systems and French. John Mark grew up in Tyler, Texas, a small town in East Texas, before coming to UT. Reflecting back as the current Undergraduate Business Council (UBC) President, John Mark believes UBC has been a pivotal part of his college experience.

The Undergraduate Business Council (UBC) at the McCombs School of Business unifies students and faculty to strengthen the UT community, leads initiatives for positive change, and represents student interests for an engaging campus life experience. John Mark began his journey in UBC when he was elected into the organization by the McCombs student body. He saw UBC as a place for tangible action, and he could “use this space to make sure [my peers’] voices are heard.”

Since joining the organization, John Mark has taken on a variety of leadership roles, beginning as the Faculty Relations Committee Chair in his sophomore year. In this role, he spearheaded initiatives like Faculty Relations Week, where students and faculty got to make meaningful connections outside the classroom. John Mark felt especially proud of how his peers wrote letters to express appreciation for their professors through the event.

In his junior year, John Mark served as the Community Service Chair to ensure McCombs students could serve where possible. However, the pinnacle of his UBC experience was his senior year, where John Mark led the organization as President. The role was a learning process as John Mark navigated through various uncertainties and turbulent times. Through it all, he remained committed to amplifying student voices and opinions through avenues such as engaging with faculty heads and deans. Ultimately, John Mark learned a lot about himself as he steered tough situations, all while becoming a better leader who listens and “turns people’s voices into action.”

Reflecting upon his tenure as President, John Mark is extremely proud of UBC’s significant accomplishments, everything from hosting the CEO of Citadel to taking students to visit company offices in New York. He also found fulfillment in the tight-knit personal connections in UBC, both with old friends and new members who joined the organization. These friendships spill over into his academic and professional life, allowing John Mark to feel a greater sense of belonging in Canfield BHP and the greater McCombs community. Additionally, John Mark takes pride in seeing the growth of new leaders within UBC, which is most evident in how they give back to the community.

To celebrate John Mark’s contribution to UBC, McCombs, and UT at large, he was recently recognized with the President of the Year award. This honor came from the Senate of College Councils, a student legislative body comprising of all campus college councils.

As someone who has contributed significantly to the McCombs community, John Mark shares invaluable advice on how to make an impact. He emphasizes the importance of making your voice heard, acknowledging that it is easy to get lost in the minutiae of college life and feel burnout. John Mark encourages individuals to empower themselves and rise up with their peers, recognizing the collective power in effectuating lasting change. Moreover, he stresses the significance of building a support system amongst peers and not hesitating to reach out to staff and faculty, as they genuinely want the best for students. Ultimately, John Mark underscores that everything starts with you — speaking up courageously is what sparks advocacy.

When asked to describe the Undergraduate Business Council in three words, John Mark took a moment to ponder, before finally settling on “empowering, communal, and gratifying.”

Rishi Menon

Rishi Menon is a Class of 2027 student majoring in the Canfield Business Honors Program (Canfield BHP). Currently, he is also considering majoring in Management Information Systems and Mathematics as well as a minor in the language Malayalam. As an out-of-state student from Naperville, Illinois, Rishi came to UT in search of tight-knit communities and genuine human connections. In both Texas Talaash and Canfield BHP, Rishi has found many like-minded peers and inspiring mentors.

Texas Talaash is a competitive male Bollywood fusion dance team that combines Bhangra, hip hop, Kuthu, and contemporary styles. Alongside around 150 teams across the nation, Talaash is a part of the Desi Dance Network that hosts nationwide competitions. Every team puts on a theme-based performance that narrates a story. This year, Talaash’s theme is zombie infection – through their choreography, production, and acting, dancers transform into heroes who must prevent the apocalypse before it’s too late.

Before joining Talaash, Rishi only danced casually during his high school senior year. By participating in a school-wide competition and performing at graduation parties, Rishi was first exposed to dance. This initial spark soon transformed into something much greater after he learned about the Talaash, however. “It was just a cool community that I wanted to be a part of.” Rishi describes.

Talaash is a significant time commitment. Beginning with practicing three times a week for four hours per day, the intensity increases to five times a week for six hours every day as the number of competitions ramps up. While his dedication to Talaash means sacrificing time for his professional and social life, Rishi is learning the important lesson of finding balance. Moreover, through countless hours of practicing, traveling, and competing together, Talaash became more of a brotherhood than a dance team. As he develops his passion for dance, Rishi has also developed trust and dependability in his 30-plus fellow members.

Additionally, his time in Talaash has also given Rishi many unforgettable memories. The team won first place, in Cleveland, Ohio, and more competitions are on the horizon throughout the rest of the spring semester. Beyond competitive placements, many highlights on the dance team lie in spontaneous social outings. Rishi greatly enjoys seeing his teammates outside of the context of dancing and getting to know them through events such as bake-offs.

When reflecting on the lessons he learned through dance, Rishi emphasizes the importance of helping others and accepting one’s imperfections. Many logistical tasks need completion for Talaash to run smoothly, and Rishi has begun to help out upperclassmen with the little things to ensure they do not feel overwhelmed. Such proactivity can go a long way, and Rishi has also implemented this perspective in his other student organizations. On the other hand, having little experience, Rishi initially found it scary to perform in front of everyone else. However, after internalizing that his peers in Talaash only want to see his growth and success, he found it much easier to get past his fearful mindset. Moving on, Rishi also hopes to prioritize fostering an environment in which everyone can feel safe to try new things even if they are not confident.

Beyond Talaash, Rishi is also very thankful for the community he found in Canfield BHP, as the program gave him an immediate community of friends. This was especially valuable for Rishi as an out-of-state student, who did not know many people coming into UT. Additionally, upperclassmen in the program are very supportive in helping Rishi define his career goals.

In the future, Rishi hopes to get more involved at UT by finding additional communities, whether it be professional or social organizations. He is excited about the prospect of meeting more people with different interests and majors to develop strong relationships with them. Rishi will prioritize interest and fun in his new organizations, as he believes that is much more beneficial than dedicating time only toward professional development.

In terms of Talaash, Rishi plans to continue being involved throughout his college career, and he may run for captain eventually. Regardless of his decision, Rishi knows that his Talaash family will always be by his side.

You can watch Rishi’s performance through this link.