Finding Community: There’s No Place Like a Home Away from Home

A Long Way from Home

Eshna Bhargava (‘24) traveled a long way to live out her dream of traveling to the United States to study aerospace engineering. Once this international student from Dubai learned about Embry-Riddle, she was sure it was where she was meant to go.

“When you know, you know,” she said confidently.

Thankfully, technology helps her stay in touch with family; although her mother recently visited campus for the first time, attended her classes and met her friends. Bhargava said it helped that her mother saw her living and thriving in her surroundings, which cleared up any question or doubt she had about her attending school so far away from home.

“I know for a fact that this was the best decision I could’ve made,” she said.

Family Support System

Bhargava sees her mother as a source of inspiration.

“My mom never did what she wanted to do, which was majoring in English literature in college,” she said of her mother, who was born and raised in India.

Her mother was adamant Bhargava pursue her dreams – whatever they were.

“If you can figure out what you want to do, make sure you do it,” her mother would tell her.

Similarly, Bhargava’s father, also born and raised in India, wanted to pursue a career in sports, but that wasn’t an option for him either. So, he would encourage her to pursue whatever her dream may be, “as long as you’re confident that this is what will make you happy.”

“I was always in a very positive environment,” she said. “I had the support system to help me push myself and that self-motivation to figure it out.”

Creating Her Own Support System

Bhargava has created her own positive environment on Embry-Riddle's campus by joining various clubs and organizations, including Embry-Riddle Future Space Explorers and Developers Society (ERFSEDS) and Society of Women Engineers (SWE), where she is now the vice president.

“It completely changed the course of my experience at Riddle,” she said.

Through these groups, she created her own support system complete with “such a broad variety of people from everywhere.”

Navigating College Life

Bhargava has gone from mentee to mentor during her time at Embry-Riddle helping new students navigate college life from a perspective she understands all too well. She enjoys seeing fresh faces and using her personal experience to help others navigate adjusting to their new normal letting them know, “I got you. I know what you’re thinking right now. I know you’re missing home right now. I know you feel like there’s too much going on and you don’t know how to narrow it down,” and considers her ability to empathize with them, “such a blessing.”

She advises students to exercise patience when building a campus community of their own.

“It takes time to get to know [people], for you to gel together,” she advised. “There’s so much imposter syndrome, but everyone is going through that.”