Georgetown University Qatar will soon welcome its fresh batch of students, the class of 2028. As these newcomers begin their Hoya journey in a couple of weeks, the campus buzzes for their upcoming class representative elections. Among the candidates vying for the position is Sahana Farleen. Sahana offers a unique international background and a fresh perspective on student leadership. She stands ready to contribute to the vibrant Georgetown community. Her aspirations are grounded in the principle of diversity and inclusion, through strengthening the sense of community and providing supplemental aid for challenges faced by international students. She agreed to an interview with The Georgetown Gazette, wherein Sahana discussed her strengths, her understanding of Georgetown's culture, and her plans as a class representative. Sahana’s responses provided a glimpse of her plans for leading and contributing to the Georgetown community.
Sahana’s candidacy is deeply rooted in her diverse international experience. She emphasized her exposure to a multicultural environment, noting, "I went to a boarding school…in Japan. And there were like 200 people from…about 100 different countries,” highlighting the parallels between her past experiences and the diverse environment at Georgetown Qatar. This encounter has equipped Sahana with a keen understanding of the interests and concerns of people across different cultures and backgrounds. “I was also supposed to get a lot of different people's interests already. So, I found a lot of ways on how to do that,” she explained, recalling strategies implemented in her former alma mater to foster inclusion and intercultural understanding. In an effort to engage the student body, various methods were employed, including anonymous Google Sheets for feedback, mandatory updates through Instagram and group channels, and a morning email called "Barely Awake," inspired by the campus mascot, a bear—she described. "...I would say how I would get to answer or listen to and also make sure that different people's voices are heard, especially because we have such a diverse cohort as well," said she, suggesting it could be a model for her leadership as a class representative.
Sahana highlighted that her “cultural and educational background” sets her apart from other candidates. She began by saying, “I don’t think that other candidates have had the opportunity so far…before you need to meet a bunch of different people from all over the world as well.” Sahana expounded on what separates her from other candidates noting that she will “engage with them or listen to their struggles and also their point of view. Not just empathize with them, but try to create solutions that are possible for all these people.” “Just be aware of other people's needs, (and) wants, and also how to accommodate like your own wants and theirs as well,” the candidate added. “That’s what I had to do at my old school as well,” she stated. Sahana emphasized that knowing “how to manage your time,” especially coming from an IB curriculum and juggling that with being a boarding student and living with a diverse set of people, makes her stand out. On top of that, Sahana believes the ideas she brings to the table individualize her. “I have all this cultural and educational background, but what I've learned from that would have been something completely different. Because I would say the ideas that I'm bringing to the table now are also because of that experience and they're also sort of a bit unique.” Sahana's platform centers around fostering a strong sense of community and supporting students, particularly those far from home. She proposed several initiatives, including a host family program, an academic buddy system, and organized group study sessions. These propositions, as Sahana stated, can be implemented at Georgetown Qatar, aiming to aid the integration of international students into university life.
When asked about her plans to enhance the community culture and togetherness at Georgetown, Sahana began by saying, “I feel like the first thing that I'd probably say is I need to go there first and see what's already existing. But I think that there's a lot of ways to actually build a community, even in a community that's already very strong, especially every single time that there's like new people coming in as well.” She believes that “the community within our own batch (Class of ‘28) should grow and become stronger as well.” Her plans include interest group lunches which are “opportunities for people to come in and, you know, get to know different people just like more than the surface.” Sahana also pitches community mixers that include not only a tight circle but also students from all batches, professors, and “even maybe people from like other QF universities.” “I think that that's something that would really be interesting if we just had like a fun mixer once a month and you divide people based on like, I don't know, a form that you send out and their opinions on like some things or like just if they've got common interests as well, or just randomly put people apart and just say, hey, talk to them. And then like you actually could find like some people who you really get along with through that,” she described. Sahana also suggests opening opportunities for community events such as “sports live streams.” “I think that's a really, really fun idea because we used to watch a lot of things, be it F1, cricket, football in our common room,” she affirms. She ends by saying, “I'd really have to come there and see what's on. And like what's already existing, what's not there, what people want as well. But there's definitely so many community building ideas, like just random events that we could have that I could help plan as well.”
Coming back to the root of it all, Sahana was asked about her motivations for running for the Class Representative position despite still being weeks away from starting her university life and getting familiar with Georgetown. "I know the struggles of just moving entirely, even if you're not like an international student, you still are moving into a completely new environment," she stated, underscoring her commitment to fostering a sense of belonging among her peers. First, she explained that one of the reasons is to offer a helping hand. “I want to help and just help relieve that stress, at least for like international students, or just like academic stress that you go into like having, like that, you go and have when like you're going into uni and stuff,” she emphasized. Also, Sahana stated, “I've got like, apart from everything, I think I've got a lot of good ideas that I believe we could implement,” referring to the platform and initiatives she explained prior. “I think it's just a shame not to like to try at least to just put my ideas out there,” Sahana asserts. Her last motivation is grounded in her acceptance at Georgetown University Qatar. “I think it's a really good opportunity just like, as cliche as it sounds, to just give back. Because Georgetown is an insanely good opportunity,” she affirms.
Sahana’s candidacy brings a unique blend of international experience, practical problem-solving skills, and a genuine commitment to community building. Her vision for Georgetown’s Class of 2028 is one of inclusion, cultural exchange, and personal growth. By drawing on her diverse background and focusing on both the big picture of community building and the day-to-day challenges of student life, Sahana presents a comprehensive approach to student leadership. Her emphasis on supporting international students, fostering connections between diverse groups, and building bridges between students and faculty aligns well with Georgetown's values of global engagement and cura personalis (care for the whole person).
As the election approaches, Sahana's candidacy offers the incoming class a representative who not only understands the challenges they may face but also brings a wealth of ideas and experiences to address them. Her approach, summed up in her own words, encapsulates her mission: "This is an opportunity for me to give back to this community as well." Beyond the domain of the SGA elections, Sahana's perspective and ideas have the potential to contribute significantly to the Georgetown community, fostering an environment where every student, regardless of their background, can feel they truly belong.
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