Meet your hosts: RRU International Showcase
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The 12th Annual International Showcase: Talent & Fashion Show will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 in the Dogwood Auditorium. Students, faculty and staff should register now to guarantee a seat.
Royal Roads University’s International showcase is one of the university’s most anticipated and well-attended events of the year. The annual event, now in its 12th year, offers a spectacular array of entertainment including talent and fashion shows. But it also offers something more – a chance for connection, community and learning.
“The International Showcase is such a vibrant tapestry of diversity,” says Prapti Yadav, student engagement associate. “At the heart of this event is a commitment to fostering mutual understanding creating a richer and more united community on campus.”
The event is organized by the Royal Roads Student Services team with help from volunteer campus ambassadors. Four of them, students from China, Nigeria and India, will host this year’s event.
We asked the ambassadors to share a little about themselves, their RRU experience and what they’re looking forward to at the event. Here’s what they said:
Shivam Patil, Master of Arts in Intercultural & International Communication (India)
Q: What is something you really want to learn here at Royal Roads?
I look forward to learning more about how to build deep, lasting intercultural relationships with the diverse communities that live, work and study at RRU. Royal Roads encourages sustainability in a strong way, and I'm keen on learning more about this. It might also be beneficial for me to learn how to interact with peacocks, because they're awesome.
Q: What are some family items or artifacts that represent your culture and identity?
The diversity of a multi-cultural society like India is hard to summarize. But my decade of experiences as a Bollywood actor and writer have made me realize that India...is a feeling. And Indian cinema is a loving celebration of that powerful feeling.
Q: Would you rather sing or dance in front of an audience?
I'd rather make everyone else dance!
Q: What are you most looking forward to at this year’s International Showcase?
I'm really looking forward to creating a bit of history at this International Showcase, by bringing never-before-seen authentic Bollywood performances to these beautiful lands. It's time for some Indian magic to light up the stage!
Jessie Zhang, Master of Arts in Professional Communication (China)
Q: What is something you really want to learn here at Royal Roads?
Developing research skills to solve unsolved problems can bridge the gap between the community and academia.
Q: Can you share a family memory that has shaped you or your identity?
My father was a talented artist and my mother was a kindergarten teacher. Both of them had to work hard to make ends meet when three generations lived together. To bring in extra income, my father wrote articles for magazines and newspapers during his free time. Whenever he received payment for one of his pieces, he would buy candies for the children and meat for the household. Even when his articles were rejected, my father never gave up or got angry. Instead, he revised them and sent them to other publishers quietly. This experience taught me to always keep trying and to give my best effort. It also taught me that there is always hope for success.
Q: Would you rather sing or dance in front of an audience?
I enjoy singing because it makes me happy to see people enjoying it. One time, I sang a heartbreak song at an open mic and an audience member started crying. I believe it must have resonated with her on a personal level. Despite not being a professional singer and struggling to keep time, singing is a fun hobby for me.
Adeniyi Adebayo, Global Workforce Skills Certificate (Nigeria)
Q: What is something you really want to learn here at Royal Roads?
I want to improve my communication skills and develop new skills, especially digital skills. I hope to also excel in my chosen field of project management.
Q: What are some family items or artifacts that represent your culture and identity?
I have a lot of memories that represent my culture and identity ranging from wedding ceremonies, to dress to music and traditions.
Q: Would you rather sing or dance in front of an audience?
I’d prefer to sing if I had a choice because of my strong passion for music.
Q: What are you most looking forward to at this year’s International Showcase?
I am looking forward to experiencing different cultures and traditions as well as music, dance and other performances. I am also looking to see how the stage is managed and how the media team works.
Lata Pathak, Master of Global Management (India)
Q: What is something you really want to learn here at Royal Roads?
I want to better understand the world and improve my ability to interact with others and assist people around me in meaningful ways.
Q: What are some family items or artifacts that represent your culture and identity?
I am from India and Indian culture is rich in family gatherings, marked by festivities like Diwali and Holi, fostering strong bonds over delicious meals. Traditional clothing such as sarees and kurta-pajamas symbolize cultural elegance. The diverse cuisine, from biryani to samosas, evokes memories of home-cooked delights shared with loved ones. Values like respect for elders, hospitality and education are deeply ingrained, shaping family traditions passed down through generations.
Q: Would you rather sing or dance in front of an audience?
I am open for both even though I am a bit shy in public :)
Q: What are you most looking forward to at this year’s International Showcase?
Talents of course, a huge crowd and the energy in the room among us all.