By Silma Suba
When you enter Indee Thotawattage’s room in the residence halls, the first thing that hits you is the exotic smell of tea and the vibrant colors of the books neatly shelved on the walls around her.
Sitting on a red chair, surrounded by a pile of political books and college photographs, she sips her cup of tea and talks about her first day at Georgetown University School of Foreign Services in Qatar (GUSFSQ).
“My first interaction with GUSFSQ was in April 2010, when they flew me in from Colombo for the GAAP day (Georgetown Admissions Ambassadors Program),” said Thotawattage, a senior pursuing a major in Culture and Politics and a certificate in American Studies at the school.
“Back then we were in the Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) building, and I was like whoa, I will be spending four years of my life here with these people!”
“If I had to choose one word to describe my college life, I would choose ‘blessed,’” said Thotawattage. “I’ve transformed from a naïve freshman who viewed the world in a simple perspective to being a senior who understands that the world out there is complicated, but I can still make it work.”
Unlike most of her classmates and colleagues who will be pursuing a career or graduate school outside Education City, she has decided to stay on campus and work for Georgetown as a Student Development Officer.
“I was over the moon when they offered me the job position. I was ecstatic, mostly, because it meant I wouldn’t have to bid everyone goodbye just yet,” said Thotawattage. “It’s a very dynamic job that will definitely have its fair share of challenges, but that in itself will be a great learning experience.”
According to Thotawattage, the most impactful part of her college life was her time as a Community Development Officer (CDA) in the Residence Halls for three years.
“Each year I’ve been under a different supervisor, met new residents, and they’ve all taught me something in one way or the other,” said Thotawattage. “It’s like we’ve all been woven into one big tapestry with colorful threads, found friends that have now become my family, who’ve taught me in shared moments that the world is a tough place but we’re going to be alright.”
