UNIVERSITY

The Life of a VIU Student
viu.edu
On-Campus Employment Opens Doors
Anila
Bindukar
By Emily Leighty
EXPERIENCED INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ANILA BINDUKAR IS IN HER SIXTH YEAR IN THE UNITED
STATES AND STUDIED IN BOTH ARKANSAS AND NEW YORK BEFORE COMING TO VIRGINIA TO STUDY
AT VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. READ ON TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES HER VIU EXPERI-
ENCES THE BEST IN THE US SO FAR.
Anila was hired to work on campus as a Communications
Student Support Representative not long after
she began studying at VIU. In this position Anila chats
with visitors to VIU’s website and answers their questions.
She interacts with a variety of people; some of
them, she says, are just current students trying to find
out if class will be cancelled because of snow. Others
have questions about how to apply to the university. She
enjoys helping these students to know more about the
admissions process.
On-campus employment is highly desirable and
often highly competitive. Anila worked with VIU’s Career
Center to apply for the position. After the Human
Resources Department selected her to move on the next
step of the application process, she interviewed with
VIU’s president, Dr. Sarac. “Interviewing with Dr. Sarac
was fun,” Anila laughs. “I got to know him a bit. He was
nice and asked a lot of questions.”
Traveling for a Change of Scenery
Overall, Anila
feels her chance to
work for the university
is essential.
“Internships and
working on campus
are important for
international students
who want
to know about the
US work environment,
whether
they want to pursue
careers in the
US or back home,” she says. “When I
know about a new job opening on campus, I ask my friends, ‘Did
you apply? Did you apply? Did you apply?’ because it is so important
to get that experience.”
Kathmandu Arkansas New York Virginia
VIU’s 15th Anniversary Celebration!
Anila Bindukar came to the United States five years ago
from her home in Kathmandu, Nepal. Her journey in the States
began in Arkansas, located in the southern part of the country.
She transferred, however, and migrated north to study at a community
college in New York where she received her associate’s
degree. After completing her associate’s program, Anila applied
to Virginia International University (VIU) in Fairfax, Virginia
where she is now in her second semester as an undergraduate student
in the School of Business.
When asked how she would compare Fairfax to New York
City, Anila commented on the quieter and more intimate lifestyle
here in Virginia. “That’s the best part,” she says. “Back in New
York, I would just go to class, finish class, then go home. That’s it.
You don’t get to know people. Here, it’s fun to get to know everyone
– I know everyone at VIU! And if you have a question, you
can ask the professor right there, right away.”
Get Out & Volunteer
The best way Anila has found to meet her peers? “Volunteering!
In New York, I never had time to volunteer and the university
didn’t need help from volunteers on campus. Here, volunteering
is open for everyone. I like it a lot. You get to know lots of people.”
Anila has volunteered for many events through the Office
of Student Affairs, including New Student Orientation, but she
says volunteering for the Career Center is her favorite because of
all the valuable information you pick up along the way. She looks
forward to getting answers to the questions “you’re too afraid or
don’t think to ask.”
“Some of my friends don’t want to volunteer,” she says, “but
I drag them to do it.” They always thank her later.
With her classes, volunteering, and an on-campus job
it’s hard to believe Anila has any free time, but she says she
finds many opportunities to hang out with her friends from
VIU, many of whom live nearby. Her other favorite thing to
do is travel to either New York or Philadelphia.
When asked what she does when she goes to Philadelphia,
Anila responds: “Not much. Usually I’m visiting with my
sister so I stay home to visit with family.” Sometimes, though,
they travel a little farther north of Philly to the Pocono Mountains.
“I love that place,” she says. “The Bushkill Mountains are
there too, and what they call Pennsylvania’s Niagara Falls. It’s
quiet and good for hiking.”
And when she travels to New York City? “I love everything!
Especially going to Coney Island in the winter
time, because I don’t like the beach or all the people. I like
quiet. I want to hear the sounds, the water sounds. You can
spend hours sitting there doing nothing.”
VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
15th Anniversary
ESTA BLISH E D 1998
September 25, 2014
VIU will host a commemorative celebration of its
history and growth. The event will feature
presentations by academic deans and special guests
including ambassadors, government officials,
and others instrumental to the university’s success.
Virginia International University
10
University Magazine, VIU Summer 2014
Summer 2014 University Magazine, VIU 11