By Liam Shannon
Nepal is a historically patriarchal society. Men are considered the head of the household and preference is given to sons, while daughters are often discriminated against. Women are expected to wear long clothing and abide by their husbands’ commands. Dikshya Upadhyaya knew from a young age that she did not want to conform to these rules.
“I’ve seen that, and I’ve hated it from every bone, because I was so happy to be a woman,” said Upadhyaya, who is from Kathmandu, Nepal.
Upadhyaya traveled 7,400 miles from home, to Springfield College, where she is a double major in Computer Science and Finance. One of the ways she has challenged the notion of a patriarchal society is through the Vagina Monologues.
After attending a few weekly practices for the annual show, which features stories from women about sexual violence, sexual identity, and the power of embracing one’s gender and identity, she knew that she wanted to be a part of the group. “Every Sunday I [felt] this girl energy, this femininity,” she said.
For Upadhyaya, finding her calling once she arrived at Springfield was not difficult, but getting to campus was an arduous task. Her older sister was studying at Howard University, so she knew she wanted to venture to the U.S. as well. She was attracted to Massachusetts and its high concentration of higher education institutions. After being waitlisted at Babson College, Upadhyaya explored the idea of Springfield.
Lake Massasoit was the first feature that attracted her to campus. Upon further research, she discovered the school’s Humanics philosophy. That–and the generous financial aid and housing scholarships she received–sold her on the school.
As Upadhyaya boarded her flight to Singapore, reality set in. “It was just like, ‘Wow, I’m going to a different country. Just me.’ [That] was my first thought,” she recalled. “I realized, I don’t know when I’m coming back.”
After a layover in Singapore’s Changi Airport, Upadhayaya boarded an 18-hour flight to San Francisco. Her initial impression of the U.S. was not one of hospitality. “The people in the airport kept sending me to the departure terminal,” she said. “My whole life is packed in two suitcases. I was stuck there for two hours, just going in circles.”
After two weeks in California, Upadhyaya and her sister flew to Washington, D.C., where they spent 10 days exploring the National Mall and museums. The final leg of her journey was by train from Washington, D.C. to Springfield. After passing through Philadelphia and New York, Upadhayaya became increasingly worried as she moved from metropolitan city centers to small towns with decaying buildings and graffiti-ruined structures.
Upadhyaya arrived on campus three days before New Student Orientation (NSO) as a part of Springfield’s Community Connections Pre-orientation program, which offers opportunities for students from traditionally underrepresented groups to build relationships prior to the start of the school year. But not even that could prepare her for the explosive energy of NSO weekend.
“Even for me, [who is] very cheerful and happy and energetic all the time, it [was] so much,” she said. “I was shocked … What is this thing? Why are you forcing me to wear a beanie?”
Upadhyaya’s idea of adjusting was to throw herself into as many activities as she could. She had been accepted into the Honors program, and she joined the Business Club and Women in Business Club. She serves on the E-board for both clubs today. An avid dancer, she also joined the Dance Club, as well as the Vagina Monologues, becoming a director in her sophomore year.
“She just immerses herself 100 percent into whatever task that she’s asked to do, and she does it well,” said Fadia Nordtveit, the Business Club advisor. “It’s not just [that] she’s enthusiastic; she’s enthusiastic and also doing a good job. I’ve seen that happen in different scenarios and in different roles. We need more students like her at Springfield College.”
In February, Uphadyaya attended the 2025 Harvard University Women in Business Conference, which included panel discussions and inspirational keynote speakers. She was also elected as the Student Government Association’s international student representative. This role allows her to listen to many voices and bring issues to the attention of faculty. “One of the nice things about being a student rep in SGA is that you really need to be immersed in the culture and the people,” said Annie Warchol, Assistant Dean for Student and Parent Engagement and SGA faculty advisor. “Because she’s involved in many other things, she gets more information and we can address things more proactively than reactively, because people see her, know her and feel comfortable going to her.”
(Photo courtesy of Dikshya Uphadyaya)