Born and raised in India, I’ve experienced diversity in all its glory. As a human resource analyst for two years, I learned how to evaluate and manage diversity. Now, as an MMS student at Fuqua, I’m learning how to truly live in it.

Starting My MMS Journey

The first day of starting anything new can feel nerve-wracking. But walking into a room of 296 classmates? That’s a whole new level of overwhelming. Yet, in that sea of faces, I never once felt truly out of place. That’s when it hit me, I was now part of Team Fuqua.

Meeting my teammates quickly became the highlight of Term 1. With two rotating teams and six-week terms flying by, I realized just how much they are going to shape the entire MMS journey.

For me, my teammates quickly became my friends. Weekend dinners, potlucks, and card games (that somehow turned competitive!) became our traditions. Beyond the fun, they were my go-to people, sharing laughs, tackling assignments, doing mochi runs and making a hectic term feel lighter. In many ways, they became my family away from home.

Building Bonds Through Sports

Sports are central to Duke’s DNA. They bring alumni back to campus, unite students across schools, and fuel the Blue Devil spirit. But, at Fuqua, sports are also a bridge, bringing together people from every field, background, and class.

I had never touched a pickleball paddle in my life until a friend convinced me to give it a try, and that simple gesture turned me into someone who’s now always up for a game. We even played as a team in the MMS Pickleball Tournament. Sure, we lost in Round 1, but we walked away with plenty of laughs and some great memories.

Shreya Sammadar and six of her classmates in the MMS program at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business standing on a pickleball court after nightfall, having just played a match.

That’s the spirit at Fuqua: even if you’ve never picked up a racket or dribbled a ball, the community has your back, teaching, encouraging and cheering you on. Whether it’s battling it out on the ping pong table in the Fox Center, rallying in a pickleball tournament, or grabbing a quick tennis match at Wilson Rec Center, there’s always a game to join and always someone new to meet.

A Snapshot of Fuqua’s Diversity

Fuqua has a place for everyone, if you put in the effort to find it. Every day brings a new experience, new moments built with new people, and stories shared that make this journey unforgettable. My friends, Aratrika Pal and Jiya Jain, and I teamed up with students from the MQM program to host a joint Independence Day celebration for India and Pakistan. We were skeptical about whether people would show up and whether they would enjoy it.

A large group of Fuqua students gathered in the Fox Center for the India and Pakistan Independence days.

To our surprise, the entire Fuqua community came together to celebrate. From samosas and pakoras to henna tattoos and a vibrant dance performance, the night was full of energy. The highlight? Hearing people say, “This was hands down my favorite Fuqua event yet!”

I came to Fuqua hoping to find my place. What I found instead was a community that made me feel like I’ve belonged all along.