What It’s Like Being a Nepali Student at Bentley University

To be honest, Bentley doesn’t have many Nepali students. I think there are maybe five or six of us in the entire university. There are quite a few South Asians in general—but when it comes to specifically Nepali students? We’re a rare find.

At first, I didn’t mind. I’ve always been open to meeting people from different backgrounds, and I was excited to push myself outside my comfort zone. But I’d be lying if I said I never noticed the difference.

Sometimes I’d see other students hanging out in groups from their home countries—speaking their language, sharing traditional food, celebrating cultural holidays together—and I’d think, that looks really fun.

The “What If” Question

Bentley has a lot of cultural student organizations: Vietnamese Student Association, Korean Student Association, Chinese groups, and more. I remember thinking: What if there was a Nepali club too?

I even considered starting one—but with so few of us on campus, it didn’t feel realistic. That thought lingered, though.

Finding Pride in Being the “Only One”

Still, even without a formal group, being one of the only Nepali students at Bentley turned out to be a beautiful part of my college experience.

It gave me a chance to share my culture with others—something I never got to do so often back home. Most of my friends and even professors had never met someone from Nepal before. So every time I introduced myself and talked about where I was from, it felt special. It felt personal.

A Role That Meant Something

One of my favorite experiences was working in the Undergraduate Admission Office as an International Peer Advisor. In that role, I got to represent Nepal.

Sometimes prospective students from Nepal would reach out with questions about Bentley—and I was their go-to person. Being that point of contact for someone from my country made me feel proud. It felt like I was leaving a small mark, showing others that yes, there is a Nepali presence here.

Final Thoughts

So even though I was one of the few, I felt seen.

And honestly? I made the most of it.
Being Nepali at Bentley didn’t mean blending into a crowd—it meant standing out, and owning it with pride.