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INTRODUCTION
01 - Introduction Moving away from home to go to college can be an exciting experience you've probably been looking forward to for years! But, it can also be a challenging experience, especially if you've been raised in a Jain family. Maintaining a balance between your Jain values and North American college life can be very conflicting at times. However, finding that balance is definitely possible and is why I wrote this experiential guide to college life in order to share my own experiences with you. I attended a small college called the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, in Missouri for six years, leaving home when I was 17. I want to share what I learned during my time there, so that you can get some tips from my successes and mistakes.
While your experience will be different than mine, I hope this handbook can help you make sense of your own decisions and challenges in college. College is an amazing way to grow in every aspect of your life through the countless experiences you will have. You will meet people from different backgrounds and cultures, many of whom may be quite accomplished and high performing individuals. Learn from your surroundings, and make the most of your time in college, and while doing so, your Jain values will help you immensely. They will be vital in helping you maintain your identity, make decisions, and better yourself. Most importantly, though, irrespective of your experiences, I want you to know you are not alone. I wish that this book can make you aware that you can reach out to other Jains for help, which makes my advice here just one of many resources as you tackle this next part of your life.
It is inevitable that you will make mistakes. Remember, we all make mistakes, but don't be hard on yourself or feel guilty for making them. Instead, realize that you can grow more from each experience - especially when you keep positive, reflect on what's happened, and not make the same mistake twice. Remember that the person we mold ourselves into today will shape the person we are tomorrow. Jainism focuses on bettering ourselves and our surroundings through nonviolence, improving our intentions, helping others, working on our flaws and weaknesses, and making certain decisions based on our values. For these reasons, I am going to
BEING JAIN IN COLLEGE
