Hi! Welcome. I’m Rachna, a junior at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, from Pune, India, but also a little bit of all over the world.
My enduring passion has always been psychology, even before I knew the true definition of the word. I am majoring in Psychology and aspire to do an Honors Thesis and graduate early. I have always loved writing and reading literature, which inspired me to add a second major in English with a sub-concentration in Creative Writing.
After completing my undergrad, I hope to enroll in a Clinical Psychology PhD program. My career goal is to become a clinical psychologist, make mental health more accessible to every population, and perhaps integrate my English Creative Writing major into my career by exploring creative therapy.
Scroll down to read more about my interests, passions, and hobbies!
I have a quirky habit of writing down funny things my friends say. We go through the list every couple months to reminisce and laugh about the jokes again!
Fun Tip: Hover over the quotes to play different piano notes!
Enjoy these top 20 songs from my list of over 1700! Also, all 64 of my playlists start with a lowercase letter.
To me, movies have always been one of the most powerful ways of conveying emotion -- combining stellar cinematography with a good, punchy soundtrack and thoughtful dialogues. The movies that leave me the most inspired are the ones that make me rethink life, love, death, and everything in between.
About Time
This isn’t usually my genre of choice, but About Time is so cute and heartfelt that it takes rom-coms to whole new level. It’s the only movie where I’ve cried out of happiness!
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The Psychology nerd in me will always be obsessed with the idea of erasing someone you love from your memory but finding your way back to them.
Her
This movie tackles so much. Love, friendship, loneliness, technology. It also has some of the best cinematography, in my opinion -- I would love to see a montage of Joaquin Phoenix in a bright pink shirt strumming his ukulele on the beach.
The Pursuit of Happyness
This was my first favorite movie, and no matter how many times I watch it, I never fail to ugly-cry at the subway scene.
Blue Valentine
This movie showed one of my favourite realistic depictions of human relationships -- sometimes it feels like it’s meant to be, but it isn’t what’s best for you.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the best way to write is to read. I have been diving into the pages of books and living in worlds outside my own for as long as I can remember (my origin story starts with Junie B. Jones). Stories tell me more about human nature, which I find tells me more about myself.
The Awakening
~Kate Chopin
Usually, books you read in Literature classes don’t end up on the favorites list because you might tend to study them rather than read them, but this only made me love The Awakening even more. I hunched over this book for two years of my IB literature course; I can still name quotes from it word for word, but there is so much I now know about the pure genius of its writing that I will forever be a fan.
A Thousand Splendid Suns
~Khaled Hosseini
Every time I even think about this book, and the journey and the hardships that the female protagonists underwent, I feel more and more strongly about my proud feminism and admiration for women of color everywhere. I would be remiss if I did not mention that my favorite quote of anything, anywhere, of all time, was written by Hosseini in this book -
“A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you.”
The Kite Runner
~Khaled Hosseini
This book mends and breaks my heart in so many ways, and is often what I think of when I picture books and writing that truly inspire me.
Tuesdays With Morrie
~Mitch Albom
This book taught me so much about life and family and love in a way that fiction books cannot, but in a way that most non-fictional books would not.
The Bell Jar
~Sylvia Plath
Plath was truly a phenomenal woman and writer; her poetry always leaves me in awe and ever since I read this book at fifteen, it has been a favorite. I owe it many re-reads.