Sonali Blair

What’s your favorite class? Why?

Medicine, Culture and Healing taught by Assistant Professor Sepideh Bajracharya has been my favorite course so far. The course examines how suffering and healing are interrelated, engaging with the biomedical realm from an anthropological perspective that emphasizes care and a responsibility for self and other. This course also looked at chronic illness in the context of both Western and non-Western approaches to medicine and healing. I really enjoyed how this course gave me an insight into the medical realm from a social science perspective, and introduced me to medical anthropology as a field of study. I was also surrounded by a wide range of perspectives. Students majoring in biology, philosophy, and environmental studies filled the room just as much as sociology and anthropology students, giving all of us a richer perspective on the subject. Throughout that semester, we were also assigned to write an ethnographic research paper, interviewing someone who either lived with a chronic illness or was a healer of chronic illnesses. This course was an excellent introduction into conducting rich and raw ethnographic research, and was just the beginning of my journey into sociology and anthropology.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

Let me paint you a picture: it was around April 2021 when I walked around the L&C campus for the first time, and it was unsurprisingly … pouring rain. I saw the whole campus in its natural state and my 18 year-old self fell for it. Apart from the campus’ beauty, I found L&C to be a tight-knit community that was dedicated to collaborative learning. I was searching for a school where I could not only foster community with my fellow students but my professors as well, something that I saw as special and that I continue to value. Studying abroad was also a dream of mine, so hearing that nearly 60 percent of students study abroad excited me and drew me in even more. Yet, what made me realize that L&C was where I should go was after talking to a student about their experience. I left that conversation feeling confident that the previously mentioned first impressions I had were, in fact, true, and I found a sense of strong community at L&C that I continue to feel to this day.

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?

I have encountered a broad range of perspectives and specialties within my major, offering me insight into various fields of study in sociology and anthropology. Through professor-led presentations on their research, collaborative fieldwork, and engaging classroom discussions, my major has provided different experiences and meaningful connections that have inspired me to explore more in my post-graduate studies and career opportunities. Throughout this journey, I have also honed essential skills in critical thinking, research methodology, and cross-cultural communication, all of which will be invaluable in my future academic and professional pursuits. These experiences have not only fueled my academic interests but have also profoundly shaped my understanding of the world and my role within it.

What do you like or find most interesting about your minor?

Not only is the Hispanic studies program a very welcoming and warm community, but the required overseas study aspect is what admittedly drew me in. I was lucky enough to spend my spring 2024 semester of my junior year in Sevilla, Spain. There, I took classes with locals, lived with a host family, and integrated into Sevillan life. I was introduced to a lifestyle and culture that I would have never been able to get to know if it were not for this experience. I feel lucky that the Hispanic studies program, and the wonderful professors who taught me, gave me a taste of the culture through language and literature beforehand. Those courses and professors equipped me with cultural knowledge and a valuable sociopolitical perspective. Now back as a senior, I have brought with me a level of a fluency in Spanish I gained throughout the semester as well as a refined perspective and heightened awareness of global dynamics.

Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus: people, activities, clubs, res halls, etc.

Being on a campus like L&C, there are so many opportunities and activities. I have found that I can express different versions of myself in various ways across the social activities offered. From signing up for a College Outdoors snow-shoe trip, to playing casual club volleyball on a Sunday, to going and watching live music at the Coop, to Waffle Wednesdays, L&C has given me a lot of different outlets and has allowed me to connect with some of my closest friends to this day. Through these same activities, I have met different people and fostered friendships I would have otherwise missed out on.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Something I learned is that even if its once, do something out of your comfort zone. Sign up for a College Outdoors trip and get outside, take the Pio Express shuttle downtown with some people and spend the day exploring, attend that first club meeting of the year, take a class you wouldn’t normally go for … etc. I know that going into college can be intimidating and a huge lifestyle change but trust me on this, if you take a chance and sit at that random table in the Bon, you might find yourself among lifelong friends.

Tell us about the upcoming Ray Warren Symposium. What has your experience as a cochair been like? How does this event complement your academic experience?

I am really excited to be a part of the upcoming Ray Warren Symposium! This year’s focus is on borders, exploring the nuanced impact they have on communities from an ethnic studies perspective. As a cochair, I have been challenged in various ways, however I have found it immensely rewarding. I have had the privilege of collaborating with a dedicated team, which has led me to helping shape the direction of the symposium, researching and selecting keynote speakers with the other cochairs and our faculty advisor, brainstorming events, and preparing on-campus community meetings. The role so far has sharpened my leadership skills and has allowed me to bring both a creative and academic perspective to the symposium. This experience has also allowed me to apply my research skills, theoretical knowledge and topics I have drawn from my major, specifically those around race and identity. The symposium has further exposed me to scholars and professionals in various disciplines who discuss this year’s theme from diverse perspectives.

Sociology and Anthropology Hispanic Studies