5 questions with a Rhodes Scholar

He is one of 11 Canadians to win the prestigious scholarship in 2018 and the 16th to date from the University of Calgary. Rahul shares how he found out he was successful in his application, what he’s going to miss and one thing about him that may surprise you.

Where were you when you found out?
It was a Saturday in late November, and I was on campus participating in a health innovation competition when I got a call from the scholarship committee. I was
expecting the call, had convinced myself that I hadn’t won, and had already opened a Word doc to write down any lessons I could learn from the experience.

The committee member on the other end told me that he had some “very good news for me” and asked me whether I would accept. The first three words out of my mouth in response were, “Wait, what? Seriously?” Really dignified, I know. I spent the afternoon talking to my family and closest friends to confirm my decision and called the committee back to accept soon after.

Have you ever been to the University of Oxford campus before?
No — I’ve never been to Europe before! The University of Oxford has an incredible legacy and history — the architecture, culture, and people who have walked the halls. There’s a lot to take in and learn from.

What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn you’ve never done?
You know, despite being a born and raised Calgarian, I’ve never downhill skied in the mountains.

After accepting the scholarship, what was one of the first things you did to relax and unwind?
The next couple of days were a whirlwind. But I played Super Smash Bros. with my younger brother a couple of nights later. He destroyed me, which brought me back down to earth pretty quickly.

What snack food are you going to miss the most?
Recently, I’ve been craving one particular brand of tortilla chips — Luke’s — that Costco used to carry. I can’t find them anymore though. If anyone knows where to get them, let me know!