Graduate Profile: Oorja Joshi, MDiv ‘24

Memorable Moment 

The time I spent with HDS Muslims in my first year—going apple picking when we barely knew each other, celebrating Eid together, going to the nearby ocean towns, and all the chai times. 

A second moment is when Professor Rivera said yes to being my thesis advisor.  

And some of the best adventures I've had were with Eve, Coco, Fatima, Minahil, Nathan, Mayank, and Hamza. 

Message of Thanks 

There are so many people to thank. 

I would like to deeply thank my parents Akhilesh ji and Archana ji for supporting me to be here, my teachers—Professor Mayra Rivera, Professor Kimberley Patton, Professor Teren Sevea, Dr. Aaliyah El-Amin, and Professor Melissa Kelley—who I am indebted to for their teaching that opened my heart and mind even more to this world. I am very grateful for the support and teachings of my chaplain mentor Reverend Amy Fisher, and the graduate students Asma and Nazma who worked with me at SU Interfaith Center! 

I am very thankful for the love and care of my friends Eve (and Coco!), Auds, Shir, Alejandra, Minahil, Fatima, Sana, Mayank, Nathan, Fawaz, Souman, Bilal, my other Sana, Akhil, Emily, Rebecca, Michael, Azka, Hamza and so many more friends I made in the area, at HGSE, and at Boston College! 

What I hope to be remembered by 

I hope to be remembered by joyful energy, care, enthusiasm for spontaneous hanging out, love for the ocean, and always being up for creative play and fun! :) 

Future Plans 

I hope that wherever I am led, I can keep creating intergenerational communities of care, based in decolonial ethics! And that I can keep learning to love boundlessly from the ocean and the Sun.