Dira is a perfect example of self-directed study; through independent studies, in-depth research, and the creation of a new academic program on campus, she’s been able to study colonialism, economics, and international relations from many angles.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS MAJOR AND ECONOMICS AND COLONIALISM STUDIES MINOR FROM ROCKVILLE, MD AND JAKARTA, INDONESIA 6
PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER
DIRA DJAYA
’16
Within minutes of meeting and talking with Dira, it was clear that she has made the most of her four years at Tufts. Dira has not only helped to create the Colonialism Studies minor, but she also took three independent studies, got heavily involved in independent research projects, and recently finished her senior thesis. During her freshman year, Dira explored classes in many different academic programs, including linguistics, urban studies, and history. It wasn’t until she took a class called History of Modern European Intellectual Thought, however, that she knew she wanted to major in International Relations. This class, taught by Associate Professor of History Kris Manjapra, was one of the first times that Dira was able to deeply explore ideas about race and colonialism, and she began to learn how the education system in the United States very narrowly focused on the western perspective. After talking with her advisor and realizing that she had very specific interests, Dira shaped curricula for three independent studies. Her face noticeably brightens when she speaks about them. “I [designed] one on post-colonial ontologies,” she explained. “I [looked] at how the studies of ‘self’ differ in colonial and anti-colonial environments.” In another independent study, Critical Political Economy, Dira worked with three different Tufts professors. She used this class as a way to combine her interests in international relations and economics. For Dira, the beauty of these independent studies was in the fact that they allowed her to hone in on a specific interest while also building very close relationships with the professors. She felt herself growing from their student into their peer. “For me, what made Tufts so life-changing was really my relationship with specific professors…some of my professors have become life mentors for me.” In my opinion, these impactful relationships are easy to build at Tufts, and Dira agreed with me. “Looking back, I’ve realized that at Tufts, everyone becomes a better, nicer, more open-minded person. Everyone here engages in different conversations, because they want to learn each other’s stories.” —HANNAH STEINBERG ’17