Courage to Change the World

We say love and honor because it’s a promise we make of everything we will do next.

BY DONNA BOEN ’83 MTSC ’96

AMITOJ KAUR ’23 is earning two degrees — Emerging Technology in Business and Design and Political Science. She runs her own business, selling crew necks that she and her mom embroider. She co-founded W.O.K.E. (Women of Kolour Excellence), an academic support group for women of color at Miami.

She’s co-authored million-dollar grant applications, sits on the provost search committee, participated on the Armstrong Student Center Board, was a student orientation leader, works two campus jobs, and served as a student member on Miami’s board of trustees her freshman and sophomore years.

Oh, and she’s Miami’s student body president. Actually, she’s the first Indian student to be president (she’s Punjabi), first South Asian, and first commuter in the role as well. She’s also a firstgeneration college student.

And to think that she almost didn’t attend college. Make that almost couldn’t.

THE PERSON BEHIND THE RÉSUMÉ

Amitoj would be mortified if you thought she was bragging about her accomplishments.

At 5-foot-1, she’s not an imposing figure. She considers herself a laidback introvert. She talks quietly, but fast. And people gravitate toward her. That’s likely because she listens.

A resident of West Chester, Ohio, about 40 minutes east of Miami’s Oxford campus, Amitoj (pronounced Ah-muh-taj) is the daughter of two hardworking Indian immigrants.

When her parents, Raj and Amrik, moved to the United States, her mom began 12-hour shifts in physically demanding jobs so her family would be covered by health insurance. Health benefits weren’t available to her father, a pastor at the only Sikh temple in Cincinnati.

“Suddenly, my mom became the primary breadwinner,” Amitoj said. “While she was off at work, my dad would take care of me during the day. Our life was unconventional, especially for a typical Indian family, but I loved my childhood.”

Although she treasured her upbringing, she could see that hers varied from many of her friends and classmates.

For example, at the elementary school book fair, other parents would give their children upwards of $50 to buy books and treats. Amitoj’s parents could afford only $5 or maybe $10 in a good week.

She never resented them for this. She understood.

So much so that when she had the opportunity in high school to become national vice president for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, a career and technical student organization that she loved, she was going to turn it down.

There was no way her parents could afford the uniform and travel associated with the role.

“However, my teacher, Mrs. Roberts, who is, ironically, a Miami grad herself, applied for a grant on my behalf that went through and allowed me to make memories that will last me a lifetime and put me on the map to be recruited by universities.”

NO PEDESTAL FOR HER

Miami was one of the universities that was interested in her. But, despite the $8 an hour, pretax, that she was earning at the local Hollister clothing and accessories store, college didn’t seem financially possible.

That all changed when Miami offered her an Access Fellows Scholarship, which would cover her tuition.

“The Access Scholarship is tragically beautiful,” Amitoj said. “The donor put Miami in their will, and the remaining estate would go toward students who needed it. I often wonder if the donor would be proud of who this scholarship went to. I get emotional that I will never be able to thank them in the way they deserve.”

Proud? How much more can a student add to a resume? And hers are stellar achievements.

By mid-October, she and her administration in Associated Student Government had already fulfilled nearly all of their goals for the school year. She worked diligently last summer, ironically, without pay, to collaborate with Miami’s leaders and successfully raise students’ minimum wage.

She’s most proud of persuading the university to provide free menstrual products in all of the academic buildings as well as buildings with high student frequency, such as the Rec Center.

I’m going to do things that are going to change the world. And I’m going to do that because Miami gave me the courage to do that.

— AMITOJ KAUR ’23

Amitoj Kaur ’23, Miami’s student body president (red sweatshirt), with her vice president, Khenadi Grubb ’23, in front of MacCracken Hall.

As for serving as president, sometimes it’s hard to be so visible. It’s also quite the balancing act as other students can forget that she’s a student, too, earning two degrees.

“In a weird way, they look up to you, and they put you on this pedestal. And it’s like, No. I still worry, I’m still very insecure. I’m trying to find my way like everyone else. Behind the presidency, I’m just Amitoj.”

1 PLUS 1 PLUS 1 …

She’s in no rush to finish her senior year. Still, she’s excited and grateful to have a job as a digital marketer already lined up with JPMorgan Chase in Columbus.

“It goes back to Love and Honor. Cool, I’m a digital marketer, but I’m going to do things that are going to change the world. And I’m going to do that because Miami gave me the courage to do that.”

She takes nothing for granted and says her success is a culmination of the adults in her life who invested in her before she even knew her worth.

There’s her teacher, Ann Roberts ’87.

There are her mom and dad, who instilled in her an incredible work ethic while sharing their love and confidence in her.

And there’s the person who funded the Access Fellows Scholarship, and made college possible.

Just one person.