By NICK VILLALOBOS, Editor in Chief
When Shakhar Adhikari’s name was announced as this year’s Ranger king, at the Northwestern homecoming football game, a feeling of shock and excitement overwhelmed him.
Adhikari, senior computer science major, from Kathmandu, Nepal, was overcome by the emotions, not because he became the first international student to ever hold the title of Ranger king, but because he overcame homelessness this summer to receive the title.
“I wasn’t able to pay my bills after the spring semester, and I was forced to leave the dorms,” Adhikari said.
After leaving the dorms, Adhikari said he lived in his car until the end of the summer.
Being homeless taught Adhikari many aspects about himself. One being that he must be optimistic about every situation he is faced with. “It taught me a lot about enjoying the little things as well,” Adhikari said.
The decision to run for Ranger King did not come on his own accord. Instead, Adhikari said the push to sign up and run for the title came from a close friend of his, Julian Aguilar.
“Julian gave me the confidence to run,” Adhikari said. “He told me told me that if I ran for Ranger king I would win with ease.”
Though the encouragement was there however, Adhikari said he still felt nervous before the official announcement. “I knew a lot of people knew who I was prior to Saturday, but I still had a ton of nerves and self-doubt because the other two candidates were well known as well,” Adhikari said.
After taking a few days to let the emotions finally settle after hearing his name called, Adhikari said, he hopes being crowned Ranger king encourages other international students, and those battling with adversity, to step out of their comfort zone and experience new joys to what life has to offer.
Adhikari would like to thank his family, all of his friends and the International Student Association for their support in him being crowned the 2016 Ranger King. He would also like to thank the Student Government Association for giving him the opportunity to run for the title.