Dr. Jayasekaran, also known as Dr. J, shares how a simple encounter with chocolate changed her life’s trajectory. She discusses the middle-class Indian dream, and the challenges she faced on her journey to the “American dream,” including grad school life, Indian Vs. American dating, fairness creams, accents, and some physics. Through self-discovery, she redefined her insecurities, befriended her inner critics, and now lives a life she truly loves. A Florida Gator herself, Dr. Jayasekaran has a Master’s in Structural Engineering and PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. As an Instructional Assistant Professor at UF, she not only brings knowledge, but compelling enthusiasm to the classroom. Dr J. is pursuing the implementation of smart concepts in her classes and focuses on increasing student retention in the field of Engineering. Born and raised in the coastal city of Chennai, India, Dr J. came to the United States to pursue her passion for teaching and hopes to inspire her students to take risks. When she is not educating future engineers and planners, Dr J. enjoys pushing her limits at CrossFit. In her spare time, she loves reading books, listening to podcasts, cooking new recipes, and planning her future adventures. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx