USU's unofficial ambassador to the world, Leon D'Souza, ready for the American jungle

By Julie Oliver

December 20, 2004 | Leon D'Souza, 25, a journalism major at Utah State University, was born across the world in Bombay, India. D'Souza's life story transcends culture, language, nationality, religion, past, present and future ideas as it embodies a world as a much smaller and more intimate place to live. It is by the way he lives and loves, not by the way he thinks, however, that the world appears smaller.

Each day is a success for D'Souza in that he contributes to the happiness and comfort of others. This semester D'Souza tutored four USU journalism students in mass media law. He dedicated at least six hours a week to this tutoring group and was always willing to give extra time when help was needed. He was unpaid, but cherished for his efforts.

One group member said, "I don't think I would have passed that class had it not been for [D'Souza's] help." Another member said, "He is amazing. He would translate the legal jargon into English for us."

Shumit Vatsal, D'Souza's roommate, said, "He goes out of his way to help if he can. If I write a paper he will edit it, no problem."

D'Souza recalled a story from his childhood schooldays when he was living in India. Every day on his way to school he would stop to see a woman with leprosy and give her 5 to 10 rupees, which is about a dime in the United States.

"I would always steal money from my father's purse so I could give this lady money," D'Souza said. It was not a lot of money, but it was enough for her to buy some breakfast. The woman had no fingers left -- only bandages wrapped around her stubs.

"I would make sure to place the rupees in her hands, not just throw them in the cup. She would always say 'God bless you' in Hindi and smile.

"I did the same thing in 2001 when I went back to India to visit."

"My grandmother taught me early on to try and put smiles on people's faces. I felt like I had to do my part," D'Souza said. "I think you should reach out whole heartedly and not be afraid to help people."

Recently, D'Souza has touched members of a Roman Catholic congregation that have only known him for six months. Vatsal said, "A woman that attends [D'Souza's] church told me that if he can't find a job he should consider preaching."

D'Souza said, "I've always been a very spiritual person." D'Souza was raised Catholic, a religion that comprises 2.5 percent of the Indian population.

"In India I felt like an outsider to mainstream society," D'Souza said. "I was socialized for Western society."

D'Souza lived in India until he was 19 years old and while growing up his parents only spoke English, listened to English music and watched English TV.

This made it difficult for D'Souza to assimilate to the culture outside of his home because he did not speak Hindi or take part in traditional practices.

"I was 6 or 7 when my mom taught me to use utensils, a fork and a spoon," D'Souza said, which was unusual because Indian society rarely uses eating utensils. He had to wait until school began for him to learn Hindi, the main language.

His parents instilled an American culture in him growing up.

"My dad loved the Eagles, ABBA, Bing Crosby and my mom listened to country music by Jim Reeves. They both loved Kenny Rogers and John Denver," D'Souza said. "I learned the words to songs and would pay special attention to the lyrics. I had no idea what El Paso was."

It wasn't until D'Souza began living in the United States that he understood the symbolic meaning of American music.

"Now, living in America I finally understand my childhood and the cultural context of the music and entertainment I grew up with," D'Souza said. "I feel more at home intellectually and culturally in the West, particularly America, than I ever did in India. This is more home to me, than home ever was."

D'Souza feels at home, however, his feelings and reality do not coincide.

"I have to fight to stay at home because I'm not an American citizen," D'Souza said. He is working with his immigration lawyer on extending his green-card.

D'Souza's story of coming to the United States is unique, and his journey to Utah is even more so. While living in India, D'Souza was accepted to Cornell University. D'Souza's father, however, could not afford the school's tuition and no scholarships or grants were offered.

D'Souza took matters into his own hands -- literally. He picked up a catalog listing every college and university in the United States. He closed his eyes, opened the book and placed his finger on the first open page.

He opened his eyes and saw Brigham Young University, but immediately turned the page when he read the school was affiliated with a church. The next listing was Utah State University. The price was right, so he applied.

One day in July 1999, about three weeks after he had sent his application to USU, D'Souza went to church to pray all day.

"Around 2 p.m. I got this impression that I should go home," D'Souza said. "I knew my prayers would be answered."

D'Souza went home and asked his mother if any mail had come, she shook her head. D'Souza, disappointed, went to his room. As he opened the door he saw a letter on his bed. His mother came in smiling and they opened it.

"For a whole hour I jumped up and down like a monkey shouting 'Utah State!'" D'Souza said. "I was so thrilled. That was the beginning of my American adventure."

D'Souza grew up on images of America that were from soap operas and old TV shows. "My images were high-rises and ritzy downtown parties," D'Souza said.

D'Souza was shocked on the drive up to Logan when he saw signs that read, "Watch for deer."

"I thought I was in the jungle -- but I had just left the jungle behind in India," he said. "To say the least, I was a little disillusioned."

After his culture shock subsided he learned to love Utah. "I'm a Utahn!" D'Souza said. "I like my Jell-o and mashed potatoes."

D'Souza, who graduated Saturday, has made a life for himself as a writer.

His experiences with literature and public speaking began at a very young age. "I have been reciting poetry since I was six years old," D'Souza said.

He was involved in elocution contests, reciting someone else's work as if you were that person it is also publicly speaking about an unknown topic. He was involved from ages 6 to 14.

"I always placed in the top three," D'Souza said. "I competed at state, nationals and city contests."

The contests operated in multiple elimination rounds, which depended on the scale of the contest. Some contests involved 20 participants while others had hundreds of contestants.

"It was definitely something that got the whole family together," D'Souza said. His grandmother would pray for him and his parents would cheer for him.

D'Souza, an only child, was definitely the star of the family.

While growing up D'Souza was in a major production of Pinocchio, in which he was the lead. The play ran one show a day in three theatres for two weeks each.

With all of D'Souza's activities and experiences he grew up fast. At 16, after D'Souza was done with school he left home and went to flight school.

"I lived in a hut and slept on a cot. There was no running water, so we stored our daily rations in a bucket," D'Souza said. "We only had enough water for one bath a day."

This was completely opposite of D'Souza's living conditions growing up with his parents, who lived in a nice home with all of the basic necessities at their disposal.

"I was living without all of the luxuries I was used to, but after awhile I was happy," D'Souza said.

"In flight school I finished junior college through distance education courses," D'Souza said. After two years he had completed two degrees as well as becoming a freelance reporter for Indian Express and The Times of India, which is the world's largest-circulated English daily broadsheet. It is published from eight cities across India, has a circulation of over 2.14 million copies, and is read by over 7.4 million people, according to Wikipedia encyclopedia. As if that wasn't enough, he also worked at the U.S. Educational Foundation of India, which consulted prospective U.S. college students from India.

D'Souza has had a successful life and his goals and visions for the future align with his current path of achievements.

"I want to be an international correspondent in a major market, like CNN or New York Times. And like my adviser, Professor [Mike] Sweeney, I want to tell the story from the front line," D'Souza said.

Great Quotes by D'Souza
"I feel in love with her for her capacity to be profound."
"Simplicity to me is very complex."
"The more complex something is, the more beautiful it is."
"Wealth has everything to do with comfort and nothing to do with happiness."
"The ultra mundane intellectual verbosity."
"At times I have verbal diarrhea."

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