University of Arkansas student Nethra Chelakkat journeyed from the UAE to India and then to Texas before arriving on campus. | Courtesy photo.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— Nethra Chelakkat, an Indian woman, had her world flipped upside down when moving to America at the age of 11 years old. From living in a damaged, broken-down house in the south of India to a modern home in Texas was life changing for young Chelakkat. Navigating through life from one continent to another was difficult for her.
Chelakkat was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and lived there until the age of five. Chelakkat and her mother, Divya Whitton, then moved to Kerala, India, to live a better life. Chelakkat and Whitton lived on their own until Chelakkat turned eight. It was very difficult to live and survive as two women alone, Chelakkat said. Whitton worked long hours, even weeks, leaving Chelakkat to practically live alone as a young girl. She then moved in with her grandparents while her mother was away for safety and care.
“Life was very rough, from living in broken down houses, no beds, no mattress, and no protection from anyone but your own family,” Chelakkat said.
Chelakkat lived a life without the comfort of safety. In India, Child Protective Services was not a thing, meaning families fended for themselves. This was difficult for her at the age of seven; not being able to protect herself from harm if it occurred. Child trafficking was a huge part of their culture, especially for women. In America, Chelakkat said she feels safe walking around at any point in the day, but not in India.
Chelakkat’s parents wanted better for her, which in their case, meant moving to America. Life was difficult in India. She was focused on survival, and not long-term plans. Her parents knew they had to give her an education, life plans and a future.
“My plans for my future really started when I came to America,” Chelakkat said. There were no dreams or aspirations. Chelakkat knew that she wanted options for schooling and to have the choice to choose what high school and college she went to. In India, Chelakkat said “you had two options, and one of the colleges was too expensive to even consider.”
As she grew up, she attended Sunnyvale Middle School and high school in Texas. Transitioning to a new area and school with millions of more students became a difficult transition for her.
She was bullied for her accent, belittled because she was different, and trying to catch up to her classmates.
“People weren’t really used to broken English, and it was definitely hard to get adjusted to that because bullying is much more normalized in America than it is in India,” Chelakkat said.
In India, Chelakkat’s grandparents placed her in a private school to shield her from harm and bad things of this world. They wanted her to have a stable ground to stand on, so that she could stand up for herself. They felt that private school would help keep Chelakkat away from bad temptations.
“It was a different environment when I was put in private school in India because those kids are on the ‘wealthier’ side of India and their parents try to hide them from all the bad things in life and everything going on around us,” Chelakkat said.
That made her an outsider when she moved to Texas, too. She was extremely mature for her age; due to the difficult lifestyle she went through before moving to Texas. The people around her “couldn’t even imagine” how her life was before and what she went through.
Chelakkat felt she had to “prove herself to fit in and work 10 times harder” with her classmates. She felt different from those around her, leading her to feel the need to have others simply accept her and fit in with her new way of life. As Chelakkat turns 20 this year, her life is changing for the better. It was not easy, but she proved and loved herself as she grew up.
While Chelakkat was growing up, her hopes were to go to college. She has successfully done so at the University of Arkansas. Starting her second year at Arkansas, Chelakkat has decided this will be her last semester at the U of A. The plans she has set for her life are currently in a different place.
“I’m trying to just navigate through Arkansas, cause to be honest, that’s all I am doing in Arkansas, is surviving,” Chelakkat said.
From being in a place that doesn’t feel like home to her, she has not felt connected with the campus, the overall aspect of the school, and missed her friends from back home. Her plan is to finish off as strong as she can and get her transfer process started.
With her life not feeling accomplished at the U of A, she plans to work hard to change her scenario. Chelakkat plans to transfer to Dallas College in the spring and complete her second year there. She is currently a biology student but will change her major when she transfers to Dallas Baptist University. For the summer of 2026, she has accepted an internship at Plano Presbyterian Hospital to shadow a physician assistant.
At DBU, she will study through the pre physician assistant program with a minor in psychology. Chelakkat is going to apply for an online program through the National Health Association. She already has obtained her PCT/CNA certification, which will help her with her future classes, internship and job opportunities. Another certification she is striving for is a medical assistant certificate so that she can work in hospitals to gain her credit hours for physician school.
With Arkansas being hours away from her family, it’s a difficult pill to swallow for her. Chelakkat has a strong, healthy relationship with her mother, “we’ve been through everything together so it would be nice to be closer to her,” she said.
“From such a young age, she has always been so strong. My heart is so full seeing her come back home. Nethra has made such smart choices for herself, and I could not be prouder,” Divya Whitton said.
From the time that she moved to America, Chelakkat made friends in fifth grade that she still talks to and hangs out with to this day. It has been a difficult path to leave them while in Arkansas, because she “considered them basically family,” Chelakkat said. “It brings me a lot of support and makes me feel stable, but in Arkansas, I don’t feel that.”
“I turned my life around for myself and started gaining confidence on my own, regardless of what people were telling me and what we’re making fun of me for. I kept my head high and gained respect, and that is where I have found myself succeeding the most,” Chelakkat said.
“I am so proud of the woman Nethra has become, by making these plans for her life. I couldn’t be prouder to be her mom,” Whitton said. “She has grown so much, and I’m so proud of her for listening to her heart.”
From becoming a new version of herself, “I know I gained in life through all the hardships in India and America, and building a strong personality would be considered my biggest success,” Chelakkat said.
As Chelakkat continues her journey through life, from struggling to successfully growing, she found herself. Learning her strengths and finding what makes her happy is her overall goal that she is continuing to strive for each day. With her family and friends closer by, she’s no longer getting used to life, she’s creating the ones she’s always dreamed of.