Arnav Desai ’26 found his focus at Furman with ROTC and mock trial

Arnav Desai ’26 has always had a servant’s heart, but it was his time at Furman University that showed him what to do with it.

A senior psychology major from Greenville, South Carolina, Desai came into Furman undecided on whether he’d follow the pre-med or pre-law tracks.

That was, until he joined Furman’s mock trial program. He found a love for legal research playing the role of an attorney, and the tactics of putting together and presenting a legal argument fueled his competitive nature.

“It was so thrilling, working with people I had just met,” Desai said. “I loved the quick pace and thinking on the fly as we drafted our arguments.”

The mock trial program at Furman helped Desai decide between the pre-med and pre-law tracks and is where he made some of his closest friends. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University.

It was the people around him that helped Desai feel confident as he explored his interests. He met many of his closest friends in the Mere Christianity Forum, a student group dedicated to thoughtful exploration of their Christian faith. He was a JROTC student in high school and Furman’s Paladin Battalion helped build his confidence. He had never run two miles before coming to Furman, but in his first year the seniors in the battalion helped him finish a run while also helping tutor him through chemistry classes.

“That’s what really drew me to it, people who help you pursue excellence,” Desai said.

ROTC sharpened his problem-solving skills. Theoretical discussions about tactics in the classroom turned into real-life experiences when the Paladin Battalion would do labs, practicing their communication skills and flexibility as they practiced military maneuvers in the woods.

He combined his ROTC experiences and psychology studies during an internship with the U.S. Department of Defense. Though he had never taken a programming class, Desai held his own while working with a Navy-developed behavioral modeling tool, analyzing behavioral data and briefing senior leadership on his findings.

“Even though I wasn’t an expert, I was able to communicate with people in a way they could understand,” he said. “At Furman, I’ve done things I didn’t think I could ever do before.”

As commencement approaches, Desai is ready to take his talents to the next level as he attends the Wake Forest University School of Law. While he’s still got a world of options to choose from as to how he applies his talents, Desai said the people he met at Furman have given him the confidence to chart his own path.

“It’s the people who have fueled my passions the whole way,” he said. “It’s a community of people who want you to get better.”