Dreams that go beyond borders

In high school, I fell in love with the idea of experiencing life beyond the city I was born in, working and studying alongside people who I did not know existed, or gain exposure to exciting opportunities. Back in 2013, I joined Manipal University’s ICAS (International Center for Applied Science) Programme and pursued Computer Science engineering through which I got an opportunity to transfer and study at The Australian National University (ANU) and I got to fulfil my dreams.

I took a keen interest in programming when I started at Manipal, and I grow more passionate about it every day. Studying in another country has allowed me to explore diverse outlooks in Computer Science, while building on the foundations I picked up in Manipal. My decision to study at the ANU were based on multiple metrics. The additional benefit of living in the beautiful city of Canberra was a bonus.

I knew I was at one of the best places for research and academia and I had to make the most from my time here. While I had plenty of fun, I also had opportunities to take part in rigorous academic pursuits.

The Computer Science Students Association organise weekly game nights, and occasional barbeques. They also have mentoring programmes and study sessions. I got an opportunity to conduct some research of my own as part of the Logic Summer School in 2016. 

The weather was terribly cold when I arrived in winter. But the warmth of the people here made up for it. I had friends starting from the first day. I lived at Ursula Hall, one of the residential colleges on campus. It made for an easier and more exciting university experience. Living in a residential college helped with understanding Australia and its people, and I had the support of the Senior Residents who helped me out with any gaps in my knowledge. The ANU is spread out over a large area but contained in a single campus. You’ll find large areas of greenery and wide open public spaces.

The lecturers were ever-ready to help me with any issues I faced during the course. I used to meet my programme convener often, and he was very patient and helped me pick courses to meet my degree and major requirements. The interaction with most of the lecturers, heads, supervisors and even support staff used to be friendly and informal, which made me feel comfortable and accepted.

And this feeling of comfort and acceptance extended into my work environment as well. The ANU ran a programme called TechLauncher that provided opportunities for students to work on industry sponsored projects. I grew experienced with enterprise software development while working with a local defence contractor called CEA.

My experience and the connections I built at TechLauncher enabled me to secure full-time employment even before I graduated. If there is one piece of advice I would like to give students who are passionate about taking up studies in a foreign country I would say don’t be afraid to take risks. Whether it is taking a course you don’t have prior knowledge of or trying out for a role in a play. There will be plenty of opportunities that come your way - seek them out and don’t be deterred when things don’t go your way.