What? So What?
What significant relationships or connections have you developed this year? How have those relationships impacted your experience?
This year provided me with a lot of learning opportunities. I started my co-op, moved off campus, and took advanced classes. And while I learned a lot from the aforementioned subjects, the one which had the most impact on me was my job hunt search for the summer. I learned so much from this experience, both from a personal and social aspect.
In September 2016, I decided that I wanted to intern/co-op in Silicon Valley. It was my childhood dream to come to the valley and work there. So many of my childhood role models, be it Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, built their companies here. I had my target set and was motivated to apply for summer internships. But I underestimated the effort it would take to get a job.
In the start, I simply applied to companies online and got rejection emails in a week or so. Months passed by and I knew I was not in the right direction. Frustrated with my lack of success in the job search, I reached out to my sister and told her I was worried. She introduced me to a friend who had worked in Palo Alto. I met with the guy and he introduced me to a UC Alumni who had interned in San Francisco, and was working full time now. Slowly I started to meet more and more people. Every person I met gave me a unique insight on how I can increase my chances of getting an interview. Following the advices, I got 3 interviews at companies located in California and New York.
That’s when it struck me how important it is make meaningful connections and build relationships with people. Armed with this epiphany, I worked harder than before and started connecting with people. I went to local startup events where I met an investor from 500 Startups, an influential startup accelerator based in Silicon Valley. I emails founders of startups and interviewed with more companies. During the winter break, I flew to San Francisco meet people working in software development roles. Before I knew, I was giving at least 3 interviews every week. I won a competition and got a full paid trip to New Orleans at a tech conference where I met some very smart and motivating people including the founders of companies like Reddit, Twitch, and Wolfram!
And then soon enough, I found the perfect job as a Data Science Intern at TIBCO Software in Palo Alto. When I finally got the job offer, I could not help but feel emotional about my journey from getting rejected to getting interviews and offers. Through my job search, I learned much more than just technical skills and interviewing skills. I followed the mantra of “follow the person, not the job” when I was meeting with people to network and talk about their experiences.
Earlier, I would never have the courage to go to a stranger and strike up a meaningful conversation that could lead to something later on. But going through this experience, I realized how networking and knowing people could help me.
I use these learnings in my academic pursuits too. I am now more open to talking to my professors and peers.
This year provided me with a lot of learning opportunities. I started my co-op, moved off campus, and took advanced classes. And while I learned a lot from the aforementioned subjects, the one which had the most impact on me was my job hunt search for the summer. I learned so much from this experience, both from a personal and social aspect.
In September 2016, I decided that I wanted to intern/co-op in Silicon Valley. It was my childhood dream to come to the valley and work there. So many of my childhood role models, be it Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, built their companies here. I had my target set and was motivated to apply for summer internships. But I underestimated the effort it would take to get a job.
In the start, I simply applied to companies online and got rejection emails in a week or so. Months passed by and I knew I was not in the right direction. Frustrated with my lack of success in the job search, I reached out to my sister and told her I was worried. She introduced me to a friend who had worked in Palo Alto. I met with the guy and he introduced me to a UC Alumni who had interned in San Francisco, and was working full time now. Slowly I started to meet more and more people. Every person I met gave me a unique insight on how I can increase my chances of getting an interview. Following the advices, I got 3 interviews at companies located in California and New York.
That’s when it struck me how important it is make meaningful connections and build relationships with people. Armed with this epiphany, I worked harder than before and started connecting with people. I went to local startup events where I met an investor from 500 Startups, an influential startup accelerator based in Silicon Valley. I emails founders of startups and interviewed with more companies. During the winter break, I flew to San Francisco meet people working in software development roles. Before I knew, I was giving at least 3 interviews every week. I won a competition and got a full paid trip to New Orleans at a tech conference where I met some very smart and motivating people including the founders of companies like Reddit, Twitch, and Wolfram!
And then soon enough, I found the perfect job as a Data Science Intern at TIBCO Software in Palo Alto. When I finally got the job offer, I could not help but feel emotional about my journey from getting rejected to getting interviews and offers. Through my job search, I learned much more than just technical skills and interviewing skills. I followed the mantra of “follow the person, not the job” when I was meeting with people to network and talk about their experiences.
Earlier, I would never have the courage to go to a stranger and strike up a meaningful conversation that could lead to something later on. But going through this experience, I realized how networking and knowing people could help me.
I use these learnings in my academic pursuits too. I am now more open to talking to my professors and peers.
What is the most significant event, experience, or challenge you overcame this year and what did you learn from that experience? How is experience influential in terms of how you see yourself today?
My living arrangements.
In my last year’s Year In-Review, I wrote how I learned to live independently. While that was true, I did not realize how much more I had left to learn about living on my own.
Oh the irony.
Sophomore year, while being fun, came with its own set of challenges. The toughest one was moving out of my dorm to off-campus housing. I have never lived independently where I had to manage everything. Either I was in the comfort of my parents’ home or in the safe borders of a college dorm. I never worried about expenses, food, or general maintenance of the house. I lived in honors housing (thank you UHP) my freshman year, so I had good neighbors and again, everything was provided.
And then came the fall of 2016!
I and my friend decided to move in to off-campus housing to save some money and have more independence. While it sounded good in theory, we did not take into account the responsibilities that came with it. Phone bills, electricity, heating, and what not. And to top that I had my first co-op and I wanted to leave a good impression at my workplace.
And in all this mess, I forgot to take care of my health. I never ate on time. I heated up frozen food and ate that everyday. My exercise was limited to walking to the car for work.
If I had to change one thing about this year, I would move my housing to somewhere on-campus as I feel I was not ready to handle both, a new house and a new job at the same time. Maybe I could have lived on campus for the fall semester, and then eventually move off campus.
Coming home to work at 6 pm only to call the internet service provider to complain about the internet everyday for the first few weeks was taxing not to mention frustrating and fruitless. I wish I could have avoided the stress that came with handling new house and job. I know taking responsibilities is an important part of “adulting” but taking too much at a time might just be counterproductive.
In my last year’s Year In-Review, I wrote how I learned to live independently. While that was true, I did not realize how much more I had left to learn about living on my own.
Oh the irony.
Sophomore year, while being fun, came with its own set of challenges. The toughest one was moving out of my dorm to off-campus housing. I have never lived independently where I had to manage everything. Either I was in the comfort of my parents’ home or in the safe borders of a college dorm. I never worried about expenses, food, or general maintenance of the house. I lived in honors housing (thank you UHP) my freshman year, so I had good neighbors and again, everything was provided.
And then came the fall of 2016!
I and my friend decided to move in to off-campus housing to save some money and have more independence. While it sounded good in theory, we did not take into account the responsibilities that came with it. Phone bills, electricity, heating, and what not. And to top that I had my first co-op and I wanted to leave a good impression at my workplace.
And in all this mess, I forgot to take care of my health. I never ate on time. I heated up frozen food and ate that everyday. My exercise was limited to walking to the car for work.
If I had to change one thing about this year, I would move my housing to somewhere on-campus as I feel I was not ready to handle both, a new house and a new job at the same time. Maybe I could have lived on campus for the fall semester, and then eventually move off campus.
Coming home to work at 6 pm only to call the internet service provider to complain about the internet everyday for the first few weeks was taxing not to mention frustrating and fruitless. I wish I could have avoided the stress that came with handling new house and job. I know taking responsibilities is an important part of “adulting” but taking too much at a time might just be counterproductive.
Now What?
What is at least one goal that you have set for yourself for the upcoming year?
I am currently interning at a big company where I have access to many talented people and exciting projects. However, my scope of work is very less. What I do is very limited by my experience and projects. In the upcoming year, I would like to join a hot tech startup like Anki or Robinhood or SoFi. Working in these companies would give me first hand exposure of a fast growing company; something that I cannot get in my current job. I would like to learn more about other roles like Product Management, Quality Assurance, Data Analyst to name a few. A startup would be good platform to meet some of these people and learn about their job.
Also, I still very early in my career and would like to explore as many opportunities as possible before I decide on one career path. I am currently interested in the field of Data Science. I would love to learn more about the field and see if it is something that interests me.
Also, I still very early in my career and would like to explore as many opportunities as possible before I decide on one career path. I am currently interested in the field of Data Science. I would love to learn more about the field and see if it is something that interests me.
What piece of advice would you like to give yourself as you prepare for the upcoming year, be that academically, personally, or both?
Embrace responsibilities. Accept the fact that my life depends on me and the actions I take. If I have a house, it is my responsibility to keep it clean and well maintained. If I have 18 credit hour classes, it is my job to ensure that I am giving all the classes the required amount of attention and thought. The sooner I come to accept the fact that I have to take responsibility of my life and work to make it better, the better I will be prepared of meeting my goals - both personal and professional.
How have your thoughts about who you are and what you want to do changed or evolved this year? How will that inform your next steps?
I do not think that my thoughts or goals have changed much from last year. I am materially the same although I have grown as a result of getting my first job and house. I feel much more settled that I felt a year ago.
I have not had much chance to reflect and think about myself this year. I was occupied with my co-op in the fall with my studies and job search in the spring. But I am content with the progress I made. If freshman year was about achieving some goals like study abroad, co-op, or travel, then my sophomore year was about enjoying with what I achieved by the end of my first year in college.
I have not had much chance to reflect and think about myself this year. I was occupied with my co-op in the fall with my studies and job search in the spring. But I am content with the progress I made. If freshman year was about achieving some goals like study abroad, co-op, or travel, then my sophomore year was about enjoying with what I achieved by the end of my first year in college.