Road to self-discovery

While assignments were taxing, life at Georgia Tech had its moments of camaraderie, writes Amritha Ram

Travelling to the U.S. to pursue an undergraduate degree seems unconventional to many, and I don’t think my parents believed that I was brave enough to live by myself in another country until the day I told them I wanted to pay the admissions deposit to the Georgia Institute of Technology. That was when they finally realised that I was truly determined to learn what that obscure word ‘independence’ meant. I have never looked back since, because after completing my first year at Georgia Tech, I have no doubts that this university will mould me into a better and more confident person.

All-nighters

I am a Computer Science major at the university and one of the reasons I chose to study abroad is that I will always have options if I am unsure of what I want to study, something that is not possible as an engineering student in India.

This helped me out a great deal, as I was initially indecisive with two to three options to pursue as majors crossing my mind. Georgia Tech was considered to be one of the most difficult universities to handle in terms of workload, and I understand now that those views aren’t just rumours. As students, we are pushed to give of our best and there’s no settling for second best. The tests are hard and when we’re given four assignments in one week, there’s a special kind of hopelessness we feel, but the sense of accomplishment that follows once we’re past all the all-nighters is incomparable.

The system of education is built on hands-on learning. I’ve met many people who’ve built robots and sophisticated programs during their very first year, and you don’t see that in many colleges around the world. I like that this institution makes me test my own limits and makes me do things which at first I’m almost certain I cannot do.

Moreover, it is not to be taken lightly that the U.S. is the land of opportunity, as I have been exposed to more opportunities in a year than I could imagine. Attending career fairs and ‘Tech Talks’ by world-renowned Fortune 500 companies gives every student the chance to meet recruiters and see what their future could be. This kind of exposure to the real-world application of science and engineering is exactly what I think will help me choose my field of interest and expertise over the coming semesters.

Life in Atlanta

One of the things that make this university so special is that it is in the heart of the city of Atlanta, but once you’re on campus it feels like you’re in this little bubble, away from the bustle of city life. There are so many things right on the edge of campus, like the Coca-Cola headquarters, the Georgia Aquarium and Skyview Atlanta, a Ferris wheel ride that gives you the most breathtaking view of Atlanta you will ever see. I lived in a freshman dorm for my first year and had a roommate who was born and raised in the USA. It made living together really interesting since we were from vastly different cultures and we often laughed about the misconceptions each culture has about the other. When it all gets overwhelming and seemingly impossible, there is always someone to pick you up and tell you the favourite catchphrase: “You’re at Georgia Tech. You can do that!” I can only hope that the next three years will be just as incredible as the one that has just passed.

Keywords: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta