Discover the inspiring journey of a Syracuse alumnus who seamlessly transitions from academic excellence to entrepreneurial prowess. This episode unveils the art of balancing diverse roles.
Guest: Gaurav Sarraf, Security Software Engineer II, Lumen Technologies
On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarrafgsarraf/
On Medium | https://sarrafgsarraf.medium.com/
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Host: Saman Fatima
On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/saman-fatima
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Episode Description
Are you from India? Wishing to come to the USA for your studies? Is your dream university - Syracuse University? If yes, grab a pen, paper, and water, and you are all good to know everything. From researching the dream university to getting selected and beating the elephant in the room (i.e. the VISA process) to settling up - you need to know EVERYTHING because, at the end of the day, it is a foreign land with a lot of newness, loneliness, and self-dependency.
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Resources
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For more podcast stories from Off The Record With Saman: https://www.itspmagazine.com/off-the-record-with-saman-student-abroad-podcast
Watch the video version on-demand on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0954PDs3hFI&list=PLnYu0psdcllS96iavkI5nQsErJ3795ow6
Syracuse Grad's Balancing Act: Juggling Multiple Hats from Academia to Entrepreneurship | A Conversation with Gaurav Sarraf | Off the Record with Saman — Student Abroad Podcast
18:08:17 Hi everyone, welcome back to off the record with me summoned on ITSP Mag and we're here with another episode where we talk about where we have a guest here who would be talking about his student life being an international student and how he everything together.
18:08:35 There is an interesting section here where you would Get some tips if he does allow it and talk about a couple of pointers on entrepreneurship because he has done that along with being a student so Let's see how, the hour goes with our talking.
18:08:53 So, Korov, welcome to ITSP magazine and we're so glad that you took out time to talk about your life journey.
18:09:00 While doing your masters at Syracuse University and with want you to introduce yourself where you're from, what course you did, where you're working right now because you've graduated and over to you.
18:09:15 Awesome. Thank you so much, for having me here. I'm excited to be here and answer questions and at the greater audience.
18:09:25 I think this is a great medium and great podcast. So like all students to look out for.
18:09:29 And gives put some really into the perspective of what to expect from a, you know, international student. Being at a different country and everything.
18:09:37 Alright, so, my name is Garth. I am from Bangalore, India.
18:09:41 I did my undergrad in computer science. And with the specialization in cybersecurity. And I did my masters in cybersecurity at Syracuse University.
18:09:51 I just graduated in December of 2,023. I got here in spring of 2,022.
18:09:58 And currently I'm operating out I'm working as a security engineer software security engineer at Lumen Technologies.
18:10:06 That's like a big, you know, connection from, you know, Bangalore to US and that too, while we were just talking about being on this podcast, we discussed about how the winters are brutal there and considering the heat.
18:10:20 Wave as well. So, How come like we know that there are a lot of cybersecurity colleges that specializes in that degree or a total master's degree into information security.
18:10:36 What was your, you know, factors that led you to choose this college? You know stood out for you as compared to a lot of options.
18:10:46 You would have and you went ahead with this university.
18:10:50 Right, so. 1st to the question on the weather. So, is an interesting location. It has the name of the snowest or the heaviest snow city in the US.
18:11:02 But, we were lucky, like our bachelor lucky it hasn't been sewing that much in the past couple of years, but the windows are really getting brutal for upstate New York.
18:11:13 Right now as you speak, it's about 96 and which is like. Really, you know, topping the charts for us.
18:11:18 But, to answer your question about cybersecurity universities, yes, there are a lot in the US, but, The number has increased, significantly recently, but it hasn't been so, in the past.
18:11:30 A point which stood up for me for Siku University was that, Safety University has been having the cyber security program for about more than a decade now.
18:11:38 And, what really caught my eye was the subjects they offered. And the research opportunities which the university provided to all their students.
18:11:46 So in addition to the cybersecurity program, they also have like a masters in thesis program, which I did not take advantage of, but I know a few folks data and they, loved it.
18:11:57 You know. Or many universities do not provide the option of doing a thesis. So that's really good to have.
18:12:04 In addition to that, like I mentioned, the research, the professors here I've actually done that wonderful and groundbreaking research.
18:12:11 Which has been, really been helpful to the industry and, just the, just the community in general in, in terms of cybersecurity.
18:12:19 So, you have the option of actually working with these professors. Getting involved in their open source contributions and everything, which is wonderful.
18:12:26 And there's also a great emphasis by the university itself in terms of like funding for clubs and funding for like Hatatown and everything which is really helpful and something which all cybersecurity students should have.
18:12:39 So, also which was interesting for me was, the subjects which they offered.
18:12:44 Syracuse University was one of the only few universities which focused had like a different specialization for computer security and different specialization for internet security.
18:12:54 In addition to that, they also had like, you know, optional subjects which were not offered by other universities.
18:13:03 They were interest to me, especially like machine learning. They were interest to me, especially like machine learning and security and IoT, they were interested to me, especially like machine learning and security and IoT security, which is, you know, especially like machine learning and security and IoT security, which is, you know, really, really cutting edge in, in my opinion.
18:13:10 I also have experience with machine learning and IOP in my past working. So, you know, it was, it was the best, best.
18:13:17 Option for me.
18:13:19 And while we're just talking about like these are really, you know, tomorrow technologies which the university was providing as subjects and that's really good that's prepping you once you're out and graduated.
18:13:34 It's good that you do have those knowledge. You know, when you were applying for the university and what was the application process that was followed, Yeah.
18:13:45 It may have changed after you know, your batch, but what all things did you submit in terms of like I know that there would have been an SOP but anything else that needed like test scores or any essay interviews or anything of that sort.
18:14:04 I think SO, you know, it is pretty standard in that sense. They had a requirement of NSOP 3 and OS and test scores.
18:14:12 There's 1 exception that, Suku's university actually does not require. And I did not know that while I was applying I still applied with my GRE and my tofu scores.
18:14:21 But they accept awful as well as, so if that's a concern for some people, they accept both.
18:14:27 In addition to that, before you actually get your I. 20, they they want your scores, your, you know, undergrad scores, which is important to them.
18:14:34 And once you're done with the basic requirements and you get an approval or you get accepted into the university, they just send you an I.
18:14:41 20 and then you send in the deposit, you hold in your seat and that's it. Many universities have a requirement of actually paying in fees.
18:14:48 As you land but your stick is you know see a little bit more flexible in that sense. They give you some time about a month or 2 to actually put in all of your original documents as well as put in the fees and everything which is quite nice I feel.
18:15:01 Hey, it's actually really nice because the day I landed here in Atlanta the very next day I was just running around the university to actually submit a couple of my original documentation and then I got my ID card and way before I flew you know to the location I had a subway the fees as well like the 1st installment rather the fact like if in the 10 days .
18:15:40 That's right.
18:15:29 20 I'm somewhere else but still my face is gone it's done and dusted so I anyways have to fly and join the same university so that kind of flexibility is good that you know, as you mentioned, you do have time to submit your document and that's good because it takes a while to actually set up and, you know, Whatnot that goes after that.
18:15:48 But, basically, I also wanted to touch base on the pointers where when you apply when you get that off a letter like we touched on the I.
18:16:02 20 portion as well but I just wanted to understand if the university has some sort of scholarship tan under maybe just to international students or there are specific programs that you apply for and you know from there you get shortlisted.
18:16:17 We just wanted to understand what kind of financial aid does international students get being part of that university once you have that off.
18:16:25 Right, that's a great question. Silk is actually again very, very nice and very flexible in that sense.
18:16:31 They do not have specific anything specifically for international students but they have a good chunk of scholarship aid available for all graduate students.
18:16:40 More so for the engineering school than the information sciences school. One of the most popular programs in, you know, cities, Information Sciences and I do not think they have a scholarship option.
18:16:53 I may be wrong, but I do not think they have a scholarship option. I may be wrong, but none of my friends did so.
18:16:55 I'm assuming they We don't have any scholarship options, but. The engineering school definitely does.
18:17:00 And I had a scholarship of 30% coming right out the line after my, acceptance.
18:17:06 But, I hear the scholarship plus 8 goes up to, quite a high number, even more than 30% for, few cases.
18:17:13 And it's completely melted place. There's no 1st conference per cell basis or anything like that.
18:17:18 If you are qualified, you will get the scholarship and not just that, but they also offer you orientTA positions if you're qualified even before you actually start.
18:17:26 So adding all of that up it adds up to quite a bit and it really helps in you know managing your finances for your master's program.
18:17:35 One important thing to note is, it is actually one of the expensive schools compared to other universities. So that's something which, everyone needs to keep in mind before getting to the US.
18:17:46 But on the other hand, Seques itself, the city itself is not that expensive, so it balances out, but that's still something to keep in mind.
18:17:54 Hi, and you know there has to be a good balance between the 2 should fees and the city that you live because the extra fees and the city that you live because the extra charges and the city that you live because the extra charges also come out of your pockets as well.
18:18:07 So, you know, like, balance between the 2 should fees and the city that you live because the extra charges also come out of your po I agree, 30% is like a big big chunk that you could just get out, get off that final amount.
18:18:13 But I just wanted to ask like If you know if we consider just your case that you were just out of bachelors and then you came for masters.
18:18:27 So does it like really affect if you do have workx or if you don't have work X like in your regards like what do you think is the deciding factor that you could you know think of out of the percentage of scholarship given to different students like it may vary from 30 to lesser or more as well.
18:18:45 That's a great question. Some of my friends actually did have work experience and their scholarship was a was a little bit higher.
18:18:54 So to add to your point, yes, that is true. The scholarship goes up a little bit.
18:18:59 In my opinion, but if you have work experience, but if you have like, you know, more research research on your profile or you have like, you know, something else that any extra critical activity is something which, any extra critical activity is something which, which really stands out to the application, and any extra critical activity is something which, really stands out to the application, application team.
18:19:17 They will consider that and they will give you the scholarship. Depending on the experience, but having worked experience really, really helps.
18:19:24 It's basically like all round they consider your academics and your extracurricular. So they consider your academics and your extracurricular.
18:19:34 So just correct me if I'm wrong that when you apply for that application, you're extracurricular.
18:19:40 So just correct me, I'm wrong, extracurricular. So, just correct me if I'm wrong, that when you apply for that application, obviously you bend down a lot of things in the SOP as well.
18:19:59 And then you do have your LOIs that really stand out and support your application. But do we have like certain sections where where you people are actually, you know, penning down your research work or your
18:20:02 You're right. There was a section to put in your book experience. There was a section to put in your research experience.
18:20:06 And there's also a separate section for, Putting on your extracurricular activities, which is quite, quite, red, I feel in, in the master space.
18:20:14 Of course, they give you the option of putting in your resume and everything. But, having separate sections, to look at and separate sections they, focus on is really helpful and nice to have.
18:20:24 So I took advantage of all 3 of those sections and I presume they also have a specific. Page where you put in if you actually need it or no.
18:20:34 And I'm assuming as all everyone should just, you know, just say yes right over the box if you need it or no, you know, you might as well just apply for it.
18:20:42 And if you apply for it, you will be considered for the for the scholarship.
18:20:47 I agree. Because for my application as well, we did have one section where it was specifically us like, do you need the university to provide your financial aid?
18:20:57 That was like blindly I just said yes, yes, but this is one section that I think, you know, we should promote it more as part of universities that, you know, to have specific, you know, achievements and accomplishments apart from who never who doesn't have a work X but they have other internships or research experiences and they can PIN them down because it's really difficult to put everything into the
18:21:22 SOP and at times LOIs are also you know generally written for all of the students that you know as part of universities it's just a generic for all of the students, just your name and the college just changes.
18:21:38 No.
18:21:40 So, This is something really good that I heard and I'm hearing a lot of new things as part of different universities.
18:22:13 Wow.
18:21:45 So a lot to really catch up like every university's process is so diverse, so different and One has one thing the other doesn't have that but they have something else to actually go by it so just as an example like I was sitting with a couple of students of Georgia and they said like It automatically makes their, tuition fee 0 if you have the DA in A. But, living in the same city, the same college, Georgia
18:22:19 State University, used to get TNRA, but you know there was a specific. To get reduced from our efficiency for that semester.
18:22:26 So, you know, 2 different universities in the same city, but following different, you know, methods.
18:22:33 Yeah, I was really like good to hear a lot about different things. But.
18:22:37 And especially the Suku's university application process is very inclusive and all-round based application.
18:22:45 They really look into all of your merits and all of your qualities to actually make a decision. So, you must have heard that there's a lot of undergrad folks getting a lot of scholarships for their sports capabilities.
18:22:58 But, is actually one of the universities which considers that even for the graduate studies and they give you a separate kind of scholarship for, for sports capability.
18:23:08 So that's really unique for. The university. That's a green process.
18:23:12 To be honest. I just heard like sports. Quota back in India in different universities. This is something that I've heard really less for graduate studies in university or like next to impossible I haven't heard about it.
18:23:26 This is like the 1st time I'm hearing it that we do have those sports, scholarship as well, but that's great.
18:23:33 Like it's, it gives a platform for everyone and that's how we have more of diverse students joining.
18:23:38 Absolutely.
18:23:40 But so clean back again to the same question of scholarships and everything. If like for example you do get that.
18:23:59 That's correct.
18:23:50 Alongside with your off-letter, right, that you get to know that, okay, this much is the reduction in your main fusion piece and this is what we wanted.
18:24:02 If you get that scholarship, is it optional for you to get that TA and RA or you can still apply for it and get some more reduction.
18:24:12 From PNR positions as well.
18:24:15 So, they do not have any restriction as such if you have a scholarship, you can still apply for TNRI positions.
18:24:22 So it's not a guarantee that every single student is going to get a TA or a position right out of right with their application or acceptance letter.
18:24:30 But they can definitely apply for it when they when they get to the university and they actually interact with the teacher.
18:24:37 And interact with our professors and see what they really need help with in terms of both. Grading or assistance with that teaching as well as assistance to their research and everything.
18:24:46 But, the university operates on a different structure where they do not reduce the fees, but they just give a flat out.
18:24:55 But, that might change. In the near future with all the unionization happening on university and I'm assuming that's a bigger trend all around the US.
18:25:05 You're in, you know, you know, of these positions are really helping and adding benefits to our students.
18:25:11 And I personally feel that's the reason why there's a difference between Georgia State and Georgia Tech as well.
18:25:16 I think Georgia Tech has a union which pushes for. Which it pushes a lot of these features and benefits.
18:25:23 Okay, we're not going deep into that side. I'll still support my university, but yeah, that's 1 fair point.
18:25:30 Oh yes, absolutely.
18:25:31 Yeah. Apart from that, I know also, for example, you do have a co-worker, for example, 40, 50 students or maybe lesser as part of the classroom strength.
18:25:46 So everyone has a different, I'm assuming different TA or RJ job under different departments and the different professors.
18:25:54 So obviously the part time changes for every student or it's consistent all through the university.
18:26:02 No, so, every single student has that own understanding with the professor. For the greeting needs and for the research needs.
18:26:10 But Safe University is actually one of the universities which also have a has a lot of on-campus jobs.
18:26:16 At least they did when I joined. So the the salvi varied significantly for the on-campus folks for ARE folks and for the TA folks.
18:26:23 The salary also changes the number of hours you're working also changes. Of course, no one goes above 30 h being a student and never going over 40 years.
18:26:32 Being like on vacation, but, to answer your question, yes, it changes significantly based on based on what what job you're doing, how many hours you're doing and everything.
18:26:43 So there's no set. Set of ours you need to do or they require to do. It's up to you.
18:26:47 That really answers the pardon before we move on to the finances section and more, you know, discussion on that part.
18:26:56 I just wanted to ask, like, is this course like a string specific course or do we have like, is this course like a string specific course or do we have like, any other like painter or summer intakes as well or it's just spring in.
18:27:09 If that
18:27:09 No, it's not just spring and take it has a fall and take 2, but it does not have any summer.
18:27:15 So just spring and fall and it's up to you once you get get an acceptance. It's up to you if you wanted to join during the spring or the fall and you can differ it up to 2 times.
18:27:25 And it's really up to you to, you know, decide the season you want to come into.
18:27:30 I actually am hearing a lot of things like lot of good things about the university. I was at a point really considering it but because of the weather I really like took a step back that I can't take that side of winters coming from India obviously we haven't seen that side of the winters and plus.
18:27:52 I would really agree to that point that the university is a little on the expensive side. You really have to think twice, getting over there.
18:28:02 So that's why we come to the next section of where we actually talk about the finances. I don't want to drill down much into it obviously.
18:28:12 Changes from person to person and course to course but on a high level manner if you can talk about the finances and how did you manage it just could be an 8 for others as well.
18:28:23 That how did you do it?
18:28:24 Okay, so. Let's just start off with the fees. Fees, like I said, can change significantly based on the courses you're taking.
18:28:32 Based on how many prerequisite courses you have, some have none, like I do not have any, but many have like 2 1 or 2 courses.
18:28:39 But then what also changes is your how much scholarship you have on your program and on your acceptance based on that it changes quite a bit.
18:28:47 But on average I I would put it for a master's program. In an engineering school would be around.
18:28:52 50 to 55 to $60,000 not above that. But on the on the high school or the information sciences or the Although you know the management score, it might be a little bit higher than that.
18:29:04 You can offset quite a bit in Syracuse University by doing on-campus jobs.
18:29:09 When we were during our batch and the batch after me we had a lot of on campus opportunities.
18:29:15 Looking at food services, working as a SOCK analyst, working as an IT specialist, working our ATA and the security advisors, all of that.
18:29:23 All of that quite adds up quite a bit so since since since I like I already mentioned since it was like a college town it's a small city the expenses that are relatively low.
18:29:33 So if you manage your expenses well, you can actually live just off your. Earnings on campus.
18:29:40 That's doable and I'm assuming I'm under the impression that most of my friends did that.
18:29:45 So they lived off their earnings on campus which is quite rare in the US.
18:29:50 Yeah, it's quite red. I agree to that point. I couldn't, live on the, tier are early onings that I used to get.
18:29:59 So it's more of you need to. Step out of your circle, get scholarships from other, you know, community programs or anything.
18:30:07 For students as well. And, yeah, but that's really amazing that you were able to, you know, have everything sort of through that earning as well and because 20 h is not allowed for a week.
18:30:23 And it just just flies by very easily and when you count those hours and then the dollar amount, very easily and when you count those hours and then the dollar amount, it just wraps up really less.
18:30:33 So that's really great that you shared about it. And moving on the sections where were there any sort of like you know in the terms when we talk about.
18:30:47 Any sort of video interviews, any sort of interactions you had with any professors like were you building up relationships before actually landing in the university so that it's easier for you to pick up.
18:31:02 Those TNRA jobs. So anything that you can throw light on that you used as mediums.
18:31:08 Oh, I did not work as an ARE. I did work for a reposition for a brief amount of time, but not on an extended period.
18:31:16 But what I've heard from my friends is they've really reached out to professors looked at their research their background research background beforehand and you know what they're doing right now.
18:31:25 And spoken to the current students, the PhD student as well as the master student to really drill down and, you know, get that positions locked in even before they got here.
18:31:33 But if the professors realize that it's difficult to do all your research sitting in India so they really help you and they support you if you do do research after coming here and actually talking to them and you know.
18:31:44 Helping them understand what your research interests and what your, skills and everything. Based on that day, they really help you get the position, you're looking for.
18:31:54 But, it was particularly helpful for, me being in the cybersecurity program because the professor which I was really interested for.
18:32:02 It's like his own course on New Demi and he's quite quite a quite an entity on social media and everything.
18:32:09 So it was easy for me to look up his research and look at all of his work because he also does a lot of, open source contributions.
18:32:16 And based on that it was relatively easy for me, but I'm assuming it's gonna be a little bit more difficult for others, but it's still doable.
18:32:24 Most of these professors have their research under the university's name. So it becomes relatively easy to catalog and to go through all of this research on the internet sitting in India.
18:32:34 That's amazing that you know, they are reachable and you could actually talk to them about things because like for my university you used to get the TA rating along with the scholarship and along with this off a letter so you know that okay you're assigned as a deer you're assigned as an RA and and along with this off a letter.
18:32:55 So you know that, okay, you're assigned as a tier, you're assigned as an array and then once you land, then your resume gets.
18:32:57 Like there's a matchmaking between your zoom, a professor who needs a TA or an RA and that's how you people are covered together for that particular semester.
18:33:12 Yeah.
18:33:07 So, but that's that's amazing as well. Somehow you need to, you know, put in some efforts here because that's how you actually move things, around the but, that was like really, you know, good to know about, things around the scholarship, the application process and everything of that sort.
18:33:28 Moving to the next segment, where we actually talk about the visa process. I know that's the biggest chunk and a lot goes around it and considering the fact.
18:33:39 You came in spring, 2022. I really wanted to, know how was your, drama scenes around the Visa, slots, appointments and everything of that sort.
18:33:51 High-level talk about in terms of timeline like before the day you had to fly how like when did you get your offer letter like what month and Lubai after that time.
18:34:04 So, my, process was not a num process. I actually differ my master's twice.
18:34:12 So I had my. Application and my appointment to non sorting long before I will leave for a master's.
18:34:20 So my visa, I arrived almost 2 months before my, leave date or the day I was leaving the from India.
18:34:26 So it is convenient for me, but I can tell you from experience from my roommate and from other folks they really struggle.
18:34:34 They actually came in 1010 days after the course started. And that was especially a bad time because of COVID and because of its slots not being available.
18:34:41 Now you at least have like the the US government or the embassy releasing slots in in like you know.
18:34:49 In like phases but at that time register random there was no method to this so getting getting the getting a slot is extremely difficult at that time.
18:34:59 A lot of scam also going on with these agents charging money and everything. So it was complicated for a lot of people but, touch word it was very, you know, very peaceful for me.
18:35:28 I can understand.
18:35:19 The off letter like was fruitful because I came in fall off letter like was fruitful. Because I came in fall of 2022 and really I I cried my heart out but at one of 2022 and really I cried my heart out but at one appointment and it was like give me 2 and really I cried my heart out for that one appointment and it was like give me any embassy like I'm
18:35:40 Lack now.
18:35:34 not like pick and choosing like I really one because I lived in Lucknow and that was loses but I my 1st option came up from Bombay.
18:35:45 I was all set up, had my flight tickets, everything done that I had to give it there, but somehow, due to friends helps, I got it in Delhi like I was able to reschedule it for an earlier date.
18:35:57 So I had to actually skip my. Onboarding like, you know, the 1st session that you have with the entire students like the orientation.
18:36:07 Dandy I missed it because I was in the flight. So yeah, that has happened with me as well because 2022 was really really bad.
18:36:17 Yeah.
18:36:16 Yeah, I can tell you from experience it can be nerve racking. My roommate actually showed up 10 days after I the university started and I did not know if I would have a roommate or no because he actually did his visa appointment.
18:36:31 Literally one day before he came to the US before his tickets were booked out. So it was it was just so now, backing that I didn't know, you know, 1st of all, it's a new city and it's snowing out.
18:36:41 And I don't know if I'm gonna have a roommate and I just had like one row with.
18:36:43 That's what my god, that's like a good white welcome for you folks because that's just out of winters.
18:36:50 Yeah.
18:36:48 Yeah. So it was, quite nerve racking at that time.
18:36:54 But you know, I usually, you know, wanted to ask this question to all the folks that come up on the podcast as well.
18:37:02 Like if such situations happen, I know my university was helpful that I was able to skip 1st day of the class because I was just traveling, settling up and everything.
18:37:14 But how was your university in all these terms considering your Room it came 10 days late. So how supportive were they in such situations where it's not something in our hands something that we're not getting the appointments through the government sites but how was the universities at there?
18:37:33 So I must say, that is actually very helpful in these, you know, exceptional out of hand cases because they were very supportive at that time.
18:37:42 They let students come in like 2 weeks late because they knew that the situation in India was so bad and they were not getting any appointments.
18:37:48 They were in touch with us constantly and they expected us to respond to them as it is and emails letting them know what's happening and if we need an extension and just keeping them updated was important.
18:38:00 But if you actually let them, let them know and get them updated, they had no problems. They were ready to wait.
18:38:06 So extremely helpful. And in that sense.
18:38:09 That's great. Like that should be the case because this is something not in our hands and what can we do if you don't get the appointments?
18:38:15 That's right.
18:38:18 Yeah, that's fair. So. Coming down to the time. Where you actually landed, like obviously it should be January.
18:38:28 So how was your transition from like I know we've talked about it that you haven't moved out of Bangalore like you haven't moved out from that place ever.
18:38:38 And the first, st you know, outgoing thing happened was a different kind altogether. And how was your transition process?
18:38:48 Like, how was the 1st few weeks in terms of settling in and I know a lot of culture shocks but something that you want to talk about.
18:38:56 So it was an interesting transition, I must say. It was probably the 1st time I was seeing real snow for an extended period of time.
18:39:05 And just, you know, being that that jacket and being in that attire all the time, keeping yourself warm or something, you know, so not used to because I'm from Bangor.
18:39:16 It's like California. And that's like, and coming from there to like. Sub-five or minus 5 was this was really something different.
18:39:24 But I was I was fortunate and I'm assuming most of the international students are they have some friends here.
18:39:32 Or they are in touch with the few people who are ready to help you. So if someone is come before you, they are more than happy to help you.
18:39:39 And I had a friend who had come in, who had come to the airport and picked me up and he just helped me like put my stuff inside my apartment and everything.
18:39:47 So all of that was okay, but you know what really adds up is to get all of your stuff for your apartment.
18:39:53 You need a lot of stuff if you need to order locally and then make all of that available for their apartment to be deliverable in the US.
18:39:59 So that took time that took about 2 to 3 days and then setting up your internet and everything is just you know call list of thing which you need to do.
18:40:07 But it also puts you it's like a it's definitely a shock like a speed breaker.
18:40:11 But it also puts you into the zone of being an international student very, very quickly. And, I personally think it's a good thing, you know, it gives you like the shock, but you're also into the zone very, very quickly and you understand the ground reality and you're not living in a bubble which you had in India.
18:40:27 And. That's, something which is interesting. And then, if you know how to cook, that's great.
18:40:33 But I do not know how to cook. So, I will also rely on packed food for the 1st month or so.
18:40:38 And just living on Maggie and other, frozen, frozen delights in the US. But, yeah, once you get used to it, it's, it's not, it's really not that bad.
18:40:48 You think that you're not ready for this, but, some way or the other, your parents and your family has prepared you for this all your life.
18:40:55 So you get used to it.
18:40:57 I agree to that point cooking was I don't know. I don't have any objectives for it, but it was my worst nightmare.
18:41:04 Okay.
18:41:14 Yeah.
18:41:07 And I can't say but in every of my suitcase I like one layer of Maggie like one, you know, tag is tried out all across my suitcases.
18:41:33 Yeah.
18:41:20 So, you know, I was surviving on those breads and everything and after like like I'll complete 2 years this year and Hi, I still can say like I can survive like I do know the survival trick of you know cooking and everything but still you know that's like a very you know, fun joke that my family cracks it always on me that to make her learn cooking, we had to send her this far, that
18:41:45 Yeah.
18:41:46 she's able to cook at least for herself and for 2 3 more people but we had to pay such a price for her to cook that way to send her so far.
18:41:56 So that's basically more of. Things you know first.st Few weeks are like I used to just cry like I would be honest.
18:42:05 Yeah.
18:42:07 I like, I had this weird thing of like looking at the airplanes in the sky and just thinking when can I go back to India.
18:42:15 I haven't done this, till now, like I haven't gone back. So, still things like, you know, airplanes really excite me a lot that, you know, be on one to go back home.
18:42:26 So, you know, everyone just, paves their own path and, you know, makes their own life here and To be honest, there is no as of you can actually take a break or anything of that sort here.
18:42:41 Yeah.
18:42:43 I know the other thing comes up and Cooking was the worst thing that I came across.
18:42:47 So you know what's interesting? Now I've been in the US for almost 3 years now.
18:42:52 It's gonna be my 3rd year in December, 2 and a half years. Now my family is quite surprised that I can cook so much and I cook and cook so many different cuisines and so many different, items which I would never cook in India.
18:43:03 There's just unbelievable because even my mom is not able to cook, you know, certain dishes because you know they just don't they just don't cook because it's so easily available outside but us really forces you to learn everything and us really forces you to learn everything and really pushes you to your limits to really forces you to learn everything and really pushes you to your limits to really know how to
18:43:22 extract information and really, pushes you to your limits to, really know how to extract information from YouTube and do something on your own.
18:43:28 Yeah, all of us.
18:43:25 I still follow a lot of recipes, through what, like, they all have been starred and, now it's, time now that I don't refer to them like I know it's time now that I don't refer to them like I know it like by heart but there were times when I just look okay step 0 is the step one is this and then step 0 be kept aside, will continue with
18:43:47 Yeah.
18:43:47 the other step, then we'll get back to it and put everything into that. So all of those things, but.
18:43:54 Yeah, it took time. There were faces of everything. There were a lot of bones in the kitchen, a lot of alarms that went off.
18:44:01 All this.
18:44:10 Yeah.
18:44:01 Learning by until now as well i'm not ashamed of it i know how to switch it off and then make those So, that's, that's the funny part of staying here.
18:44:14 You, get those breaks and But. How is like, how is the living, plan or like the living arrangements that you book like was it closer to the university or if not closer, you had public commute.
18:44:33 And how was you know how was those things set up from your end in terms of traveling to for groceries or to university or anything.
18:44:44 So I had I had 3 constraints before actually looking for an apartment. 1st is I just wanted 2 bedroom.
18:44:52 I just wanted one more of it. That's again rare. People don't want that, but my concern to find a, finding a roommate was, he should not be from my program.
18:45:00 And I just need one more person. Because, I knew that I'd be interacting with.
18:45:04 You have a lot of time then after the deer that you can have like the perfect match. I agree.
18:45:10 Yeah. Yeah, because, I didn't want to interact with cybersecurity folks all the time because I was interacting with them in class and then I wanted to see what's happening with someone else who is not in my program, right?
18:45:22 And coming back to the constraints, the other 2 constraint which I had was I wanted the utilities to be included in my rent and the apartment should be really close to the university.
18:45:33 So that's a constraint for me, but it must not be for everyone else. So, for my apartment, luckily, I found something which was relatively close to, I think I was closest to the apart, to the university compared to all of my other friends.
18:45:47 But, all of my other friends since this is a college town, all of my other friends do not live more than a mile away from the university.
18:45:54 There is public transportation and there's, you know, there's also transportation provided by the university.
18:45:59 But we just walked and we just like you know have like those electric bikes and everything. So we just use them to like, around and get around the campus and get to campus easily.
18:46:09 But, particularly me for me, it was easy because. I was the pianist.
18:46:18 So I could just walk to my, university within like 1510 min, 10 min for, which is not allowed in the US.
18:46:21 Not a lot just in US because, you know, my mom is yet shocked like I was not walking much back in India.
18:46:32 Yeah.
18:46:41 Yeah.
18:46:29 Because we have this thing like either we have 2 wheeler or 4 wheeler it's it's convenient for us to take those things but here we happily walk like okay it's of mine oh that's fine we can walk up to it like it's like and it's my UN walkable distance.
18:46:44 But people do more as well. I've seen it back in my university as well, like depending on how much you can walk.
18:46:52 But yeah, 15 min is like really, really doable and good job to you that you could search every under your regulation and it worked out somehow.
18:47:01 So.
18:46:58 Yeah. Yeah, I would give anything for an active in the US, but I don't think that's possible.
18:47:05 Yeah, but, like there are link, student, like, like the majority of your classmates used to stay like those are farther away and they're more on the sharing site right.
18:47:20 Correct. So, even in my apartment unit, the, apartment building, there were with 3 bedroom and 4 bedroom, but I was able to find something which 2 bedroom.
18:47:30 But it's really up to the persons, you know. Person's needs and requirements and.
18:47:35 Based on how much like interaction do you need. Both my roommate and I will find with having just both of us, constantly looking at each of those faces and interacting with each other.
18:47:45 And of course we had a private rooms and everything. But, some people are not. Some people need let's 4 people around them or 2 people around them, which is completely fine.
18:47:52 And, since everything is like a mile away and they have like student housing all around the campus so it's relatively close and it I don't think anyone lives more than mile or even a mile and a half away from campus here at least in
18:48:06 Okay. That's more like a blessing to have like a private room, but 2 fun questions for you that I'll throw off card.
18:48:14 One is did you had laundry unit inside your apartment?
18:48:21 Yeah.
18:48:20 That's a good question. Again, no, we did not. It was a common laundry.
18:48:24 Okay.
18:48:25 We had to actually Not even our apartment, but we had to like go to the next buildings. Basement to get the laundry done.
18:48:33 Again, we were at ground level, so it is not that bad. But still you know when winters carrying a laundry bag out this was not was not fun.
18:48:43 Let's just say that.
18:48:43 I loved it. I was living in sharing but I just had to walk 2 steps across the hall. And then dump all of my laundry and it's all done.
18:48:51 So. The best part.
18:48:52 So that was only 6 months though, then later on we went I moved to my new apartment that had like a laundry and everything.
18:49:01 So right now what we the accommodation we have right now is it's pretty sweet.
18:49:05 I know. But yeah, considering the fact like everything around the university, like like upstate and closer to like New York.
18:49:14 I've heard like a lot of folks, couple of my friends in had to move down for the laundry like few blocks away and get it done.
18:49:20 Yes.
18:49:21 So there was something a shocker for me when I came to Atlanta and I had it in my apartment.
18:49:28 Yeah.
18:49:28 So I was like, okay, Atlanta is still much better on those that it has, but the second one question is like considering your constraints and then the apartment and everything did you had like a balcony as well that came up with apartment or it was just a two-way to work.
18:49:42 No, it is just a 2 bedroom apartment. You will not find a lot of balcony in upstate because it's snow so heavily and the snow just, you know, accumulates in the ballroom and gets really heavy and everything.
18:49:54 So having a balcony is actually quite rare in upstate. But, not that they don't have it, it's just that it's, it's, not that common.
18:50:03 So I do not have any balcony.
18:50:04 I agree and that's fair as well. Rather it's like an added job to actually clean that up as well to that's best that you don't have it.
18:50:12 Yeah.
18:50:13 But, those are a couple of questions that I usually put out somewhere in the middle just for a refresher, but, coming back to, you know, we know we've discussed about the application.
18:50:26 We've discussed about, what were the factors that led you to choose this course and then the visa process more on the transition side.
18:50:34 Cut to Chase, I really wanted to ask about, the job market and I know you're working right now and that's really great but I really wanted to understand how was it for you.
18:50:48 To search for that job and was there any sort of aid that was provided by the university or it was just new who you like what you want to talk about those job scenarios I know because these are really thin times where the market is not that good.
18:51:07 Yeah, considering considering the environment, my process was relatively easy. Easy on me to. To get the job and get internships and everything.
18:51:16 But, just to give in, I give you an idea about, what is the support from the university.
18:51:21 The university did have curry services and they did have like job fares. Job fair was not particularly helpful for me, but the Quri services was, was also always assisting us with building a resume, building our profile and, you know, adding stuff and fixing all of that.
18:51:39 All that as well. It is provided by the university free of course they don't charge you or anything for that.
18:51:42 And it was helpful but what I would really want to say is it What really matters is what you do and how much work and effort you put in.
18:51:50 So it really comes down to, the person's self to how much networking you're doing and how much research you're doing on the company is about your profile, what's the background projects and everything.
18:52:00 So my internship search was, was was long but lengthy but also you know apt for the time so if you see the timing and the timeline for spring student.
18:52:12 By the time the job market opens are already in the US for like 7 to 8 months that gives you a good amount of time to get you know get used to the environment, see what's happening pro.
18:52:22 Treat your LinkedIn, fix your resume. Put in all the details, have everything ready for the job market to open up in like, you know, September, October and everything.
18:52:31 So that's an advantage I would say also for spring students over the fall students, but of course there are demerits for coming and spring which we can get into later.
18:52:40 I took advantage of that, quite a bit and I had certifications being inside the security.
18:52:45 I had certifications in India and I I got another 2 certifications when I got to the US during my 1st certifications when I got to the US during my 1st summer here.
18:52:53 And by the time the job market opened I was ready with my profile with my LinkedIn with my connections with my resume and everything which goes around it, right?
18:53:02 With my GitHub and everything. So, I took advantage of that. And I apply, I actually started applying the, in August.
18:53:09 So I applied for the positions for like. For next summer in August. So people are actually quite surprised when they care about this, but this is I think common practice now.
18:53:17 And because I started applying that quickly I actually started locking in interview positions and interviews for these positions will be very quickly.
18:53:26 I remember my 1st interview was in September and I kept continuing until like late, late. I think main and in internships start during June, right?
18:53:39 And June of 2,023 and I was even interviewed to like May 2,023 even though my internship was was locked down and I was I find this much earlier than that but I still wanted to get my experience and I actually even applied for full time positions in to see if I could finish my master in one and a half years.
18:53:54 But I did not do that. I focused on my internship and I got multiple offers. Going off from from September itself and What really helped me was just having everything ready at time.
18:54:08 And being able to apply that quickly was really helpful. And, in one of the job files, actually a coincidence for me was one of the, in there was, from Syracuse University and he was into cybersecurity.
18:54:21 So just interacting with them or talking with them was very helpful and I was able to lock down that internship.
18:54:26 So I can tell for sure that. Yeah, you might do help.
18:54:31 I agree to that point and I agree to the point is whether or not that, you know, helpful.
18:54:39 They did not help me much as well, they did not help me much as well which the university organizes and wherever you go.
18:54:46 That you know any carrier affair has helped anyone get a job and it's all that interested. So that is something that I would say I agree with your point.
18:54:55 But you know, starting really early was really good as well and since you mentioned that you had couple of folks being part of the spring intake but talk about couple of like downfalls of being part of the spring intake which Which did it like affect your job search or anything of that sort?
18:55:14 So it did not affect my job search, but I've heard, stories from my friends.
18:55:20 Which are not good to have. So the first, st the, I would say for her coming in spring is the fact that your class size is relatively smaller.
18:55:28 Compared to the fall session. So if you just say take take the example of My spring session, my class was only 5 students.
18:55:37 But on the other hand, yeah, quite surprising. I know, it was just 5 students and, but the fall, batch, which came later, like once I'm still after me, was about 30 students.
18:55:46 So that's really, you know, puts you at a loss maybe at some for some people that you do not have enough people to go around and ask if your doubts and PIO doub and get clarifications because you're new to the environment.
18:55:59 You have so many questions and everything. That's 1. And another The last 2 are the more important ones, but the second one which is important is.
18:56:09 If you're coming in fall, you have an option of getting the zeroth attempt for h 1 b, which is not an option for you for welcoming in spring.
18:56:17 Because the as as you must know that the h 1 b session is going from. March. And ends within my 20 days.
18:56:26 So it really boils down to you getting a job within a month and convincing them that they are good enough and being able to like file each one be within the whole like 2 month period which is super difficult and super tight.
18:56:40 But if you see for false students, it becomes relatively easy because you are doing an internship, then internship is probably gonna get converted as a job offer and they have enough time to do all the paperwork and get all of you done and just having that one single extra attempt in which one we really makes the difference for a lot of folks.
18:56:57 And if you see the probability you do the math and with every single attempt, your probability increases significantly of you getting picked, right?
18:57:05 So losing that one chance is, is clearly a huge problem. And say for example, you know, worst case.
18:57:13 You're stuck in the bad job market you don't have a job you completely miss the 1st chance right which is the worst situation to be at but on the other hand for all people even if you do not have a job whether like 1st 2 or 2 months of.
18:57:27 You being done to the university. You still have about 6 to 7 months to still find a job and convince them to give you an H and everything.
18:57:35 So those are the 3. I would say for coming in spring. And, yeah, that's about it for this.
18:57:40 Notice. Yeah, they're all fair. They like do not affect you instantly, but you know in the long run like for the h 1 b and the job markets specifically.
18:57:51 It really hampers your one year and 0 at the time is more of like an extra chance you get like apart from the 3 trials.
18:58:00 So that's 1 thing. And then I was really shocked to see, like here the account number for this bring and take it was just fine.
18:58:10 There will it's like barely anyone in the class. Is that an opportunity of at least, you know, having that in person discussion and you know, Oh.
18:58:22 Sitting down, working on something, you just have 4 other people to already talk to and there's no one.
18:58:29 So that's really less I would say in terms of spring. Batch. But, do you want to talk about your current role with the current organizations and, how is your degree and the curriculum everything aligns with that process?
18:58:47 If you want to talk about it.
18:58:48 Yeah, I'll 1st talk about my, how I got into this company and how I've been working with them and then later I'll get into the specifics of how.
18:58:56 My work related with my studies and everything. So, I've been, I, accepted with all the offers I had.
18:59:03 I finally accepted lumen technologies. For my internship during the summer of 2,023.
18:59:09 So I turn, with them from, June till the end of, I think the mid of August.
18:59:14 And from the mid of August, I got converted for a co-OP opportunity. I took the co-operability with them as well and That was because my project was all finalized and everything.
18:59:25 I already liked the team and all the support. Lumen was giving me. And right after the co-OP.
18:59:30 I was actually getting converted to full time as well. So I've I've been with the company for about a year now.
18:59:38 And I never stopped working since I started in June. So I start with June, finished my internship, then started with my co-OP and then start off with my full time right away.
18:59:50 There was a gap in between because of the whole, EED process, which takes forever. But, other than that, other than that, it was, I've been working with Lumen for over a year now and, I do.
19:00:00 I do write software in the for the security teams. So Lumen has a lot of products, a big chunk of their product involves security.
19:00:08 And I was writing or I do write software and focus on software for the security side of things. Which really entails and has like, you know, mix of both.
19:00:18 So you're doing a lot of cybersecurity using a cybersecurity knowledge with, with software skills and everything.
19:00:24 So, to, answer your question on how my studies actually helped. My job process. It really did help.
19:00:33 So, I, if you remember I mentioned this course call computer security. I did in my university that was really helpful for me and having an additional and extension to that was the internet security course, even that was quite helpful.
19:00:45 It really, you know, solidifies all of your concepts which we learn in the pen testing side of things and low team side of things and see at the code, you know, what technologies technologies are being used and how does that affecting your, you know, decision making.
19:01:01 Of steps for the well-being or while solving any problem at your job. But another interesting point I would like to mention is every single student or even me for that appear for that matter.
19:01:13 Are always focusing on the most cutting edge technology. In while while you are in university, right? Cutting, cutting edge research, cutting edge like tools and frameworks and everything.
19:01:22 But that actually does not correlate well with job in the job market because even though the companies are in between of like you know being being cutting edge and being like not as outdated as your studies, but there's still quite a bit of gap between the tools we are using from the cutting edge.
19:01:38 And that's something which is quite important to keep in mind before. Before you know just jumping into the most cutting edge technologies because you're most likely not going to be using that in your job.
19:01:49 So having projects on something which is, you know, maybe a season old, I don't know if that's, that's a way to put it, but if you, if you focus on something which is like a foundational and code.
19:02:01 And has like basics is really going to make the difference over doing the, you know, the cutting edge and the most advanced stuff.
19:02:08 So, that's something which, which I kept in mind as well. I never, I did of course work with machine learning and AI and large language models and everything before before I actually joined my job.
19:02:19 But I focused on the fundamentals.
19:02:23 That's really great and that's 1 thing that I've seen everyone talk about like getting your fundamentals perfect because of You don't know like as you mentioned that a lot of different tools have come up into the market and you don't know what your organization is using or either obviously they hold the same functionalities but at times you know your organization has an in-house technology or tool as well that's being you know employed and you need
19:02:51 to learn onto that and there's no like you can't. Speak much about it outside of the organization but there's a lot of learning but it depends like how organizations have you know matured themselves in terms of technologies have, you know, matured themselves in terms of technologies and what is your contribution in I understand that point.
19:03:12 That the degree program really gives you the theoretical side of things like to understand the fundamentals and you're actually viewing it as if this has happened hypotheticalically doing analysis, you know, security postures and everything.
19:03:28 But when you come down in the real world, it's app like a beast. And it's really different.
19:03:37 Interesting.
19:03:34 So I work at the audit assurance and controls and and I've had like one, subject, that, you know, was related to, more on the audit side and, you know, our professor really, you know.
19:03:48 Pushed us to give a give the get that seaside exam and you know be an auditor and this and that and everything and that time I never like dreamt of like I would be moving into this section.
19:04:01 So things really different what you have learned heretically. Okay, we know there is PCI.
19:04:07 So things really different, what you have learned heretically. Okay. We know there is PCI, DSS, you have to be compliant.
19:04:10 But when you come into the real world and when you see non-compliance when you see risk turning up.
19:04:15 It's really different and that very really helps you to actually you know, summarize things and, there was like a moment of like they just really helps you to actually, you know, summarize things and, there was like a moment of like, when, you know, I used to just say, okay, I've heard like risk transfer.
19:04:42 Absolutely.
19:04:31 Acceptance, but doing it actually and these are some real-life examples where we're doing it actually and these are some real life examples where we're actually using those things so you know the degree program really comes handy with all those subjects the professor and everything and couple of notes I still refer to it in my head okay these are things which are like priceless to actually have written all those things by really good
19:04:56 professors, when you were getting taught those things. So
19:04:58 Right. And being while being in the masters program, you do not see the gravity of things and decisions that you make.
19:05:05 But when you actually get to the, work environment, you see that your decisions and your card process journey has an impact on the organization.
19:05:13 And it really puts the gravity into all of the all the decisions you make and so whatever you've learned from your theoretical aspect really starts making much more sense because just an added extra step can really make the difference of between breaking and making a thing.
19:05:27 So, it really adds up.
19:05:30 And to that point as well that you know it, you know the meaning of it, you know an example of it, but now you have to apply it.
19:05:38 Like that's the difficult part that you have known everything about that terminology. Now you have to apply it.
19:05:45 And you have to use your common sense and all those processors that you have existing in the organization and fine tune it and use it in a way that There is no risk involved.
19:05:56 So that's the major thing that we put up for 8 HA day and get paid for it.
19:06:02 That you know dollar program is actually helping us whatever dollars we paid for it. Good. I'm good with this answer.
19:06:14 But moving ahead, the fun section, where I really wanted to talk, like I wanted to give you this platform to talk a little about Think Robotics and specifically from the point of view because you were a student for 2 years and obviously India and US are like flipped time zones.
19:06:37 So I just wanted to understand as an international student and then there were a lot of things on your plate and then being like wearing ahead of the entrepreneur as well.
19:06:48 How would things for you and how did you manage it? And obviously wanted to know about the organization as well because you wanted to know about the organization as well because why not let the viewers know about the organization as well because why not let the viewers know about it and if they can be part and
19:07:01 Awesome. So, yeah, I'm glad you brought that up, but, But think robotics, let's do an intro, what think robotics does.
19:07:09 So think robotics is a marketplace for electronics and robotics components in the Asian market. We are going international very soon.
19:07:16 But we do like electronics robotics mechanical components and all of the other stuff which everything which goes around it.
19:07:23 To, you know, really help engineers build products which, which at the are at the cutting edge and the will not available in India.
19:07:30 So, we also do a lot of rapid prototyping. So that includes like 3D printing and laser cutting and water jet cutting.
19:07:40 And, we plan to start PCB manufacturing soon if, if everything goes according to plan.
19:07:43 But, it has been, it has been an interesting journey. So this started off with, with me not being able to find parts in India.
19:07:52 And me having a friend in the US who could get them go get those parts from the US to India right.
19:07:57 So and get and if you know that the customs is not the sweetest. Bunch of folks to get electronics to India.
19:08:06 We don't get into that side because I've lost a lot of products in custom like while being here.
19:08:13 Ordering a lot of stuff from India and then things really get outside. That would be a very, discussion.
19:08:23 So let's skip from that custom thing. Yeah.
19:08:23 Right, so. So this just the electronics thing was not easy and it's, we started experiencing that this is not easy for a lot of companies as well in India.
19:08:34 And that's why I think robotics is born in 2,019. But we made all of these, parts available in India and there's not a lot of folks available in the market as well to deal in these components and since we I personally saw and my co-founder saw there's a lot of market boom happening in terms of necropolis.
19:08:52 Drones and AI and you know IoT in general in the in India. So this is a good opportunity for us and we took it and.
19:08:59 We found it, yeah, think about it in 2,019. So I was actually working on Think Robotics where I was in my undergrad program as well.
19:09:07 So I've been managing. My education, like a primary education with us background things for quite some time now.
19:09:13 That experience really helped me. Doing, and working and working with my team back in India. Living in the US.
19:09:20 So it was definitely not easy. Being a full-time student, working on the sock analyst on campus.
19:09:26 Plus doing Think Robotics and on top of that. Cooking and cleaning and doing everything but You really get used to it if you if you just put your mind to it and what I used to do is basically have like the whole daytime when it is night in India.
19:09:41 For everything related to my master, related to my like, you know, job on campus and everything else, right?
19:09:49 But during like early mornings and late evenings, I used to interact with my team in India. So kudos actually goes to by team in India as well.
19:09:57 They've been really patient with me. To you know wait for my responses wait for my tantrums every day in the morning and the evening and working or dials even for them.
19:10:07 So I had a lot of support from my team back in India, my co-founder as well as like, you know, my family.
19:10:14 My family also has been very helpful. So managing all of this was definitely daunting at times and especially my second semester was not easy with all the course load by professors grilling me and everything which is happening with the internship and everything.
19:10:28 But you really get used to it and I'm not I'm not the only one. I actually know a couple of folks who are doing this and all of them are excelling.
19:10:44 Okay.
19:10:36 Hi, I agree and it's really commendable for you like handling a lot of stuff so I really want to congratulate you for that and I'm hearing about the organization few things really just went off my head but That's fine, like, you know, understanding the requirements and everything is really great.
19:11:05 Yeah.
19:10:57 Because you started up this at a really early stage like in 2019 so you had that you know flavor of you know working and studying together but I know things really get on south side here when you come here and there are a lot of things which may not make sense to people back in India like if you say I have this this this so a couple of things are like really like okay it just takes some time but
19:11:33 Ask this.
19:11:26 the idea of just to decide what to cook tonight is also a task for us. Yeah, so, it's more of on that end and then, you know, obviously like we mentioned, the time zones we run.
19:11:46 That's right.
19:11:42 And then, you know, obviously, it's more of on that end and then you know obviously like we mentioned like the time zones we run like if you are at the eastern time zone you run like 11 h behind And that's really a difficult thing and having that support system from India and your family that's really great.
19:11:53 So it was really good to hear about it. I drill down more about things robotics and I'll talk to you about it and obviously to everyone watching right now will have Corb's LinkedIn and all other resources in the description so you can connect with him and talk.
19:12:18 Absolutely.
19:12:10 The organization and everything that he has on board. So that's really great like times for sharing it on IDSP magazine about the so we're just at the end and it was really a fun session that we had lots and lots to talk about and hopefully it helps a lot of folks as well.
19:12:32 And as you said, the aluminum is really helpful. So being part of that group, we are as well helpful on those ends.
19:12:41 So just one last thing to all the incoming international students any piece of advice or it says of advices that you want to give out to people coming up to the university or in general to US, anything that you have learned and you want to share about it.
19:12:59 Yeah, so. I have a couple of points which I tell everyone, even now the folks who plan to come in the at Syracuse University is 1st of all it's not a joke.
19:13:11 You're coming to the US. It's not a joke to like just come to the US without knowing anything and without preparing yourself.
19:13:16 We, I'm sure even you must have known and it has happened here at the city university that many folks actually go back to India because it's been so difficult.
19:13:25 And even though it's difficult, it's really worth the hard work, I would say. And if you're up for it and if you are prepared your mind for it, it's it's really definitely worth it.
19:13:34 But just be prepared. It's not a joke. Be prepared to do like. You know, all the hardships of doing your own laundry, cleaning your own house and cleaning your own utensils and cooking and everything.
19:13:44 That really adds up and in addition to that. Please take your education seriously. It's not a joke.
19:13:51 I see a lot of people like just having fun and play around. If that's your motive, please do so.
19:13:56 You know, you're happy to, you're free to do so. No one's there to stop you, but.
19:14:00 If you're the one who is more studious and who wants to focus on your career, please find a group.
19:14:05 Which is inclined in the same way because it's really easy to go off track in the US because there's no one monitoring you and there's no one you know actually focusing on what you're doing because you are all all up on your own.
19:14:17 So just having that, the right folks around you and having, being able to like, you know, have the right roommate having all the support which, which you need from them is really, really makes the difference is like the makeup breakpoint.
19:14:31 But just having education focus is extremely important. That I feel that if you focus on your curriculum. That's that's like.
19:14:40 Just 25% of your work of getting a building a good career in the US. But that 25% really adds up.
19:14:48 It really does just push push our limits and puts you, sets you apart from other folks. But also in addition to that is just doing a course up is not enough.
19:14:56 So this, you know, obviously nothing is always enough in the US. You have to keep pushing yourself, you know, you have to do certifications, you have to write your own code, make do open source contributions, that of contributing with the ARE and TAs and everything and building a network on top of that.
19:15:13 So a combination of all of that really does add up and it will really help you excel in the US.
19:15:18 But, it just that constant rush for the 1st 3 years and then you're sorted.
19:15:24 You're really, you're really sorted. So just, of course, stay strong for the 1st 3 years and then you're all good.
19:15:29 Hi, I agree to that point and every day is a challenge you're like be it now as well that you've spent some time here but still every day is something we learn and It's not a joke that we call, America as the, you know, the country of opportunities and everything.
19:15:48 And probably it really does makes a stand. It's really worth it to have that degree and everything because we being now working and paying off those prices is like really worth it but yeah, working and paying off those prices is like really worth it but yeah you really have to come to that point and there would be a lot of obstacles and challenges that we really have to come to that point and there would be a lot of obstacles and challenges that we really
19:16:13 talked about. But yeah, you really have to come to that point and there would be a lot of obstacles and challenges that we really talked about.
19:16:19 To get your groceries or anything of that sort in snow. That's also one challenge.
19:16:24 So Thank you so much for that advice and I know. That was something really beautiful for you to come up, talk about those advices and obviously about your life.
19:16:37 Back in the university and then how things really paved for you and then now working. Pure and then obviously handling things back in India as well and I hope all the best for you for both of the organizations and we stay connected and obviously everyone we have all his links in the description box so you may spam him a lot and that would be the best best thing ever.
19:17:04 So thank you so much. Kara again and we will talk soon.
19:17:08 Thank you someone, thank you for having me here and thank you for the opportunity. And I'm sure people will, you know, really really go through all of your videos and take inspiration from that and, and prepare themselves well.
19:17:22 Thank you so much.