This is the next segment of our blog series highlighting Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors who achieved the Gold milestone, the highest level attainable, and have recently graduated from university. Each blog in the series features a different student and highlights their accomplishments, their experience with the Student Ambassador community, and what they’re up to now.
Today we meet Arpita Das, who recently graduated with bachelor’s degree in computer science from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in India.
Arpita at the Microsoft office in Bangalore, India.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
When did you join the Student Ambassadors community?
I joined the program in August 2020.
What was being a Student Ambassador like?
Being a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador was a huge growth opportunity. I was welcomed into a vast network with great exposure to various technologies, opinions, cultures and mindsets! I ended up finding supportive friends/peers for every moment, from celebrating my victories to being there for me during my lows. The smooth and supportive team here at MLSA, led by Pablo Veramendi, the Global Program Director, embraced all of us like family. I started as a newbie in the field of computer science, and ended as a proud community member who loves mentoring other students.
Was there a specific experience you had while you were in the program that had a profound impact on you and why?
Interacting with Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) during Microsoft Build in 2021 was the most impactful experience that I got from this program. It was around my third year and encouraged me to pursue a career in software.
Today, I am a software engineer, and it wouldn’t have been possible without this particular call where we cherished how beneficial technology can be for the world. I have researched more on this and have loved everything that Microsoft has been doing for technical upliftment.
Arpita at a meet-up with fellow Student Ambassadors in Bangalore, India.
Tell us about a technology you had the chance to gain a skillset in as a Student Ambassador. How has this skill you acquired helped you in your post-university journey?
Microsoft Azure! When I started out here, I would frequently hear the word “Azure,” generally in discussions on how Azure can be better utilized in projects, or ways to get more Azure credits. Back then, I did not understand cloud computing well enough but eventually, I started reading and attending discussions on Azure and other cloud technologies. I started exploring the wide range of integration that follows – Kubernetes, Docker and more. I became so interested in it that Azure became a regular technology in my academic projects and hackathons.
The special benefit of receiving credits as a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador made me experiment random deployments and explore integration of related services on Azure. The wide variety of services Azure offers, along with the ease-of-use features, has always been impressive to me!
What is something you want all students, globally, to know about the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Program?
This community is great for growth.
The vast, diverse community will introduce you to many people from different countries and cultures, but with a shared passion for developing tech for the better good.
What advice would you give to new Student Ambassadors, who are just starting in the program?
I just have 5 points for everyone:
- Be humble and eager to learn.
- Don’t shy away from talking/networking with people here. The community has a lot to offer.
- Don’t do things just for the swags/goodies. Learn from it, share your knowledge.
- Respect everyone. People come from different parts of the world, be polite to all. :smiling_face_with_smiling_eyes:
- Make the most out of the program – participate actively in the events, mentor in the leagues, encourage collaboration; do everything positive!
Share a favorite quote with us! It can be from a movie, a song, a book, or someone you know personally. Tell us why you chose this. What does it mean for you?
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Nelson Mandela. I believe that the ultimate strength is in getting up and achieving what you dreamed of; learn from the experience and do not back down until you achieve your goals!
Arpita at a meet-up with fellow Student Ambassadors in Delhi, India.
Tell us something interesting about you, about your journey.
I organized a lot of in-person and virtual events. Some of those events included meetups in Delhi and Bangalore, and opportunities to judge and mentor hackathons across the world. One thing that has been constant is I always learned something new.
You can follow Arpita here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arpitadas01