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| Samhitha Padiyar N 2014 Batch CSE |
Samhitha bagged University ranks in multiple semesters securing the third place in the 5th and 6th semesters and the first place in the 7th semester.
At first glance, Samhitha Padiyar looks like a shy girl with a demure personality. On an average day you are likely to find her with her long hair neatly plaited and a sweet smile. Most people who have befriended this girl will agree that she managed to surprise them. Twice!
The first is when you just begin to get to know her. You find it surprising that a person could be that kind and polite. It doesn’t matter what hour you go to her at, if you ask her for help, she’ll give it. As you get to know her better, you realize that she isn’t the studious type who sticks to her books. In fact, she has a wide range of interests; singing, reading Kannada literature, collecting stamps, writing Kannada and Hindi poems, etc. You will marvel at her dedication towards her work, the way she absolutely devotes herself to any task she is assigned and makes sure she has given it her best. This trait probably explains her long list of achievements. Then comes the second surprise. It dawns upon you exactly how much she has achieved. And not just academically. You are awestruck that this lady can be so humble despite having achieved so much!!
So we went up to her and asked her what most students would want to ask her. Why engineering? She thought about it and replied, “Since my childhood I had 2 aims in my life. First I wanted to be a software engineer and second, I wanted to be a good teacher”. Samhitha admits that she didn’t really know what being a software engineer meant. She just thought it must be a good job. Due to this lack of clarity she was unable to decide which way to proceed. Her dilemma was resolved when Mrs. Sudha Murthy visited her high school when she was fourteen years of age. Mrs. Murthy’s speech, she says, not only inspired her but also cleared away any doubts she had about pursuing this profession.
Through her hard work Samhitha secured 8816th rank in the Common Entrance Test for engineering colleges in Karnataka and chose to pursue Computer Science at Canara Engineering College, Benjanapadavu. While at Canara, Samhitha bagged University ranks in multiple semesters securing the third place in the 5th and 6th semesters and the first place in the 7th semester. She is possibly the first student in the history of this college to have secured the first rank under VTU and was duly honored by the college with the best character award from computer science department. So did engineering meet her expectations? Sadly, she said it didn’t. I quote, “I thought engineering will give me a clear picture about the IT industry, its work culture, but that didn’t happen.” Before entering this stream of education she thought that Computer Science and Engineering meant total programs and she loved writing programs. She was a little disappointed to find that it imparted more theoretical than practical knowledge.
Along with excelling at academics Samhitha has also found time to an active participant in technical and cultural competitions. When asked how she manages her time between studies and her friends she said, “I’m not an ideal student who studies every day. I study only during exams but I concentrate in class. So I get a lot of time to spend with my family and friends.” Juggling her studies along with the daily chores of hostel life is no mean a task. She struck a new high last year when she decided to participate in the singing competition in Aakriti, the annual college fest. Although a little nervous due to a two year break from singing, she pushed herself into practice and soon she was singing better than before. Since she has achieved so much we asked her what she thought was the ‘Secret to Success’. “According to me, for any person to be successful. The three D’s are very important – Determination, Dedication and Devotion. One should have strong determination and should have complete dedication and devotion towards the goal.” She also thinks that to be successful, we should stop comparing ourselves with others because it will only upset us and lead to feelings of inferiority. Instead we should compare what we have done to what we are capable of. That, she says, will lead to success. “Patience is another key quality. One cannot be successful in a day. We must have the patience to face all the difficulties and solve them.”
Samhitha Padiyar has always left an indelible mark on the minds of the people she has met. Her humility affects them such that it stays with them. She will be remembered by the faculty for her academic achievements but her friends will remember her for her ever helpful nature and her kind heart. On a parting note, her advice to the juniors is, ‘Student life is a golden life. Once you get out of college, you won’t get such a carefree life again so enjoy it. At the same time don’t neglect your studies, especially the internal exams. Those 200 marks are in your hands. If you score well in them, you will definitely score well in the external exams. I wish you all the best and hope you all have a bright future.’
Edited by Prajna Bhandary
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