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Sri Nikhil Racha ��򽴫ý�22 has had his share of challenges��򽴫ý�and he��򽴫ý�s hungry for more.

In Fall 2020, Racha started master��򽴫ý�s in Computer Science on Pace��򽴫ý�s New York City Campus. He expected the challenge inherent with any master��򽴫ý�s program but had not anticipated the added difficulty of learning during COVID-19, especially as an international student. What��򽴫ý�s more, because of a personal loss, he soon found himself travelling between New York City and his home in India, navigating drastically different time zones, ever-changing health and safety mandates, and rising expenses in an uncertain economy.

��򽴫ý�At one point, I wanted to drop out, to be honest,��򽴫ý� he admits. However, in a moment where his future was the most uncertain, one of his professors, Seidenberg��򽴫ý�s Pauline Mosley, PhD, rose to the occasion. ��򽴫ý�She was the one who pushed me, supported me, and raised my morale. Pace has given me a lot, not just the studies or the education. I never expected a professor to come out of nowhere and support me.��򽴫ý�

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Mosley��򽴫ý�s push of support set Racha back on track and he soon found himself diving deeper into Pace life, recounting particular excitement at a capstone project that integrated business learning��򽴫ý�prompting him to consider an eventual return to Pace for business school. Without the help of his professor, he might not have ever considered business school. What��򽴫ý�s more, ��򽴫ý�I would not be here,��򽴫ý� he explains. ��򽴫ý�I��򽴫ý�d be in India. It��򽴫ý�d be a whole different story.��򽴫ý�

But as of now, his story is looking much more thrilling, as he��򽴫ý�s just accepted a job with one of the biggest tech companies worldwide��򽴫ý�Amazon. He��򽴫ý�s starting at a higher level, as a Level IV Software Development Engineer, working on some exciting new features that will radically change the way people shop. (Of course, he couldn��򽴫ý�t go into much detail��򽴫ý�you��򽴫ý�ll just have to wait and see).

Amazon was especially appealing because of his interest in Cloud development, and at the prospect of working not only with the back-end development but also front-end user interfaces. But more than anything, Racha was hungry for the challenge. Outlining the prospect of contending with Amazon��򽴫ý�s high standards and strict work principles, he said, ��򽴫ý�If you can survive at Amazon, you can survive anywhere. That��򽴫ý�s what everyone says.��򽴫ý�

"Pace has given me a lot, not just the studies or the education."

Amazon wasn��򽴫ý�t his only option, however. Right from the start, Racha wanted to give credit where credit was due��򽴫ý�to the extra services Pace provides, especially when it came to resume building. ��򽴫ý�My resume got picked by all the companies,��򽴫ý� he explains. ��򽴫ý�Facebook, Google, Amazon, Bloomberg. Whatever the University is doing when it comes to resume proofing and the resume tailoring workshop, it��򽴫ý�s really good.��򽴫ý� Laughing, he adds, ��򽴫ý�Literally, other students from other universities are actually asking for my help with their resumes.��򽴫ý�

His parting words to other students ring full of self-determination. He calls on students to make their own luck, drive their own education, and remember why they wanted to get an education in the first place. ��򽴫ý�Just stick to it, that��򽴫ý�s it. Try as much as you can.��򽴫ý� And most importantly when challenges arise, ��򽴫ý�Don��򽴫ý�t give up.��򽴫ý�