Introduction
It’s 4 AM, and the morning light begins to illuminate my single-room Airbnb as I finish my final tasks for the day. I have to be back up and ready to go by 10 AM, where I’ll be joining the Engineering Team for morning standup at the office where I currently live: Bangalore, India. After coding into the late evening, I will switch to tackling the never-ending list of tasks listed under my Canvas “To Dos”, and will once again be greeted by the early morning light as I close my eyes.
The Foundation: Life as a CS Student
Four computer science courses might sound like a full plate on their own – and they are. From diving into the intricacies of programming language fundamentals (CS381) to wrestling with the complexities of sockets in CS406, running to virtual meetings with my senior engineering capstone team (CS461), to experimenting with code labs involving cryptographic functions and security (CS370), my brain is constantly processing complex technical concepts. Each course demands its own headspace, projects, and dedication. The silver lining? The technical foundation I’m building serves as a backbone for everything else I do.
Teaching to Learn: The TA Experience
There’s something magical about teaching concepts you’re still mastering yourself. As a TA for a computer science course, I’ve discovered that explaining database fundamentals to struggling students has deepened my own understanding exponentially. Every question from a student is an opportunity to revisit the basics and see them through fresh eyes. Plus, the experience of mentoring others has improved my communication skills – and is truly its own reward.
The Global Startup Adventure
My internship with a B2B startup that facilitates cross-border entity incorporation has opened my eyes to the intersection of technology and international business. Working with a team in India means long hours and cultural learning opportunities I never expected. The real-world applications of technology in solving complex business problems provide context to my academic work, while my coursework helps me understand our technical challenges more deeply.
The Art of the Juggle
Being in Bangalore while maintaining my academic responsibilities back home requires a carefully orchestrated schedule. Here’s my playbook:
- Time Zones are Everything: Living in India means my day starts with my startup work, while my evenings and nights are dedicated to classes and TA sessions back home. Those precious hours in between? That’s when I tackle assignments and course projects.
- Finding Flow: Each role feeds into the others in unexpected ways. The algorithmic thinking from my coursework helps me optimize our startup’s processes; my TA experience makes me a better team communicator; the real-world coding challenges at work bring my coursework to life.
The Unexpected Growth
Living this triple life has taught me more than I expected:
- The 12.5-hour time difference has made me incredibly efficient with my time
- Teaching database concepts remotely has honed my ability to explain complex ideas simply
- Working in India has taught me to be adaptable and resilient in ways no classroom could
- Juggling these roles has shown me that I’m capable of more than I imagined
Looking Ahead
As I reach the midpoint of this journey, exhaustion and excitement dance together daily. The second half brings new challenges: final projects looming in all four courses, my TA students preparing for their final project deadlines, and increasing responsibilities at the startup. But now that I have a rhythm, my confidence has risen to meet these new challenges.
To anyone considering taking on multiple roles across multiple time zones: yes, it’s intense. Yes, you’ll question your decisions at 4 AM. But if you’re passionate about each piece, the symphony they create together is worth the challenging orchestration.
The increasing shadow on the wall from the setting sun in my Bangalore window reminds me it’s time to break away from screens and hit the gym. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my trainer, Bibin Babu, awaits me.
