Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my Grade 12 was entirely online, which introduced several challenges to my Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) preparation. I had set my goal on securing admission to a reputable institute offering a strong Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) programme.
Among the options available to me, BIT Mesra stood out — for its distinguished alumni network and vibrant campus life and also for the academic and career opportunities it offers.
From the very first semester which was online, I was impressed by the thriving technical culture at BIT. Students were already collaborating over Discord, engaging in projects, and sharpening their skills — it was clear that coding and peer-driven learning were central to the experience. Being part of such an environment made learning both effective and enjoyable.
Our seniors also provided crucial advice and guidance on laying down the roadmap to honing our skills. The winter break after the third semester and the summer break after the fourth semester gave me the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into computer science fundamentals, explore personal projects, and prepare for the internship season.
Throughout college, I also participated in several hackathons and remained actively involved in competitive programming — the challenge and solving with friends part of it made the process incredibly fun. I was fortunate to secure an internship at Microsoft, one of the first companies to visit our campus.
The experience provided invaluable exposure to large-scale production systems, collaborative development, and industry best practices.
This internship, combined with everything I had learned through coursework, self-driven exploration, and peer interactions, helped me land full-time offers from both Microsoft and Google, as well as an internship opportunity at Rubrik.
My time at Rubrik has been particularly transformative. Working alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry, I got the opportunity to see firsthand what engineering excellence truly looks like.
I’m incredibly grateful to my team for their constant support, mentorship, and for setting such a high bar — this experience has solidified my desire to continue growing in such an inspiring environment.
(Nidumolu Lakshmi Narayan Rao is a student of BIT Mesra. Views expressed are his own.)
