Photo Credit: Jourdan Walls
Name: Tom Charly
Program: MST
Job title: Graduate Student Assistant
Why did you choose Pitt?
The process of applying to Pitt as an international student was rather simple and smooth. The Student Services team was replying to my queries and was helpful in my application process. Dr. Linus Pauling said “Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life”, my inspiration to pursue engineering echoed from this quote. Even as a small child, I wondered how the simplest of devices worked. This curiosity helped me understand my coursework while enjoying what I learned. I decided to pursue my Masters in Computer Networking and Telecom after I took and internship at BSNL (the largest telecom and network company in India). I was introduced to topics such as broadband tech, switching systems, digital transmissions, mobile communication, and telecom support infrastructure. This experience made me realize how very little I knew, which instilled in me a desire to learn more.
Are you involved in any student organization? How have these organizations benefited your graduate school experience?
I currently serve as a Student Ambassador of the School of Information Science interacting with prospective students to help them learn more about courses and opportunities at our school. I am also the Business Manager for the Diversity Student Organization.
How do you balance school, work and personal responsibilities?
School, work and personal life should be managed and balanced for a good and smooth life. Proper planning and time allocation to each area helped me to balance this well.
What does a typical day in your position look like?
I start my day at work checking the mail and emails that have been sent to the university. After replying to emails, I proceed to assisting the admission process. I usually scan, forward and upload all the admissions documents. I end my day dropping the outgoing mail into the mail box.
What attracted you to this position?
The good working atmosphere was the first thing that attracted me to this position. Along with that, I have the opportunity to learn a lot about the school and events that happen.
Do you have any previous experience that prepared you for your work experience?
I have good management skills, and I have had experience in a lot of positions at various organizations and committees including the IEEE and Mozilla Firefox.
Do you have any advice for prospective student?
Don’t restrict yourself to your course work and your academic books. Find time for everything, be involved in student organizations and be an active student.
If you have any questions about Tom’s experience or the Master of Telecommunications program you can contact him at tomcharly@ieee.org
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