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

In Fall 2020, Racha started master�鶹��ý�s in Computer Science on Pace�鶹��ý�s New York City Campus. He expected the challenge inherent with any master�鶹��ý�s program but had not anticipated the added difficulty of learning during COVID-19, especially as an international student. What�鶹��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.

�鶹��ý�At one point, I wanted to drop out, to be honest,�鶹��ý� he admits. However, in a moment where his future was the most uncertain, one of his professors, Seidenberg�鶹��ý�s Pauline Mosley, PhD, rose to the occasion. �鶹��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.�鶹��ý�

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Mosley�鶹��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�鶹��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�鶹��ý�s more, �鶹��ý�I would not be here,�鶹��ý� he explains. �鶹��ý�I�鶹��ý�d be in India. It�鶹��ý�d be a whole different story.�鶹��ý�

But as of now, his story is looking much more thrilling, as he�鶹��ý�s just accepted a job with one of the biggest tech companies worldwide�鶹��ý�Amazon. He�鶹��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�鶹��ý�t go into much detail�鶹��ý�you�鶹��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�鶹��ý�s high standards and strict work principles, he said, �鶹��ý�If you can survive at Amazon, you can survive anywhere. That�鶹��ý�s what everyone says.�鶹��ý�

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

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