Sachin Archer knows what itΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s like to defy expectations.
ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I'm a very artsy person. So, when people see my photography, or how I dress, or know my music, theyΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½re shocked to find IΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½m a computer science major,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ he says. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I'm now at a point where I can blend both my tech side and my artistic side.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Sachin is a computer science major and photography minor who, in his home country of Jamaica, used to dream about the big things in life heΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½d accomplish. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½To come from a third world country and even live in New York City is kind of crazy,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ he shares. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I remember the month before I moved to America, I was watching Home Alone 2, where they're lost in New York. Now to be able to wake up and see the Brooklyn Bridge outside my window, it's surreal. To not only do that, but now even go on a global scale and go to Europe and go to Switzerland, itΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s amazing.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Now to be able to wake up and see the Brooklyn Bridge outside my window, it's surreal.
Sachin had the chance to experience Europe as the youngest member of PaceΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s NYC Design Factory during the Fall 2022 semester. For two weeks, Sachin and the other members of Team Fusion learned how CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, uses technology to address the United NationΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s Sustainable Development Goals. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½We visited the largest particle accelerator in the world,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ he says. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½We also got to go to the United Nations Headquarters, sit in on a meeting, and got a full tour.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
He made sure to maximize his trip by bringing his other passion into the mix, photography. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½When I had some free time, I had the chance to meet some other people and models to help get my name out there,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Sachin explains. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½It was amazing, to hit multiple birds with one stone.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Once the students returned stateside, the work really began, as his team dived into redesigning New York City streets to not only support sustainability but to make way for advancements, like artificial intelligence. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I would say overall the Design Factory experience was a transformation, both mentally, physically, and politically,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Sachin says. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I was the only undergraduate student, and I was youngest one there. To be the youngest person involved, and to be the only Black male from a third world country, that was very important.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
To be able to represent myself on a bigger global scale was a big deal.
While it was a new experience, it evoked familiar feelings. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I've always been the only Black child in the room while I was growing up,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ he says. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I knew that I had to work twice as hard, because of the color of my skin, unfortunately. To be able to represent myself on a bigger global scale was a big deal.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
The experience has left him marveling at the connections heΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s made, and the connections he hopes to forge. HeΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s made friends from places heΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s never been, from Germany to Australia. Over the summer he worked at a summer camp in his home in Connecticut and had the chance to share his experience with those young students. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½IΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ve been able to give these kids hope, and show them that you can leave home, that it's okay. Opportunities like this do happen for people like us.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Sachin initially considered Pace because his sister was an alumna, but he believes now it was the best choice he could have made. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½IΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½m not going to lie, it wasnΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½t until last semester that I really realized all the opportunities that Pace really had,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ he admits. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½That's when I got really close with my advisors and I started getting my name out more. I'm close to my dean now, which helped me find more opportunities, and now I work at Goldman Sachs. I'm very grateful for Pace and the environment that it creates.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
I'm doing all these amazing things. And I'm only 19.
SachinΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s Pace experience so far has been so rewarding, and heΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s hoping to slow down and enjoy next last two years. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I have two years left, and I feel like I haven't done enough, you know?ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ he says. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I want to tell the freshmen to just do it all. The city really is your campus. Not only that, the faculty is your biggest help. They know so many people, and just one conversation can change your life forever.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Take it from him, itΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s never too early to dive in. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½The best thing I always get is people asking, ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½How old are you?ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ I'm doing all these amazing things. And I'm only 19.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Read more about the Fall 2022 Design Factory experience.
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