"I could relate more with Algorizin's community because it understood the immigrant experience."

Hello, my name is Kinjon Saha, and I am a Bangladeshi. I finished my O levels in Dinajpur, a small town in Bangladesh, and then moved to Dhaka city to finish my A levels searching for better facilities.

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I’ve always wanted to attend a prestigious university. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, just a few universities meet international standards and provide high-quality education. I wanted to pursue Computer Science from a very young age. I’ve wanted to study computer science since I was a child.

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I was amazed by how simple it was to communicate with people when I first opened my first Facebook account. I have many relatives in India, and communicating with them has become much easier thanks to Facebook. That’s when I realized how powerful technology could be. Since then, I’ve known I wanted to study computer science and work in the tech industry.

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So, after finishing my A levels, I sat for my SATs and had good results. I began applying to universities in the United States soon after. Fortunately, after a few applications, I was accepted into UTA with a good scholarship. So, In the pursuit of contributing to the Tech field and pursuing better and higher education, I came to the United States.

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What were your biggest struggles in America? How did you overcome the challenge and what did you learn from it?

Being an international student itself has been my greatest challenge. I was torn between several options and didn’t know which path to take. I was completely bewildered and lacked self-confidence. It’s not simply your technical talents that matter while looking for work in the United States. You’ll also need a solid portfolio, a strong network, and professionalism, among other things.

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When I first joined Algorizin, I began to build confidence as I progressed through the career classes and one-on-one sessions with the mentors. To add to that, as an immigrant in a foreign country, I was lacking in support. I didn’t have someone who could connect to my situation, nor did I have a sense of belonging.

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But in Algorizin, I met a wonderful community who helped me realize I wasn’t alone in this and who stood with me through all of my difficulties. However, because Algorizin was still relatively new at the time, I wasn’t sure if I would benefit from it and be able to find work. However, their demonstrated track record of alumni achievement aided me in making my decision. I’m glad I did it now that it’s been a few months.

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What major values did you gain from Algorizin?

First and foremost, as I worked on the Nudge application, I gained practical experience with a real-world project. There, I was able to work as part of a team and contribute to developing an application. This strengthened my résumé and gave me the confidence to go out into the job market knowing that I also had some actual industry experience.

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Second, I am pretty fond of Algorizin’s immigrant-friendly platform. I could relate more with Algorizin’s community because it understood the immigrant experience. It provided me with not only professional but also emotional support.

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Finally, I’d like to mention the community and my peers. Algorizin teaches you something new that you didn’t know before every week.

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What is your vision for the future?

My goals are nothing short of the American dream. In five years, I see myself as having grown professionally.

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I want to develop new tech skills, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. I also envision myself giving back to the community that has helped me become who I am.

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Do you have any advice for the international students?

To all international students who come here to pursue their dreams, it’s challenging to be away from home, navigate a new country, and speak English if it’s not your first language.

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What matters is that you have faith in yourself. Know that you’re here because you’re deserving of being there. So, have faith in yourself.