The college access and success field is old enough that classes of
students we’ve supported have graduated and are now creating the change
we want to see in the world. As NCAN marks 25 years of progress in the
effort to close equity gaps in higher education, our Alumni Spotlight
series will feature the stories of outstanding alumni who have come
through our member organizations over the years.
At a time such as this, we believe it’s still important to share
the success stories of the students our members serve. We hope you enjoy
the series and this week’s alumni.
A rough first semester at the University of Maryland almost caused Anupam Ghosh to throw in the towel – almost. Learning of his struggles, Anupam’s college success coach at CollegeTracks met him halfway, helping Anupam to locate campus services meant
to support him. Together, they created a plan of success.
One college degree later, Anupam currently works as a senior software engineer at Capital One Financial. Anupam’s story is bigger than the degree – it’s about the people he can uplift with that degree, including his mom and and brother.
Read more about Anupam’s story below.
Note: The responses below have been lightly copy edited for clarity.
Tell us a story of how a mentor or counselor helped you on your journey to earn your postsecondary degree/credential.
My first days at the University of Maryland were very rough. Unlike many of the other first-year students, I did not move in a week early to get accustomed to campus. I also threw myself at the deep end and decided to take on 19 credits. After my first
day of class, hopping from classroom to classroom, getting lost throughout the day, and looking at all the syllabi, I started panicking. Everything was so different, I was away from home, the learning format was all upside down, and it felt very overbearing.
I reached out to many people, including my mother and even emergency therapy on campus, but I also decided to reach out to Ms. McLeod. She was one of many at CollegeTracks who helped me apply and get me into the university. Ms. McLeod, who has helped
many students get into college and stay in college, knew what to do. We met in person and came up with a plan. I reduced my credit load to the minimum full time required, came home from time to time if needed, and most importantly, [agreed] to stick
with at least one semester. If I still felt uncomfortable in any way, we would start talking about maybe changing schools or other options. Because she reassured me and gave me a manageable plan, I stuck with it that semester and the next four years
to graduate from UMD.
As a student, what hurdles did you face while getting your postsecondary degree/credential?
The biggest hurdle I faced was time management, as I lost most of the structure and routine we had in high school during the transition to college. In addition to being a full-time student, I also had two jobs – one on campus and one off campus.
Though my schedule was very strict with not much wiggle room, as with many things in life I also had to be flexible so I could pivot at a moment’s notice.
Another hurdle I had to face was making sure I graduated on time: my education was funded by state grants that would not pay for a fifth year, and I also had a job offer lined up that I was not willing to renege on. As a student, it is pretty easy to
lose the big picture but to combat this, my CollegeTracks success coach helped me keep on track by not only using the online resources provided by UMD but ensured I visited my assigned on-campus adviser every semester.
What inspires you to work in your field?
Computing and information technology is affecting our lives more than ever. This field touches every other discipline and is going to keep shaping our world.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen numerous changes in our lives and are combating them in different ways. We use social media to keep in touch with family and friends digitally while social distancing; hobbyists and DIY'ers print 3D
protective gear for doctors and nurses on the front line.
We use technology today to solve a multitude of problems, and that is what inspires me to be in this field in and out of my day job. I went from being good at using and fixing computers to now writing software to solve widespread problems. I get to use
a skill I have cultivated over the years to find solutions that hopefully can help people.
In light of COVID-19, it’s important for students to hear words of encouragement from those who were in their shoes not long ago. What advice would you give to students right now?
As many have shifted to working from home, so has education. Students now need to be more creative and ingenious than ever.
Traditional college structures have been disrupted, but do not let that stop you from getting the support you need. Insist on getting the time you need from professors and TAs alike. Use technology to your advantage. Use services like YouTube and Khan
Academy to supplement your studies and form virtual study groups using free versions of chat apps like Google Meet or Discord.
When you feel overwhelmed or lost, reach out to people who care about you. Even if you have to meet with them virtually, you have people rooting for your success.
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