Alumni Spotlight: Sireesha Prathigadapa’s Journey of Growth and Grit at UNIMY
Many people find it intimidating to work a full-time job while juggling the demands of pursuing a PhD. But for UNIMY Alumni Sireesha Prathigadapa, earning a PhD in computing at UNIMY itself, was a pivotal moment in both her academic and professional lives. She decided to pursue full-time doctoral studies in order to enhance her research skills and solidify her identity as an educator, with her experience as an academic bolstering her confidence.
What came next was a journey molded by perseverance, solid guidance, and a pursuit of constantly growing...
Mentorship and Research Support That Matters
Sireesha credits two specific aspects that were the most impactful at her time at UNIMY - structure and a supportive research environment. Plus, with the guidance of her supervisor, Prof Ts Dr Salwani Mohd Daud, Sireesha easily navigated all the complex research challenges with the confidence she needed.
With consistent supervision and an individualised academic support, the overall challenge in achieving research milestones were made both exciting and attainable. From improving methodologies to interpreting extremely sophisticated results, Sireesha has had a blast taking it on!
Raising Expectations
UNIMY encouraged her to think more critically, aim higher, and continuously refine her work. Plus, with all the academic discussions and scholarly engagement, her perspective constantly was being expanded. This reinforced her self-belief in producing research that really pushed herself towards her true potential.
Lessons That Last a Lifetime
Genuine mentorship.
This was what impacted Sireesha and that is one of the many key values from UNIMY that Sireesha will carry with her through her career as an academic. With this, Sireesha has already been applying these values towards her students - making them feel supported, guided, and encouraged to explore their potential.
As she puts it,
“Students grow best when they feel supported and guided, and that is the same approach I now apply in my own teaching.”
Now, to continue the habit of instilling the right values that she learned, she wants to give current UNIMY students some simple but sincere advice...
"Make full use of the support available to you. Engage actively with your supervisors, stay curious, and allow yourself the freedom to learn and grow. Your time at UNIMY goes beyond just the task of completing a degree. It is about discovering your strengths and preparing yourself to face whatever future challenges with the confidence that exists within all of you."
UNIMY was more than a place of study for Sireesha. It was the foundation that helped shape the educator she is today, and a journey she remains deeply grateful for. Onwards to the next!
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