Insights and Interactions
A Recap of TalkTapestry by GDSC KSSEM
As a chapter of the Google Developer Student Clubs, we at GDSC KSSEM are always striving to help our student community get the best opportunities and resources to level up their path as future developers. In the same vein, TalkTapestry started as an idea to connect our peers to the alumni of our college, providing a personal bridge to the professional world. As our preparations for the big day of the event progressed, it proved to be an activity that brought the new and old members of the team together. It felt exciting to be a part of something bigger than myself — something that would be beneficial to others, brought about by the efforts of our team.
Sameer Kashyap, the visionary behind the establishment of the Google Developer Students Club at K S School of Engineering and Management, graced our event as the inaugural speaker. He is also currently a Software Development Engineer at Acko. Having been an engineering graduate for a couple of years, he drew from the experience he has gained to share wisdom about life during and after the degree. Learning about the challenges Sameer faced in cementing GDSC as a long-term institution at our college deepened our admiration for his determination and instilled an appreciation for the benefits we now enjoy due to his pioneering efforts.
Sean Kevin, our second speaker, is an Application Developer at Dell Technologies, as well as an ex-core team member of GDSC KSSEM. Sean’s journey to his current role at a global tech giant, showed the scope of opportunities available to our student community. His deep-dive into the strategies that he and his peers had used to maximise these opportunities highlighted the importance of collaborative learning and continuous growth in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Riya Singh, our final speaker, is a recent graduate and former core team member of our college’s GDSC, currently serving as a Junior Systems Developer Trainee at HugoByte AI Labs. Riya brought in her unique views on one’s transition from academics to a professional career. Her session provided the perspective of someone who recently navigated the intricate process of job applications and interviews.
During the four hours of the TalkTapestry session, the participants got the opportunity to listen to the insights that the speakers had gained from their college and professional experience. Each speaker shone a light on the journey they had undergone from college to their current career path. This served as an inspiration to the participants to discern how they could pave their path from where they are today to where they dream to be.
In the midst of absorbing the various perspectives offered by the speakers’ sessions, the attendees got involved in dynamic activities prepared by the core team members. In the first session, GDSC core team member Sai Kishan mesmerised everyone with a display of illusion and mystique. ‘There is a connection that binds us all together,’ he said, ‘and using that connection, I can read your minds.’ The audience was left stumped as he guessed the cards picked by the volunteers right not just once, but three times.
For the second session, I was given the exciting opportunity to conduct a quiz that would ignite a sense of healthy competition among the attendees. I had come up with a blend of questions about new and upcoming technologies, tech trivia, and general technical knowledge. As I walked the audience through the steps to join the quiz, I couldn’t help feeling jittery, fretting that the questions I had prepared wouldn’t be met with much enthusiasm. But as they cheered and exclaimed at the reveal of every answer, my distress melted away. Seeing everyone enjoy the quiz uplifted me, and surprising myself, I too joined them in the laughs and cheers.
After all three of the speaker sessions, we held a panel discussion, during which the participants asked the speakers their questions. This discussion served as a platform for the speakers to delve deeper into some topics, and for the participants to form connections with them. Topics spanned the spectrum of the professional journey, including securing internships and valuable lessons learned throughout their careers, as well as general tips and advice that could be implemented in one’s daily life.
The response we got from the participants was overwhelming. The attendees resonated with the speakers, and were excited to tackle their roadmap to a professional career. Many of our peers shared that they would love to be a part of more such dynamic, interactive sessions. We, the GDSC team members, felt satisfied with the fruits of our labour. To have been involved in the organisation of such a large-scale and successful event boosted our team morale and energised us for future endeavours.
To bring it all together, TalkTapestry succeeded in bridging the gap between our student community and accomplished alumni and created a shared experience that brought our GDSC team together. The insightful speakers, engaging activities, and interactive panel discussion left a lasting impact on the participants, inspiring and enlightening them about college and professional life. TalkTapestry shows how working together and learning from mentors can shape the future of those aspiring to be tech professionals. GDSC KSSEM looks forward to building on this success and continuing to provide valuable opportunities for our community to learn, connect, and thrive.
