A small step from a long journey | ScholarX
I found myself at that point, waiting for something special to happen and hoping for some kind of miracle. All of us wait for that moment, don’t we? We’re all stuck in this maze of the new normal, constantly connecting and disconnecting, joining and leaving, turning on and off, attending online lectures, taking exams, dealing with PDFs and lecture recordings, and so on. The list goes on and on…
But to my surprise, it appeared on my LinkedIn feed: an opportunity I had never thought of before — the ScholarX mentorship program by Sustainable Education. It was an opportunity to enhance my knowledge and gain experience. Since I began my undergraduate life, I had needed someone to advise me on career development and help me choose between academia and industry. However, finding someone specialized in my subject and pursuing happiness seemed difficult. But ScholarX seemed to be the place to find answers to all those questions in my mind. So why wait for more? With just a click, I finished filling in my application after carefully reviewing the program details. Despite having so many questions in my head and no answers at that moment, I was able to take my step out of my comfort zone and embark on a long journey.
What is ScholarX?
The Sustainable Education Foundation (SEF) is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to providing non-traditional learning opportunities for local students. One of its initiatives, ScholarX, is a six-month mentorship program designed to connect local students with professionals in their respective fields, whether in academia or industry. Through this program, undergraduate students will have the chance to receive guidance from experts and accomplished individuals from around the world.
As I went through the mentorship program’s procedures, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity about who my mentor would be. I wondered about the valuable lessons I could learn, the experiences I could share, and the questions I could ask. It’s a rare opportunity for an undergraduate in Sri Lanka to be mentored by someone who has pursued happiness in the same field of study.
My mentor
I was thrilled to discover that my mentor for the program is Mahendrini Fernando Ariyachandra, a final year PhD candidate at the Construction Information Technology (CIT) Laboratory in the University of Cambridge. In her doctoral research, she focuses on developing methods to generate and update digital twins of buildings and infrastructure using computer vision and pattern recognition technologies. Her expertise lies in Construction Automation, BIM, and Construction Economics.
We have already had two Zoom meetings and are successfully managing our schedules despite the time differences. Through our discussions, I have gained insights into her university life and her experiences as a researcher at the University of Cambridge. After understanding my goals and expectations for this mentorship program, she is guiding me in working on an academic paper addressing an unsolved issue in the construction industry of Sri Lanka. I am actively working towards identifying possible solutions that can have a positive impact on society.
Opportunities often arrive unexpectedly, and it is crucial to always give our best. So, as you wait for my next article, continue to invest in your personal growth.
