Urjaswi Banerjee
B.Sc (Data Science and Applications)From the bustling streets of Kolkata to the virtual classrooms of IITM BS Degree, Urjaswi Banerjee’s journey is of self-awareness and sincerity. This being her standalone degree, she joined the program right after finishing her 12th grade with no prior coding experience. Coming from a background of Biology and Mathematics, concepts like Loops, Functions, and Data Structures were brand new to her. “I had to practice everything from scratch,” she shared.
Now at the degree level, Urjaswi is hoping to finish her BSc this term taking courses such as SE, AI:SMPS, and MR. Simultaneously, she is serving as the TA for MAD 1 as well. “The App Dev projects have really helped me in implementing codes better,” she says.
Her journey hasn’t been a bed of roses. With each term, the subjects became more demanding, which consequently required her to have better discipline and a strict schedule. Adding the responsibilities of a TA to it, she has been juggling the roles with utmost precision. “Deadlines won’t wait for me,” she says while talking about meeting the expectations of students relying on her. Acknowledging the initial struggles, she now seems very confident in conducting three live sessions every week, balancing her own studies in the morning and late at night.
Holding a Green Belt in Karate, Urjaswi has recently picked up piano and electric guitar to explore her knack for music, adding more layers to her multifaceted life. And although she couldn’t attend the previous editions of Paradox, this time she is looking forward to attending.
Near the conclusion of our talk, when asked about what sets this degree apart, she points to its versatility.
“This degree is so vast; it opens up doors to so many fields. Even if you start from scratch without having much idea, down the line, this degree helps you find your interests,” she explains.
Subjects like CT laid the foundation for her coding journey, consequently helping her learn Python and Java. Her secret? Consistent Practice and meticulous note-making. “Making your own notes helps retain concepts better, making revision much smoother”. Apart from the technical ones, she also emphasised on how subjects like SPG and projects like BDM not only refined her communication/soft skills but also boosted her confidence. When asked about her favourite subject, she mentioned PDSA, with a warm sense of pride.
Currently, she is focusing on graduating with flying colours – all while preparing for GATE 2026. While enrollment in an MTech degree is her primary goal, she remains open to job opportunities. To those who have recently enrolled in the BS Degree or are already paving their way through it, her message is clear:
“Take your time and focus on truly understanding the underlying coding principles. Building a strong foundation now will save you time and effort in the long run, preventing the need to revisit basic concepts repeatedly. A solid grasp of these fundamentals is what will really support your progress as you continue to code”.
Urjaswi’s journey is a testament to how structure and passion for learning can turn even the most unlikely beginnings into promising futures.
– Written by Satyaki Goswami
