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My Journey
Being from a small village in Tamil Nadu, India, I always used to wonder whether I would be able to achieve my dream of exploring the cosmos.
The journey has been long. From my village to the model school set up in Ramanathapuram, to Madras Institute of Technology, to IIT Kanpur. Along each step of the way, I was reminded of a quote I like from "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho - "When you want something with all of your heart, the universe conspires to help you achieve it."
Now, owing to opportunities that come with miracles and constant support from my parents, teachers, friends, and well-wishers, I am taking one step closer towards my dream by joining the Ph.D. program in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Arizona.
At the University of Arizona, I will work with Prof. Jekan Thanga to study how best to put satellites in orbit around asteroid-like objects, with potential applications to asteroid mining.
I am thrilled about this next step. But, nervous too. Due to my financial condition, I need some help to reach my goal.
A wonderful mentor had helped me create a fundraiser on this site. At the time, I set the goal just enough for the plane ticket since it was my first time using a public crowdfunding. I wasn't sure how it worked. Wonderful well-wishers helped me reach the target within one day.
Encouraged by your love and support, I am starting this fundraiser to meet my basic first month's expenses in the US. It will be a few weeks before I start receiving my stipend as a Ph.D. student, and in the meantime, I will need to support for living expenses like food, rent and commute. In the images below I've included a more detailed budget for how I plan to spend the funds.
Your contribution to bridge my first one-month expenditure will inspire many students to take the giant leap from their rural backgrounds. It will encourage students like me to chase the dream without worrying about where the money to bridge the gap for their basic living expenses will come from.
Being from a small village in Tamil Nadu, India, I always used to wonder whether I would be able to achieve my dream of exploring the cosmos.
The journey has been long. From my village to the model school set up in Ramanathapuram, to Madras Institute of Technology, to IIT Kanpur. Along each step of the way, I was reminded of a quote I like from "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho - "When you want something with all of your heart, the universe conspires to help you achieve it."
Now, owing to opportunities that come with miracles and constant support from my parents, teachers, friends, and well-wishers, I am taking one step closer towards my dream by joining the Ph.D. program in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Arizona.
At the University of Arizona, I will work with Prof. Jekan Thanga to study how best to put satellites in orbit around asteroid-like objects, with potential applications to asteroid mining.
I am thrilled about this next step. But, nervous too. Due to my financial condition, I need some help to reach my goal.
A wonderful mentor had helped me create a fundraiser on this site. At the time, I set the goal just enough for the plane ticket since it was my first time using a public crowdfunding. I wasn't sure how it worked. Wonderful well-wishers helped me reach the target within one day.
Encouraged by your love and support, I am starting this fundraiser to meet my basic first month's expenses in the US. It will be a few weeks before I start receiving my stipend as a Ph.D. student, and in the meantime, I will need to support for living expenses like food, rent and commute. In the images below I've included a more detailed budget for how I plan to spend the funds.
Your contribution to bridge my first one-month expenditure will inspire many students to take the giant leap from their rural backgrounds. It will encourage students like me to chase the dream without worrying about where the money to bridge the gap for their basic living expenses will come from.
