Raica Kwizera, Graduate Student in Technology Management, School of Professional Studies
Hi, my name is Raica and I am from Rwanda. Welcome to #ISSOstories.
Which Columbia program/department are you in?
I'm in the Technology Management Program in the School of Professional Studies (SPS).
My main focus in product development and product management is really just bridging the human experience with the digital experience. So what does that mean in terms of user experience user interfaces that we design? And then also bringing in data analytics and what data tells us about people. I'm really passionate about the intersection of people and technology, and I really do aspire to stay in that field and grow in that field and take it further..
I really never thought I'd live in New York. I thought it was too busy, too much. But then once, you know, Columbia came on my radar, I was like, “You know, I could try New York.” But being here for the past year, like nine months now, I really do enjoy various aspects. I love the busyness and also the quiet aspects. I really enjoy being outside. So whether that's walking alongside Riverside Park, you know, just spending time outside when it's warm enough, spending time with friends and family, checking out new restaurants. There's always a new restaurant to visit to try out. And then also really, the melting pot that is New York in terms of culture is something that I really, really do enjoy. So one block over, you're in a- it's as if you're in a whole different country.
Yeah, I think it goes without saying that the hardest thing about living here is being away from close family and friends and feeling like sometimes you're missing out on, like, the big life moments. But I guess a good reminder is to just keep in mind that you're here for a reason and chasing a dream, chasing a goal. And that eventually, you know, family is always going to be there. You can always go back and visit.
Now being here a couple months in Columbia, but also, the U.S as a whole, I've really discovered that, you know, there's so many opportunities, but they're all available to you if you just step out. I think sometimes, especially coming from different cultures, it's very normal or even like, normalized to choose to like, you know, “I just won't ask if I really do need something. I can figure it out on my own.” But there's so many resources, so many people who are really there to, like, walk alongside you. And so knowing now what I know, I think I probably would have approached the whole like moving to the US and moving to Columbia aspect a bit differently, knowing that I have more of a support system and resources available once I do get here as well.
A big highlight of mine, being at Columbia in New York, I know I talked about the melting pot, but it's really the different people that you meet. I think people shape your whole experience. And I've been very lucky to meet amazing people in my program and around SPS and Columbia as a whole. So really just a call to anybody who's here and looking for community, the community is there looking for you. So meet people, get out of your comfort zone and take advantage of being here for however long or short it is.
Tell us about your past research or current projects at Columbia.
My main focus is in product development and product management by bridging the human experience with the digital experience. I am interested in what that means in terms of user experience and user interfaces that we design. I am also interested in data analytics and what data tells us about people. I'm really passionate about the intersection of people and technology and I aspire to stay in that field and grow to take it further.
What has been your experience moving to NYC?
I really never thought I'd live in New York. I thought it was too busy. Once Columbia came on my radar, I was like, “You know, I could try New York.” Being here for the past year (roughly nine months), I enjoy various aspects. I love the busyness and also the quiet. I also really enjoy being outside. So whether that's walking alongside Riverside Park, spending time outside (when it's warm enough), being with friends and family, or checking out new restaurants. In fact, there's always a new restaurant to try out. The melting pot of New York culture is something that I really enjoy. One block over, it's as if you're in a whole different country.
What has been the hardest part about living in NYC?
I think it goes without saying that the hardest thing about living here is being away from close family and friends and feeling like sometimes you're missing out on big life moments. But I guess a good reminder is that you're here for a reason and chasing a dream and a goal. Eventually you know family is always going to be there. You can always go back and visit.
Meet people, get out of your comfort zone, and take advantage of being here for however long or short.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before?
Now being here a couple of months at Columbia, and in the U.S as a whole, I've discovered that there's so many opportunities and they're all available to you if you just step out. I think sometimes, especially coming from different cultures, it's very normal to say to yourself, “I just won't ask if I really do need something – I can figure it out on my own.” But there's so many resources, so many people who are really there to walk alongside you. And so knowing now what I know, I think I probably would have approached moving to the U.S and Columbia a bit differently, knowing that I have more of a support system and resources upon arrival.
A big highlight of mine is being at Columbia in New York. I know I talked about the melting pot, but it's really the different people that you meet. I think people shape your whole experience. And I've been very lucky to meet amazing people in my program and around SPS and Columbia as a whole. So really just a reminder to anybody who's here and looking for community, the community is there looking for you. So meet people, get out of your comfort zone, and take advantage of being here for however long or short it is.
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