Sandrine Amahoro Rutayisire, Alumna, Computer Science and Visual Arts
Hello, I'm Sandrine. I'm from Rwanda. Welcome to ISSO Stories.
Which Columbia program/department are you in?
I graduated in Computer Science and Visual Arts.
Some of the research that I've done was, as you can imagine, I did an interdisciplinary track. So I did computer science and film, and you know, more like visual arts.Those two things normally don't go together, so it was an interesting experience to kind of bridge them together and see the possibilities. I consider myself a storyteller, so I like to see how we can tell stories, but tell stories in the- in the time that we're in now. One project that I was so happy about - it was called Originality in Literature. So it's an understanding of, like, with the emergence of AI how can they write things that are original? And so I interviewed all the professors from the comparative literature department, and I did a lot of interviews, too, with the professors of the computer science department. And it was just like an interesting find to see just how many extremes - those who were at the extremes, those who were neutral, those who were just like: why doesn't everybody take a break and go for a hike or something? Only because, you know, these are- these are questions that we don't really have answers to at the moment.
Something that I would spotlight is the relationship or the network that I built at Columbia. Being able to meet people from different cultures, have different perspectives, and different beliefs. I'm very proud about the friendships that I've built at Columbia.
The first thing that I learned about Columbia was Hamilton. Funny enough. And, you know, the musical was so moving because it was like “history is happening in Manhattan.” I kind of, like, embodied that mind. Because of Covid, I graduated a month before college. So, you know, you have a girl full of ambitions, a little bit anxious, a suitcase full of dreams. And I didn't really know what to think or what to expect. And so when I came here, everything was new. Having the openness, and the humility, and the willingness to new possibilities - that shaped what I experienced at Columbia and the experiences that I had, however varied or, or like even miles apart from where they are, like, from each other. It just feels like that was the thing that moved me the most.
What is something that I wish I knew before I came here? I would say: have a more excited heart. You know, I was only thinking “oh I’m going to college,” but no. I changed as a person. I evolved and I, you know, I learned so many things about life. In general, I became a global citizen.
Dreams and imagination.
I would go to South Korea. My country, Rwanda, has somewhat of a similar, like, story with South Korea. By studying, like, the technological advancements and just how it changed from being its state to now. You know, I love so many things about Korea: the food, the language. There’s just so much about the country that I really want to explore. Well, my ticket is booked.
Tell us about your research or projects at Columbia.
I did an interdisciplinary track so I did computer science, film, and visual arts. These things normally don't go together, so it was an interesting experience to bridge them and see the possibilities.
I consider myself a storyteller so I like to see how we can tell stories, but tell stories in the time that we're in now. One project that I was so happy about was called Originality in Literature. With the emergence of AI, how can we write things that are original? I interviewed all the professors from the Comparative Literature department and I conducted many interviews with the professors of the Computer Science department. It was interesting to see how many extremes - those who were neutral, those who were just like: why doesn't everybody take a break and go for a hike or something? Only because these are questions that we don't really have answers to at the moment.
My Columbia journey has been filled with moments I never imagined. I have had the pleasure of hosting other projects including Home for Pigeons and for Human alongside my coursework. Advised by a great number of faculty, the primary aim of this short film is to explore themes of adaptation, marginality, and fractured subjectivity in contemporary urban life; specifically by viewing the city through a pigeon’s perspective. I was inspired by how seemingly insignificant creatures like pigeons adapt to a metropolis like New York City, carving out an existence in the margins of human society. In the film, the pigeon was a metaphor for myself who, like the bird, sought to understand and tackle student life in a modern city.
What is something you are proud of during your time at Columbia?
Something that I would spotlight is the relationship or the network that I built at Columbia. I'm very proud about the friendships that I've built at Columbia. Being able to meet people from different cultures, with different perspectives and beliefs.
Being far from home, I knew I needed to build a support network here. I joined ASEZ (Save the Earth from A to Z), a student volunteer group dedicated to environmental service. Through ASEZ, I spent weekends cleaning up parks, planting trees, and raising awareness about sustainability. ASEZ became my home on campus because I found my people: people who challenged me, supported me, and shared life with me whether we were coding into the night or planting flowers on a rainy day. I’m thankful to have been part of a club that was so welcoming, that taught me Mother’s heart, and that allowed me to serve in that way.
What is something that I wish I knew before I came here?
I would say: have a more excited heart. You know, I was only thinking “oh I’m going to college,” but no. I changed as a person. I evolved and I learned so many things about life in general. I became a global citizen.
The first thing that I learned about Columbia was from Hamilton, funny enough. The musical was so moving because it was like “history is happening in Manhattan.” I kind of embodied that mind. Because of the pandemic, I graduated a month before college. So, you have a girl full of ambitions, a little bit anxious, and a suitcase full of dreams. I didn't really know what to think or what to expect. So when I came here, everything was new. Having the openness, humility, and the willingness to new possibilities - that shaped what I experienced at Columbia and the experiences that I had.
I'm very proud about the friendships that I've built at Columbia. Being able to meet people from different cultures, with different perspectives and beliefs.
If you could live anywhere, where would you go?
I would go to South Korea. In fact, my country, Rwanda, has somewhat of a similar story. By studying the technological advancements and how it changed from being its state to now. I love so many things about Korea: the food and the language, for example. There’s just so much about the country that I really want to explore. Well, my ticket is booked.
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