“How Microsoft has impacted your life and how you plan to bring a change to the society being a Microsoft Student Associate?”

Hello Everyone!

My name is Swati Awasthi. 

Impact of Microsoft in my life

Microsoft fascinated me since the time I was a school kid. I only vaguely remember the computer department of my Dad's office where the first computers in our city were neatly placed. I went along with my father to see the computer. What I clearly remember is having it confused with TV at my home. Then began the demo and after a couple of minutes or so of black screen with white text scribbled all over, there it was, the beginning of a new journey of life and opening of an entirely new world for me, the windows 95 logo appeared on the screen. To be frank after that I didn't understand much when the word processor and other applications were shown. What attracted my attention though was the paint application and when I drew the first line it was as if some magic had happened on the screen. 

I was so much influenced by the paint application that I badly wanted a PC at my home too. My Dad agreed to my wish and about a year later, there it was, my first Windows PC. I was super excited that day when the engineer had come at our place to set it up. I was quiet curious to go into the depth of the knowledge about the box type thing (I used to call when I was 3).At the age of 10 my teachers told me about Microsoft being legend of IT field and I started using Microsoft Office which made my work easy.

I pursued computer engineering after school. Here, I saw a whole new side of Microsoft, yes, I was introduced to Visual Basic and a little later to Visual Studio. I did all my programming on this IDE and even went on to make an application for my college's admission department .NET framework.

During this time, I was not only honing my skills using these Microsoft products, but I was also making an effort to spread the word out to my juniors and friends of various colleges throughout India. I volunteered many Microsoft events like Microsoft Dream Spark Yatra and Microsoft India Appfest, I also organized workshops and seminars in various colleges of different cities with Microsoft Student Partners. I don’t call myself a tech geek rather I call myself a “Tech Rockstar”. I am also a member of DEBUG, it is a group of Microsoft enthusiast of Bhopal.

Currently I am pursuing MBA-IT and with the release of MS One Drive and Office online, now I am even more independent in the sense that I can create and share documents and spreadsheets on the cloud and download it later on. Microsoft online apps syncs Facebook, Google and Skype accounts on my PC and Windows phone so now I can chat with friends and family thereby making my social life sound.Windows phone was one of the best thing happened to me, everything was just one touch away. Being a girl whenever I am in danger or doubt I can use the security app and a notification is sent to my guardian, it also guides me on what restaurant I would want to eat, get driving directions, pay my bills, book movie tickets, flight tickets, from any corner of the world.

I would like to thank Microsoft for introducing me to the fascinating world of computers. I can’t even imagine a day, when I don’t have a desktop on my desk or a windows phone on my palm.Microsoft is at my workplace, at home and anywhere else I can think of at the moment.

Bringing a change to the society

Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important. – Bill Gates

I want to be the voice of youth not an echo! Microsoft Student Associate, for me is a medium by which I can educate people regarding various Microsoft products and services, and update myself and others with new technologies and trends offered by Microsoft. I will bring this to action by organising workshops, fests, competitions, camps where in students and faculties of various institutes, technical / non-technical can participate and learn about Microsoft. I will create blogs, webinars and use all social media marketing tools to spread awareness among the masses about Microsoft. Those students who are interested on learning courses I would suggest them MVA (Microsoft virtual academy). I will also request the college management to organise classes of MVA at my campus. By doing all such activities my ultimate aim as Microsoft Student Associate is to bring Microsoft Enthusiasts forward and motive them to do more with Microsoft, at the same time encourage everyone else to become a part of the wonderful world of Microsoft. I would conclude by quoting the words of Bill Gates “People always fear change. People feared electricity when it was invented, didn't they? People feared coal, they feared gas-powered engines. There will always be ignorance, and ignorance leads to fear. But with time, people will come to accept their silicon masters.”

Microsoft products turned out to be the milestones of my road to the world of technology.