Statement of Purpose MS in Computer Science - II

As an inquisitive youngster, I had always wanted to find out for myself the answer to the question, "why" and "how", behind certain phenomenon. Since I believed in, "Never to accept a thing as a fact, unless backed by a solid proof of it", it made me choose science stream in my higher secondary study. It was my hard work and an instinctive liking towards physics, chemistry and mathematics that led me to successful completion of secondary school public examination conducted by the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi, India. It was then that I knew, Communication is the industry that has changed the way we have looked at things since centuries and is still pushing through the boundaries that we can’t imagine a strong reason for me to opt for Engineering after my high school; which was then a natural choice.

My country, Nepal, was no exception to this and it had begun to make an impact on the lives of people here. Due to the geographical heritage of my country, communication is the only industry that will shape our future for better lifestyle, by being an integral part of the development process, in years to come. With the zeal and love for the subject, which was evident for me after my high school, it wasn’t difficult for me to get through a primer school of Engineering in Nepal, Nepal Engineering College (NEC), Bhaktapur, Nepal, a place where students are admitted after an open nation wide entrance test.

During the course of my undergraduate study at NEC, I received an in-depth knowledge of various facets of electronics and communication. I learnt a lot about Microprocessor, Integrated Digital Electronics, Bio-Medical and Electronic magnetic Propagation and Antenna to mention a few. However, the subject of Advance Communication System, Digital Signal Processing and Aeronautical Telecommunication fascinated me the most with its veracity. The practical session were the best for me, where I was able to verify various theories studied in the class and was able to understand their practical relevance in our day to day life. It was in these sessions where I could hone my software skills in C++ while writing programs for Numerical Method and Computer Graphics, assembly language programs for Microprocessor and also Matlab programs for Digital Signal Processing.

Together with mini projects like Volt Guard and UPS, my final year project involved Wireless Infra Red Security System under the guidance of Professor Sailesh K. Jha. The objective of the project was to get familiar with the practical aspects of the theories taught in the college and an opportunity to use my imagination to come up with something that had potential to ease the lifestyle of people today. In the latter project Infra Red rays and Radio Waves, a type of electromagnetic waves, were the key factors for the Wireless medium. Amplitude Modulation was used, amongst different methods of transmission of radio waves, to summarize our theoretical knowledge in practical fields.

I did not just, limit myself to the curriculum but went outside its periphery; in my endeavor to gain more, in-depth knowledge of my subjects. I received my professional training in Computer Hardware and Networking at National Computer World, Kathmandu, Nepal, the first A+ Authorized Service Center of Comp TIA, U.S.A. The training was beneficial in as much as I had an opportunity to learn core hardware components of computer and system and tools for networking them. During my course work, I came to realize the importance of Computer in every field, be it social Science or Physical Science, be it in development works or business for that matter; we could no longer take Computer (and therefore the Communication System as a whole) for granted or just as any esoteric machine. I consider myself lucky to have been brought up in an environment where I had an access to good schools, where I could learn Computer Science. Thinking about the students who want to learn but do not have access or opportunity to such technology, which is still a forte of "the haves", shuddered me and further reinforces my commitment towards achieving Universal Computer Knowledge and Access. I knew it then, that I need to work towards bridging up the gap, between the haves and have-nots.

Soon after completing my B.E. with few other similar minded friends, we opened a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), For Information Technology Management Nepal (Forum), just to help underprivileged students studying in state-run schools/institutions so that they too, like us, have an opportunity to learn Computer at an early stage, to understand its importance and use it as a tool for better Knowledge. In the past, for nearly one year, we as an organization have come a long way in achieving that goal. Now, we, on a regular basis, teach students in few state-run schools, about "basic" Computer and Internet usage. I am proud to be associated with such an NGO as a capacity of founder member (as well as the Treasurer), which is first of its kind in Nepal, solely devoted to the development of Information Technology Sector at the grass-root level. I have also worked as a volunteer for three months with Kanya Mandir Alumnae Association of, Nepal’s first Women School, Kanya Mandir School, Kathmandu, Nepal for the establishment of the Computer Education in the school. This association is oriented in providing computer education to those children who are deprived of it.

Today, as an Electronics and Communication Engineer I see several opportunities opening up for me – both career wise and intellectually. However, of them all, the one that offers me the avenues to fulfill all my dreams is Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and specializing in Communication System. I know for certain, that the scope for education in the United States of America, in both, technical and non-technical fields, is immense. After having done careful study of the research interests of each faculty members, their area of expertise and information about the University and the Engineering Department of many Universities I have come to realize University of South Alabama best suits my interest with amazing faculty, first class research facilities, especially those in Communication Engineering. By pursuing my masters at this University my objective of obtaining excellence in the field of study will materialize. Having worked for the subject that I have come to respect, I am even more determined and sure than ever that it is the Master's degree at University of South Alabama that I want to join, and I am confident that it will come a long way in helping me achieve my professional goal, of contributing to the subject in my country. As for Nepal, Communication as an industry with its positive externalities in assisting economic growth is in thriving state. Many private Telecommunication, Mobile and Wireless communication companies have already started their business and besides that the fact that the government has become serious about the communication facilities all over Nepal are clear indications of the great opportunity that lies ahead of us here. Partial Privatization of Nepal Telecommunication Corporation and laying of optical fiber in different parts of the country is yet another indication that re-iterates the scope that is here in Nepal. With the knowledge and skills that I shall learn from the University of South Alabama, I am confident that I shall come a long way in fulfilling my dream of living a "life of communication".