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“It’s easy to chase your own success, but it takes something deeper to help others find theirs.”
About eight months ago, I made a decision to start mentoring. I didn’t plan it — it just happened. Two students from the Computer Science department crossed my path by chance, and that accidental meeting turned into a beautiful journey of learning, growth, and friendship.
My student Ankit Devarapalli came up with an idea — to replace traditional plastic-based ID cards with secure, digital IDs. I really liked his thought and decided to support him by giving the right direction and helping shape the concept further. What began as a small idea soon turned into a strong vision to make university life smarter and more sustainable. That moment marked the beginning of our journey — the birth of SYNKRO.
I remember making countless tweaks — from refining the app’s design to reshaping its core functionality. We spent endless hours perfecting every detail, and that dedication finally paid off when SYNKRO was selected among the Top 11 finalists of the UNM AppContest.
I also want to thank my student Haasika Reddy Jagirapu, who joined the team at the last minute but still made a big contribution. She stayed with us for almost six hours, helping and coordinating while we practiced the presentation again and again.
Right after our presentation, we received an email from Benjamin Murray, IT Officer at the UNM School of Engineering, sharing that the UNM CIO and the Director of UNM Apps are very interested in our app. They’ve invited our team for a meeting to explore how SYNKRO can be integrated into UNM systems. It’s truly exciting to see our idea getting recognized at this level!
This journey has been incredibly rewarding — not just for the recognition, but for the opportunity to guide talented students in turning their ideas into reality.