3 Career-Defining Moves That Helped A Nepali Student Go From Mississippi to MIT
When people hear that Pragya Neupane just completed her Master’s at MIT, they might assume her success came from grades, perfect test scores, and academic hustle.
But when asked what actually shaped her career the most — beyond the classroom — her answers had nothing to do with textbooks.
Here are the top 3 activities that changed her life trajectory:
1️⃣ Attending Her First Hackathon
“This one experience truly changed everything for me.”
In her first year of college in Mississippi, Pragya had no resume, no experience, and no idea what a hackathon even was. But when she learned about one happening at the University of Texas at Dallas, she and a few friends made it happen — despite having no car, no hotel, and no clear plan.
They drove 7–8 hours, slept in the university building, and joined a team with a stranger during the networking session.
Their team ended up building "Presentation Gym", an AI-based web tool that gave feedback on public speaking — way ahead of its time in 2019.
“That one hackathon taught me more than months of studying — about tech, team-building, networking, and most importantly, how to start.”
2️⃣ Building Side Projects With Friends
After that hackathon, Pragya didn’t stop.
“We kept experimenting. We didn’t wait for classes to teach us. We built websites, explored AI tools, and learned by doing.”
These side projects helped her:
Strengthen her technical skills
Build a solid resume
Stand out when applying for internships and grad school
They were small projects, but they showed initiative — something that recruiters and grad schools always look for.
3️⃣ Networking Outside Her Bubble
Pragya started college in a place where tech opportunities were limited. So she made it a priority to go where things were happening — literally.
“The people I met at that hackathon — and others later on — changed the way I saw everything.”
From cold DMs to attending meetups, she went beyond her immediate circle to connect with people in tech, which exposed her to new ideas, internships, and role models.
💬 Her Advice to You
“The extra effort you take outside the classroom? That’s what matters. Grades are important, but they’re not enough. The world rewards people who show initiative.”
If you’re early in your journey, here’s what she wants you to know:
Don’t wait until you feel ready
Show up — even if you don’t know everything yet
Say yes to that first event, project, or team — it could change your life
Whether it was a scrappy road trip to Dallas or building an AI tool without formal training, Pragya’s story proves one thing:
The experiences that shape your future often happen outside your comfort zone — and outside the classroom.