A chat with Saiara Musarrat Adrita
Saiara Musarrat Adrita scored outstanding grades in both her O and A Level ex-aminations, which she sat for in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Currently a program officer at Microsoft, she has a flourishing career. We caught up with Adrita on the eve of this year’s ‘The Daily Star O and A Level Awards’.
Tell us a bit about The Daily Star Awards.
The awards were definitely a motivating factor. When I was young, I was unaware of the fact that good grades actually help in getting into better universities, but I definitely knew about the popularity of The Daily Star Awards. I remember having conversations about taking enough subjects, just to win this award. In fact, I took nine subjects during my O Level examination just to ensure I was not missing out on this recognition.
How has this award helped you in your endeavors?
This award has always played a vital role in my resume. People, both at home and abroad know how eminent this award is, as only the outstanding students receive it.
How do you associate your thoughts about Microsoft when it comes to grooming young minds for the future?
Microsoft expects young people to be updated with technical knowledge. The message that Microsoft always conveys is that one might not know it all, but one should always learn it all. Having the mindset to learn and grow, therefore, is very important. With Google and YouTube at their fingertips, I think that the young generation can use technology to its full potential.
What message would you give to the young people in Bangladesh on using technology to bring positive changes?
I already think that the younger generation has the spirit to drive towards positive changes. However, they should bring technology into effective play by making sure that they are using the internet for learning and teaching. In this competitive era, we need to think of everything from a global perspective, not just in the context of Bangladesh. We must also allocate time to use technology for self development.