Sirish Gurung
B.S., cum laude, Computer Science, 2023
Founder, Sirish Foundation
“Being an Alfie is being a member of a diverse family, each with their own unique experience, who support one another and have a common goal to make world a better place. Being an Alfie also means inspiring and giving hope to others.”
Service & Work:
Winner, SU ACM (Computer Science Club) hoodie design
Founder, Sirish Foundation, 2017–Present
Founder, Manang Wears, 2018–2019
Awards & Honors:
Member, Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society
Alfie Scholars, Cohort 6, 2021–2023
Merit-Based Scholarship
Participant, Rio de Janeiro Olympics, 2016
Sukirti Outstanding Performance Medal from the President of Nepal, 2013
Sirish’s Story
From an early age, I have always been curious about the world around me. My curious nature has been a motivating factor in my pursuit of knowledge and exploration. My desire for learning and exploration has helped me enjoy the learning process and has constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone. It has also ingrained a strong sense of awareness in me, which has always made me question any unjust or unequal treatment I have witnessed or experienced.
Growing up as a kid in Nepal, I was highly energetic and very hyperactive. Ideas or thoughts flew through my head quicker than I could process them individually. Hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive, I had it all, but due to Nepal's developing health care system, I was unknown to my ADHD. My teachers, friends, and even some family members did not like my energy. As a result, I was humiliated, bullied, and often judged for who I was.
Also, my parents had a hard time controlling me since I was always bursting with energy and never really tired. In order to control me, my parents engaged me in different out-of-school lessons to make me tired so that I would be less energetic and easier to control. However, I would always run away from all those classes, and I could not sit in one place and focus. Having tried different strategies and methods and still failing to control me, my parents decided to take me to swimming lessons. They had this idea, thinking I could not run out of the pool and had to stay there until the classes got over, and it would make me tired. In the beginning, I did not enjoy swimming at all, but as time passed by and I learned to swim, I started enjoying it. It was a different feeling to be in the water; I could be away from all those noises and judgments. It was just me and the black T-line at the bottom of the pool; I felt free.
It would not have been possible for me to become the person I am today without the support of my family. Coming from a middle-class Nepalese family, my parents have always instilled in me the importance of believing in myself and respecting others. My value in life stems from my ability to be optimistic and respectful. In every step of my life, they have supported me and boosted my confidence. They have always emphasized the value of a positive mindset and motivated me to take risks. I do not think I would have flourished and thrived enough to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics if it had not been for their supportive attitudes.
However, growing up, I have also experienced the discrimination and injustice that minorities and underprivileged people endure and how deeply ingrained it is in Nepalese culture. I have witnessed the disparity between the poor and the most powerful in our society, and the gap keeps increasing. The rights of the minority and disadvantaged communities are ignored, and they receive unfair treatment. Seeing all of the sadness and sufferings that was existing in our society, it was both unsettling and heartbreaking, and my deepest calling from within is to help the underprivileged people and to bring joy to our world.
After completing high school and taking a break from swimming, I had time to ponder further goals I wanted to set for myself. My experiences piqued my curiosity to work towards the injustice and inequalities still existing in our society. Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in natural resources, children, families, and communities in Nepal were some of the most impoverished in the world. I realized our society needed love and compassion, and I wanted to protect the place I grew up and give those young underprivileged youths the skills to control their futures.
Now, I'm fascinated by the world of technology, the rapid rate at which it advances, and how it has been embedded in our daily lives. With growing standards of living, our need for advanced technology has increased. It has always amazed seeing how these advancements have increased efficiency and productivity, which has inspired me to pursue a career as a software engineer. I wish to empower the underprivileged and disadvantaged people with my knowledge of computer science and wish to bridge the gap between modern world and developing Nepal.
Goals:
My goal is to be conducive in the field of technology and make a positive contribution to the society. By becoming a software developer, I hope to inspire others and offer them with greater opportunities in the field of technology. I firmly believe in the potential of information technology to bring about positive change towards the development of the country. I wish to empower underprivileged people in the remote parts of Nepal through my knowledge of computer science and train them to become developers to lead in the tech industry. I believe that genuine purpose in life is about identifying your own abilities and using them to assist others solve issues or by just bringing simple joy into the lives of those around you.
On Civility:
To me, civility is the ability to respect and understand each other. Being respectful entails attempting to smooth out possible points of contention in order to make life easier in our social world. I believe, to comprehend and communicate well with others comes from being respectful, trusting one another and trying to understand each other’s perspectives and judgments. It is a powerful emotion that may serve as the bedrock of social relationships.
