Akila Sooriyabandara Is Going Places
Logging more than 29 hours on planes, trains, and automobiles, Akila Sooriyabandara has the distinct honor of being the student who traveled the farthest to attend Excelsior鈥檚 48th Annual Commencement Ceremony in Albany, New York, in July 2019. However, Sooriyabandara鈥檚 truly epic trip from his hometown of Kadawatha, Sri Lanka, an island country located off India鈥檚 southern coast, almost didn鈥檛 happen at all.
The 23-year-old information technology graduate had plans to bring his entire family with him to the United States but with only a few weeks to go before the big day, his VISA appointment at the U.S. Embassy was rescheduled. With time running out, Sooriyabandara was fortunately able to secure his own VISA, but his family鈥檚 paperwork did not come through in time and he was forced to make the long trip alone. Meeting up with an uncle located in Washington, DC, he made the final leg of his journey to Albany by car the day before the ceremony.
Sooriyabandara鈥檚 journey to Commencement actually started years earlier as a student at the American College in Sri Lanka where his professors recommended he continue his education at Excelsior, which was then an educational partner of the college. Interested in computers from a young age, he knew right away he would pursue a degree in technology and enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology program in 2016. He had never taken online classes before and was nervous about navigating the distance and time differences. 鈥淏efore this, I聽had never taken online courses. So this was a whole new experience for me. And it was quite challenging. But I really liked it.鈥� He ended up relishing the new connections he made with his instructors and classmates. 鈥淭hey have discussions, where you had to discuss everything related to your classes. I聽got to meet the other friends who were in my classes. It was really nice,鈥� he says.
鈥淏efore this, I had never taken online courses. So this was a whole new experience for me. And it was quite challenging. But I really liked it.鈥� 鈥揂kila Sooriyabandara
In addition to exploring his talent for technology with his international classmates, favorite courses like Operating Systems and Computer Systems Architecture and Human-Computer Interactive Design showed him new ways of looking at the world鈥攁n ability that will be useful as Sooriyabandara is already pursuing a postgraduate degree in diplomacy and world affairs in Sri Lanka. With future plans to work in international relations as a diplomat, Sooriyabandara鈥檚 next adventure will surely include a focus on helping those less fortunate than him. 鈥淚 like to help others by giving them something, or even just seeing them happy, it鈥檚 such a feeling you can鈥檛 describe,鈥� he says.
He credits his parents with his success so far and although they were unable to join him at Commencement, they weren鈥檛 far from his thoughts on that day.
鈥淚 especially want to thank my mom and dad for making this dream come true. They believed in me when I wasn鈥檛 even believing in myself,鈥� he says. 鈥淪o all the credit goes to my mom and dad. And I want to thank Excelsior College, because it gave me the chance to do this degree.鈥�
