BetterMind Alumni | Batch June 2024
Saanvi Jaiswal
Computer Science Grad, Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey
A Quiet Shift Toward Clarity
When Saanvi talks about where she started, she doesn’t frame it as confusion or struggle. It was more subtle than that. She was already doing well in school, already curious, already capable. What she lacked wasn’t ability. It was exposure and articulation.
“So I did the AI machine learning internship last summer,” she explains, almost casually, “and it was a very beginner-friendly experience.”
At the time, she had some programming background. She wasn’t walking in blind. But she hadn’t yet seen how ideas translated into systems, or how data actually shaped outcomes.
“I mean, I had coding experience. I have programming experience,” she says, “but it was very enlightening to see how machine learning actually works.”
That distinction mattered to her. She wasn’t looking to stack credentials. She wanted to understand what was happening under the hood.
From Familiar Concepts to Deeper Understanding
Early on, what stood out was not difficulty, but depth. Concepts she had previously encountered in isolation began connecting.
“Now I know Python much better,” she reflects, “and I really understand how models are trained and how data is used.”
This wasn’t about memorizing definitions or following instructions. The experience forced her to slow down and examine process.
“It was very informative,” she adds, “and it was also very practical, not just theoretical.”
That practicality changed how she evaluated learning experiences. She began to value environments where she had to reason through decisions rather than simply complete tasks.
Learning How to Think, Not Just What to Do
One of the most important shifts for Saanvi wasn’t technical. It was cognitive. This guidance didn’t remove effort or difficulty. Instead, it made gaps more visible. She had to explain her reasoning. She had to justify choices. She had to sit with uncertainty.
“It wasn’t just learning, It was also being guided on how to think and how to approach problems.”
Confidence That Comes From Understanding
The impact became clearer after the experience ended. Not because everything was figured out, but because she now had a way to figure things out.
“I felt like I understood my interests better,” she explains, “instead of just saying I like something.”
That distinction mattered deeply. It gave her language. It gave her ownership. It made future decisions feel grounded rather than rushed.
“Once I came out of it, I was much more confident about what I was doing and what I wanted to explore further.”
Context, Not a Centerpiece
Part of this journey included structured mentorship through BetterMind Labs. Saanvi doesn’t frame it as a defining label. It was one environment among others, notable mainly for consistency and guidance.
What stayed with her wasn’t branding or promises. It was the way questions were handled, the expectation to think clearly, and the space to grow without pressure.
Looking Back
Saanvi doesn’t describe her journey as dramatic. There was no sudden transformation. No overnight clarity. Instead, it was a quiet shift.
For students like her, and families watching closely, that kind of progress often matters the most.
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