“I wanted a lot of experience in the technology sector; it’s the way the world works and progresses,” says Seepersad. After meeting a Divly co-founder in Stockholm, she says, “I knew I wanted to be there. Divly is a startup with a lot of dynamic conversations going on.”
But with a dynamic culture comes a need for adaptability—and that includes Divly interns like Seepersad.
“I went in expecting to do visualizations, and when I got there, they needed my coding skills,” she recalls. “I don’t think I’m necessarily good at coding, but I had a foundation from my classes at Bentley and there was a demand for those skills.”
Seepersad moved into place, using high-level programming languages like Python and visualization software like Tableau and Google Data Studio to solve problems. “I had to learn on the go; it required self-management, self-motivation and an effort to see what I could do with my abilities. The experience was not easy, but I realize now that it also taught me soft skills.”
CULTURAL Immersion
It wasn’t all about coding and technology in the Scandinavian country – which was new territory for Seepersad. Coastal islands and inland lakes spoke of her love of water. Local residents spoke of her passion for cultural connections.
“When I’m in a new country, I always start exploring the culture,” says Seepersad. “I like going to museums; through history, I learn what society looks like and why it looks the way it does.”
During a three-hour train ride to Gothenburg, a city located on the country’s west coast, Seepersad sat next to a family from northern Sweden. “Just by talking to locals and hearing about their experiences, I learned about Sweden’s healthcare, family vacations, infrastructure. I also began to understand why people are so reserved and how they interact with their families. You never know what you’ll learn by listening to people’s stories.”
This kind of immersion in a new culture is something Seepersad experienced as an international student at Bentley as she balanced maintaining her sense of self with her new campus community.
“The International Student Association connected me with students who had experienced the challenges of adjusting to the American education system and society, and that was comforting to me,” says Seepersad.
For her Honors Program capstone project, Seepersad researched the colonization of her country of origin, a nation made up primarily of two Caribbean islands off the northeast coast of Venezuela.
“As twin islands colonized by European powers between the 15th and 20th centuries, Trinidad and Tobago’s population reflects the transnational connections created through the migration (forced or otherwise) of persons from around the world,” she explains. “Its social landscape has been shaped by the arrival of numerous ethnic, racial and religious groups over the centuries, making contemporary Trinidad and Tobago a melting pot of global cultures. The historic movements of persons from Africa, Europe and Asia to Trinidad and Tobago have shaped religious structures that influence modern society, cultural interactions and interfaith, interpersonal relationships.”
Seepersad was moved when, during her presentation in April 2022, she noticed people in tears. “I didn’t expect it to elicit an emotional response, but to speak to the pain of immigration and slavery that resonated with many in the audience. Regardless of your background, if you look back at your history, you have some kind of story that relates to the pain of losing that culture and heritage.
“Not everyone is like me at Bentley, but something in my story can relate to all these people and their stories,” she continues. “I was proud of myself for that.”
