How sanjana arun uga Is Making Her Mark in Computer Science

Let me introduce you to someone who’s quietly building something meaningful in tech: Sanjana Arun. If you haven’t heard her name yet, you might soon—especially if you’re interested in how young women are navigating the world of computer science today. Sanjana is a Computer Science major at the University of Georgia (UGA) and her story combines leadership, initiative, and genuine passion. I found her journey compelling not just because of what she’s doing, but because of how she’s doing it: starting early, building real-world experience, and using both community and tech to grow. In this article I’ll walk you through her background, what she’s doing at UGA, the projects she’s built, the challenges she’s faced, and what we can learn from her path. If you’re a student thinking about CS, or someone trying to get a stronger start at university or in tech, I hope her story gives you useful ideas and inspiration.

1. Background & Early Life

Sanjana Arun grew up in Johns Creek, Georgia—a suburb of Atlanta. From a young age she seemed to gravitate toward technology and helping others learn. In high school she took on leadership roles: she worked as a virtual classroom leader with Kumon of North America, helping peers learn math and computer‐related topics. This isn’t just the “I liked computers” line—you’ll notice her interest combined both technical curiosity and a desire to teach. That combination would become a theme.

Thinking back, I recall how I first got into code: messing around with HTML in middle school, trying to tweak a website, then realizing “Oh wait—if I can build this, maybe I can build that”. For Sanjana, the jump into CS (computer science) seems a natural extension of that curiosity plus leadership in learning. Being from Johns Creek, she also had access to quality schools and programs, which she used. Often you hear that early access and support matter—Sanjana is an example of that in action.

Another early thread: she got involved in clubs oriented toward women in tech—like Girls Who Code and Girls in Technology. These communities help bridge the gap, especially for young women who might be the only girl in a classroom full of boys or who worry that tech isn’t “for them”. Joining such groups gave her both technical exposure and peer support. It also set a foundation: she wasn’t waiting to be told “you can join”—she sought out those groups.

So her early life isn’t about some dramatic “I built a rocket at age 10” story. Rather, it’s steady: leadership in tutoring, joining technology clubs, building confidence, and setting the stage for college.y

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2. At the University of Georgia (UGA)

Why UGA & Why CS
When Sanjana chose a university and major, she picked the University of Georgia and decided on Computer Science. UGA has a strong CS program and offers good opportunities for student engagement, internships, and projects. For someone like Sanjana who already had leadership and tech interest, UGA was a smart match. Choosing CS means committing to a field that’s broad (algorithms, data structures, software, systems) and fast-changing. And you’ll see her approach to that.

Involvement and Student Life
At UGA, Sanjana didn’t just show up and take classes. She continued her leadership roles: for example, she is listed as a virtual classroom leader at Kumon, showing she kept mentoring. She also participated in the Girls Who Code at Georgia State University (GSU) and planned lessons for Girls in Technology. These roles show that even as a student she is giving back and building her network. That’s powerful for both character and résumé.

Being involved like this sends a strong signal: you’re more than your grades—you’re part of your community and you’re actively growing. For many students, this side of things is what sets them apart when applying for internships or jobs.

Internships & Projects
In her profile, Sanjana lists experience building a portfolio website (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and implementing continuous integration (CI) as part of her personal projects. That’s meaningful. Large parts of CS students’ challenge is: “How do I actually show I can code, build, deliver?” A portfolio site is one of the best answers. Even better if you integrate modern tools like CI/CD, version control, etc.

In addition, being a software engineering intern (as her profile indicates) gives real-world experience. I know from talking to many students that once you have “interned in software engineering” on your résumé, doors open: you’ve shown you can work in a team, solve real problems, meet deadlines. Sanjana is on that path.

So, in short, her UGA years are active—classes + involvement + projects + internship. That combination is key.

3. Personal Projects & Portfolio

One of the standout parts of Sanjana’s story is her personal website and portfolio. Building your own site may sound trivial, but when done well it is a major differentiator. For example:

• She built a website using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. That means she didn’t rely solely on templates or drag-and-drop; she did it herself.

• She implemented continuous integration (CI). That means she understands process, quality, version control, team workflows—things that matter in real engineering teams.

From my own experience, when I built my first portfolio in college, I didn’t really know about CI/CD. The fact that Sanjana did shows she’s going beyond the “student hobby” level to “professional readiness” level. It also gives her something concrete to point to: “Here’s what I built.” Future employers or internship coordinators like that.

Another benefit: the portfolio is public, accessible, and shows initiative. When I hire interns or review candidates I often say: “If you have a public project I can view, you’re ahead of the pack.” Sanjana clearly understood that.

If you’re reading this and thinking “I want to do something similar”, here are quick takeaways from her path:

• Start early: build a simple site while still at school.

• Use standard web-technologies (HTML/CSS/JS) so you demonstrate fundamental skills.

• Add a workflow: version control (Git), CI, maybe deploy to a free host.

• Make it about you: your story, your projects, your growth.

• Keep it updated as you grow (internships, clubs, new skills).

Sanjana’s portfolio work isn’t described in excruciating detail in her public profile, but the fact she lists it says she values it and used it consciously. That says something about her mindset.

4. Challenges, Growth & Lessons Learned

No journey is smooth. From what I gather and from what many students share, here are the likely challenges Sanjana faced and how she managed growth:

Balancing Acts
Managing classes (which for CS can be intense: algorithms, data structures, programming labs), leadership in clubs, personal projects, internships—all at once—can stretch a student. I recall when I was in my sophomore year I tried to do research, a club leadership role, and a part-time job. What I learned: something had to give unless I managed time smartly. For Sanjana, the fact she held multiple roles suggests she developed good habits: prioritization, saying “no” when needed, focusing on high-value work.

Technical Growth & Imposter Syndrome
Switching from “I know some basics” to “I can build production-ready code” is a leap. Many students feel imposter syndrome: “Everyone else knows more than me.” I suspect Sanjana faced this too. One way to manage that is by doing small projects, getting incremental wins, working with mentors, joining groups (like Girls Who Code) where you feel supported rather than isolated. Her involvement in those communities likely helped.

Networking & Mentors
One lesson you often hear: success in tech isn’t just about what you know—it’s also who you know and how you work with others. Sanjana’s roles in clubs and mentoring suggest she built networks early. That is essential. When you’re applying for internships, a professor, a club advisor, or a peer can refer you. I’ve seen that help many times.

Lesson: Start Small, Build Up
From what we can see: She didn’t wait for “perfect project #1”. She built a portfolio website, joined leadership roles, took internships. That progression matters: small wins build confidence, which lead to bigger wins. From my own experience: I remember building a small game in my free time—nothing commercial—but that made me comfortable with code. Then I built a bigger web app, then I applied for internships. Same pattern.

Takeaway Lesson

• Don’t wait for “ideal conditions”.

• Use your current resources (school clubs, online tutorials, campus opportunities).

• Build visible work.

• Engage your community.

• Accept that growth involves missteps and learning.

5. Advice & Takeaways for Others

If you’re reading this and you’re thinking: “How can I apply what Sanjana did to my own life?” here are some practical pieces of advice inspired by her journey.

For aspiring CS students (especially women or under-represented groups)

• Join clubs early (Girls Who Code, Women in CS, etc.). Community matters. Sanjana’s involvement with Girls Who Code at GSU and Girls in Technology shows this path.

• Find mentors: ask older students, professors, professionals. Don’t go it alone.

• Build real work: even a simple website or small app helps. For example: you could build “MyExamTracker” app for tracking test scores. It doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters is you shipped something.

For students considering UGA

• UGA offers strong CS programs and student engagement opportunities. Choose a school where you can both learn in class and be active beyond it.

• Use the location: being near Atlanta, there are tech companies and internship possibilities.

• Engage in teaching/mentoring roles early (like Sanjana did) to build communication and leadership.

How to build a strong portfolio and internship readiness

• Start with HTML/CSS/JavaScript to build a personal website.

• Use Git and GitHub to host your code.

• Add a workflow: set up continuous integration (CircleCI, GitHub Actions) to automatically test your code when you commit. That shows professionalism.

• Add side-projects: e.g., a web scraper, a visualization, a small game, an app you use yourself.

• Show the “why”: not just “I built X”, but “I built X because I wanted to solve that problem for myself/others” (this helps with the “why you” narrative in interviews).

• Network: talk to alumni, join hackathons (for instance, many UGA hackathons exist) and tech meetups. Sanjana’s profile shows hackathon involvement (see UGAHacks) in related context.

Soft skills matter
Often overlooked: communication, teamwork, presenting your work, writing your “about me” section clearly. Being a virtual classroom leader (as Sanjana was) indicates strong communication. These skills matter when you move from student to professional.

Mindset

• Be proactive: don’t wait for someone to hand you the project, find one.

• Embrace feedback: share your work with peers/mentors, revise.

• Accept imperfect starts: your first project will not be perfect; that’s okay.

• Keep learning: CS field changes fast; commit to lifelong learning.

6. Looking Ahead – Future Goals & Ambitions

What’s next for Sanjana? While I don’t have a detailed published roadmap, based on her trajectory one can speculate and draw broader lessons.

Possible next steps for her

• Securing a full-time software engineering role after graduating from UGA (expected 2026).

• Pursuing research or graduate school if she’s interested in areas like AI/ML, cybersecurity (she has experience in IT advanced applications AI/ML co-op according to LinkedIn).

• Leadership roles in tech: maybe leading student organizations, mentoring younger students, perhaps starting her own initiative focused on women in CS.

• Public speaking, workshops: given her mentoring background, she might host or speak at tech events.

Broader implication: representation in CS
Sanjana’s journey also highlights the importance of increasing female representation in tech. According to many studies, women remain under-represented in CS majors and tech roles. When we see someone like Sanjana actively building tech projects, leading, and combining that with mentorship, it helps break stereotypes and encourages younger females to consider these paths.

UGA’s role
For UGA students, her story serves as a model: the institution offers resources; it’s up to you to use them. Internships, community engagement, portfolio building—they’re possible. Her path illustrates that.

7. FAQ

Q: Who is Sanjana Arun?
A: Sanjana Arun is a Computer Science major at the University of Georgia (UGA), originally from Johns Creek, Georgia. She has been involved in leadership roles like virtual classroom leader and in tech clubs such as Girls Who Code and Girls in Technology.

Q: What is her major and university?
A: She is studying Computer Science at the University of Georgia, with an expected graduation around 2026.

Q: What clubs or organizations is she involved in?
A: Among other things, she has been a virtual classroom leader for Kumon of North America; member of Girls Who Code at GSU; lesson planner for Girls in Technology.

Q: What kind of projects does she do?
A: She has built a portfolio website using HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and has implemented continuous integration (CI) processes. She has also had software engineering internship experience.

Q: How can I follow a similar path?
A: Start by joining tech clubs or leadership roles, build your own projects (even simple ones), create a portfolio website, learn version control/CI, apply for internships early, find mentors, and network. Focus both on technical skills and soft skills.

Conclusion

The story of Sanjana Arun is not just interesting because of the tech background or the university she attends. It’s interesting because of the way she approaches growth: intentionally, steadily, combining community, leadership, projects, and real-world experience. If you’re a student or thinking about a tech path, her journey offers practical, actionable lessons. Build your portfolio, join communities, start early, and don’t wait for the “perfect moment”. Use your current resources and commit to growth. The path won’t be without challenges—but as Sanjana shows, you don’t have to do it alone, and you don’t have to wait. Start now, keep building, keep growing.