Orlando Lewis is originally from St. Catherine, Jamaica. He left his hometown to pursue a degree in Computer Science in the United States at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Programming is his passion and he intends to be one of the best developers/programmers in America. Orlando is a dedicated, goal-oriented individual who loves the idea of spreading inspiration in his academic and personal life. He wants to make the most of his studies by embracing knowledge and experiences with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds in a thriving, public university setting. That is why he is studying abroad.
Orlando has a tremendous amount of optimism for the future. His goal in life is to motivate and uplift others by example. He is sharing his study abroad story with Dreams Abroad as the first step to accomplishing that goal. Orlando recognizes the value in having a dream and wants to inspire others by sharing his.
What sparked your dream to travel and study abroad?
“To understand what sparked my dream to travel and study abroad, I must discuss where my dream stemmed from. When I was a kid, my interest was always to figure out how things worked and how I could build or improve them. So, I would pull anything that I could get my hands on apart just to see the different components working together. I was mostly interested in light bulbs and small motors. It was around this time that I gained an understanding of magnets.”
“Although I was able to see how the physical components or hardware worked, there was something still missing. I simply didn’t have access to it. I wasn’t able to access the software that controls everything. Years passed and when I was in high school, I was introduced to programming via Pascal, a computer programming language. Then I started to connect the dots.”
“I knew right then and there that for me to gain the experience and knowledge I would need to become better at programming, I would have to leave my home and explore the USA. The United States is one of the major hubs of technological innovation. Since I was so close, it suited me well.”
What were your expectations before you left? How have they changed?
“When I left, I expected to get my degree in four years. My plans have changed a bit. Due to some walls I faced on the journey, it is looking like I’ll get my degree in five years.”
What did you not expect while spreading inspiration at FSU?
“I didn’t expect that there would be so many people who were first strangers that helped me to grow into the person I am now. It’s been heartening to have met many wonderful people on my journey.”
What’s your next step?
“My next step is to finish up my degree in Computer Science and work on ideas that might influence the future! I’m excited to graduate and begin working for a company in my field.”
What advice would you give to a new student coming to the USA?
“I would explain the importance of creating good relationships with people. Spreading inspiration is important. Just be the best person you can be to anyone you encounter. Also, never get distracted and lose sight of your dream! There are a lot of influencing factors that can disrupt your path, but if you stay true to yourself your dreams can become reality. Lastly, I’d like to share a quote from Paulo Coeho’s The Alchemist: ‘It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.'”
Make sure to give Orlando’s first video a watch. Orlando shares his number one tip in detail for studying abroad. Furthermore, he speaks about empowerment through innovation and encourages individuals to make meaningful connections by networking abroad. Check it out!
