In this "Testimonials" we interview Bernardo Lopes, winner of a Prémio de Mérito NTT Data em Aprendizagem.

• Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey at IST.

My name is Bernardo Lopes, I am a final-year student in LEIC-T, I started the program in the fall of 2023, and I have been a full-time working student since September of last year.

• What did winning this award mean to you personally?

Winning the award was a very rewarding moment; I see it as the culmination of a great deal of effort and time dedicated not only to the winning project, but also to the numerous extracurricular initiatives that this faculty provides us.

• Why are awards like this important?

I see awards as an additional incentive to dedicate myself to a course; at times, they even make the difference between putting in that extra hour on the weekend or not, attending that practical class or not, and so on.

• In your opinion (besides awards ;)), what can and should be done to attract more students to Computer Science and Engineering at Técnico?

I believe that prospective students would be very interested in learning about (and having highlighted) the many opportunities that LEIC offers, as well as the close connection it provides to current business environments in Portugal.

• Do you have any advice for future Computer Science and Engineering students at Técnico?

Enjoy the journey; it is shorter than it seems. What may feel overwhelming and daunting at one moment (I’m thinking of Calculus as I write this) often becomes just a memory the next.

(original image: Bernardo Lopes)