Georgia Institute of Technology

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Google Search Leads to a Georgia Tech Degree

Segolene Muderhwa’s determination and passion has always been her strength. The native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) moved to the United States just four months before she enrolled in college. Muderhwa earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, and will now receive her master’s degree in analytics, both from Georgia Tech. A

While a high school student in DRC, Muderhwa first learned about what engineers do. She knew she wanted to have an impact on her community and the world, but was unsure if engineering would be the right fit. That’s when she took her career questions to Google.

“I started typing ‘What type of engineers improve things?’” she explains.

Industrial engineering was the top result. She went back to google with a search to find the top industrial engineering program.

“Georgia Tech was #1 on every website. That’s when I decided I was going to go to Georgia Tech.”

One problem. She didn’t speak any English.

Muderhwa immediately entered English as a Second Language courses and learned English in four months. She studied at Tennessee Tech before transferring in to Georgia Tech.

But her first steps in Atlanta were challenging.

“I went from making all A’s to getting D’s on my first exam,” Muderhwa says.

A phone conversation with her uncle helped spark her confidence.

“It’s not easy. It was never going to be easy but the harder the battle the sweeter the victory,” her uncle said.

Motivated by her uncle’s words when finished the next semester with the highest honors. This past summer Muderhwa had the opportunity to intern at Tesla, Inc. in Palo Alto, California.

She plans to take what she has learned back to the DR Congo to help in any way she can. Her passion to improve things has not faded over the past few years. She has already started her own non-profit, Soeur, leve-toi, whose mission is to help motivate and guide underprivileged young women. Looking back, Muderhwa is happy with her journey and the work she has put in to get here..

“I am proud of myself because at some point I thought I was might have to quit and now I’m here finishing with my master’s degree from the best industrial engineering school.”