Onish Garg’s Unconventional Journey from Ashoka to Google
From choosing a non-traditional educational path at Ashoka University to securing a full-time position at Google, Onish Garg's journey highlights his passion for computing and his drive to make a meaningful impact in the tech world
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Onish grew up with his grandparents in Gurgaon. He is a first-generation high school graduate and has had a keen interest in computers from an early age. He was all set to enroll in the BCA program at a nearby public university when a friend told him about Ashoka University. The prospect of studying a variety of disciplines at a liberal arts college excited him. Thanks to a very generous financial aid award from Ashoka, Onish was able to focus solely on his growth without having to worry about the cost of the education.
At Ashoka, he discovered that the best way to learn is by doing. He participated in several hackathons and contests. Onish and his teammates represented Ashoka at ICPC Regionals – a prestigious programming competition – in 2019, thanks to a travel grant award from Ashoka. He joined several clubs and societies, served in the student government’s technology ministry and later, in the university’s election commission. He worked part-time software engineering jobs at the University’s Office of Academic Affairs and the IT department. He also spent a semester immersing himself in psychology and biology. He believes it to have been an exhilarating experience, and is happy to have made many new friends along the way.
Fast forward to today, he is three years into his first job as a software engineer at Google Pay. He believes it has been a steep learning curve, working alongside brilliant engineers. He has had the opportunity to take ownership and execute on impactful large-scale UPI projects at GPay, which has been both challenging and rewarding. The experience has taught him the importance of continuous learning and growth in one’s career.
Looking back at his college days, Onish realises that spotting and making use of opportunities around him was a big contributor to his academic and professional growth. He claims that his journey, made possible by Ashoka’s support, has been nothing short of life-changing. He is grateful for the opportunities, the knowledge gained, and the bonds forged along the way.
